Google Voice Alternatives for People Outside the US
By 2Phon Team · · 7 min read
Personal Google Voice only works in the US. If you live elsewhere, here are the real alternatives for a second number — for verification codes, calls or texting — and how to choose.
Key takeaways
- Personal Google Voice is US-only. Google lists its local numbers as "US only" for personal accounts (as of October 2026).
- Outside the US, your realistic options are a local carrier eSIM, Google Voice through Google Workspace (for businesses, select countries), internet calling apps with US, Canadian or UK numbers, and 2Phon.
- 2Phon gives you a real mobile number from dozens of countries for verification codes and real calls on iPhone. It doesn't send texts.
- Skip public "receive SMS online" sites for anything that matters — the codes are visible to everyone.
If you live outside the US, you can't get a personal Google Voice number — Google only offers personal Voice numbers in the US. The best Google Voice alternative depends on what you wanted it for: a local carrier eSIM if you need texting, Google Workspace if you're a business, or an app like 2Phon if you need a real second number for verification codes and calls from another country.
This guide explains what changed, what each alternative really offers as of October 2026, and how to pick. If the idea of a second number is new to you, read what a second phone number is first.
Why Google Voice doesn't work outside the US
Google Voice is a free US service for personal users. Its App Store listing says it "only works for personal Google Accounts in the US and Google Workspace accounts in select markets." Google's own account-type comparison lists local phone numbers as "US only" for the free version and for the standalone Starter and Standard plans aimed at personal Gmail users.
The business version, sold as a Google Workspace add-on, is listed for 14 countries and regions. That is a company tool, set up and paid for by a Workspace administrator — not a personal number you can sign up for alone.
What do you actually need Google Voice for?
Most people want Google Voice for one of four jobs. Each job has a different best alternative.
| What you wanted Google Voice for | Best alternative outside the US |
|---|---|
| A second line for texting and calls with friends | A second carrier line on an eSIM |
| A number for verification codes when signing up for apps | 2Phon (real mobile number) |
| Real calls on a separate number, at home or abroad | 2Phon, or a carrier eSIM |
| A business number for a team | Google Voice via Google Workspace, where offered |
| A US, Canadian or UK number for calls and texting | An internet calling app such as Hushed |
The Google Voice alternatives, compared
Here's how the main options line up for someone living outside the US. Competitor details are taken from each company's own pages in October 2026.
| Google Voice (personal) | Carrier eSIM | Google Workspace Voice | Hushed | 2Phon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available if you live outside the US | No | Yes | Select countries | Calls from anywhere, per listing | Yes |
| Numbers from | US only | Your carrier's country | Listed countries | US, Canada, UK | Dozens of countries |
| Type of number | Not stated | Mobile line | Not stated | Internet (VoIP) | Real mobile number |
| Make and take real calls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sends texts | Yes | Yes | Depends on country | Yes | No |
| Who it suits | US residents | Anyone with a local carrier | Companies | People who want a US, Canadian or UK line | People who need codes and calls |
A second line from your local carrier (eSIM)
The most traditional replacement is a second mobile plan on an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM built into the phone. iPhones support Dual SIM, so two numbers can be active on one phone — see Apple's Dual SIM guide.
- Pros: a full line with calls, texting and data — the kind of number services expect.
- Cons: a second monthly plan and contract with a carrier, and the number comes from your carrier's own country.
Google Voice through Google Workspace
If you run a company in one of the countries Google lists, the Workspace add-on gives your team Voice numbers. It's set up and managed by your Workspace administrator.
- Pros: the closest thing to Google Voice outside the US; built for business.
- Cons: not for personal use, and only in the countries Google supports.
Internet calling apps with US, Canadian or UK numbers
Some second-number apps let you call and text over data. Hushed, for example, offers numbers from the US, Canada and the UK; its App Store listing says calls and texts "run over the internet using VoIP" and that "some services allow Hushed numbers to receive verification codes by text or call, depending on their policies."
