![Best Mobile VoIP Service for Privacy and Anonymity Best Mobile VoIP Service for Privacy and Anonymity](https://digitalprivacy.shop/image/cache/catalog/blog/dps-icon-blog-header-voip-1060x400w.png)
Introduction
While Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has been around for years, you may think it is only for residential or business landlines. Remember Vonage and Magic Jack? More recently, VoIP has become a popular choice for smartphones as an alternative to making calls and texts with a real phone number. Especially if you want to prevent mobile carriers from recording your voice calls and text messages, VoIP services have become a viable replacement.
List of VoIP services reviewed
How VoIP on Mobile Devices Work
When signing up for a VoIP service, you receive a real phone number (or multiple numbers depending on the service). To place and receive calls and texts on your smartphone, you will install an app from the service provider. Upon granting permissions to your contacts, you can easily call or text friends and family with your new number. In some cases, the service integrates into the native phone dialer app, creating a seamless calling experience. The VoIP service will also work alongside an existing mobile plan if you choose to configure the phone that way.
Remember that VoIP utilizes Internet Protocol as its network, not the cellular network. So an internet connection or mobile data plan is required. If you're connected to your home's Wi-Fi network, or if you have an existing mobile plan with data, this isn't a problem. If you prefer ditching or replacing your current carrier, a "data-only" mobile plan is the way to go. Several carriers offer data-only plans in gigabyte (GB) increments. We'll discuss some of these plans later in this article.
Criteria to Make the List
Searching the internet for VoIP services yields dozens of results, most of them focused on residential or business landline service. In our case, we're interested in services that function on mobile devices and prioritize user's privacy. We also need to distinguish -- from whom are we protecting our privacy? You'll find that two of the services in our review focus on keeping the user private or anonymous from people they call (i.e. for dating, account sign-ups, and 2FA requirements). While that's a valid concern, we're also interested in privacy protection from Big Tech data collection and 3-letter government agencies that monitor personal voice calls and text messages. We'll distinguish these differences in our evaluations below.
1. JMP.chat
![](https://digitalprivacy.shop/image/catalog/blog/voip-services/jmpchat-header.png)
JMP.chat provides VoIP services with the added benefit of encrypted communication. They have essentially created a private gateway to the telephone network. This is done by bridging the public switched telephone network (PSTN) with Jabber - a decentralized, federated, and encrypted communication standard powered by XMPP. Using JMP's Cheogram app, or compatible XMPP client, voice calls and text messages are encrypted from the user's device to the JMP server, shielding call and text data from your ISP or mobile carrier.
The Cheogram app is open source and available on F-Droid. To sign up, you'll first need a Jabber ID, similar to an email address but on the Jabber network. Although it's an extra step, it creates the ability to use their service from any computer, laptop, or mobile device with a compatible client. To learn more, check out Joinjabber.org. Signing up for your phone number can be done from JMP's website or through the Cheogram app.
It's no secret that we are fans of JMP's service. We've partnered with them to provide a privacy-focused phone service that complements our de-googled devices. Customers who purchase a digital device from us get their first month of service for free.
US and Canada phone numbers available
$4.99 USD or $6.59 CAD per month; international calling supported - rates apply
Additional phone numbers only $2.50/mo
No KYC required to sign up
Works on computers, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets
Cryptocurrency payments in BTC, XMR, and ETH accepted
Open source app
Encrypted communication from your device to the JMP server
On-boarding is rather lengthy, involving multiple steps
2. Brax Virtual Phone
![](https://digitalprivacy.shop/image/catalog/blog/voip-services/braxme-header.png)
Rob Braxman is a well-known businessman and privacy tech content creator who offers privacy-focused solutions from his Brax.me website and app. He recently added a VoIP service called Brax Virtual Phone. Users create an account on brax.me and then purchase the service from the in-app store. Just like other VoIP services you can choose a US and Canada-based phone number. Once provisioned, calls and texts can be made directly from the app or set up on LinPhone using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
Brax Virtual Phone is an affordable, no-frills VoIP solution. Basically, what you see is what you get. Braxman emphasizes that the service is for a small privacy-friendly community and there is no KYC required to sign up. Customers can pay anonymously with BTC and ETH cryptocurrency, money order, and Amazon gift cards.
US and Canada phone numbers available
Limited plan for $60/yr, unlimited plan for $180/yr
No KYC required to sign up
Cryptocurrency payment in BTC and ETH accepted
Other payments accepted are PayPal, Zelle, money order and Amazon gift card
3. Hushed
![](https://digitalprivacy.shop/image/catalog/blog/voip-services/hushed-header.png)
Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Hushed has been around since 2013 providing "affordable private phone number solutions" according to their website. Their focus is on simple, organized solutions for managing multiple phone numbers. Features include auto-reply messages, managing separate contact lists, custom voicemail greetings, call forwarding and call routing. Unfortunately their app is proprietary, not open source, but works on both phones and tablets.
Hushed claims calls and texts are private and anonymous, but that's only from the perspective of whomever receives your call or text message. Their focus is not on protecting privacy from Big Tech data collection or government surveillance. In fact, they are well integrated with Apple and Google. You are forced to complete Google Captcha to sign up and the app is only available from Apple App Store and Google Play Store. However, Android users can find it on Aurora Store or download and install the APK directly from a 3rd party APK repository in order to avoid Google Play Store. While they offer cryptocurrency payments, they rely on Coinbase for 3rd party payment processing.
US and Canada phone numbers for $4.99/mo
International calling/text from US/Canada $6.99/mo
Easily organize and manage multiple phone numbers
Use on smartphones and tablets
Cryptocurrency payments through Coinbase
Proprietary app
Reliance on Google and Apple
4. MySudo
![](https://digitalprivacy.shop/image/catalog/blog/voip-services/mysudo-header.png)
MySudo offers very affordable VoIP service for US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore phone numbers. Their service is the least expensive of all that we reviewed. A single "Sudo" phone number can be purchased for $0.99/mo, three for $4.99/mo, and nine for $14.99/mo. They claim end-to-end encryption when communicating with other MySudo users. Plans also include email aliases, or "Sudo" email addresses, and the app is user friendly and convenient. Sadly, that's where the advantages end.
Users are forced to download and set up the proprietary app through Google Play Store or Apple App Store. There is no cryptocurrency or anonymous payment option. In fact, only credit cards on file with Google Play Store are accepted as payment. MySudo is firmly in bed with Google and Big Tech and has not made any effort to support open source solutions or anonymous on-boarding. Like Hushed, MySudo claims privacy and anonymity but only to hide your identity from recipients of calls and texts.
US, UK, Singapore, NZ, CA, AUS phone numbers available
Get one Sudo phone number $0.99/mo; Get three Sudo numbers $4.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted calls with other MySudo users
Easily organize and manage multiple phone numbers
Sudo email addresses
Proprietary app
Credit cards must be on file with Google Play Store
Must sign up through Google account
Conclusion
We recommend JMP.chat and Brax Virtual Phone for those seeking real privacy from Big Tech and state-sponsored surveillance. If you just want a streamlined setup and simple way to manage multiple virtual phone numbers, Hushed is a decent choice. Regardless of which one is right for you, we always recommend a VoIP solution on a de-googled mobile phone or tablet. You'll be totally protected from Big Tech data collection and tracking. Check out our selection of de-googled Android phones and tablets and contact us with any questions.