How To Get A Google Phone Number

September 10, 2026

What Is a Google Phone Number and Why Would You Want One?

A Google phone number is a virtual phone number provided through Google Voice, a free service that lets you make calls, send texts, and receive voicemail through any device connected to your Google account. Instead of being tied to a specific SIM card or carrier, your Google number lives in the cloud and routes calls wherever you choose.

People want a Google phone number for several practical reasons:

Separating personal and business calls without paying for a second phone plan
Keeping your real number private when listing your business online
Accessing voicemail transcripts by email or in the Google Voice app
Forwarding calls to multiple phones simultaneously
Traveling internationally while keeping a consistent U.S. number

For local businesses especially, having a dedicated, trackable phone number that appears consistently across Google Search, Google Maps, and your website is a quiet but powerful piece of your overall local SEO strategy.

Want to see how your business currently shows up on Google Maps? Run a free Google Maps rank scan to find out where you stand before making any changes.

The Difference Between Google Voice and a Google Business Profile Phone Number

Before diving into setup steps, it helps to understand two separate "Google phone numbers" that often get confused.

Google Voice is a personal or business virtual number tied to your Google account. It works for calls and texts, forwards to your existing phone, and is great for keeping personal and business lines separate.

Google Business Profile (GBP) allows you to list a phone number that appears in local search results and Google Maps. This does not create a new number for you; it displays whatever number you already have. You can absolutely use your Google Voice number here, and many small business owners do exactly that.

If you want a number that shows up when customers search for your business on Google, you need both: a number (from Google Voice or your carrier) AND a verified Google Business Profile. Getting these two pieces working together is where local visibility starts to compound.

How To Get a Google Phone Number: Step-by-Step

Getting your Google Voice number takes about ten minutes. Here is exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Sign In to Your Google Account

Go to voice.google.com and sign in with any existing Google account. If you do not have one, create a free Google account first at accounts.google.com.

Step 2: Choose Your Plan

Google Voice offers:

Personal (free): For individuals with one Google number, unlimited U.S. calls and texts, and basic voicemail transcription.
Google Workspace (paid): For businesses needing multiple users, auto-attendants, ring groups, and reporting. Plans start at a monthly per-user fee and are bundled with Google Workspace subscriptions.

For most small business owners just starting out, the free personal plan is sufficient. Check the Google Voice pricing page for the most current business plan tiers.

Step 3: Search for an Available Number

After selecting your plan, Google will ask you to search for a number. You can search by:

Area code (e.g., 312 for Chicago)
Keyword or phrase (e.g., your business name or a word like "pizza")

Pick a number that is memorable and ideally matches your service area. This matters for local trust: a number with a local area code signals to customers that you are genuinely nearby.

Step 4: Verify Your Existing Phone Number

Google requires you to link a real forwarding number (a cell phone or landline). Enter that number, receive a verification code by call or text, and confirm it. Your calls and texts will forward here by default.

Step 5: Start Using Your Number

Once verified, your Google Voice number is active. You can:

Download the Google Voice app (iOS and Android) to call and text from your new number
Use it in a browser at voice.google.com
Set up voicemail greetings, call forwarding rules, and do-not-disturb hours inside the app settings

Adding Your Google Number to Your Google Business Profile

Once you have your number, the next move for any local business is to plug it into your Google Business Profile. This ensures the number that shows up in Google Maps and local search results is the one you control and can track.

Go to business.google.com and sign in
Select your business listing
Click Edit profile and navigate to Contact
Enter your Google Voice number as the primary phone number
Save and allow Google a few minutes to update

Consistency matters here. The phone number you use on your GBP should match what appears on your website, social media, and any directory listings. Google's own guidance on local ranking factors confirms that accurate, consistent information helps your business rank in local results. A mismatch between your listed numbers is a silent ranking killer many businesses never notice.

Tools like MapRank's free local SEO tools can help you audit your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across the web quickly.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Even a straightforward setup can hit snags. Here are the most common issues:

"No numbers available in my area code" Try a neighboring area code or a toll-free prefix. Google's inventory varies by region and changes frequently. Refresh and search again.

"My calls are not forwarding" Open the Voice app, go to Settings > Calls > Forwarding, and confirm your linked number is still active and verified.

"I cannot port my existing number" Google Voice does support number porting for a one-time fee, but it is not available in all regions or for all carrier types. Check current eligibility inside the Voice app under Settings > Legacy Google Voice.

"My Google Business Profile shows a different number" Log in, edit the contact section, and update it manually. Then check third-party directories like Yelp, Facebook, and Bing Places to confirm they match.

Google Voice for Business: Is It Enough?

Google Voice works well for solo operators and very small teams. But as your business grows, you will likely want more robust call handling. Here is an honest comparison:

Feature	Google Voice (Free)	Google Voice (Business)	Dedicated VoIP
Virtual number	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call forwarding	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto-attendant	No	Yes	Yes
Multiple users	No	Yes	Yes
CRM integration	Limited	Moderate	Strong
Cost	Free	Per-user monthly fee	Varies

For businesses serious about local growth, the phone number is just one element. Pairing a reliable number with a fully optimized Google Business Profile and consistent local citations is what actually moves the needle. Check your current local rankings for free to identify the gaps that a new number alone will not fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Google phone number for free? Yes. Google Voice offers a free personal plan that includes one virtual U.S. phone number, unlimited calls and texts within the U.S., and voicemail transcription. Business features like multi-user access and auto-attendants require a paid Google Workspace subscription.

Can I use a Google Voice number for my Google Business Profile? Yes, and many small business owners do. Just make sure the number you list on your GBP matches the number you use everywhere else online. Consistent NAP data is a confirmed factor in how Google ranks local businesses.

Will customers know they are calling a Google Voice number? No. When someone dials your Google Voice number, it rings through to your forwarding phone exactly like any other call. Outgoing calls and texts will show your Google Voice number as the caller ID, not your personal number, which is one of the main reasons people use it.

Key Takeaways

A Google phone number comes from Google Voice, a free virtual number service tied to your Google account
Setup takes about ten minutes: sign in at voice.google.com, pick a number, verify a forwarding phone, and you are live
The free personal plan suits most solo business owners; business plans with more features require Google Workspace
Adding your Google Voice number to your Google Business Profile connects your new number to local search and Google Maps
Consistent phone number information across your website, GBP, and online directories directly influences your local search rankings
Structural elements like schema markup (see Schema.org LocalBusiness) and review signals (covered in the BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey) work alongside your phone setup to build local authority
A Google number is a starting point, not a complete local SEO strategy

Ready to see the full picture of how your business appears in local search? Run your free Google Maps rank scan at MapRank and get a clear, actionable view of exactly where your business ranks, what your competitors are doing, and what to fix first. No guesswork, no fluff.