Surfshark’s Alternative Number: Ultimate Privacy from Spam and Data Leaks

What Is Surfshark’s Alternative Number?

Launched in July 2024, Alternative Number is a VoIP-based masking layer baked into the Surfshark One privacy suite — Surfshark support doc. It provisions a carrier-grade U.S. line that receives SMS and voice calls, then securely forwards them through the Surfshark app to your device. Unlike prepaid SIMs, you can swap or pause the number in one click, while Surfshark’s infrastructure keeps your real phone unreachable from the outside world.

GlobeNewswire’s product announcement likened it to “a digital alias for your voice and texts” — official press release. The service integrates with Surfshark’s Alternative ID (alias email + persona generator) and sits beside the VPN, Antivirus and Alert breach-monitor tools.

Under the Hood: Masking Logic Explained

At signup Surfshark allocates a DID (direct-inward-dial) number from its U.S. inventory. Incoming PSTN traffic hits Surfshark’s SIP edge, passes through TLS-encrypted trunks into their cloud, and is then bridged to your device as:

• Push VoIP: calls appear in your native dialer via CallKit (iOS) or Telecom API (Android).
• Encrypted SMS: texts land inside the Surfshark app; reply messages travel back through the same tunnel.

Because the flow is inbound-only, Surfshark sidesteps carrier origination fees and SIM identity checks. That’s why you can’t cold-dial or cold-text new contacts — you reply to whoever contacts your alt number first, satisfying most marketplace, dating or OTP scenarios. The architecture mirrors what privacy tools like ChatOdyssey Relay do, but Surfshark keeps it in-house rather than offering API access.

Key Features at a Glance

Top Benefits for Everyday Users

Robocall Immunity. Share your alt number on sweepstakes and coupon sites; spam hits the sandbox, not your SIM.
Marketplace Safety. Craigslist buyers reach you without learning your real phone.
Dating Privacy. Keep Bumble matches in a silo until you trust them.
Data-Broker Evasion. Brokers trade phone numbers like currency; masking stops that leak at the source.
Cost Efficiency. Bundled inside an existing Surfshark plan — cheaper than maintaining a second carrier line.

Surfshark vs Burner Apps vs ChatOdyssey Relay

Sources: Surfshark support, 9to5Google feature hands-on, CyberNews review, TechRadar guide, Burner vs Hushed comparison, ChatOdyssey pricing.

How to Set Up Alternative Number

1. Subscribe to any Surfshark plan (VPN only or Surfshark One).
2. In the app, open Alternative ID → Number  ➜ tap Add Number.
3. Select “United States” as your region and confirm the add-on price.
4. Grant microphone & notification permissions; Surfshark will now generate your line.
5. Copy the number and share it wherever you’d normally post your real phone.
6. Use Pause or Change Number in the dashboard if spam appears.

Pricing & Value

The add-on costs $4.99 on a monthly plan, falling to ~$2.99 when bundled into Surfshark’s 24-month deal (CyberNews review). Considering Surfshark VPN alone often runs $2–$3 per month, Alternative Number effectively doubles the fee while adding a whole identity-layer. Compare that with Burner’s $7.99 stand-alone subscription or Hushed’s $3.99 per line: Surfshark ends up competitive once you factor the VPN. Meanwhile, ChatOdyssey’s $4.99 covers both a static line and unlimited custom email relay, appealing to creators who need branded mailboxes and phone masking in one product.

Practical Use-Cases

• Online Marketplaces: post Craigslist ads without risking SIM-swappers.
• Event Sign-ups & Coupons: retrieve discount codes then rotate the number monthly.
• Freelance Consulting: share a semi-public line on resumes, keep your real phone sacred.
• Dating Apps: text matches safely until mutual trust builds.
• Travel Abroad: stay reachable on a U.S. number via Wi-Fi, no roaming surprise.

Who Gets the Most Value?

Best fit: existing Surfshark VPN users, privacy maximalists and anyone who wants a single subscription covering network encryption, malware blocking and phone masking.
Might skip: users who need non-U.S. numbers today or heavy outbound callers (they’ll prefer Burner / ChatOdyssey API line). Surfshark plans to widen coverage beyond the U.S. in future, according to 9to5Google’s February 2025 hands-on (article).

Final Thoughts

Surfshark’s Alternative Number is a smart expansion of its privacy ecosystem: one login, one bill, many protections. It doesn’t replace full-featured second-line apps for sales reps, but it does obliterate the spam nightmare that follows sharing your real number online. Add the fact that you’re already getting a world-class VPN, antivirus and breach alerts, and the $3-5 monthly add-on feels like small change for peace of mind. If you want dial-out flexibility plus unlimited email aliases, consider ChatOdyssey Phone Relay. Otherwise, Surfshark Alternative Number is poised to become the go-to privacy Swiss-army-knife for 2025.

Sources

• Surfshark Support – What is Alternative Number?
• GlobeNewswire – Launch Press Release
• 9to5Google – Hands-on Review
• CyberNews – In-depth Review
• TechRadar – How-to Guide
• Burner Blog – Burner vs Hushed
• ChatOdyssey Phone Relay – Free Trial & Pricing