A UK virtual phone number on the phone you already have

A virtual phone number is a real UK phone number that is not tied to a SIM card or a phone line. Calls to it are delivered over the internet to wherever you choose: an app on your mobile, or forwarded to any other phone. Because the number lives in the network rather than in a handset, you can keep it when you change phones, choose where it rings, and switch it off when the working day is over.

Digital Numbers gives you exactly that, built for people who run a business from their own mobile: sole traders, freelancers, tradespeople and small teams.

What you get

• Your own UK number. Pick a local area code, such as 020 for London or 0161 for Manchester, and choose from the numbers available. Or choose a non-geographic 033 number if you want a UK-wide presence.
• Calls on your existing mobile. Use the Digital Numbers app on iOS or Android to make and receive calls with your business number, kept apart from your personal one.
• Call forwarding to any number. Prefer not to use an app? Forward calls to your mobile, a landline or a colleague, and change where they go at any time.
• Working hours. Set hours for each day of the week. Outside them, callers go to voicemail instead of ringing you at 9pm on a Saturday.
• Professional voicemail. Listen to messages in the app or from your online dashboard.
• WhatsApp Business ready. Register WhatsApp Business on your new number so customers can message the business, not you. See WhatsApp Business numbers.

How much a virtual number costs

One business line is £7.99 a month, or £79.99 a year if you pay annually, which saves two months. Every line includes the number, the app, call forwarding, voicemail and working hours. There are no setup costs and no contract, and you can cancel at any time.

New lines start with a 7-day free trial. You enter payment details when you sign up, but you are not charged if you cancel during the trial.

How to get a virtual phone number

1. Choose a number. Pick an area code and choose from the numbers available in it.
2. Sign up. Create your account and start the free trial.
3. Start taking calls. The line is active straight away. Install the app, or set a forwarding number in your dashboard.

Most people are taking calls on their new number within a few minutes.

Virtual number or a second SIM?

A second SIM, or a dual-SIM phone, gives you another number, but it is still a mobile contract tied to a piece of plastic. It rings whenever the phone is on, it cannot be pointed at a different phone, and its number is a mobile 07 number rather than a local one.

A virtual number does the job without any of that:

Who uses a virtual number

• Sole traders and tradespeople who want to put a number on the van and the website without giving out their personal mobile.
• Freelancers and consultants who want to stop work calls arriving in the evening.
• Small businesses that want a local number in a town they serve, or a separate line for sales and support. You can add as many lines as you need and manage them from one dashboard.

Browse the area codes we have numbers in, or read about getting a virtual landline.

Common questions

What is a virtual phone number?

A real phone number that is not attached to a SIM card or a physical line. Calls to it are routed over the internet to an app or forwarded to any phone you choose, so the same number can follow you between devices.

Can I get a UK virtual number with a local area code?

Yes. You choose an area code, such as 020 for London or 0161 for Manchester, and pick from the numbers available in it. If you would rather not appear local to one place, you can choose a non-geographic 033 number.

Do I need a second phone or SIM card?

No. The number works on the mobile you already have, through the Digital Numbers app, or by forwarding calls to any phone.

How much does a virtual phone number cost?

£7.99 a month per line, or £79.99 a year paid annually. Every new line starts with a 7-day free trial, and there is no contract.

How quickly can I start using it?

Straight away. The line is activated as soon as you sign up, and you can be taking calls within minutes.

Can I use a virtual number for WhatsApp Business?

Yes. You can register WhatsApp Business on your Digital Numbers number and keep your personal WhatsApp on your personal number. See how to set up a WhatsApp Business number.