We are big fans of Google Voice - it's easy-to-use, accessible, and best of all, free.
Here is one method we recommend on how to setup Google voice for use in Canada.
Step 1 - Pretend to be in the United States
To activate your Google account you need to be in the US. You have a few options here:
G oto the United states and use an internet connection at a cafe
Use a proxy, vnc, remote desktop to a computer in the US
Step 2 - Get a US Number
You need a US Number that you can receive a call on. There are a number of options:
The easiest is to buy a number from Skype $20~
Step 3 - Activate Google Voice
With both Part A and B in place, go to http://www.google.com/voice
You should be able to sign up since your "in the US"
Use your temporary number as your primary number and do the google voice activation.
You now have a Google voice US Number.
Step 4 - Use Google Voice in Canada
You can now go to http://www.google.com/voice and use all the Google voice services whether you are in the US or not.
Limitation here is the Android/iphone Google Voice app won't be able to "validate" your phone on your Canadian network. You can however use the web app without issue by going to http://www.google.com/voice on your Android or iphone handset.
You can now benefit from free VOICEMAIL, SMS AND CALLS North American wide anytime. Greedy telco operators beware!
Step 5 - Get a local Canadian Number to use with Google Voice
https://tellfi.com has started offering a paid Google Voice like service in Canada. Sign up and get your free local Canadian phone number.
Use thier options to forward the phone number to your Google voice number and turn off the voicemail option.
You can now use a Canadian local number to allow people to call you using Google Voice.
Thanks for reading. Questions or comments? Let me know if it worked for you in the comments below.
Tags: Google Voice
Joel - 2017-06-06
Ray, Do you mind to tell me how you pulled that off? Sounds too good to be true. Thanks Joel
Ray - 2017-05-05
I'll just stick with magicjack...I can call anywhere in Canada AND the US for absolutely free (other than the $26.00 annual fee from magicjack. Works great , and clear as a bell. My wife and I both have a cell phone, with the same number (which was our old landline number,) and we had our landline disconnected (Was paying over $50.00 a month for nothing). When we get a call, 'both" cell phones ring. It's costing me $40.00 a month for both phones from Bell Canada. The beauty is, we both have phones, and can answer, no matter where we are. We use the magic jack for texting and long distance calling.
Ray - 2017-05-05
The http://tellfi.com link you mention, doesn't work. Page "not found" it says.
ash - 2017-04-30
my exp is that i got the number and vilidated and i can use the google voice, but having a US number , ppl in canada can t call me, it ll be international call for them. i tried to find a way to forward calls to google voice but Fongo or any service wll charge /.minute. Tellfi is not free !
Hmm - 2016-01-31
Well, the instructions for the most part are accurate. The part about Tellfi,com is both unclear and confusing as is their website. No where it mentions anything about free phone number et al. There is not any free options to obtain a US number any more. Text/Next Plus is blocked now by Google. It recognizes it as a virtual number. I think with Skype, it might be hit or miss. And of course, with Skype you have to shell out money for a US number. Any how, so everyone knows, there really is no need to CF your GV number to Canada. Just use Google Hangouts to send. receive calls and text messages. In the past, you were able to use a 403 area code but now Google recognizes that area code as a CDN number.
nabil - 2015-10-23
which virtual number shall i use for create gvoice number?
Anonymous - 2015-07-26
use voxox to get a US number for free and validate using an IP address altering software...
Opeyemi - 2015-05-14
I like Google
Jon Aston - 2015-04-30
This was a waste of time and $20.
H - 2014-08-03
So I think you're mistaken ib step 4 regarding being able to validate the canadian number from your handset. The reason why I think is because GV can't send txts to Canadian numbers as they block this from their (Canada's) end. Not sure who blocks it but the message is that the carrier does not support GV txts...which is stupid because it's an incoming txt from their perspective. So unfortunately there is no way to verify a Canadian number on GV.
Bright george - 2013-06-23
How to pen the voice caller
ml - 2013-06-11
STEP 5 TELFY HAS PLANS FOR 10$ AND UP HOW DO I GET A FREE #? THEY WILL CHARGE ME 10$ MONTHLY...
Ronald Joseph - 2013-04-14
I'm in Canada I want to use Google voice
name - 2013-03-13
comment
naynay - 2012-11-20
So I am going to live in canada for about 4- 5 months. Can I get a google voice us number and receive my calls from my us phone forwarded to google voice? I am looking for a way that I can keep my number.
gani - 2012-09-03
Try to download the app at nettalk.com. Its free to call anywhere in US or Canada over wifi or data plan.
Nick - 2012-08-29
In Step 4, when you try to call a US no. from Canada from http://www.google.com/voice, Google voice dials a US no. from my phone, which means it is dialing an international no. from my Canadian phone, which in turn means I have to pay for the international call. So, the whole idea of calling for free gets defeated. Afterall, if Google voice is going to dial a US no. from my phone, then that is the same as me dialling a US no. directly from my phone. So, why do I need Google Voice then. I hope you got my point. So, the whole 5 steps become a waste of time. Pardon me if I am wrong and please explain. Thanks, Nick
T - 2012-07-23
did it work?
Brent - 2012-07-06
OMG it worked! I used the textplus + calls app that Saucy recommended and it was easier than ever.
Saucy - 2012-07-03
For those who dont want to spend any money on a us number, you can simply download the "textplus + calls" app (for iphone). You get 10 free minutes which is more than enough time for the verification call. Cheers
moshe neuman - 2012-06-21
it means that i have to change my canadian number to get incoming calls via google voice cause you cant transfer a us google voice number to a canadian phone
mtk - 2012-06-12
This is not fair suggestion. We should follow the rules and regulation as we accepted terms of google to comply with.
fongo mobile - 2012-06-02
or you could use Dell Voice Dellvoice.ca Fongo.com
harjitsingh - 2011-04-08
awesome....your instructions and help is greatly appreciated...very helpfull...to the point.
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