- Pros: texting included; good if you specifically want a US, Canadian or UK line.
- Cons: limited to those countries, and some services decline VoIP numbers for verification codes.
Other popular US apps, such as Burner and TextNow, describe their service on their App Store listings as US and Canada focused, so check carefully before relying on them from abroad.
2Phon: a real number for codes and calls
2Phon is an iPhone app that gives you a real second phone number from dozens of countries. It's built for two jobs that Google Voice users often care about most:
- Receiving verification codes when you sign up for WhatsApp, Telegram, Google, Tinder and the other popular apps. Codes by voice call work too — pick "Call me instead" and answer on your 2Phon number.
- Making and receiving real calls, at home or abroad. The people you call see your 2Phon number, not your personal one. Calls use minutes in the app.
Numbers are real mobile numbers, not VoIP, so popular apps accept them. You don't need to live in the US — you pick a number from the country you need in the app. The countries shown on 2Phon's coverage list include the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, India and more; the app shows what's available today.
Can you get a US number if you don't live in the US?
Yes, but not from personal Google Voice. Your options are a US-focused internet calling app that accepts users abroad, or 2Phon, where the US is one of the countries on the coverage list.
Before you pick, think about why you need the US number. For verification codes from US apps, a real mobile number avoids the "VoIP numbers not accepted" problem — see how to pick a phone number for verification. For calls to and from people in the US, any of the options above can work.
What about free "receive SMS online" sites?
They're the wrong tool for anything you care about. These sites show incoming codes to anyone who opens the page, and the same numbers are reused by many people, so services often block them.
They also give you no way to make calls or get your account back later. The details are in free "receive SMS online" sites: why codes fail and the risks.
How to choose your Google Voice alternative
Answer three questions and the choice usually makes itself.
Do you need to send texts from the number?
If yes, choose a carrier eSIM or a texting app with numbers in the country you need. 2Phon doesn't send texts.
Is the number for verification codes?
If yes, prefer a real mobile number — a carrier line or 2Phon — over an internet (VoIP) number that some services decline.
Which country should the number be from?
Pick an option that offers that country today. 2Phon offers numbers from dozens of countries; Hushed covers the US, Canada and the UK; a carrier eSIM gives you your carrier's country.
Where 2Phon fits
If you came to Google Voice for a second number to receive codes and make real calls, 2Phon covers that from outside the US. You get a real mobile number from dozens of countries, codes with a push notification, and real calls where people see your 2Phon number.
Be clear on the limits: 2Phon is iPhone only, and it receives codes but doesn't send SMS — if texting is the main reason you wanted Google Voice, a carrier eSIM fits better. The number stays yours while your subscription is active.
Download 2Phon on the App Store and pick a number from the country you need — start with a free trial; current plans are shown in the app.
The bottom line
Google Voice is a good service — for US residents. If you live elsewhere, choose by the job: a local eSIM for texting, Google Workspace for a company, a VoIP app for a US, Canadian or UK texting line, and 2Phon for a real number that receives verification codes and makes real calls. For a wider list, see the best second phone number apps for iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Google Voice outside the US?
Not with a personal account. As of October 2026, Google lists personal Google Voice numbers as US only. A business version is sold through Google Workspace in select countries, managed by an administrator.
What is the best Google Voice alternative if I live outside the US?
It depends on the job. For a second line with texting, ask your local carrier for an eSIM plan. For verification codes and real calls on a number from another country, 2Phon gives you a real mobile number from dozens of countries on iPhone.
Does 2Phon work like Google Voice?
Partly. Like Google Voice, it gives you a second number for calls. Unlike Google Voice, it isn't limited to US residents, it uses real mobile numbers, and it does not send text messages — it receives verification codes and makes and takes calls.
Is there a free Google Voice alternative outside the US?
The free second-number apps we found are aimed at US users. Free public "receive SMS online" sites exist, but anyone can read the codes on them and many services block their numbers, so they aren't safe for accounts you care about.