The short answer
Hushed is a full second phone line with calls, texts and voicemail, priced by plan. Ghost is outbound texting with your number masked, priced per message. Pick Ghost for occasional private texts, especially to other countries; pick Hushed for a number you can hand out and answer.
Why people look for a Hushed alternative
A plan you pay for whether you text or not
As of October 2026, Hushed’s pricing page lists Unlimited plans from $6.99 a month (auto-renewing), Prepaid plans from $7.99 a month for 30, 90 or 365 days, and Pay-as-you-go from $8.99 a month including $1 in credits. Each keeps a number available, which is the point if you use it and a cost if you don’t.
Numbers from three countries
Hushed numbers come from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Ghost delivers to 100+ countries without you choosing or holding a number anywhere.
The second line is bigger than the job
If the number exists to text a few buyers, matches or contractors, a line with calls, voicemail and call forwarding is more than you need. Our masking vs second number guide walks through when each one makes sense.
Ghost vs Hushed at a glance
| Compared | Ghost | Hushed |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A protected sender ID for each text; no number to keep | A second number from the US, Canada or the UK |
| Cost (as of October 2026) | Credits from $4 for 20 in a browser, or $1 for 5 in the Android app; no subscription | Unlimited from $6.99/month; Prepaid from $7.99/month; Pay-as-you-go from $8.99/month |
| Calls and voicemail | No. Ghost sends texts only | Yes, with custom voicemail greetings and call forwarding |
| Receiving texts | Only through a Reply Link: one reply within 7 days | Yes, at your Hushed number |
| Countries | Texts to 100+ countries | Numbers from the US, Canada and the UK |
| Time you don’t use it | Credits never expire; nothing to keep active | The plan renews or runs out with its period |
| Apps | Android app and any web browser (no iOS app) | iPhone and Android apps |
Hushed 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 Hushed number mainly to text people you don’t want to have your real one.
- You go weeks without using it but keep paying for the plan.
- You text numbers outside the US, Canada and the UK.
- You want to send from a browser without installing an app.
Who should stay with Hushed
- You take calls or use voicemail on the second number.
- You want one number you can give out and answer for months.
- You need a UK, US or Canadian number as such, for example for a listing.
- You text back and forth all day; a plan with unlimited local texts fits that better.
How to switch from Hushed to Ghost
- Decide what the Hushed line still does. If you take calls on it, keep it. Ghost can handle your one-off texts alongside it.
- Send a free text first. Try Ghost with a promo code at ghostsms.online/free before buying anything.
- Sign up and buy credits. Use the browser version with an email address or the Android app. Credits stay on your account until used.
- Let your plan lapse or cancel it. If Ghost covers what you used Hushed for, stop renewing the plan when its period ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ghost cheaper than Hushed?
For light use, yes. As of October 2026, Hushed plans start at $6.99 a month. Ghost has no monthly cost: 20 credits cost $4 in a browser and last until you use them, at 1 credit per text segment to the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
Does Ghost have calls or voicemail like Hushed?
No. Ghost sends SMS only. It does not make or receive calls and has no voicemail, so keep a second line if you need those.
Can I keep my Hushed number and use Ghost too?
Yes. Ghost does not use or replace a phone number, so nothing changes on your Hushed line. You can keep Hushed for calls and use Ghost for one-off texts.
Will the person I text see who sent it?
They see a protected sender ID, not your number. Texts to the US, Canada and Europe start with "GHOST:" so they know the message came through Ghost, and anyone can stop Ghost texts at ghostsms.online/stop. Masking hides your number from the recipient, not from Ghost, carriers or valid legal requests.
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
Ghost is made by Elvento Labs, which publishes this page. What it says about Hushed comes from the pages above, not from testing Hushed’s app. Read our editorial standards or tell us about an error.