What Does a Virtual Phone Number Cost? The Full Breakdown

A virtual phone number usually costs somewhere between a few euros and about €20 a month, depending on the country and usage. The total cost breaks down into four parts: a one-time setup fee, a monthly base fee, per-minute rates, and the contract term. At Clevver, for example, a US number costs €1.99 a month, with no setup fee.

Sounds straightforward. As usual, the details are where it gets interesting. So here's the full picture, piece by piece.

The four cost components

1. Setup fee

A one-time charge when the number is activated. Some countries have none, while local carriers elsewhere charge a fee that providers pass on. At Clevver, for example, setting up a US number is free.

2. Monthly base fee

This is what you pay for owning the number and being reachable, even if nobody calls. The range is wide: numbers in the US or Canada tend to be cheap, while local numbers in some European or Asian countries cost noticeably more. That's down to differing regulation and network costs.

3. Per-minute rates

This is where it gets interesting, since there are two directions:

• Incoming calls with forwarding. When a call gets connected to your phone, per-minute charges apply. For a US number at Clevver, these start at €0.01 per minute.
• Outgoing calls. When you call out through the virtual number, you pay based on the destination. At Clevver, rates range from €0.01 to €2.35 per minute, with mobile numbers usually costing more than landlines.

4. Contract term

Not a price in the strict sense, but a real cost factor. A number at €3 a month with a 24-month minimum term costs you at least €72, even if you stop needing it after two months. Clevver phone numbers are cancellable monthly, with 14 days' notice.

Worked example: a translation agency with two markets

Picture a small translation agency in Leipzig, two partners, specializing in technical documentation for machine manufacturers. Half their work now comes from US subsidiaries of German companies.

Clients in Ohio and Michigan occasionally wanted to call to clarify terminology questions. Instead of a German number, they set up a US number that rings on the office phone in Leipzig.

A typical month looks like this:

| Item | Amount | Cost | |---|---|---| | US number base fee | 1 month | €1.99 | | Incoming minutes (forwarded) | 150 min × €0.01 | €1.50 | | Outgoing callbacks to the US | per rate | variable | | Total excluding callbacks | | €3.49 |

For the price of a pastry a month, the agency has a local presence in its second-biggest market. If that brings in even one extra translation job a year, the number has paid for itself many times over.

Prices in this example reflect Clevver's US number pricing as of September 2026. Current prices for every country are on the phone numbers page.

What to check when comparing prices

Most people comparing providers look at the base fee first. It's more useful to check these points instead:

• Minimum term. Cancellable monthly, or locked in for 12 to 24 months?
• Forwarding rates. Are incoming minutes included, or billed separately?
• Setup costs. These can add up noticeably for local numbers in Europe.
• Verification. What documents does the provider require? A cheap price doesn't help if the number never gets activated due to missing paperwork.
• Extras. Is voicemail by email or multiple numbers on one account included?

What a virtual number saves you compared to the alternative

The cheapest alternative to a virtual number often isn't a cheaper number, it's no number at all, meaning a second phone or a second mobile contract. That usually comes with a 24-month term, an extra device, and no way to use numbers from other countries.

The difference gets even clearer against an actual local presence. A small office in another city, just to get a local number and address there, quickly costs several hundred euros a month.

The full package: what number, address, and mail cost together

Many businesses looking for a virtual number actually need a complete presence in a location: a number, an address, and someone to accept the mail.

That combination can be put together modularly:

• Phone number for reachability, cancellable monthly
• Business address in one of 33 cities, such as Berlin, Munich, London, or New York
• Digital mailbox, which scans your mail and makes it available via app, cancellable monthly with 14 days' notice

The Leipzig translation agency, incidentally, added the digital mailbox next. The two partners work from home two days a week, and "did you check the mailbox yet?" hasn't come up since.

Cost FAQ

Are there free virtual phone numbers? Some offers skip the base fee, usually with limits on features, availability, or reliability. For business use, a number with transparent costs and clear verification is generally the better choice.

Why are numbers more expensive in some countries? Prices depend on local carriers and regulation. Local numbers tend to cost more than national ones, and some countries require additional checks.

Do I pay for incoming calls? When a call gets forwarded to your phone, per-minute charges usually apply. For a US number at Clevver, these start at €0.01 per minute.

How do I cancel? Clevver phone numbers are cancellable monthly, with 14 days' notice, directly online. Still have questions? → Contact us