How to Get a US Phone Number as a Canadian

For those Canadians interested in acquiring US credit cards, there are a plethora of intensive steps, from getting an ITIN, establishing a US address, opening a US-domiciled bank account, currency transfer services, building your credit history, and so on. One less discussed step of the process is setting up a US phone number.

Let’s discuss why you should be thinking about this as well.

Why Do You Need a US Phone Number?

You actually may not NEED a US phone number as a Canadian. However, in my opinion, having one makes things much more straightforward when it comes to communicating with US financial institutions.

Aside from not raising any flags or questions as to why you’re communicating with them via a Canadian number, institutions like Amex, Chase, and others, often need to verify your identity during a call via 2-factor authentication, and this can also be required as part of logging in to an online account on the institution’s website.

In order to do this, you may be required to receive a text message or automated call containing a time-limited code. Oftentimes, these messages are only programmed to send to US phone numbers. So, with a Canadian number you may be unable to proceed past verification.

This also means that you don’t just want any US phone number from any provider, but one that can receive 2FA text message codes as well (not all can do this).

Read on.

Best Providers of US Phone Numbers

Google Fi

My favorite and personal choice for a US phone number is the Google Fi. The Flexible plan can be activated off and on, ad-hoc. It is only $20 / month, and pro-rated for the actual number of days you keep it activated. It used T-Mobile infrastructure and actually great for use as a phone plan when traveling abroad as it offers service at the same cost in numerous international countries. A more convenient option compared to eSims or local sims even.

There is a great article over on Frugal Flyer that dives deep into Google Fi, including all the steps to setting it up as a Canadian:

• Activate a US VPN
• Create a US-based Google Account
• Download and Sign Up for Google Fi
• Get and Activate Your Google Fi SIM (Physical SIM or eSIM)

Check it out if you want to learn more.

PayGo

PayGo is another US ultra low cost phone plan. Like Google Fi it uses the T-Mobile network, and thus can be used in a plethora of international destinations. This guarantees it will work with all major US banks for SMS verification.

PayGo is very cheap at $3.00 per month. However, it comes with a lot of restrictions as its only 100 minutes, 100 text messages, and 100 MB of 4G data. This can be good or bad depending on your use case.

Pros:

• Allows worldwide wifi calling/text for free (only takes from monthly allotment, no additional charges).
• Receives SMS (cellular network) 2FA code for only $0.10, anywhere in the world.
• Comes in both physical SIM format and eSIM format.
• Encourages roaming so no issues with being shut down for exclusively using outside the USA.
• Works with Chase/Citi/Amex to receive 2FA from rep as well as “auto 2FA from systems”.

Cons

• For physical SIM, it may require physically being in the US to activate it. This has been disputed recently however.
• eSIM must be activated in the US as it must connect to a T-Mobile tower. This can be bad if you switch phones, lose your phone etc. as it would require a trip to the US.
• You can’t turn PayGo on and off when you need it like Google Fi, instead it operates like a more traditional phone plan.

To get started, visit PayGo’s website. Also note that the physical SIM is, somewhat strangely, sold exclusively by eBay.

Tello

Tello is another option similar to PayGo, however they offer a larger selection of custom plans where you can select exactly how much data and how many minutes you want to pay for.

For the cheapest plan with no data and 100 minutes of calling + free texting, you will pay $5 per month. On the flip side you can get unlimited data, unlimited calling and text, for $25 per month, and a number of options in between that.

Pros

• Tello has both SIM and eSIM options.
• The eSIM option so can be activated anywhere.
• Tello has WiFi calling capabilities.

Cons

• Requires WiFi to be on to work outside of the US. This means if you are overseas and have no WiFi then you will not be able to use Tello.
• Bit pricier if you only need the bare bones for SMS verification, compared with PayGo.

Overall, I think Google Fi is a better choice if you have actual international data/calling/texting needs, and PayGo is a better choice if you only want to use this for receiving SMS and making the odd call once in a while. But it’s always good to have options!

Another thing to note: there has been a glitch reported where the very first SMS verification text sent from Chase to a new Tello number doesn’t work (“cold start” issue), but subsequently, all texts will go through.

Red Pocket eSIM

Red Pocket is one of the most affordable US phone number options available, at just $30/year (~$2.50/month) when prepaid annually. It runs on the AT&T network and can be purchased directly on eBay as an eSIM.

What’s included in the $30/year plan:

• Unlimited talk & text (via Wi-Fi Calling)
• 200 MB domestic data
• 1 GB of free data roaming per month
• Available as an eSIM with near-instant delivery by email

Pros:

• Exceptionally cheap at $2.50/month — the lowest cost option on this list.
• eSIM is available on eBay and can be delivered and activated without physically being in the US.
• Wi-Fi Calling is supported, allowing free calls and SMS over any internet connection from anywhere in the world.
• Includes 1 GB/month free international data roaming.
• Option to port in your existing US number from another carrier.
• Runs on AT&T network, which works with major US banks for SMS verification.

Cons:

• Activation requires a US VPN — the activation page may not function on a non-US IP address.
• The included 1 GB free roaming may not apply to all countries; check the Red Pocket international roaming coverage page to confirm your country is supported.
• Lower data allowance than some competitors if you need regular data usage.

To get started, purchase the Red Pocket eSIM on eBay. After purchase, you’ll receive an email with a confirmation code within about an hour. Connect to a US VPN, head to redpocket.com/activate, and follow the steps to register and install your eSIM.

Google Voice

Google Voice is a forwarding VoIP service that allows you to have a US number that, when called or messaged, automatically forwards the communication to your actual number.

Google Voice is the only free option on this list. However, frankly, you get what you pay for when it comes to US mobile phone number providers. There are limitations with this option. Nonetheless, it’s worth mentioning, and it may work just fine for some folks.

Setting up Google Voice comes with quite a few hurdles for Canadians. To do it, you need to have:

• US-based IP address (via a VPN)
• US VoIP that can receive a call/text

This might seem counterintuitive, but for whatever reason, there are some text apps that can be used to temporarily receive calls or texts, but aren’t suitable for long-term use, like Google Voice or the others mentioned above. These include:

• Telos
• Textverified

With the above in place, you will need to create a new Gmail account with US information, including your address. This will create a “US-based” Google account. Then, head to voice.google.com and sign up for Google Voice.

This video goes through the steps in detail:

When it asks for your home phone number, enter the number you got from Telos, Textverified, etc. Once that is verified, you can complete the steps and have your permanent Google Voice US phone number.

As I mentioned, this number can be a bit finicky, but it can apparently receive SMS messages for verification from Amex, Chase, and other banks (at least for some or most users).

Conclusion

Having your own US phone number, while not strictly required, is definitely a nice-to-have as you delve into the world of US credit cards. Hopefully, one of the above providers is a suitable option to get you going.

This is a rapidly changing space, so if you’ve heard of any other good and cheap US SIM providers, be sure to leave a comment below!