Many people want a second phone number for their apps. Maybe you run a business account on Instagram and don’t want clients calling your personal phone. Maybe you want a separate WhatsApp for work, or a TikTok shop that isn’t tied to your private life. Or you simply want a US number because your customers are in the United States.
This guide explains how a second phone number works for WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, what to avoid, and how to get a real US number that you keep, even if you live outside the US.
In this guide
Why get a second phone number?
Every app asks for a phone number when you sign up. The app sends a code by text, you type it in, and your account is now linked to that number. If you use your personal number everywhere, everything ends up in one place: friends, clients, suppliers and strangers who found your shop.
A second phone number fixes that. The most common reasons people get one:
- Privacy. Clients and followers see your second number, not your personal one.
- Work and life apart. One WhatsApp for family, one for business. One Instagram for you, one for your brand.
- A US presence. A US number looks right for a US company, a US store or US customers.
- A number that stays. If you change your local SIM or move country, your second number stays the same, so your accounts stay safe.
Second phone number options to avoid
Free “receive SMS online” websites
These sites show codes for numbers that thousands of people share. Anyone can read your code, and anyone can use the same number to take over your account later. Apps also block these numbers quickly. Never use them for an account you care about.
Numbers you rent for one code
Some services rent you a number for a few minutes. You get the code, then the number goes back to the pool. The problem comes later: when the app asks you to verify again (new phone, new login, security check), the number belongs to someone else. You can lose the account.
A second SIM in your country
This works, but you need a second phone or a dual-SIM phone, you pay every month to keep the SIM active, and it is still a local number, not a US one.
What you want is a second phone number that is yours: one number, only for you, that you keep for as long as you want.
Using a second phone number on each app
With a real US number from LLC Station, the sign-up code arrives as a normal text. You read it in the Ringoly app, in your dashboard or in your email. Our clients use their second phone number with:
- WhatsApp: a separate WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business for your work. You can run it on the same phone as your personal WhatsApp.
- Telegram: a Telegram account or channel that doesn’t show your personal number.
- TikTok: a TikTok account for your brand or shop, apart from your personal one.
- Instagram: a business or creator account with its own number.
- Facebook: a profile, page or Marketplace account linked to your second number.
The same number also works for codes from banks, payment apps and marketplaces, which is why many founders with a US company use it for Stripe and their bank as well. If an app offers to call you instead of texting, you can answer the call in the Ringoly app.
How to get your US second phone number
You can get the number in a few minutes, from any country:
- Download Ringoly from Google Play, or order the number on our US phone number page if you prefer to use it from your browser.
- Sign in with your email. We send you a 6-digit code. There is no password to remember.
- Choose your number. Pick a US state and, when available, an area code you like.
- Verify your ID once. US rules require a quick ID check for every number. It protects you too: your second phone number is linked to you, not to a stranger.
- Start using it. Sign up for WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook, and the codes arrive in seconds.
Your number also lets you call the US, Canada and more than 230 other countries, and people see your US number when you call. Incoming calls ring in the app, even when it is closed, and missed calls go to voicemail. You can read more about the app on the Ringoly page.
If you have a US company with LLC Station, sign in with the same email and your number is already there. The Diamond package includes a US number for free.
Tips to keep your second phone number accounts safe
- Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook. Then a code alone is not enough to log in to your account.
- Keep your number active. Apps sometimes ask you to verify the number again. If you cancel the number, you can’t receive that code, so keep it for as long as you use the accounts.
- One number per account type. Use your second phone number for your work accounts and keep your personal number for your personal accounts. Mixing them defeats the purpose.
- Follow each app’s rules. A second number is for keeping your accounts organized and private, not for spam or fake accounts. Apps close accounts that break their rules, whatever number they use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a second phone number for WhatsApp on the same phone?
Yes. Install WhatsApp Business next to your normal WhatsApp and sign it up with your second phone number. You get two WhatsApp accounts on one phone, one personal and one for work.
Does the code arrive if I live outside the US?
Yes. The code is sent to your US number, and you read it in the Ringoly app, your LLC Station dashboard or your email, wherever you are.
Is this a shared number?
No. The number is yours only. Nobody else receives your codes, and nobody gets your number while you keep it.
Do I need a US company to get a US number?
No. Anyone 18 or older can get a number with a quick ID check. If you do have a US company, the same number works for your bank, Stripe and payment apps.
Can I use it on iPhone?
The Ringoly app is on Android today, and the iPhone app is coming. On iPhone, you can already read codes, text and call from your LLC Station dashboard in the browser.
Is Ringoly part of WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook?
No. Ringoly and LLC Station are not affiliated with these apps. We give you a US phone number, and you use it to sign up like any other number.
Get your second phone number today
A second phone number keeps your personal number private and your work accounts in one place. With Ringoly, it is a real US number that stays yours, with codes in seconds and calls to 230+ countries.
Prefer the browser? Order your number on the US phone number page. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp or live chat. We usually reply within minutes. To learn why a US number matters for your company, read US phone number for business.