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Long gone are the days when you had to purchase a prepaid phone and literally burn it (or just throw it away) after you were done using it. Now, there's an app for that. It's the Burner app, and it allows you to enjoy all of the privacy benefits of a Burner phone with some added features and functionalities that make life way easier for you.
Wondering what a Burner phone is used for these days and how to buy a Burner phone? We've got all of the details for you in this helpful guide to Burner phone apps.
Are Burner Phones Still a Thing?
Among the top trends of the 1990s, of which chokers, flannel, vests, and jelly sandals definitely make the cut, Burner phones are nowhere to be found. Why? It's likely because Burner phones are still a thing. They just look a little different.
Back in the day (in this context, "the day" means the 90s and early 2000s), burner phones were physical throwaway phones that you could use whenever you didn't want your phone calls to be traced. Now, when someone refers to a Burner phone, they're likely referring more specifically to a Burner phone number they use via an app.
Today, you've got your fair share of choices when it comes time to buy a Burner phone, and the best part is that you don't have to actually buy a real phone. Yes, that means that you can forget about physical, prepaid Burner phones! Get an app instead. It's way easier anyway.
In fact, it's as easy as clicking on a phone number that you want and signing up. It'll be ready to use for FREE immediately, which means that you can start playing around with the features straight away to figure out how to best optimize your number to work with your life and needs.
Why Use a Burner Phone?
Burner phones might sound like something out of a James Bond movie. But limiting who has access to your phone number offers all kinds of benefits for simple daily tasks and necessities.
In addition to being a globetrotting super spy with a license to kill, reasons to use a Burner phone include:
1. Improving Your Privacy
As our phones become more and more integral parts of our daily lives, the privacy risks they pose increase.
If you want to ensure your communications stay private and protected — or just want to feel more in control of how you use your phone — a custom phone number adds some distance between your communications and your personal information.
2. Creating Safeguards When Dealing With Strangers
We're not even talking about the growing number of phone scams going around. We're talking about safeguards in everyday situations, like when you want to buy that vintage bar cart someone on Craigslist is selling for an unbelievable price.
Rather than giving a stranger your personal information, you can communicate with them using your Burner phone. That way, you're protected if that Craigslist ad is a scam, or your date turns into a raving lunatic, and you don't have to miss out on potential opportunities to protect yourself.
3. Protecting Yourself From Spam and Scams
Your cellphone probably has some built-in scam filters and settings you can use to limit the endless telemarketing and scammer calls we all seem to get more and more. But a Burner phone does you one better. Next time you fill out an online form or need to provide a number for a Google verification code, use your Burner number.
That way, if your information is sold to a scammer or marketing list, all you have to do is ditch the number, and voila. You're free.
4. Keeping Your Children Safe
Everyone says they're never giving their child a cellphone … but the reality is, kids need a cellphone to navigate the modern world. Giving your child a Burner phone without all the bells and whistles of a smartphone gives them the safety and convenience of being able to reach you when they need to, without the pitfalls of unlimited screen time and access to the internet.
Plus, it'll save you a lot of money when your tween inevitably loses or breaks their phone.
5. General Safety
Again, perform a quick Google search for your current phone number. It's astonishing the amount of information that pops up. You don't need a specific reason to want a Burner phone number; caring about your personal safety and privacy is reason enough.
Prepaid Burner phone numbers and subscription Burner numbers are ideal for any situation, such as texting new friends you meet out and about or even making appointments at hair salons and offices to avoid receiving follow-up advertising calls.
6. Website Signups
We've all been there before; you sign up for a website, enter your phone number, and then immediately start receiving texts. It's a pain. And if you know you need to use a number for any website signup, use a Burner number.
If you're going to use a Burner phone app for these purposes, we suggest getting a subscription for a second phone number that you can use for personal purposes and then using a prepaid Burner number that you can use specifically for website signups.
7. Online Dating
One in 10 online profiles is a scammer, meaning that if you swipe through 10 profiles on Tinder or Bumble, chances are that at least one of them is fake. Dating apps warn of giving out personal information to those you meet online, including your phone number.
Whether you're interested in casual dating or just want to get to know someone before you give them your real number, a Burner phone number simply makes sense.
