866 area code: is it toll-free and how to get one
Yes: 866 has served as a US toll-free prefix since 2000. Calls are paid for by the business the number is assigned to, and the number is never sold.
- Toll-free
- Yes
- Used since
- 2000
- Which party pays for the call?
- The holder of the number
- Is an outright purchase possible?
- No, per 47 CFR 52.107
- The country code
- +1 for US, Canada and the Caribbean
For toll-free numbers, see 47 CFR Part 52, Subpart D; prefix dates come from the NANPA toll-free history.
Get a 866 number
You receive a toll-free number as part of a plan. Your provider asks its RespOrg to hold the number for you. You can request 866 as the prefix, along with a word number if one is free.
| Provider | Cheapest plan | First year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 Developer API | Pay-as-you-go local number, $1.15 a month | $13.80 | Open Twilio |
 Toll-free specialist | Solo, $6.99 a month billed yearly | $84 | Open UniTel Voice |
 Second-number app | Deluxe (local number), $6.99 a month billed yearly | $102.88 | Open GoDaddy Conversations (formerly Smartline) |
 Business phone system | US & CA Metered plan, $10.50 each month, billed yearly | $126 | Open Zoom Phone |
 Business phone system | Starter, $12 a month billed yearly | $144 | Open KrispCall |
 Second-number app | Elite, $12 a month billed yearly | $144 | Open eVoice |
 Second-number app | True Solo, $14 a month billed yearly | $168 | Open Grasshopper |
 Business phone system | NEXT Core, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Nextiva |
 Business phone system | Basic, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Phone.com |
 Business phone system | Starter, $15 a month billed yearly | $180 | Open Quo (formerly OpenPhone) |
 Toll-free specialist | Startup, $19 a month billed yearly | $228 | Open 800.com |
 Business phone system | RingEX Core, $20 a month billed yearly | $240 | Open RingCentral |
 Business phone system | Essentials, $19.95 a month | $269.35 | Open Ooma Office |
Some sellers and providers may pay us a referral fee. The order remains based on first-year cost and never changes. How we earn
Use it to spell a word
After 866, each digit represents letters, so the final 7 digits can form a word. Find digits for your word or see how vanity toll-free numbers are assigned.
866 number questions
Is 866 a scam?
No. Businesses and agencies use 866 as a genuine toll-free prefix. Scammers can rent toll-free numbers too, and they can fake the caller ID, so weigh the call rather than the prefix. Never share a code or card number with a caller you did not expect.
Is it free to call a 866 number?
Yes, when you call from US landlines or most mobile plans. The holder of the number pays. International calls may be blocked or charged.
Can I buy a 866 number?
A toll-free number cannot be sold. A provider assigns one to you with a plan, and it remains yours while you continue paying.