---
title: "Get a phone number (from ThunderPhone or your own)"
description: "Get a ThunderPhone number in seconds, or connect your VoIP provider to use numbers you already own."
---

Numbers are how callers reach your agent. On **Phone Numbers**
(`/dashboard/phone-numbers`), click **Add number** to see your two
options:

- **ThunderPhone number** — a real U.S. number from ThunderPhone's
  pool, live in seconds. It costs **{/* rate:phone */}$1/month plus a 1¢/minute{/* /rate */}
  surcharge** and starts as **inbound-only**. You can request permission
  to use it for outbound calls.
- **Connect VoIP provider** — import numbers you already own, or
  provision new ones, through your own provider. These numbers support
  outbound calls and campaigns without requesting ThunderPhone-number access.

## The ThunderPhone path

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose ThunderPhone number">
    In the Add-number chooser, pick **ThunderPhone number**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Pick who answers">
    Select the **agent that answers this number** and (optionally) a
    preferred area code.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Get the number">
    Click **Get number**. The number appears in your table and is
    ready to take calls within seconds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Provisioning auto-routes the number to your agent — the **Inbound**
select on the number's row shows who answers, and you can change it
anytime.

<Note>
  ThunderPhone numbers start as inbound only. To request outbound access,
  select **Request outbound calling** on the Phone Numbers page and tell us
  how many outbound calls per day you need, your use case, how you obtain
  consent, and your website. Once approved, you can request a higher daily
  limit from the same page. Numbers from your own VoIP provider have no daily
  limit. We review each request by hand and show the result on the page.
  You can still connect your own carrier for outbound calling without this
  permission. An organization can hold 25 ThunderPhone numbers by default;
  request a higher limit from the same page if you need more.
</Note>

## The VoIP path

**Connect VoIP provider** takes you to **Connections → VoIP** — the
full flow is covered in
[Connect a VoIP provider](/guides/voip-providers). In short, two
routes:

- **Connect a provider you already use**: paste an API key for
  **Twilio** or **Telnyx**, or pick **SignalWire**, **Vonage**,
  **Plivo** or **Other provider** to fill in SIP trunk details, with
  provider-specific steps for the named ones and a **Generate AI Setup
  Guide** button for any trunk. Both end with a connection test.
- **Set up a new Telnyx account**: a step-by-step flow that walks you
  through creating a Telnyx account, generating an API key, and
  connecting, with a **Connect & Test** check at the end.

Once connected, import the numbers you want; imported numbers support
inbound **and outbound**. The programmatic version of this flow is
[Bring your own numbers (API)](/guides/bring-your-own-numbers).

## Manage your numbers

Each row in the numbers table gives you:

- **Copy** the number, and a **label** field to name it.
- **Routing mode** and the **Inbound** agent select.
- An **actions** menu (⋯) for everything else, including release.

### Label phone numbers

In **Phone Numbers**, select **Add label** beside a number, enter 1–100
characters, and save. Use **Edit label** or **Remove label** to change it later.
Labels are shared across your organization and can also identify external
caller or destination numbers from call history. They appear in call details
and under **Exclude numbers from analysis** in AI reports.
Developers can manage the same E.164-based labels with the [Phone Number Labels
API](/api-reference/phone-number-labels).

## Hear it for real

Dial the number from your own phone and talk to your agent. Or run a
[simulation](/guides/simulate-a-call) and let an AI caller do it.

---

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Simulate a call" icon="flask" href="/guides/simulate-a-call">
    An AI caller rings your new number.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Bring your own numbers (API)" icon="phone-volume" href="/guides/bring-your-own-numbers">
    The VoIP connect-import-verify flow over REST.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Phone numbers API" icon="code" href="/api-reference/phone-numbers">
    Provision and assign programmatically.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Run outbound campaigns" icon="megaphone" href="/guides/outbound-campaigns">
    Use an outbound-enabled customer VoIP or ThunderPhone number at scale.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>