How do I buy a phone number, should it be toll-free or local, and how do I choose where its calls go?

1. Go to Settings, then Phone.
2. Click Buy a number.
3. Choose the type of number, toll free or local, and search. Search any area code you want, or for a toll-free number set the type to Toll free and click Search. If you do not see the type option, click the small expander on the right to show the filters. Use the Toll free type rather than only typing a prefix such as 833 or 855, which can return local numbers or nothing.
4. Pick a number and click Buy. It is added to your account under My numbers.
5. Edit the number and set its destination.
6. Call the number from your own phone to test it.

Each phone number has its own destination. By default a number rings the built-in web phone. To forward calls to your cell phone, set the destination to that phone number. To have an AI agent answer, choose the agent from the list, or open the agent's Channels and turn on the switch for that phone number, and make sure both the agent and the phone number are turned on. You can also start from inside an AI agent: click the button to add a phone number, which opens the phone number search page, then flip the switch for that number in the agent and the agent answers calls on it. The AI assistant can also order and configure a number for you.

Everyone has the built-in web phone. You can click to call, change the caller ID you call from, use your own voicemail and set your own hold music. Its Follow Me feature lets calls reach you even when you are not logged in to the platform. To dial out, select your phone number and dial. You can group numbers into folders to stay organized.

We typically recommend a toll-free number for most businesses, especially when you are starting out or serve customers nationally. A caller cannot hide behind a blocked or private caller ID when calling a toll-free number, so you always get their number in your CRM, always have the lead and can call them back. With a local number, a private caller shows as unknown. A toll-free number also gives a professional look and feel, and it can be used for texting after toll-free verification, so you do not need a second number for that.

A local number can be the better choice for a purely local business, such as a local marketing agency, because some people trust a local number more. Weigh the pros and cons for your business. If your customers are overseas, get a number in their country or area code so they are not making an international call.

Toll-free numbers starting with 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888 cost the same as a regular number and work the same way. Traditional 800 numbers are running out and are very expensive, so choose one of the other prefixes. Vanity numbers that spell something work well. You can search for patterns such as numbers ending in zeros, but popular ones are usually taken.

You can have as many numbers as you want, for example a local number on your main website and a toll-free number for a specific campaign. One 10DLC registration covers up to 49 phone numbers, so you do not register each number.

If you want to bring an existing number from another provider, click Transfer number or contact support.