Alternatives / AI Tools
Sideline alternatives
8 comparable AI tools to Sideline — with starting prices and when to choose each. Prices checked November 12, 2026.
Sideline, from Pinger, puts a second US number on your phone that calls over your carrier network rather than VoIP. It costs $14.49/mo or $129.99/yr on the App Store, with no free plan, and its business tier, Sideline Pro, was discontinued. People look elsewhere for a lower price, a free number, disposable numbers, or team features.
Sideline alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line2 | $7.99/mo billed yearly, $9.99 monthly | No (30-day money-back guarantee) | A cheaper ad-free second line |
| Hushed | $6.99/mo (Unlimited); prepaid plans from $7.99 | Free trial (3 days, per the App Store page) | Several private numbers, incl. UK |
| Google Voice | $10/mo (Starter, individual, US) | Yes: Basic personal number, US only, needs an existing mobile number | A free US second number |
| TextNow | $4.99/week or $18.99/mo (Plus, adds data, no ads) | Yes: ad-supported number with unlimited talk and text | A free number with ads |
| Burner | $7.99/mo or $47.99/yr (Standard, bought on the web) | Free trial (3 days, limited usage, per the App Store page) | Disposable numbers |
| Index by Pinger | $24.99/mo, or $199.99/yr (App Store price) | Free trial (7 days) | Ex-Sideline Pro business users |
| Grasshopper | $14/mo billed annually (True Solo) | Free trial (7 days, no card) | A solo business line with an office feel |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | $15/user/mo billed annually, $19 monthly (Starter) | Free trial (7 days) | Small teams sharing business numbers |
Prices read from each vendor's own pricing page on November 12, 2026. Vendors change plans often; follow the pricing link on each card to confirm.
When to choose each one
Line2
$7.99/mo billed yearly, $9.99 monthlyChoose it when: you want the cheapest paid ad-free line for one person and do not need carrier calling: $7.99/mo billed yearly, and the number also works on a tablet and in a desktop browser. Needs Wi-Fi or data.
Hushed
$6.99/mo (Unlimited); prepaid plans from $7.99 · Free: Free trial (3 days, per the App Store page)Choose it when: you want more than one number, a UK number, or a prepaid plan that does not auto-renew. Unlimited starts at $6.99/mo per number; calls and texts need Wi-Fi or data.
Google Voice
$10/mo (Starter, individual, US) · Free: Yes: Basic personal number, US only, needs an existing mobile numberChoose it when: you live in the US, already have a mobile number and want a free ad-free second number. Basic is $0; Starter at $10/mo adds 24/7 support and keeps the number from being reclaimed for inactivity.
TextNow
$4.99/week or $18.99/mo (Plus, adds data, no ads) · Free: Yes: ad-supported number with unlimited talk and textChoose it when: you want a free number and accept ads. TextNow also sells cellular service: unlimited talk and text for $0/mo after a one-time $3.99 SIM. Free numbers are recycled if you stop using them.
Burner
$7.99/mo or $47.99/yr (Standard, bought on the web) · Free: Free trial (3 days, limited usage, per the App Store page)Choose it when: you want numbers you delete and replace after a listing or a date, rather than one long-term line. Standard is $47.99/yr on the web; Burner does not support SMS short codes or 911.
Index by Pinger
$24.99/mo, or $199.99/yr (App Store price) · Free: Free trial (7 days)Choose it when: you used Sideline Pro: Index is the Pinger app business users were pointed to, with carrier-based calling, team sharing, auto-replies, payment links and review requests. Weakness: App Store rating 3.9 from 376 ratings (Nov 12, 2026).
Grasshopper
$14/mo billed annually (True Solo) · Free: Free trial (7 days, no card)Choose it when: you run a small business and want a business number with extensions, voicemail transcription and a 7-day trial with no card; True Solo is $14/mo billed annually, about what Sideline costs.
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
$15/user/mo billed annually, $19 monthly (Starter) · Free: Free trial (7 days)Choose it when: two or more people answer the same business number and need a shared inbox, call routing and texting registered for business. Starter is $15/user/mo billed annually; there is no free plan. Stork uses Quo for its own business line.
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Why people look for Sideline alternatives
- Price: $14.49/mo is about double Line2 ($7.99/mo billed yearly) or Hushed ($6.99/mo) for a single second line (vendor pricing pages).
- The free version is gone; some GetApp and Capterra reviewers mention price increases and losing the free plan.
- Sideline Pro was discontinued; business users are pointed to Index, a separate Pinger app at $24.99/mo (Sideline help center, Index App Store page).
- Single user only: no shared number, shared inbox or team seats for a small business.
- US numbers only; no UK or other country numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Sideline?
Google Voice Basic is free and ad-free for US users who already have a mobile number. TextNow is free with ads and needs no existing number. Both run over Wi-Fi or data in the app, unlike Sideline, which calls over your carrier network.
What is cheaper than Sideline?
Line2 costs $7.99/mo billed yearly or $9.99 monthly, Hushed Unlimited starts at $6.99/mo, and Burner Standard is $47.99 a year on its website. Sideline is $14.49 a month or $129.99 a year.
What replaced Sideline Pro?
Sideline Pro was discontinued and business users were pointed to Index, a separate Pinger app at $24.99 a month or $199.99 a year with a 7-day trial. For teams sharing one number, Quo and Grasshopper are business phone systems with trials.
Which Sideline alternative works without Wi-Fi?
Most second-number apps, including Line2, Hushed and Google Voice, need Wi-Fi or mobile data. Index by Pinger uses your carrier network like Sideline. TextNow can also work without Wi-Fi if you use its SIM or eSIM.
Sideline vs Line2: which is better?
Line2 is cheaper ($7.99/mo billed yearly) and works on tablets and a desktop browser. Sideline costs more but calls over your carrier network, so it keeps working where Wi-Fi or data is weak.
Sources (19) · checked November 12, 2026
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sideline-private-2nd-number/id1012032539
- https://www.sideline.com/
- https://www.line2.com/pricing/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/line2-second-phone-number/id319185557
- https://hushed.com/pricing/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hushed-us-second-phone-number/id600520752
- https://workspace.google.com/products/voice/
- https://www.textnow.com/wireless
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/textnow-call-text-unlimited/id314716233
- https://supportfree.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/204253309-Help-My-Phone-Number-was-recycled-how-can-I-get-it-back
- https://www.burnerapp.com/pricing
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/burner-second-phone-number/id505800761
- https://www.getindex.com/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/index-business-phone-number/id1609695129
- https://grasshopper.com/pricing/
- https://www.quo.com/pricing
- https://support.sideline.com/hc/en-us/articles/13837924549773-Where-did-Sideline-Pro-go
- https://www.getapp.com/it-communications-software/a/sideline/
- https://www.capterra.com/p/149773/Sideline/
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