How to get a US phone number from outside the US (2026 guide)

Plenty of businesses outside the United States sell to American customers: freelancers, agencies, e-commerce sellers, dispatch teams, software companies and consultants. The first thing they notice is that a foreign number gets ignored. People in the USA answer numbers that look local. The good news is that you can get a real US number without moving, travelling or buying a SIM card.

Can you get a US phone number from outside the US?

Yes. A US number is not tied to a SIM card or a street address. With a cloud phone provider, the number lives in an online account and rings in a browser or app wherever your team sits. People in the USA dial it like any other local number, and the call reaches you over the internet. Providers may ask you to verify your identity or business, and that is normal.

Why businesses want a US number

• Customers are more likely to answer a number with a familiar area code.
• It looks established and trustworthy next to an unknown international number.
• Customers pay normal local rates to call you back.
• You can match the area code to the city where your customers are.
• Every user can have their own number, so call history is easy to track.

How to get a US phone number in 7 steps

1. Decide what the number is for: sales calls, support, order confirmations, or all three.
2. Choose an area code that matches your customers, such as a city or state where most of them live.
3. Pick a provider that gives each user a login and number, keeps call logs and states prices in US dollars.
4. Create your account and complete any verification. Some providers review each account before it goes live.
5. Add your users and choose your number type: local, toll-free or mobile, where offered.
6. Make test calls to a US mobile and a landline, using a headset, and check how your number appears on the screen.
7. Add the number to your website, listings and email signature.

What to check before you buy

Calls versus texting

Voice calls are straightforward. Business texting from US numbers is different. US carriers expect businesses to register for A2P 10DLC, which means describing your business and the messages you send. Providers may ask for details such as your business name, address, website and a tax ID. Read our guide to A2P 10DLC registration before you plan a texting campaign. At Dialsyx, SMS is available on the USA and Canada plan after registration, with a one-time $10 fee.

Using a US number to verify accounts

Many people also want a US number to receive verification codes. Be careful here. Many apps, banks and platforms refuse virtual or VoIP numbers, and their terms may forbid using them. A business calling number is built for calling customers, not for getting around another service's rules.

Rules you must follow when calling the USA

Being outside the USA does not remove US rules when you call people there. In general:

• Check the National Do Not Call Registry before cold-calling consumers, and keep your own opt-out list.
• Telemarketing calls are limited to between 8 am and 9 pm in the recipient's local time.
• Use honest caller ID with a number you own, and never spoof.
• Recording laws differ by state, so tell people when you record.
• Automated or pre-recorded marketing calls have strict consent rules.

Read our guides to Do Not Call lists and call recording consent. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules in the USA and in your own country, including any tax or regulatory effects of using a foreign number for business.

How much does a US business number cost?

Prices are per month in US dollars, and taxes are included. Toll-free numbers are $5 per number per month. See USA numbers and the pricing page.

Mistakes to avoid

• Choosing the cheapest option without checking call quality.
• Calling at hours that are night time in the USA.
• Using one number for everything instead of one per team or role.
• Skipping a test call before launching a campaign.
• Ignoring Do Not Call and consent rules because you are abroad.

Make your calls count

A US number gets the call answered. What you say next wins the customer. Prepare an opening and a next step with our call script templates, and avoid the 'Spam Likely' trap with our guide on spam labels. Several customers outside the USA describe how this works for them on our customer stories page.