Vanity toll-free numbers: how to get 1-800 words

How toll-free vanity numbers work

The digits of a vanity toll-free number spell a word on the keypad, and the prefixes are 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833, as in 1-800-FLOWERS. Buying one of these numbers outright is not possible. FCC rule 47 CFR 52.107 treats a fee to sell a toll-free number as brokering and bans that practice. As a result, a provider assigns a 1-800 vanity number to you, and what you pay for is the service rather than the number itself.

How a vanity number on the 1-800 prefix gets assigned

Every toll-free number is recorded in the Service Management System, one national database for all of them. You pick a company to handle your number's record in that database, and that company is a Responsible Organization (RespOrg), as 47 CFR 52.101 sets out. Either your phone provider acts as your RespOrg, or it works with one.

1. You tell the provider the word you want, using one or more prefixes.
2. The provider looks in the database. Under 47 CFR 52.111, the FCC may assign numbers first-come, first-served, through competitive bidding, or by some other method.
3. The RespOrg reserves the number for you if it is free. It may not reserve numbers without a customer; the FCC calls that warehousing (47 CFR 52.105).
4. You end up as the toll-free subscriber, and calls to the number ring wherever your plan sends them.

Because the prefixes opened at different times, the older ones have had more time to fill up:

PhoneNumberGuy reports that most desirable toll-free numbers are already taken. If 800 already carries your word, check that same word on 888 and on the newer prefixes. Check the toll-free numbers pages for each prefix, plus the 800 number page for the original prefix.

Why can't I buy a vanity 800 number?

Under 52.107, acquiring a toll-free number to sell it is barred for anyone, and no subscriber may take more numbers than it intends to use. This is why the listings that seem to be sales are really licenses:

• RingBoost says these numbers can only be licensed. RingBoost remains the subscriber of record, and for the contract term you get exclusive use, nationwide or in your market area. Porting its licensed numbers to another carrier is not possible. According to its cost guide, licenses typically run $15 to $100 a month or more.
• Shared use: with RingBoost, one number can be licensed to businesses in separate areas, such as 1-800-HOMECARE in New York and in Florida, where each business receives only its own callers. Prices from CallSource come on request, and it licenses vanity numbers nationwide, by state, by province, or by area code.
• With NumberBarn, a toll-free number license comes with a monthly fee and a service plan, and activation takes 7 to 10 days.
• PhoneNumberExpert shows toll-free numbers with one-time prices starting at $299.99, even though its own FAQ describes licensing a toll-free number.

Numbers assigned through FCC competitive bidding are the one case the rule does not cover.

What this means for you: a number your own provider assigns to you makes you the subscriber, and you can usually move it with you. When the license ends, a licensed number stays with the broker.

Providers that will look for a vanity toll-free number

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, $10.50 monthly with 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

We may earn a referral fee from certain sellers and providers. The order never changes, and it is based on first-year cost. How we make money

Vanity numbers come up in the plans of four providers in the table:

• Solo at UniTel Voice costs $84 for the first year, billed yearly. Every plan includes a custom vanity number as an option, subject to availability, and extra toll-free or local numbers cost $4.99 a month.
• True Solo from Grasshopper costs $168 for the first year, billed annually. Your signup choice can be a toll-free number or a vanity number, and extra numbers cost $9 a month.
• Startup from 800.com costs $228 for the first year, billed yearly. Vanity numbers become active in 1 to 5 days, and its Vanity Marketplace holds premium vanity numbers. Each extra number costs $15 monthly.
• RingCentral: $240 for year one on RingEX Core, billed annually. Each additional vanity number comes with a one-time charge of $30, then $4.99 every month.

See how every option compares on toll-free number providers.

Toll-free numbers with long words

A toll-free number can spell out a word of more than 7 letters. According to RingBoost, the call starts to complete once seven digits have been dialed, whatever the caller presses after that, which is why 1-800-HOMECARE works. Use words to phone number to see how a word dials, and the vanity number generator to test spellings.

Questions

How much does a vanity 800 number cost?

A vanity toll-free number on a provider plan comes down to the plan price, starting at $84 for the first year with UniTel Voice. A number a broker licenses typically runs $15 to $100 or more each month from RingBoost.

Is buying a 1-800 number possible?

No. Under 47 CFR 52.107, you may not sell a toll-free number for a fee. A provider can assign one to you, or you can license one from a broker.

How do I find out if a vanity 800 number is available?

Search a provider's site for the word, or ask a provider to check the national database. Both 800.com and NumberBarn let you look up toll-free numbers by keyword.

Can I take my vanity toll-free number to a different provider?

Yes, if you are the subscriber. Toll-free numbers are ported in by 800.com, Ooma and KrispCall. You cannot port a number that RingBoost licenses.

What is the way to get a vanity number on a local line?

Sellers sell local vanity numbers outright. Read more in how to get a vanity number.