How to text with a different number

Impact

There may come a time in your life where you need to text from a different phone number. Maybe you're working on an elaborate surprise party scheme, or maybe you need to reach out to someone with sensitive information. Regardless of the reason, there is a way to text without revealing your actual phone number. And best of all, it's remarkably easy.

Text with a different number using Google Voice 

Google Voice is an app (desktop and mobile) that designates a single number for all of your phone devices, whether landline or cellular. As Google likes to put it, it's "a phone number that is tied to you, not to a device or a location." When you set up Google Voice, you'll receive an entirely new phone number that can be used to text, make phone calls or listen to voicemail. Best of all, it's completely free — the only requirement is a Google account.

Here's a brief video explaining how exactly Google Voice works:

With Google Voice you can even text from a computer, read transcriptions of voicemails and make international calls (for an additional price). 

Assuming you haven't already been using Google Voice as your default number, it's a great way to pivot to anonymity should you ever need it. Google has directions to register for Voice number, which you can find right here