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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Burner vs Second Phone Number

Burner 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Burner
Second Phone Number 4.5★ · Free + IAP 45

Burner is the better choice for a second phone number app due to its more reliable core functionality and better user experience, despite both apps sharing significant issues with billing and customer support.

Full reviews: Burner · Second Phone Number

Burner generally offers more reliable call and text functionality, with users appreciating its intuitive layout and ability to pick local area codes. Second Phone Number struggles with message delivery, account blocks, and a confusing credit system, though both apps face substantial criticism regarding billing practices and customer support responsiveness.

Head to head

Core Functionality (Calls & Texts) edge: BurnerR3R5R7R9
Burner Burner generally works well for calls and texts, with users noting it's effective for privacy and business use R5R14R33. However, some users experience significant lag, slow message delivery, and issues with calls R3R7R9R16. There are also reports of messages not sending reliably and unexpected call limits R15.
Second Phone Number Second Phone Number faces more frequent and severe issues with core functionality, including messages not sending, calls not ringing, and accounts being blocked for 'not like activity' or 'potential violations' . Users also report numbers being unable to register for services like WhatsApp or AI accounts .
Ease of Use & Interface edge: BurnerR3R5R7R9
Burner Burner is praised for its simple, intuitive layout and ease of use R5. However, a common complaint is that the app is 'super slow,' 'clunky,' and takes a long time to open or process actions R3R7R9R16. Some users also find certain features confusing, like managing multiple numbers or voicemail .
Second Phone Number Second Phone Number is described as confusing and not working as expected by some users . While some find it fast and reliable , others report issues with the app announcing their identity during calls, which defeats the purpose of a burner number .
Reliability & Performance edge: BurnerR6R7R16R33
Burner Burner's reliability is mixed. While some users report it works flawlessly R33R45, many experience glitches, slow performance, and issues with messages not delivering R7R16. There are also reports of the app slowing down the entire phone or interfering with other apps like Spotify R6R16.
Second Phone Number Second Phone Number is frequently described as unstable and unreliable . Users report accounts being blocked without clear reason, loss of credits, and difficulty getting numbers unblocked .
Price & Value tieR2R4R10R13
Burner Burner is considered reasonably priced by some users R14. However, many users report being charged immediately despite free trial offers, or continuing to be billed after cancellation R2R4R10R13. There are also complaints about unexpected call limits even on paid plans R15R40.
Second Phone Number Second Phone Number faces widespread criticism for its pricing model. Many users feel it's overpriced, misleadingly advertised as free, and requires additional credits even after paying for a subscription R66. Users also report being charged for full years or having credits taken away upon cancellation R66.
Customer Support edge: BurnerR1R10R18R45
Burner Burner's customer support receives mixed reviews. Some users report positive experiences with support resolving issues R45, but many describe it as unresponsive, unhelpful, or non-existent, especially regarding billing disputes R1R10R18. Users also mention issues with AI-generated help pages R1.
Second Phone Number Second Phone Number's customer support is widely criticized as unhelpful and unresponsive . Users report long waits for email replies, being unable to reach human support, and accounts remaining blocked despite attempts to resolve issues.
Pick Burner if

You need a second number for privacy or business and prioritize a more intuitive interface and generally more reliable messaging and calling, even if you might encounter occasional slowness or billing issues R5R14R33.

Pick Second Phone Number if

You are looking for a very basic second number for quick verifications and are willing to navigate a potentially confusing credit system and higher risk of technical issues or account blocks .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews, particularly concerning billing and free trial issues, which skews their current perception. Burner has a higher lifetime rating, but recent reviews highlight persistent problems. Second Phone Number's reviews indicate more severe and frequent functional issues.

