Private and open-source alternatives to Google Voice
11 virtual phone numbers rated against the same public privacy criteria as Google Voice, with our picks first.
Why look for an alternative?
- Open source: no. Closed source.
- No trackers or telemetry: no. The home page loads Google Tag Manager (automated test).
- No ads or data sales: no. The free personal service is funded by Google, whose business relies on advertising and uses account activity to personalise ads.
- Independent audit: partial. Google Voice is in scope of Google's SOC 2 and SOC 3 audits. Only the SOC 3 summary is public.
- Security headers: no. Grade B- (65/100+)
See the full Google Voice rating.
The alternatives
JMP.chat Grade C
Paid phone number service for calls, SMS and MMS through an XMPP account, with optional SIP for calls and numbers in the US and Canada. Run by the MBOA Technology Co-operative using open source Soprani.ca software.
Based in Canada (Five Eyes). JMP.chat scores 69 out of 100 (grade C) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 4 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
Crypton.sh Grade C
Phone numbers backed by physical SIM cards hosted in the cloud, for receiving and sending SMS through a web interface, API or Android app, plus eSIM data plans. Stored messages are encrypted with a user key.
Based in the United Kingdom (Five Eyes). Crypton.sh scores 63 out of 100 (grade C) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 3 of 8 criteria: no ads or data sales, transparency report and TLS configuration.
MoneroSMS Grade D
Prepaid US phone numbers for sending and receiving SMS, paid in Monero, with access through a web app, command-line client or API. Operated by VoidNetwork LLC.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). MoneroSMS scores 53 out of 100 (grade D) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 3 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
PikaSim Grade D
Prepaid eSIM data plans for many countries, plus phone plans and SMS verification numbers, bought without an account, email or ID. Accepts cards and cryptocurrency through a self-hosted BTCPay Server.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). PikaSim scores 53 out of 100 (grade D) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 3 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
nadanada Grade D
Disposable and rental phone numbers for receiving SMS verification codes, plus eSIM data plans and a WireGuard VPN, bought without an account, email or ID. Formerly known as LNVPN.
nadanada scores 47 out of 100 (grade D) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
Silent.link Grade D
Prepaid eSIM for mobile data in many countries, with optional US or UK numbers for receiving SMS and activation calls. No personal data is required, and payment is in Bitcoin, Lightning, Monero or other cryptocurrencies.
Silent.link scores 47 out of 100 (grade D) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 3 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
Narayana Grade F
Estonian telecom provider selling physical SIM cards, eSIMs, virtual numbers and SIP calling without KYC, paid by card or cryptocurrency. Registration needs no email or personal details.
Based in Estonia. Narayana scores 38 out of 100 (grade F) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
SMSPool Grade F
Paid service that rents one-time and longer-term non-VoIP phone numbers in many countries for receiving SMS verification codes. Operated by SMSPool B.V. in the Netherlands.
Based in the Netherlands (Nine Eyes). SMSPool scores 38 out of 100 (grade F) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
Hushed Grade F
Second phone number app from AffinityClick Inc. in Canada. Paid plans provide numbers in many area codes for calls and texts over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Based in Canada (Five Eyes). Hushed scores 25 out of 100 (grade F) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: no ads or data sales and TLS configuration.
TextNow Grade F
Free, ad-supported phone number service from TextNow, Inc. in Waterloo, Canada, offering US and Canadian numbers for calls and texts over Wi-Fi or its mobile network, with paid options to remove ads.
Based in Canada (Five Eyes). TextNow scores 19 out of 100 (grade F) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 1 of 8 criteria: TLS configuration.
Burner Grade F
Second phone number app from Ad Hoc Labs in the United States. Paid subscriptions provide disposable or long-term numbers for calls and texts from a smartphone.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). Burner scores 16 out of 100 (grade F) on the virtual phone numbers criteria. It meets 1 of 8 criteria: TLS configuration.