The most reliable option is to use a secondary device. Likewise, there are apps for creating secondary app “clones,” but we can’t speak to how secure they are. However, this is not available on all smartphones.

For example, many newer Samsung Galaxy devices support a feature called Secure Folder, which will allow you to have a secondary Signal installation on the same device. It’s possible to download Signal on numerous devices, and sometimes you can even install two Signal apps on the same device. The question now is, where will you install this second Signal app? Use this new number to register your Signal account to a new device. But if you prefer to use Twilio, learn how. We no longer recommend using Twilio for this purpose because in recent years, it sometimes does not deliver required Signal registration messages. You can also use a service called Twilio to purchase a phone number for as little as $1 a month, though it requires following some more complex instructions. Read this post by Jillian York of the Electronic Frontier Foundation to learn how.

In most countries you can visit a phone store and purchase an inexpensive SIM card to get another number. From here you can claim a number, following the verification and registration prompts. (Your Signal messages are only on Signal’s servers, not Google’s servers.) Go to and log in with a Google account.

It doesn’t have to be your personal phone number - there are a few ways to get a second phone number.įor those in the United States, the easiest way to set up a secondary number is with Google Voice. You can register a Signal account with any phone number you have ongoing control over as long as no one else has registered it. If you haven’t tried Signal, check out our guide to get started. We’ll walk you through how to get a secondary phone number, how to choose the best device for it and also review some safety considerations for using the messaging app. The good news is you don’t need another phone plan to use a second Signal account, and you may be able to set it up on a range of devices. If you use Signal, the secure messaging app, you may have thought about a second account so you don’t have to give out your personal phone number.

Signal messaging desktop