Toll-free number in US: Get one in three simple steps

Whether or not you’re located in North America, it is indeed possible to get a toll-free number in the US. 

Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about toll-free numbers in North America, including how to get one, what the benefits are, and how to pick the right provider and save money in the process.

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How do US toll-free numbers work?

A US toll-free number is a telephone number that lets people reach your business without paying long-distance fees. Instead of charging your callers, a toll-free number will bill your company for all expenses due.

Toll-free numbers can be reached by callers in countries that follow the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). That includes the US and Canada along with 18 other countries and regions like Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, and even the Caribbean. This means that callers in almost two dozen countries can use your toll-free phone number as intended.

The Federal Communications Commission manages North American toll-free numbers, with strict guidelines about how businesses should use these numbers. However, you don’t need to call the FCC to get a number — companies like OpenPhone offer toll-free numbers with prefixes like 844, 855, 866, and 888.

What area codes are available for US toll-free numbers?

While 800 numbers are far less available than even a decade ago, you can get an equally memorable phone number based on any of the following area codes:

• 833
• 844
• 855
• 866
• 877
• 888

The FCC released the 888 and 877 area codes as options in the 1990s. In this century, 833, 855, 866, and 833 have all been released.

5 key benefits of an American toll-free number

There are many reasons why your business should consider investing in toll-free phone numbers. Here are a few major reasons businesses use toll-free numbers. 

1. Separate business life from personal life

Incoming business calls routing to your personal number can make it very difficult to know when incoming calls are for work purposes.

With toll-free phone numbers, you can always see when a call you receive is a business call — and still receive both personal and work calls on the same device — giving you two numbers on one phone. 

Toll-free numbers also prevent you from posting your personal number online when you want to provide a number for potential customers to reach you. This greatly reduces your risks for spam calls, spoofing, and other malicious use.

2. Appear more professional to callers

A toll-free number makes your business instantly recognizable to customers around the world. Not only will your brand look more enticing to callers, but the professionalism of a toll-free number ensures you always look like a responsible organization.

Keep in mind that your toll-free number could also be used as a vanity number (think 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-888-SANDALS). Your company could get a major marketing asset just from owning a memorable toll-free number.

3. Allow international callers to reach your business

Customers can call your US toll-free number from thousands of cities around the world. This will encourage more international callers to reach out and learn about what you do. And since you can purchase a US toll-free number whether or not you live in the United States, you can reach callers in North America without you or potential customers having to pay long-distance fees.

And toll-free numbers are just the beginning. With OpenPhone, you can also purchase local numbers to provide a more directly relevant phone number that callers can reach in specific US or Canadian cities.

4. Helps establish a much larger presence

A US toll-free number will make your company look like a well-established organization. Seeing the simple three-digit code can encourage prospects to trust your brand with their business.

5. Easily get up and running 

You don’t need to buy specific hardware to use a US toll-free number. Using a VoIP phone system is as simple as claiming your number and utilizing a device you already own. 

With OpenPhone, you can start using the features of your new toll-free number almost immediately.

Why thousands of businesses use OpenPhone as their toll-free service provider

Some toll-free providers are much better than others. The sooner you can tell the difference, the sooner you can make informed decisions about which provider to choose.

Here are nine major reasons why teams go with OpenPhone as their US toll-free number provider.

1. Simple pricing structures

All toll-free numbers will cost some amount of money. However, you can still save some cash here and there by finding a business phone solution with a simple pricing structure.

With OpenPhone, you always know what you’ll be charged. Our pricing page shares our three plan options including any additional fees based on your team’s needs.

2. Multiple device access

American toll-free numbers no longer have to be tied down to a landline device.

Work from where you want by choosing a toll-free number provider that offers an app compatible across multiple devices.

At OpenPhone, you can access your US toll-free number (along with other numbers in your workspace) from any device — including laptops, cell phones, tablets, and desktops. You can also use our desktop or mobile app from any location. As long as you have a device and a WiFi connection, you can use your toll-free number from anywhere in the world.

3. Shared team numbers

Speaking of multiple devices, all members of your team should be able to work seamlessly across your toll-free phone number. With OpenPhone, everyone that has shared access to the number can see business calls and texts in the exact same place.

Plus, with shared contacts and call transfer features, you can keep everyone on the same page no matter where they live.

4. Time-saving features

Toll-free numbers should be a huge time saver for your business. OpenPhone gives you access to all the tools you need to reach more callers without making your to-do list more complicated.

