Toll-free numbers: the 7 prefixes and how to get one
The US uses 7 toll-free prefixes, beginning with 800 in 1966 and ending with 833 in 2017. The business covers the call cost, and the number comes with a plan and is never sold.
Toll-free providers ranked by first-year cost
Each provider listed assigns toll-free numbers as part of its plan. First-year cost combines the 12-month plan price with any number fee listed on the pricing page.
| 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 | The US & CA Metered plan has a $10.50 monthly price under yearly billing. | $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 ranking always stays based on first-year cost. How we earn
The way toll-free numbers work
Who covers the cost of a toll-free call?
It is the number holder. With a US landline or most mobile plans, the caller pays nothing.
Can you sell a toll-free number?
That is not allowed. Under FCC rules (47 CFR 52.107), brokering and hoarding are banned. A RespOrg reserves it for you, and you keep it throughout your plan.
Is every one of the 7 prefixes the same?
They work the same way. Because 800 is the best known, free 800 words are the hardest to find. The newest prefix, 833, offers the largest number of open numbers.
If I move to another provider, can I hold on to my toll-free number?
You can. You can move a toll-free number to a new RespOrg; see porting instructions.