# Phoner vs Ghost

The clearest difference is monetization model: Phoner at free with in-app purchases against Ghost's subscription. Phoner also leads on chart position (#161 vs unranked) and ratings volume (35K vs 7.7K). Ghost's advantage is review sentiment (60% vs 49%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phoner sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Ghost sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Phoner against 4.6 for Ghost. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35K and 7.7K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Phoner's written reviews are positive against 60% of Ghost's.

Phoner ships an update every 2 weeks, Ghost every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phoner | Ghost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoner-second-phone-number/id1050267310/reviews) | **[4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-second-phone-number/id6466671844/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 7.7K |
| Positive reviews | 49.4% of reviews | **60.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#161** | — |
| Size | 200 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Phoner Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895136973) | [Openlife AI Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896485364) |

## What reviewers say

### Phoner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoner-second-phone-number/id1050267310)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Obtain and manage multiple virtual phone numbers for private texting and calling. Protect your real number while using services like online marketplaces and dating apps. Features include call recording and anonymous caller ID lookup.

**Highlights:** Second phone numbers, Private texting and calling, Call recording, Anonymous caller ID lookup, International calling and texting, Vanity number selection

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Second Phone Number Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Alternate Number Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Plus Monthly Trial | $14.99 | per month |
| Pick your phone number | $14.99 | per month |
| Second Number Trial Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Second Line Trial Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Extra Monthly Trial | $19.99 | per month |
| Starter Credit Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bronze Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Silver Pack | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Reliable service
- 🔒 Protects privacy
- 💡 Useful features like call recording

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive credits/subscription
- 🐛 Technical issues (numbers not working, messages not delivered)
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in pricing and features
- ❌ Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Numbers not working as expected
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent credit deduction for messages

**Requested features**

- Option to earn free credits
- Ability to deactivate numbers within the app
- Clearer explanation of how the service works


### Ghost

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-second-phone-number/id6466671844)

Get a private, local phone number to stop spam and protect your identity. Receive texts, make unlimited calls, and use a temporary number for online sign-ups and transactions without revealing your real number.

**Highlights:** Temporary phone number, Unlimited calls, SMS verification codes, Local area codes, VPN protection, Spam shielding, No contracts or SIMs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| VPN Protection | $9.99 | per 2 months |
| Premium | $14.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Multi-Plan - 10 Numbers | $19.99 | per 2 months |
| Premium | $29.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $49.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $139.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cuts spam calls
- 🔒 Keeps personal number private
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Transparent about costs
- 👍 Separate work and personal calls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Verification issues
- 🐛 Unable to send/receive messages
- 🐛 Unavailable area codes
- 🐛 Billing and subscription problems
- 🐛 Unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to delete conversations
- Inconsistent number availability
- Verification texts not received
- Calls not connecting properly

**Requested features**

- Allow multiple numbers and number switching
- Improve 2FA and verification process
- Add more customization and settings options
- Enhance call and messaging capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phoner free?

Phoner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ghost free?

Ghost is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phoner or Ghost?

Ghost is rated higher. Phoner averages 4.5 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Ghost averages 4.6 from 7.7K ratings.

### Do Phoner or Ghost have ads?

Neither Phoner nor Ghost shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phoner or Ghost?

Phoner ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ghost every 9 days. Most recently, Phoner was updated on November 5, 2026 and Ghost on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*