To get a virtual phone number in the UK, choose the number type you need (a local 01 or 02, a national 03 or a mobile 07), sign up with a provider that sells UK numbers, complete any identity or address check, then set where calls go and test it. Many numbers are live within minutes. Some take a few working days if the provider reviews your documents first.
This guide walks through each step, what a UK virtual number typically costs, which types can send texts, and the mistakes that trip people up. It is written for sole traders and small businesses, so it also covers how to stop a virtual number from becoming one more phone that nobody answers.
What is a virtual phone number?
A virtual phone number is a real UK phone number that is not tied to a SIM card or a physical phone line. Calls to it are routed over the internet to wherever you choose: your mobile, an app, a desk phone or a team. Your callers dial a normal number and notice no difference.
People use virtual numbers to keep a personal mobile private, to show a local area code, to give a business its own line without a second handset, or to send text messages from a dedicated number.
Virtual does not mean fake. A genuine virtual number comes from a number range that Ofcom has allocated to a communications provider, and it is legal to use in the UK. Be wary of numbers sold with no checks at all, and of free numbers that you cannot keep.
Which type of UK virtual number should you get?
UK numbers are regulated by Ofcom, which sets what each range can be used for and what callers pay to ring it. For a small business the choice is usually between three types.
| Range | What it is | Best for | Can it send texts? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 / 02 | Local (geographic) | Trades and shops serving one area | Often not, check the provider | Good for trust |
| 03 | National, not tied to an area | Businesses serving several regions | Often not, check the provider | Good |
| 07 | Mobile | Sole traders who text customers | Usually yes | Best for texting |
| 0800 / 0808 | Freephone | Larger firms offering free calls | Rarely | You pay for calls |
| 070 | Personal number | Not recommended | No | Avoid |
Rule of thumb: if you want to send and receive texts, pick a 07 mobile number. If you only need a local calling presence, pick a 01/02 or a 03 number. Avoid 070 numbers: they look like mobiles but are personal numbers, and calls to them can cost more. Avoid 084, 087 and 09 numbers for the reasons set out in our business phone number guide.
How to get a virtual phone number in 6 steps
Decide what the number is for. Write down three things: who will call it, whether you need to send texts from it, and where you want calls to ring. Those answers choose your number type and your provider.
Choose the number type. Use the table above. A local number suits a tradesperson with a patch to cover. A 07 number suits anyone who wants to text customers from the same number.
Compare providers. Check that they sell the UK range you want, whether texts are included, how call forwarding and voicemail work, the monthly price and any per-minute charges, the contract length, how good UK support is, and whether you can move the number away later.
Sign up and pass any checks. Enter your details accurately and have your documents ready (see the section on ID checks below). If the provider asks for proof, send it straight away, because the number is usually released as soon as the checks pass.
Choose where calls go. Point the number at your mobile, an app or a desk phone. Record a short greeting, set your opening hours and decide what happens when nobody answers.
Test it properly. Call the number from another phone, ideally on a different network. Check that it rings where you expect, that the greeting plays, and, if you need texts, that you can send and receive one.
Where to get a UK virtual number: the main options
Several kinds of company sell UK virtual numbers. They suit different people.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud business phone systems | Teams that need call routing, apps and support | Per-user monthly fees add up |
| Number and forwarding services | A simple extra number that rings your mobile | Text support and per-minute forwarding charges |
| Communications platforms (for example Twilio or Vonage) | Developers who want full control | Built for developers: setup work, usage-based billing and ID checks |
| Business apps with a number built in (including TextBack Pro) | Owners who want the number to do a job, such as texting missed callers | The number is tied to what the app does |
ID checks: what you may be asked for and how long it takes
Numbers are sometimes misused for scams and nuisance calls, so Ofcom expects providers to take steps against misuse, and that includes knowing who they sell numbers to. For a UK number you may be asked for some or all of the following:
- your name and address
- your business name or company number
- photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence
- proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement
Some providers approve in minutes. Others review documents by hand and take a few working days. Details that do not match your documents are the most common cause of delay, so enter your name and address exactly as they appear on your ID and proof of address.
How much does a UK virtual phone number cost?
| Cost | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rental for the number | About £1 to £10 | Varies by provider and by number type |
| Setup or activation fee | £0 to around £10 | Some providers waive it or fold it into the first month |
| Forwarded calls | Often charged per minute | Forwarding to your mobile can use your inclusive minutes |
| Text messages | Per message or in a bundle | Not every plan includes texts |
| ID verification | Usually free | Rarely charged as an extra |
Prices change often. Treat these ranges as a guide and check the provider's current pricing before you buy. The cheapest monthly price is not always the cheapest overall: ask what forwarded calls and texts cost on top.
Virtual number, call forwarding or a second SIM?
A virtual number is one of several ways to get a second line. Here is how they compare, and our guide to a second phone number for business sets all five options side by side, including a second SIM or eSIM.
| Option | What it is | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual number | A UK number routed over the internet to any phone | Needs a provider and a monthly fee |
| Call forwarding | Your own number sends calls somewhere else | Does not give you a new number. See how to forward calls |
| Second SIM or handset | A separate mobile number that you carry | Another bill and another phone to answer |
| Porting | Moving a number you already use to a provider | Takes days and you must keep the old contract until it completes. See porting timelines |
A virtual number does not answer the phone for you
A virtual number gives you a number. It does not pick up when you are on a roof or under a sink. Tradespeople lose calls at exactly the moments they cannot answer, and a caller who gets no reply usually rings the next name on the list.
The simple fix is to combine your number with an automatic text reply. When a call goes unanswered, the caller receives a text within seconds asking what they need, and the conversation starts before they call a competitor. That is what missed call text back does.
TextBack Pro works this way. A real +44 mobile number is assigned to your account when you sign up and is included in the plan. You set your own phone to forward unanswered calls to it, and the text goes out from that number. Your customers keep dialling the number they already know. You can read more on our page about the UK number included in your plan.
Get a UK number that texts missed callers for you
TextBack Pro includes a dedicated UK mobile number and replies to missed calls within seconds, 24 hours a day. £47 a month, with a 14-day free trial.
Start your free 14-day trial →Common mistakes to avoid
- Picking the wrong range. 070, 084, 087 and 09 numbers cost callers more and put customers off.
- Assuming every number can send texts. Many local and national numbers cannot. Check before you pay.
- Cancelling your old number too soon. If you are moving a number, keep the old contract until the transfer has completed.
- Using a free or temporary number for your business. You may lose it, and every customer who saved it loses you.
- Skipping the greeting and opening hours. A silent or generic line makes a business look closed.
- Testing on one network only. Call from EE, O2, Vodafone and Three if you can, because forwarding and caller ID can behave differently.