*67 vs. a Second Phone Number
A common alternative people try first is dialing *67 before a call to hide their caller ID. It works in a narrow sense — the person you call sees "Private" or "Blocked" instead of your number. But *67 only covers outbound calls. You cannot receive calls back on a separate number, you cannot send texts, and you have no voicemail, no call history, and no way to maintain a consistent identity someone can reach you at. A second phone number gives you an actual number — one that can make and receive calls, send texts, collect voicemails, and be deleted entirely when you no longer need it.
8. Organizing Your Communications
Burner goes way beyond simply providing a secondary number — it offers a smart and efficient way to organize your communications. At Burner, we'll allow you to separate different types of communications with the ability to manage up to 200 phone numbers.
For example, you could dedicate one number to online shopping or website signups, another for miscellaneous contacts, and a third for personal communications. This can help you manage your calls and messages more efficiently and ensure that your main number stays private.
Plus, Burner offers a suite of features to enhance this ability. For instance, you can assign ringtones for different numbers, schedule "Do Not Disturb" hours for each number, and set up customized voicemail greetings. This extra functionality transforms Burner from a simple privacy tool into a comprehensive solution for managing and organizing your daily communications.
How Do Burner Phones Work?
A Burner phone works by embracing a simple concept that provides an extra layer of privacy to your personal communications. Traditionally, Burner phones were prepaid mobile devices that you could throw away (or "burn") once their purpose was served. These devices were particularly popular for people who wanted their phone calls and messages to be completely untraceable.
In the modern context, a Burner phone can even be something as simple as a Burner phone number accessed through a mobile app. This number acts as a shield, keeping your primary number safe from exposure.
This Burner number operates just like a regular phone number. You can make calls, send texts, and even receive voicemails. The key difference is that any calls or messages you make with the Burner number won't appear on your personal phone records. Once you're done with the number, you can burn (delete) it, keeping your interactions confidential.
Where To Buy a Burner Phone
Want to buy a Burner phone? Walmart sells prepaid phones, and Verizon prepaid phones are still a thing, but instead of figuring out where to buy a Burner phone, why not look into where to download a Burner phone app?
Prepaid Burner phones aren't really a "thing" these days; they've been replaced by Burner phone apps. And, sure, we might be a little biased, but Burner is by far the best. But hold on, we'll back it up. In fact, we'll give it to you straight and neutral.
Here are a few basic features you should expect out of any Burner phone (app) you're using:
- The ability to choose your own number
- The ability to choose more than one number
- The ability to delete the number whenever you need to
- Organizational features that allow you to organize your contacts for more efficiency
- A Do Not Disturb feature so that you can turn the number/app off and on when you don't want to be bothered
- Flexible payment options
And, of course, you should expect that any modern-day Burner phone has built-in integrations with third-party apps so that you can optimize how you use your second phone number (for dating, signing up for websites, etc.).
What You Get With a Burner Phone Number in 2026
The phrase "burner phone" used to conjure images of cheap prepaid handsets from a gas station rack. That version still exists, but most people looking for a second phone number in 2026 are doing it from the phone they already own. Here is what is actually available.
Standard Burner Number
A standard Burner number is a real U.S. or Canadian phone number that lives inside the Burner app on your iPhone or Android. It works over VoIP, which means your calls and texts route through the app rather than your phone service provider. You get:
- Unlimited calls, texts, and picture messages
- Custom voicemail per number
- Do Not Disturb scheduling for each number independently
- Auto-reply messages when you are unavailable
- Up to 200 numbers on a single account
- A free 3-day trial to test it before you commit
Because standard numbers are VoIP-based, some platforms that require mobile-classified numbers for verification may not accept them. For everyday calls, texts, and keeping your real number private, they work well. For platform verification, read on.
Verified Number ($9.99/mo or $59.99/yr)
A Verified Number is mobile-classified, which means verification systems see it the same way they see a number from your phone service provider. It is designed specifically for people who need a second number that passes platform checks.
Strong compatibility: Cash App, PayPal, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Uber, Chase
Works well (results may vary): Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Tinder, Hinge
Verified Numbers include the same calling and texting features as a standard number. The difference is classification — platforms that reject VoIP numbers will generally accept a Verified Number.
eSIM / Dual SIM (iOS Only)
If you need a second number that works with absolutely everything — every verification system, every platform, no exceptions — the Burner eSIM is a real carrier line. It is not VoIP. It installs as a second SIM on your iPhone and works natively with the built-in Phone and Messages apps.
