Sideline Alternatives (2026): 8 Additional Options for a Second Business Number

What it does better than Sideline

OpenPhone offers a polished app with shared numbers, shared inboxes, and organized texting at $15/user/month, and a 4.7 G2 rating versus Sideline's 3.9. It works as a personal second line but grows into a small-team phone system. The overall experience is far more modern.

Where Sideline still wins

OpenPhone costs more than Sideline's $9.99, so a solo user needing only a basic second number pays a premium.

What it does better than Sideline

Google Voice delivers simple calling and texting inside Google Workspace at $10/user/month with reliable Google infrastructure and a 4.5 Capterra rating. If you already use Gmail and Calendar, setup is seamless and more dependable than Sideline. Voicemail transcription and spam filtering are strong.

Where Sideline still wins

Google Voice requires a Workspace subscription and is U.S.-centric with limited advanced features, so standalone users may prefer Sideline or a privacy app.

What it does better than Sideline

Hushed is a dedicated second-number app focused on privacy, with unlimited calling and texting from $4.99/month, below Sideline. It is ideal for keeping your real number private and calls between Hushed users are free. Provisioning a number takes moments.

Where Sideline still wins

Hushed is a consumer privacy app, so it lacks the business texting features, auto-replies, and team-oriented tools Sideline provides.

What it does better than Sideline

Burner lets you create and delete numbers on demand, with subscriptions from about $4.99/month billed annually. It is purpose-built for privacy and short-lived needs, which Sideline is not designed for. Spinning up or burning a number is instant.

Where Sideline still wins

Burner is a personal-privacy tool, so it lacks the persistent business identity and business-texting features that make Sideline useful for a small company.

What it does better than Sideline

Dialpad starts at $15/user/month and adds native AI transcription, summaries, and coaching that Sideline has no answer for. It is a full business phone system with stronger reliability and analytics. Teams wanting smart calling get a real platform rather than a lone number.

Where Sideline still wins

Dialpad is more system than a solo user needing a simple second number requires, and it costs more than Sideline.

What it does better than Sideline

RingCentral offers enterprise-grade calling, SMS, messaging, and video with strong uptime and a large integration marketplace starting at $20/user/month. When one number is no longer enough, it handles an entire company's communications. Reliability and depth far exceed Sideline's.

Where Sideline still wins

RingCentral is much more than a second number and requires more setup, making it overkill for a single user.

What it does better than Sideline

Nextiva combines dependable VoIP with strong support and a 4.6 Capterra rating, addressing the reliability gaps some Sideline users report. It scales into a full customer-engagement suite as needs grow. For a business that depends on its phone, it is the safer bet.

Where Sideline still wins

Nextiva is a full phone system at $20/user/month, so it is more than a simple second number and costs more than Sideline.

What it does better than Sideline

CallHippo provides virtual numbers in 50-plus countries at a low price, adding a global reach Sideline does not offer. It includes basic dialing, IVR, and integrations for small teams. For businesses that need numbers abroad, it goes where Sideline cannot.

Where Sideline still wins

CallHippo has its own call-quality and support complaints, so purely domestic users may not gain reliability over Sideline.