Getting a phone number for your business takes just a few clicks in dialnote. You can pick from local, toll-free, or international numbers depending on where your customers are, and you'll see capabilities and availability all in one place before you buy.
Choosing a Number Type#
When you add a new phone number, you'll pick from three main types:
Local numbers start with an area code from a specific city or region. They're great for businesses that want to appear local to their customers. If you run a plumbing company in Chicago, a 312 number tells callers you're right there in the city.
Toll-free numbers (like 800, 888, or 877) let customers call you for free. They work well for businesses with customers spread across the country since there's no "local" feel to consider.
Mobile numbers are available in some countries and give you flexibility for SMS messaging alongside voice calls.
Matching your market
Pick a local number with an area code where most of your customers are located. A familiar area code can increase answer rates by 15-20% compared to toll-free or out-of-area numbers.
Supported Countries#
dialnote currently offers phone numbers in these countries:
| Country | Number Types Available |
|---|---|
| United States | Local, Toll-free |
| Canada | Local, Toll-free |
| United Kingdom | Local, Toll-free, Mobile |
| France | Local |
The available number types update automatically when you pick a different country. Mobile numbers are only offered in the UK right now. For US and Canadian local numbers, you can filter by State (Province in Canada) and Area code to get exactly the number you want. You can also type an area code or a word into the search box (415 or CARE, for example), and the results refresh as you change any filter. Countries like the UK and France don't have state-level filtering since their numbering works differently.
Trial accounts
On a trial plan, you're limited to US and Canadian local numbers. The other types and countries unlock once you're on a paid plan.
Purchasing a New Number#
Here's how to get a new phone number:
- Go to Settings → Phone Numbers
- Click Add New Number in the top right
- dialnote opens on Your new business number with a suggested number. Click Claim this number to take it, or See more numbers to search yourself
- Select your country from the dropdown
- Choose your number type (local, toll-free, or mobile—options vary by country)
- For US and Canadian numbers, narrow down by State or Province and Area code
- Browse the available numbers—up to 10 show at a time
- Pick a number and review it in the confirmation screen
- Check the capability badges (Call, SMS, MMS) to make sure the number does what you need
- Click Confirm Purchase
After purchasing, you'll land on the number's settings page where you can set up call routing, recording, voicemail, and more. Only workspace admins and owners can buy new numbers.
Your plan has to allow it too. Without a plan that includes phone numbers, Add New Number opens an upgrade screen instead of the picker, and once you hit your plan's number limit you'll see a limit-reached screen. Ports that are still in flight count against that limit.
Verification required
You'll need to verify both your email address and your personal mobile number before purchasing phone numbers. If either one isn't done yet, a Confirm it's you panel sits above the confirm button with a Send verification code button, and the code field appears once you click it. This helps prevent fraud and keeps the platform secure for everyone.
Porting an Existing Number#
Already have a business number you want to keep? You can bring it over instead of buying a new one. On the Phone Numbers page, start a port-in request and dialnote walks you through the carrier details and verification.
Porting is available for US and Canada numbers today. Most US local ports run automatically. Canada ports, US toll-free ports, and any number whose portability check needs a closer look go through a manual review by our team. The number keeps working on your old carrier until the port finishes, so you won't miss calls during the switch.
Number Capabilities#
Each phone number shows its capabilities before you buy:
- Call — Can make and receive voice calls
- SMS — Can send and receive text messages
- MMS — Can send and receive picture messages
Not all numbers have every capability. Toll-free numbers in some countries might not support SMS, for example. Capabilities come straight from the carrier and can't be toggled on or off—what you see on the badge is what the number can do. Always check the badges before purchasing if you need specific features like text messaging.
Regulatory and Compliance Requirements#
Some numbers come with extra compliance steps depending on the country and how you plan to use them.
US numbers and A2P registration: If you buy a US local number and want to send SMS or MMS, you'll need to complete A2P 10DLC registration. For US toll-free numbers, toll-free verification is required. You'll see these warnings during the purchase process—registration happens after you buy the number.
UK numbers: Every local UK number needs a verified business address, and every mobile UK number needs an approved regulatory bundle with identity and address documentation. The purchase screen only lets you pick from what's already on file, so set these up in Settings → Addresses or Settings → Regulatory Bundles first. Until you pick one, the confirm button stays disabled.
International pricing varies
Pricing differs by country and number type, and international numbers can cost more than US-based numbers. The purchase flow itself doesn't show a per-number price.
What's Next?#
Once you have a phone number, head over to Phone Number Settings to configure how calls are handled, or check out Caller ID to learn about outbound calling options. If you bought a US number for texting, finish A2P 10DLC registration before sending SMS. You can also review the full Phone Numbers overview for how shared access and limits work.