Because it is a real carrier line rather than an app-based number, you can use it for work, business, or any context where you need full carrier-grade service alongside your personal number. No app required for calls and texts — they just work the way your primary number does.
Premium Add-Ons
Burner also offers add-ons you can layer onto your account:
- VPN — Route your internet traffic through an encrypted connection
- AI Voicemail Transcription (iOS) — Voicemails converted to text so you can read them instead of listening
- Number Lookup — See who is calling before you pick up
- Personal Info Protection (PIP) — Scan for and request removal of your personal data from data broker sites
Try the Burner app free for 3 days — pick a number and see how it works. No commitment, cancel anytime.
Burner Phone Apps
If you're considering buying a Burner phone but don't want to deal with the inconvenience of shopping for a second phone or comparing features like battery life and Bluetooth functionality, consider looking into a Burner phone app. Utilize the Burner phone app and keep your primary phone in use.
Burner phone apps are more common in the modern age. While a disposable phone may have looked appealing to someone trying to conceal illegal activities from law enforcement, Burner is designed to help you protect your personal privacy from more serious modern threats like credit card fraud and other scams.
Are Burner Phone Apps Safe?
Burner apps, when used correctly, offer a high level of security and privacy. Burner, at least, is designed with your privacy in mind. When you use Burner, your real number stays private, while the temporary number gets sent around.
We hope you don't get exposed to any scams or telemarketing calls, but if you do, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your personal number is safe.
One of the key safety features of using Burner is your ability to change numbers with ease. If one of your numbers is compromised or you start receiving unwanted calls or texts, you can simply delete the number and get a new one. This adds an extra layer of security, as you always have the option of starting fresh with a new number.
While Burner provides a platform for private communication, you should still make responsible choices online. This includes being careful about sharing sensitive information and using strong, unique passwords for your accounts.
What To Know About Burner Phone Apps
Not a fan of buying a physical Burner phone? We don't blame you! And, in the 2020s, you don't have to. There's quite literally an app for that. And while there are quite a few Burner phone apps that exist today, we'd argue that Burner is one of the best (it's how we snagged the OG name!).
And it's not just because we work here. It's because we use Burner for everyday tasks, too.
Whereas you once used a Burner phone to make clandestine calls, you can now use your Burner phone app to protect your private number, engage in safe online activities, and help increase your productivity. Cool, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Burner phone number legal?
Yes. Using a second phone number is legal and commonplace. Millions of people use second numbers to keep personal and public-facing communication separate, manage online marketplace listings, or control who has access to their primary number. Like any communication tool, it should not be used for illegal purposes — but the product itself is a straightforward consumer privacy tool.
Can I use a Burner phone number for verification?
It depends on which product you choose. A standard Burner number is VoIP-based, so some platforms that require mobile-classified numbers may not accept it for SMS verification. A Verified Number is mobile-classified and works with most major platforms including Cash App, PayPal, Facebook, Amazon, and Uber. The eSIM is a real carrier line and works with every verification system — no exceptions. See our guide to virtual phone numbers for more detail.
How much does a Burner phone number cost?
Burner offers a free 3-day trial so you can test it before paying. After that, subscription plans are available at several price points. Verified Numbers are $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr. There is also a prepaid option if you prefer not to subscribe. Current pricing is on burnerapp.com.
Can I have more than one Burner phone number?
Yes. A single Burner account supports up to 200 numbers. You can create numbers for different purposes — one for online marketplaces, one for dating apps, one for a side project — and manage them all from the same app. See our roundup of second phone number apps for how Burner compares.
How To Get a Burner Phone Number
To get a Burner phone number for free, follow this link. You'll be prompted to enter the area code you'd like your number to feature, and then (depending on the area code; if it's really popular, we might be out of those numbers for the day), you'll be given a list of numbers to choose from.
Use your Burner phone number for free with a 3-day trial and then upgrade to a plan that suits your needs. You get to choose from Prepaid Burner numbers or Subscription Burners, which renew each month, allowing you to keep the same number long-term.
Subscription Burners are great for freelancers, online daters, online sellers, marketers, and others who know they'd like to continue to use a Burner phone for more than just a one-off prank call or sly text message.
You create your number with any US or Canadian area code. Then, we reroute calls coming to your Burner number and send them to your cell phone so your personal number stays private. It's safe and easy. Create your Burner phone number today.