Frequently asked

Are Burner and Second Phone Number truly free?
No, neither Burner nor Second Phone Number are truly free, despite often being advertised as such or offering 'free trials' . Many users report being charged immediately or shortly after starting a trial, or being billed for subscriptions they cancelled R2R4R13R22.
Can I use these apps for WhatsApp or other verification codes?
Burner users report success with using the app for various purposes, including privacy for online dating or business R5R7R14R55. Second Phone Number, however, has specific user complaints about being unable to comply with WhatsApp's terms or register for AI accounts, and some users report that verification codes are blocked .
Do these apps limit calls or texts?
Yes, Burner has been reported to limit outbound calls per day, even on paid yearly plans R15R40. Second Phone Number requires users to purchase additional 'credits' for calls and texts, even after paying for a yearly subscription, which can make high-volume use very expensive R66R98.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Burner 3/5 · US App way too slow: I like the app it’s just SUPER slow. Also wont alert you that you have a text unless the person’s number is saved. Could be better but overall it serves its purpose.
  2. [R5] Burner 5/5 · US Amazing service: I needed to respond to a text from my builder after closing, but didn’t want him to have my new phone number. This app worked perfectly. Simple, intuitive layout, and they even let you pick from a variety of local area codes. 5/5
  3. [R7] Burner 2/5 · US Glitchy, slow, and lacks functionality: Not a fan so far. If you’re using this for online dating privacy/screening, be aware that it has no reaction function, which is standard on both iPhone and Android. It’s also incredibly, frustratingly slow. This is the only app I have where it takes several seconds to register typed characters. Dictation is a little better, but frankly if this doesn’t resolv
  4. [R9] Burner 3/5 · US Works but clunky: I have been using this app for about a month now or so, and it is very slow to open, very slow to download messages, and send them out. I find that it’s very clunky. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and it takes about 20 seconds just to start the program. To send out messages and receive, it probably takes about another 20 seconds for each action. I’ve use other numbers, including Goo
  5. [R6] Burner 3/5 · US Spotify and burner problems: Everything works on this app very well including getting really good updates on texts and calls but the one thing I would say is a big negative and I would love to get some more information on how to fix this because Google is no help, is why every single time I’m on Spotify and I go to check a text or respond to a text and when I get off of the Burner app back onto Sp
  6. [R16] Burner 2/5 · US So slow: The app slows my whole phone down, messages take forever to be delivered
  7. [R33] Burner 5/5 · US Love It: I’ve known about Burner since at least 2018. Recently, I subscribed to the new Dual SIM plan. This works flawlessly on iOS, and you can easily switch between numbers in iMessage or when calling people. Also, the biggest thing I’m in love with was the fresh new number they generated for me. Seemingly, it hasn’t been used by anyone before and doesn’t show up anywhere online. I couldn’t be h
  8. [R2] Burner 5/5 · US Don’t do free trial: I did like this app quite a lot until it charged me for a subscription to a free trial that i had cancelled right after subscribing to it, almost a week later and now its causing disruptions to my whole phone !!
  9. [R4] Burner 1/5 · US Stole $16.99 from me and lied: Do not use this app they will say you have a trial but as soon as you download the app, they will cancel the trial and charge you automatically. I use this app for like 15 minutes and didn’t like that user interface so I deleted it off my phone the next day I can’t download apps because all of a sudden they charged me $16.99
  10. [R10] Burner 1/5 · US Keeps billing after cancellation: The app “works,” but after we burned the two numbers we had, we kept being billed for months more. Impossible to resolve because Apple simply blames the developer - and the developer says they cannot issue refunds, only Apple can. Online searches show this “feature” extends to other users. Be careful!
  11. [R13] Burner 1/5 · US Scam cancellation: I didn’t want this subscription and never did y’all’s FREE APP WOULD LET ME CONTINUE WITH OUT A FREE TRIAL WHEN. I seen it was a yearly and 100$ I instantly cancelled but still being charged I want my money and would let to stop being charged for something I never intended on using
  12. [R1] Burner 1/5 · US App is Broken: There is no way to contact anyone. And the ai generated help page is worthless. I have paid for the service, used it for over a year, renewed even. And the app wont go past the login. Would be super if someone would get back to me.
  13. [R18] Burner 1/5 · US Rip off: I purchased $20 worth of credit credits I did not receive my credit. They will not reply. and when they decided to reply, they said to reach out to Apple support, and Apple support is about as useless as the Burner support.
  14. [R45] Burner 5/5 · US Great app and support: This is the best app I’ve ever used. The unlimited texts and calls work perfectly. I ran into a few issues but customer support helped me resolve them. Thanks!
  15. [R22] Burner 1/5 · US Cancelled subscription still charged: I select a 3 day trial. I cancel the subscription the first day after downloading. I get charged $14.99 anyway. Not happy about it.
  16. [R14] Burner 5/5 · US Love it: Very good app and reasonable prices, i dont have to worry about using my personal numbers and get lots of spam calls and this is a good way to have a second number for work then carrying around two phones!
  17. [R55] Burner 5/5 · US Cautious: Great way to start getting to know someone without giving up your phone number
  18. [R15] Burner 3/5 · US Number of calls: Out of no where with no heads up we have been limited on how many calls we can make with a number
  19. [R40] Burner 1/5 · US Not for high volume: Even with the $90 yearly play it caps your outbound calls per day. Absolute rip off
  20. [R66] Second Phone Number 3/5 · GB Meh: Takes a lot of credits to make and receive phone calls. Now due to my subscription being cancelled because it’s no longer needed. They’ve taken my remaining credits instead of allowing me to use what was left. Would’ve used text me instead but it wouldn’t work in the country I’m in.
  21. [R98] Second Phone Number 1/5 · US Scammers: They charge one time to just get a app then charge u for every single call and msg and it’s not reliable Accidentally touch the yearly plans and the won’t refund me gonna go through my bank to get my money ‘ Why apple let scammers in Apple Store very disappointed!

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store