Long gone are the days when you had to purchase a prepaid phone and literally burn it (or just throw it away) after you were done using it. Now, there’s an app for that. It’s the Burner app, and it allows you to enjoy all of the privacy benefits of a Burner phone with some added features and functionalities that make life way easier for you.
Wondering what a Burner phone is used for these days and how to buy a Burner phone? We’ve got all of the details for you in this helpful guide to Burner phone apps.
Are Burner phones still a thing?
Among the top trends of the 1990s, of which chokers, flannel, vests, and jelly sandals definitely make the cut, Burner phones are nowhere to be found. Why? It’s likely because Burner phones are still a thing. They just look a little different.
Back in the day (in this context, “the day” means the 90s and early 2000s), burner phones were physical throwaway phones that you could use whenever you didn’t want you or your phone calls to be traced. Now, when someone refers to a Burner phone, they’re likely referring more specifically to a Burner phone number they use via an app.
Today, you’ve got your fair share of choices when it comes time to buy a Burner phone, and the best part is that you don’t have to actually buy a real phone. Yes, that means that you can forget about physical, prepaid Burner phones! Get an app instead. It’s way easier anyway.
In fact, it’s as easy as clicking on a phone number that you want and signing up. It’ll be ready to use for FREE immediately, which means that you can start playing around with the features straight away to figure out how to best optimize your number to work with your life and needs.
Where to buy a Burner phone
Want to buy a Burner phone? Walmart sells prepaid phones, and Verizon prepaid phones are still a thing, but instead of figuring out where to buy a Burner phone, why not look into where to download a Burner phone app.
Why? Well, prepaid Burner phones aren’t really a “thing” these days; they’ve been replaced by Burner phone apps. And, sure, we might be a little biased, but Burner is by far the best. But hold on, we’ll back it up. In fact, we’ll give it to you straight and neutral. Here are a few basic features you should expect out of any Burner phone (app) you’re using:
The ability to choose your own number
The ability to choose more than one number
The ability to delete the number whenever you need to
Organizational features that allow you to organize your contacts for more efficiency
A Do Not Disturb feature so that you can turn the number/app off and on when you don’t want to be bothered
Flexible payment options
And, of course, you should expect that any modern-day Burner phone has built-in integrations with third-party apps so that you can optimize how you use your second phone number (for work, freelancing, online selling, dating, etc.).
What to know about Burner phone apps
Not a fan of buying a physical Burner phone? We don’t blame you! And, in the 2020s, you don’t have to. There’s quite literally an app for that. And while there are quite a few Burner phone apps that exist today, we’d argue that Burner is one of the best (it’s how we snagged the OG name!). And it’s not just because we work here. It’s because we use Burner for everyday tasks, too.
Whereas you once used a Burner phone to make clandestine calls, you can now use your Burner phone app to protect your private number, engage in safe online activities, and help increase your working productivity via third-party integrations. Cool, right?
With Burner Connections, for example, you’re able to connect your Burner phone number with useful apps such as Slack, Evernote, Google Drive, DropBox, and Nomorobo, which automatically filters out robocalls, spam calls, and telemarketers on all your Burner lines.
Uses for a Burner phone
In modern times, Burner phones are used for, well, just about anything. Want to conceal your real number while dating online? Use a Burner phone. Want to separate your work contacts from your personal contacts? Use a Burner phone. Want to connect third-party apps to your number so that you can increase your productivity? Use a Burner phone!
For small business owners and freelancers looking to use a Burner phone for business, we’ve rounded up some resources regarding the best Burner features for business and the top tools you’ll need to help launch you into the sphere of success. But here are a few more uses for a Burner phone and how to integrate it into your everyday life.
Freelancing
The gig economy is booming, and that’s great news for freelancers! However, when you’re applying to freelance gigs or are working with a lot of new, random clients at once, you still need to protect yourself and your privacy. A Burner phone number is not only a great way to separate your personal life from your freelance work life, but it’s also a great way to avoid getting contacted from old gigs once they’re over.
Second Work Number
Striking the perfect balance between your work and personal lives is tough, especially in an age where so many of us are working from home. If you find it hard to turn off at the end of your remote (or even in-office) workday, consider getting a second phone number for work. Then, at the end of the day, use the Do Not Disturb feature to turn off incoming calls and texts while still enjoying the ability to receive normal messages and calls from your regular number.
General Safety
Again, perform a quick Google search for your current phone number. It’s astonishing the amount of information that pops up? You don’t need a specific reason to want a Burner phone number; caring about your personal safety and privacy is reason enough. Prepaid Burner phone numbers and subscription Burner numbers are ideal for any situation, such as texting new friends you meet out and about or even making appointments at hair salons and offices to avoid receiving follow-up advertising calls.
Website Signups
We’ve all been there before; you sign up for a website, enter your phone number, and then immediately start receiving texts. It’s a pain. And, if you know you need to use a number for any website signup, use a Burner number. If you’re going to use a Burner phone app for these purposes, we suggest getting a subscription for a second phone number that you can use for work-related and personal purposes and then using a prepaid Burner number that you can use specifically for website signups.
Online Dating
1 in 10 online profiles is a scammer, meaning that if you swipe through ten profiles on Tinder or Bumble, chances are that at least one of them is fake. Dating apps warn of giving out personal information to those you meet online and that includes your phone number. Whether you’re interested in casual dating or just want to get to know someone before you give them your real number, a Burner phone number simply makes sense.
Online Selling
Craigslist provides no protection policies for buyers or sellers, meaning that if you choose to meet up with someone to exchange an item, you’re on your own in terms of safety. Meeting up in a public place and showing up with a friend or family member are two good ways to protect yourself when selling or purchasing things from online platforms. However, if you need to give out your phone number, it’s best to use a Burner number so the person cannot contact you afterward or find any of your personal information via your real phone number.
How to get a Burner phone number
To get a Burner phone number for free, follow this link. You’ll be prompted to enter the area code you’d like your number to feature, and then (depending on the area code; if it’s really popular, we might be out of those numbers for the day), you’ll be given a list of numbers to choose from.
Use your Burner phone number for free for seven days and then upgrade to a plan that suits your needs. You get to choose from Prepaid Burner numbers or Subscription Burners, which renew each month, allowing you to keep the same number long-term.
Subscription Burners are great for business owners, freelancers, online daters, online sellers, marketers, and others who know they’d like to continue to use a Burner phone for more than just a one-off prank call or sly text message.
You create your number with any US or Canada area code. Then, we reroute calls coming to your Burner number and send them to your cell phone so your personal number stays private. It’s safe and easy. Create your Burner phone number today.
