The short answer
Burner sells real second numbers on auto-renewing plans with unlimited calls and texts. Ghost sells credits that never expire and gives you no number. If you text strangers now and then, Ghost usually costs less; if you live on that second line, Burner fits better.
Why people look for a Burner alternative
You pay for the line every month
As of October 2026, Burner’s pricing page lists Standard at $7.99 a month and Premium at $12.99, or $47.99 and $69.99 billed yearly, each with one number and unlimited calls and texts. New users get a 3-day free trial through Apple or Google. Good value if you use the line constantly, wasted in the months you don’t.
US and Canadian numbers only
Burner’s help center says its lines can only interact with US and Canadian numbers, so you can’t text a seller in London or a landlord in Sydney from one.
You need a qualifying phone number to sign up
Burner is available in the US, Canada and Australia, and the phone number on your account has to be from one of those countries.
Prepaid lines burn out
Burner’s prepaid option gives 50 minutes and 100 texts and burns itself after 30 days, so occasional texters can end up buying a fresh one each time.
Ghost vs Burner at a glance
| Compared | Ghost | Burner |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A protected sender ID for each text; no number to keep | A real second phone number |
| Cost | Credits from $4 for 20 in a browser, or $1 for 5 in the Android app; no subscription | $7.99/month (Standard) or $12.99 (Premium), or $47.99/$69.99 a year; prepaid 30-day line |
| Calls and voicemail | No. Ghost sends texts only | Unlimited calls; voicemail transcription on Premium |
| Receiving texts | Only through a Reply Link: one reply within 7 days | Yes, at your Burner number |
| Who you can text | Texts to 100+ countries | US and Canadian numbers only |
| What you need to sign up | An email address (in the browser) | A phone number from the US, Canada or Australia |
| Months you don’t use it | Credits never expire; nothing to keep active | The subscription keeps renewing |
| Apps | Android app and any web browser (no iOS app) | iPhone, Android and web |
Burner details from its own site, checked October 22, 2026. Ghost browser prices apply outside India; the $1 pack is Android-only (pricing). Prices change, so check before you decide.
Who should switch to Ghost
- You keep a Burner line mainly for texting buyers, sellers or matches.
- Some months you send nothing, and paying for the line anyway bothers you.
- You need to text numbers outside the US and Canada.
- Your phone number isn’t from the US, Canada or Australia.
Who should stay with Burner
- You make or take calls on the second number.
- You want a number you can publish and that people can save and text first.
- You run several lines for a business and use them daily.
- You need picture messages; Ghost sends text only.
How to switch from Burner to Ghost
- Check what the Burner number is tied to. Before cancelling, update any accounts or contacts that use it. Ghost does not take over a number.
- Try Ghost with a free text. Send one message with a promo code at ghostsms.online/free, no account needed.
- Sign up and buy credits when you need them. The browser version needs only an email address; the Android app is on Google Play. Credits never expire.
- Cancel the subscription where you started it. Once Ghost covers your texting, cancel Burner through the app store or account you subscribed with.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ghost cheaper than Burner?
For occasional texting, usually. As of October 2026, Burner costs $7.99 a month for one number on its Standard plan. Ghost has no subscription: 20 credits cost $4 in a browser, and a text to a US or Canadian number costs 1 credit per segment. Burner makes more sense if you use the line every day or need calls.
Does Ghost give me a number like Burner does?
No. Ghost does not give you a phone number. Each text is sent from a protected sender ID, so there is nothing for the other person to save or call back.
Can I text international numbers with Ghost?
Yes. Ghost delivers to 100+ countries. A text costs 1 credit per segment to the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, and more for many other countries. Burner lines only work with US and Canadian numbers.
Can people text me back through Ghost?
Only through a Reply Link, switched on per message. The recipient opens it and types one reply, which reaches your phone as a text without them seeing your number. Each link takes one reply, expires after 7 days and costs 3 credits plus the reply.
Does Ghost work on iPhone?
Yes, in the browser. There is no iOS app, but the Ghost web app works in Safari or any other browser, on a phone or a computer. There is also an Android app on Google Play.
Sources
- Burner: Pricing & Plans
- Burner Support Center: Plans and Pricing
- Burner Support Center: International Calling
- Burner: what every subscription includes
Ghost is made by Elvento Labs, which publishes this page. What it says about Burner comes from the pages above, not from testing Burner’s app. Read our editorial standards or tell us about an error.