Alternative Number review

Surfshark's Alternative Number is a service that gives you a virtual US phone number to help protect your personal information from online threats. It's a great way to sign up for websites, apps, or online deals without sharing your real-life details. This helps you avoid spam, robocalls, and identity theft.

With an Alternative Number, you can keep your actual phone number private when posting, signing up for discounts, or communicating with strangers online.

In this review, I'll cover what Alternative Number offers, how it protects your privacy, its pros and cons, user feedback, and how to use it. If you're looking for an easy way to stay private online, this guide will help you decide if Surfshark's Alternative Number is the right pick for you.

Alternative Number overview

Surfshark's Alternative Number is a privacy tool that gives you a virtual US phone number to help protect your real number from spam, robocalls, and identity theft. It's perfect for signing up for websites and handling online transactions without exposing your personal information.

When you use your real phone number online, companies can collect and sell your data, leading to unwanted marketing messages and scams. Alternative Number acts as a protective layer, so you can sign up for services, receive calls, and get messages without sharing your private info. However, keep in mind that it doesn't support verification codes. Its key features include:

• Virtual US phone number. Get a separate number for online use.
• Avoid spam & scams. Protect your real number from robocalls and smishing attacks.
• Get deals without the spam. Use it for sign-ups without receiving endless marketing texts.
• Use it on websites you don't trust. Keep your real number private when dealing with online listings or unfamiliar platforms.
• Bundle or add-on. New users can access Alternative Number by bundling it with Surfshark’s Alternative ID service, while current customers can add it to their ongoing subscription.

Availability	Available worldwide, but only US phone numbers are offered.
Price	From $3.49/month for Surfshark Starter pack bundle with Alternative ID and VPN (if committing to 24+4 months subscription)
Money-back guarantee	A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all Surfshark plans, including the Alternative Number add-on.

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Alternative Number: pros and cons

Surfshark's Alternative Number gives you a separate US phone number to use online, helping you keep your real number private. It's great for avoiding spam and scams, but it does have a few downsides. Here's a simple breakdown of the good and the not-so-good.

What is Surfshark's Alternative Number?

Surfshark's Alternative Number is a virtual phone number that helps keep your real number private. Instead of giving out your personal number when signing up for websites, booking travel, or selling things online, you can use this temporary number instead. It lets you receive calls and texts through the Surfshark app, so you stay connected without exposing your real phone number to spam, scams, or annoying marketing messages.

Using Alternative Number is easy:

1. Get a number – After signing up, just follow a few steps to get your US-based phone number from Surfshark.
2. Use it for calls & texts – You can receive calls and text messages in the Surfshark app, just like with a regular number.
3. Change it anytime – You can swap your number for free every 30 days for extra privacy.
4. Delete it when you're done – If you don't need it anymore, just remove it and get a new one later.

Right now, Alternative Number only offers US-based numbers, but you can use it from anywhere in the world. Since this is a new feature, Surfshark may expand to more countries in the future.

New users can enjoy it as a part of the Alternative ID + VPN bundle for ultimate security. If you’re an existing user, then you can easily access Alternative Number as an add-on to your current subscription.

If you're tired of spam calls, scam texts, and random companies getting your personal number, Alternative Number is a great way to stay private. While it doesn't support verification codes or two-factor authentication, it's still a handy tool for keeping your personal number safe. Since it's a new feature, we can expect more improvements in the future.

Why should you use an Alternative Number?

Giving out your real phone number online can be risky. Companies can sell your info, spammers can flood you with messages, and scammers might try to contact you. Surfshark's Alternative Number helps by giving you a virtual number that works for calls and texts – without exposing your real one. Here's when it comes in handy:

• For booking travel. Ever booked a flight or hotel and had to provide your phone number for "important updates"? Then, months later, you're still getting calls about special deals you don't care about? With an Alternative Number, you can give them a working number, and then change it later if they start spamming you.
• For online shopping & discounts. Stores love asking for your number in exchange for a 10% off coupon – but they also love sending endless promotional texts. Instead of using your real number, use an Alternative Number, grab the discount, and ditch the spam later.
• For selling online. Selling something on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay? You need to give buyers a number to reach you, but you don't want strangers to have your real one. An Alternative Number keeps you safe – if the wrong people start calling, you can just switch to a new number.
• For work and freelancing. Running a small business or freelancing? It's great when clients reach out, but it's annoying when spam calls flood in. Use an Alternative Number so only the people you want to hear from can reach you. If it gets too spammy, swap it out.
• For signing up on websites. Many websites ask for a phone number to create an account. Instead of risking your real one if they sell your data, use an Alternative Number to stay private.

