Giving someone the ability to contact you at any time feels very personal, but if you’ve ever sold something online or been pressured by a website for your details, you’ve probably given out your phone number reluctantly.
The creators of Surfshark, one of the best VPNs, have introduced a new feature to their existing Alternative ID tool that might put an end to unwanted contacts and spam calls. This new feature, called Alternative Number, is a paid add-on to Surfshark’s Alternative ID system, allowing you to generate a disposable “spoof” number for specific purposes.
Understanding Alternative Number
All Surfshark subscriptions come with the Alternative ID feature, which lets you randomly generate a fake name, date of birth, and home address to use online when you prefer not to share your real information. The new Alternative Number add-on enhances this by allowing you to generate a fake phone number. This isn’t just a random string of digits—the number actually works and can be linked to an Alternative ID profile.
Incoming messages and calls are routed through the Surfshark app via the internet, eliminating roaming charges. While you can’t make outgoing calls, you can respond to texts and answer calls, keeping your real number private. You can even change the number for free every 30 days.
To access Alternative Number, log into your Surfshark account, select “Upgrade to Alternative Number,” and click “Add to Plan.”
The Importance of Hiding Your Phone Number
Beyond avoiding unwanted contacts, handing out your phone number when signing up for online services can be risky. Your number can be sold or added to marketing databases, leading to spam calls. Even companies with good intentions can be hacked, exposing your number.
Alternative Number essentially acts as a virtual “burner phone,” allowing you to give out a disposable number. “Alternative Number is meant to be used on websites with vague privacy protection practices or when you’re asked to post your number publicly,” says Sarunas Serieka, Alternative ID Project Manager. It’s not designed for trusted services like governments or banks.
However, Alternative Number can’t be used for two-factor authentication codes, but it’s still a useful tool.
Cost and Availability of Alternative Number
The cost of Alternative Number depends on the remaining duration of your Surfshark subscription. Prices range from $2.99 to $4.99 per month (before taxes). Although this might seem high for an add-on, Surfshark itself is one of the cheapest, fastest VPNs with support for unlimited connections.
Currently, only US numbers are available with Alternative Number.