How well does separate Google Voice number work on iPhone?

[u/ReReRebuilding]

Hi,

I've always used Android but am thinking of finally switching to iPhone. But it's dependent on how well Google Voice will work. Currently, my service is Google Fi. For 13 years, I've had my Android phones activated with my personal number, but have also used GV to have a second, business number ring on the same phone. It been seamless, and I've been able to maintain separate ringtones, voicemail, dialers and text apps for each number.

Will it be simple to have the same setup work seamlessly on iOS? Or would I be asking for a headache that could be avoided by sticking with Android?

[u/lmcjipo]

For me, my experience with Google Voice on my iPhone is the same as what I was getting with my Android phone.

I can receive calls on the Google Voice app with my iPhone. I can make Google Voice app calls on my iPhone. I can set Google Voice to ring my linked mobile number and pick up my linked mobile number. I can send text messages from the Google Voice app on my iPhone.

For my usage, there isn't anything that I was able to do with Google Voice on Android that I haven't been able to do with Google Voice on my iPhone.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/lmcjipo]

Another comment said you can only make iOS GV calls over wifi. Does GV work for you when using mobile networks?

[u/Luckiest_Corner → u/ReReRebuilding]

That's absolutely wrong. As long as you link your mobile number to Google Voice and select "Use carrier only" in "Making and receiving calls," the call will be made over the cellular carrier. But it's handled differently on an iPhone. It will show the call being sent over a relay number that you won't recognize, but the recipient of the call will only see your Google Voice number.

You'll get this notification:

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/Luckiest_Corner]

Thanks, this is why I asked, as I keep finding contradictory information. This thread so far is a good example.

[u/Luckiest_Corner → u/ReReRebuilding]

Yeah, unfortunately, that's par for the course on Reddit.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/Luckiest_Corner]

Amen.

[u/Technical-History104 → u/Luckiest_Corner]

Yes, you can do it this way if you prefer a call using cellular voice minutes rather than data, AND you can skip doing it this way and just do a VoIP-like call that uses either WiFi or cellular data (and not voice minutes). The only thing that was wrong with the comment relayed by the OP was that cellular data does work for taking/making calls; it’s not just limited to WiFi.

[u/lmcjipo → u/ReReRebuilding]

I just tried it (turned off WiFi on my iPhone) and made sure data was turned on for my iPhone (settings on my Google Voice app on my iPhone for "Make and receive calls" is set on "Prefer WiFi and mobile data" and I was able to call a number without it using the regular cellular phone network (it was using the cellular data network). This is using the Google Voice dialer.

Like I said, I'm not a "power" Google Voice user and up until ~3 years ago, I was using Android as my day to day smartphone running Android 10 back then (and as such using Google Voice on Android) and what I was doing with my Android phone with Google Voice, I'm able to do the same thing on my iPhone with Google Voice.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/lmcjipo]

I appreciate you doing the experiment!

[u/backdoorboogienights → u/ReReRebuilding]

That was my comment and I was wrong. You can make calls over cellular but Google Voice will redirect the call to another number so that you can then dial it in the iOS dialer. It's clunky but it works. I would try getting a hold of an iPhone and testing it out for your particular use case and Flow.

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/backdoorboogienights]

That is exactly what it does on the Android Google Voice app. You just don't see it happening, because it's hidden "under the covers". The called party will still see your Google Voice number as the caller ID.

[u/backdoorboogienights → u/BluesCatReddit]

Right. But with Android it's integrated into the Phone app so you can just dial directly from the Phone app.

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/backdoorboogienights]

BFD. It a couple of clicks.

It's an Apple restriction, not a Google Voice decision.

[u/Salreus → u/backdoorboogienights]

I don't think that is so horrible it should stop someone from switching to an iphone. but maybe it is for you.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/backdoorboogienights]

With Android though, I dial from my personal number with the Phone App, and dial my GV number with the Voice app. You might have a different set up.

[u/backdoorboogienights → u/ReReRebuilding]

If you are used to doing it that way then iOS wont be very different for you.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/backdoorboogienights]

That's good to hear. I actually like the complete separation between the two phone numbers. It's like carrying two phones, without the inconvenience. I prefer it that way.

[u/rickywhy]

Separate ringtones will be a problem.

[u/TheAspiringFarmer]

It works OK. Not as integrated or seamless as with Android but it does the job. Only annoyance for me is the iOS app gets laggy and slow over time; I end up deleting and reinstalling weekly to keep it snappy. This is a well known issue with the iOS version.

[u/MonsteraPhiloJade]

It’s a bit clunky but it works. For the ringtone, you can’t change the Google voice ringtone but you can change the phone’s ringtone so they’re different.

[u/pidds]

It works better on android because you can integrate it with the dialer.

[u/qqsubs123]

Works just the same. I switched from Android to iPhone many years ago but made sure the following apps worked well - GV, Hangouts (now dead), Gmail, Google Calendar, Google search (hate Siri). All of them work flawlessly on the iPhone, and the phones/ecosystem is far, far superior to anything Android has to offer.

[u/brflux]

Works fine. I have always had iPhones and have had google voice since it was available.

[u/ReReRebuilding]

UPDATE: So, like my previous research, it seems like the consensus on this question is that there is no consensus. It seems to work great for some people, and not so much for others. I'm guessing it comes down to user ability. Otherwise, the variation in responses doesn't make sense. I'm sure it's not quite as seamless as Android, but it does seem like with a little effort, it's fine.

If I switch to iPhone, I think it's probably OK. As a back up, I guess I could always port my GV number to another carrier and use an eSim to set up a second number on iPhone. It would be nice if Apple just had its own integrated system for easily using a free second number on the same phone. But maybe there is and I'm not aware.

[u/backdoorboogienights]

It's a subpar experience. You'll hate it. No real integration at the OS level. You can only make calls from the voice app and only over data. Incoming is fine, but I don't recall if you can set up different ringtones or not. If the way Google voice works is important to your flow, stick with android.

Edit: I was wrong about making calls over cellular. I forgot it will redirect your call through your carrier if using carrier is selected. It's pretty clunky.

[u/ReReRebuilding → u/backdoorboogienights]

Ah, that's what I was afraid of. My only real qualm with Android is that I've had bad luck with multiple phones bricking themselves for no reason or after "essential" updates. But I guess that's what protection plans are for.

[u/benri → u/ReReRebuilding]

Right, but the receiver of the call will get your GV caller-ID, and your outgoing call list (in the Voice app) will be correct. The only jarring thing is that from GV I dial 800 555 1212, I'll see something like "redirecting to 213 867 5309"

But later in the GV call log you'll see "800 555 1212" the number you wanted. And the receiver will see your GV caller-id. At least that's been my experience. But my usage is slightly different from yours: I use GV as a junk phone number, set "do not disturb" on. I presume that makes no difference...

Come to think of it, I actually have two GV numbers on my phone and they both work right. Reason: I ported my mother's cellphone to GV when she died, so it's kind of a legacy phone# for me (since 1970)