How to set up your Alternative Number?

Setting up your Alternative Number is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Buy the Alternative Number

• First, make sure you already have a Surfshark subscription.
• Open the Surfshark app, tap on Alternative ID.
• Then select Number.
• Tap Learn more, then go to the checkout page.
• Pick a US-based number (currently, only US numbers are available).
• Choose a payment method and complete your purchase.
• Tap Start.
• Then Continue to finish.

Step 2: Set it up in the Surfshark app

• Open the Surfshark app on your phone.
• Tap Start to begin setup.

• Give the app permission to:
  • Use your microphone (for calls).
  • Send notifications (for incoming messages).
  • Access your contacts (optional, for easier use).

• Tap OK to confirm.

Step 3: Make sure it's working

• Messages sent to your Alternative Number will show up in the Alternative Number tab in the app.
• If someone calls your Alternative Number, it will appear as a regular phone call on your phone.

That's it. Now, you can use your Alternative Number to keep your real number private while making and receiving calls and texts.

Surfshark Alternative Number pricing

For all new users, Surfshark's Alternative Number can be bundled with Alternative ID and VPN, as well as other perks based on the subscription tier. The longer you commit to a subscription, the cheaper it gets. Check out a simple breakdown of plans and pricing when bundled with Alternative Number below:

Length of subscription	Starter	One	One+
24+4 months	$3.49/month ($97.72 total)	$3.99/month ($111.72 total)	$4.99/month ($139.72 total)
12+4 months	$4.99/month ($79.84 total)	$5.49/month ($87.84 total)	$6.99/month ($111.84 total)
1 month	$17.99/month	$19.99/month	$21.99/month

• Go for Surfshark Starter if you just want a VPN and an Alternative Number add-on to keep your real phone number private.
• Choose Surfshark One if you also want Incogni, which removes your personal details from company databases.
• Pick Surfshark One+ if you want maximum privacy, with extra data removal protection.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out without any risk.

Alternative Number user reviews

Surfshark's Alternative Number has received mixed feedback from users on platforms like Reddit. Many people like it because it gives them a second phone number, which helps keep their real one private.

Many users also say that setting it up is really easy. Within minutes and just a few simple steps on the Surfshark app, you get a working US-based number. Nothing is confusing or complicated about it, which makes it great even if you're not very tech-savvy. Plus, since it's part of the Surfshark app, you don't have to download anything extra.

That said, users also mention some downsides. One big issue is that Surfshark only gives US numbers, so if you're outside the US and need a local number, this won't work for you. Many people are hoping Surfshark will add more countries soon.

Another common complaint is that some verification codes don't go through. If you're using it to sign up for websites or apps that send you a text to verify your account, you might not receive it. However, the service is straightforward about this from the get-go.

When it comes to price, opinions are split. Some users think it's worth paying a small monthly fee for extra privacy, while others feel it should be included for free in Surfshark's regular VPN subscription.

Overall, Surfshark's Alternative Number is a good option for protecting your real phone number, but it still has room for improvement.

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Conclusion

Surfshark's Alternative Number is a great tool for anyone who wants to keep their personal information private. Whether you're signing up for websites, booking tickets, or selling things online, this service helps protect you from spam, robocalls, and potential scams. Instead of giving out your personal number, you can use a virtual one and avoid annoying marketing messages or identity theft risks.

It's easy to set up, affordable, and works worldwide – though the numbers are currently US-based. While it doesn't support verification codes, it's still useful for everyday situations where you don't want to share your real number. If you value privacy and enjoy an extra layer of online protection, Surfshark's Alternative Number is a smart choice.

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