Moving abroad rarely means leaving the US behind completely. People still need to reach you, and a surprising number of forms still ask for a US phone number. The question is how to keep one without paying for a phone plan you no longer use.
Your four options
| Option | Keeps your old number | What you pay for | Works from abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep your US carrier plan | Yes | A full monthly plan | Over Wi-Fi calling, if your carrier and phone support it |
| Carrier's international or travel plan | Yes | Daily or monthly roaming fees | Yes, over the local network |
| A free internet number service | Sometimes, by porting | Free or low cost | Often limited: many require a US number or US location to sign up |
| A US number app such as Nimra | No, you get a new number | The number and the minutes you use | Yes, over Wi-Fi or mobile data |
1. Keep paying your US carrier
This is the only way to keep the exact number you already have without porting it. Most US carriers support Wi-Fi calling, so calls and texts reach you on hotel or home Wi-Fi without roaming. The catch is the monthly bill, and some carriers suspend lines that are used abroad for months at a time.
2. Roaming and travel plans
Good for a two-week trip, expensive for a new life. Daily passes add up quickly, and you pay for data you would rather buy locally.
3. Free internet numbers
Free services exist, but most of them expect you to live in the US. Sign-up often requires an existing US mobile number, and some stop working if you only ever connect from abroad. If you already have one set up, keep it. If not, it can be hard to start from outside the country.
4. A US number in an app
An app like Nimra gives you a new US number that lives on the phone you already have, next to your local SIM. People in the US call a normal American number, and it rings in the app over Wi-Fi or data. You pay for the number and for what you use.
What an app-based US number is good for
- Family and friends in the US call a local number, and you call them back at US rates.
- Appointments and landlords: doctors' offices, property managers and schools can call or leave a voicemail, and you read it as text.
- Deliveries and bookings that text a US number arrive in the app with the details pulled out.
- Keeping your local number private when you deal with people you don't know yet.
Where it can fall short: some US banks, payment apps and large platforms refuse internet-based numbers for sign-up or security codes. That is their policy, not a fault in the number. Ask your bank which numbers it accepts, and switch to an authenticator app wherever you can. Why some services reject internet numbers.
How you pay with Nimra
- Prepaid credit, bought in the app through the App Store or Google Play. It never expires.
- The US number is paid from that credit every 30 days.
- Calls are charged by the minute; voicemail and transcripts are free.
- No contract. Stop adding credit and the number lapses.
Every price is on the pricing page. Not from the US, and need a number there? See the guides for students and for business owners.
Setting it up
- Install Nimra on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Get a US number in the app, and give it a label such as "Family" or "US life".
- Add credit once. The number renews from it every 30 days until you stop.
- Give the number to the people and places that need a US contact.
- Set quiet hours for the time difference, so calls at 3 a.m. go to voicemail.
Common questions
Can I keep my US number if I move abroad?
Yes, if you keep paying your US carrier, and many plans let you use Wi-Fi calling abroad. If you'd rather not pay for a full plan, a US number app gives you a new US number that works over the internet, with no monthly plan.
What is the cheapest way to have a US number abroad?
An app-based US number is usually the cheapest, because you pay for the number and the minutes you use instead of a full phone plan. Nimra is prepaid, with no contract.
Will a US number app work for my US bank?
Sometimes. Some banks accept internet-based numbers and some refuse them. Check with your bank, and turn on an authenticator app where they offer one.
A US number on the phone you already have
Calls, incoming texts and readable voicemail. Prepaid, no contract.