For example, plug into technology like auto attendants directs callers to the right place at the right time. That way, your teams can spend less time routing calls and more time answering questions.

5. Call recording tools

OpenPhone has built-in call recording tools for your US toll-free numbers (and any other numbers in your workspace) so you can continually improve your training and quality assurance processes. You can use these tools to capture common questions and build an efficient FAQ page, help desk, or snippet library.

6. Text-based voicemail transcriptions

The best toll-free number providers will show a caller’s voicemails in context with the rest of your prior communication with them. At OpenPhone, we go the extra mile to convert your voicemail transcriptions into actual text. You can instantly copy and paste your text to another place or push your transcripts to a separate email account if you need that visibility elsewhere. 

You’ll never have to call another phone number to listen to your recordings or jump between separate sections for calls and texts.

7. SMS and MMS texting

In case, you need to use your toll-free number to send and receive SMS (text-based messages) and MMS (multimedia messages), OpenPhone lets you do that too. That way, you and your contacts can send pictures, GIFs, and even screenshots to one another, which can help you answer questions and resolve problems faster with the added context.

8. Third-party integrations

Connecting your OpenPhone number(s) to a third-party platform combines the simplicity of a toll-free number with the endless possibilities of your small business tech stack. You can integrate with tools like Slack to keep tabs on complicated or recurring caller issues. With this integration, you can automatically push incoming text messages to any Slack Channel.

You could also plug into HubSpot, so your team has a single source to review all customer interactions. If you’re interested in creating your workflows to save time on repetitive communication tasks, you could even connect with Zapier to 5,000+ other apps. 

9. Easy number porting

Have an existing phone number you want to bring to your new phone system? If your business already has a toll-free or local number (US or Canadian number), you can request to port the number straight from the OpenPhone app. 

OpenPhone’s porting process ensures you spend less time on the phone with support and more time calling your customers and clients.

What is a US toll-free number?

A US toll-free number is a type of business phone number that callers can reach without paying long-distance rates. The business that owns the toll-free number is responsible for paying all the bills associated with inbound calls. This means long-distance callers can reach your business without paying extra money to do so.

With OpenPhone, you don’t have to worry about paying a separate fee for toll-free minutes. 

Can I port my existing toll-free number to a new provider? 

Yes, most providers that offer North American toll-free numbers can also port your existing number into their system so you can use your current number with your new provider. OpenPhone allows you to port your existing toll-free number in just three steps.

1. Sign up for an OpenPhone account.
2. Fill out our 1-minute port request form from the web or desktop app.
3. Give us 5-10 business days to complete your request.

How much does a US toll-free number cost?

The price you’ll pay for a toll-free phone number depends on the phone service you decide to use. With some FCC-approved providers, you’ll be paying $15 or more per month to use a number, plus $0.06-$0.30 per minute to receive toll-free calls. Some providers also charge for outgoing calls.

You can access US toll-free numbers on any tier of OpenPhone’s pricing plan. OpenPhone plans start at $15 per user per month. Each user comes with one toll-free or local number, so you don’t have to buy new numbers every time your business grows.

Best of all, you don’t need to worry about paying for toll-free minutes or any surprise fees. All incoming come free with our Starter plan. You also won’t pay for any outbound toll-free calls to the US or Canada with OpenPhone.

What do I need to get started with a US toll-free number?

If you’re looking to get up and running today, run through this checklist for what you must have to operate a toll-free number or any other business numbers:

• US toll-free number provider: For a scalable, cost-effective option, you’ll want to go with a VoIP service provider like OpenPhone. Compared to desk phones and other outdated solutions, you don’t have to pay upfront for installation, hardware, long contracts, and other huge upfront expenses.
• Your preferred device: The best VoIP systems are accessible from multiple devices. You can use OpenPhone to call and text from your smartphone (iPhone and Android), laptop, or computer.
• Strong internet connection: The best VoIP solutions default to your internet connection so you’re not paying for data on your mobile phone. As long as you have a reliable internet provider, you can easily use your toll-free number.

Get a North American toll-free number now with OpenPhone

OpenPhone is the US toll-free number provider of choice for thousands of businesses worldwide. You and your team can receive international calls in seconds without paying a separate fee for toll-free minutes. Plus, you can integrate with our third-party integrations and use our auto attendant and call recording features to provide a seamless customer experience from anywhere. 

With OpenPhone, it only takes 10 minutes to get a virtual US toll-free number. And it all starts at just $15 per month per user. 

Get your US toll-free number today by signing up for OpenPhone’s seven-day free trial.