What is a virtual phone number?
A virtual phone number is a phone number that is not tied to a specific phone line, SIM card or device. Calls and texts to it are handled in the cloud and delivered to whatever phones, apps or people you choose.
How it works
A provider holds the number on its platform and decides, call by call, where to send it: an app on a laptop or mobile, a desk phone, a group of people, a menu or a forwarding destination.
Virtual numbers come in the same formats as ordinary ones: local numbers with a city area code, national or mobile numbers, and toll-free numbers. Which types are available depends on the country's rules.
Most virtual numbers are delivered with VoIP, so in practice the terms virtual number and VoIP number are often used for the same thing.
Why it matters
01A number without a phone
Give a team, a project or a market its own number without buying hardware.
02Presence in new places
Answer customers in another city or country on a number they recognize as local.
03Flexible routing
Change who answers in seconds, as the team or the hours change.
Allo and Virtual phone number
Allo provides virtual numbers in 50+ countries that ring your team on desktop and mobile, with routing, recording and an optional AI receptionist.
Related terms
The terms that usually come up in the same conversation.
All glossary terms
Frequently asked questions
Nearly. Virtual describes that the number is not tied to a line or device; VoIP describes how the calls travel. Most virtual numbers today are VoIP numbers.
No. You use it through an app on the phone or computer you already have, or on a compatible desk phone.
Often, yes. Some countries require proof of a local address or business registration before a number is activated.