A toll-free number is free for your customers to call — you pay for the incoming calls instead of them. They're a popular choice for support lines, sales hotlines, and any business that wants to look established across a whole country.
How to recognize one
Toll-free numbers in the US and Canada start with one of these prefixes:
- 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833
All of them are toll-free. The classic 800 prefix is the most in-demand, so those numbers are scarcer; the newer prefixes (like 833 and 844) usually have the best availability. To a caller, they all work the same way.
When a toll-free number makes sense
- You serve customers across the country and want one easy number for everyone.
- You want callers to reach you at no cost to them.
- You want a professional, nationwide image rather than a single local area code.
Many businesses pair a toll-free number for their main line with local numbers for specific offices.
What to keep in mind
- You pay for inbound minutes. Because the caller pays nothing, the per-minute cost of answered calls is on you. Check current rates under Billing → Rate Lookup.
- Toll-free isn't tied to a location, so it doesn't give you the local-area-code trust that a local number does.
How to get one
- Go to Phone Numbers → Buy Numbers.
- Choose your country, then select the Toll-Free number type.
- Browse the available numbers, or use the pattern search to look for a memorable one.
- Select your number and check out.
Most toll-free numbers activate within minutes.
Bringing a toll-free number with you
Already have a toll-free number with another provider? You can transfer it to ReliaRing rather than getting a new one. Toll-free transfers follow their own process and usually take a bit longer than local transfers. See Transfer Your Existing Number: Step-by-Step to get started.
Staying reachable
Toll-free calling in North America includes robocall-mitigation requirements that every provider must meet. ReliaRing handles this for your toll-free numbers automatically — there's nothing you need to configure.
Tip: For a toll-free number that spells a word or is easy to remember, see Vanity Numbers: Custom, Memorable Numbers.