What is a burner phone, and when should you use one?

What is a burner phone?

A burner phone is a disposable prepaid phone you can typically purchase at convenience or department stores. It’s called a burner because the phone is meant to be a temporary gadget to be disposed of (thrown out, smashed, or otherwise “burned”) after serving its purpose. Burner phones follow the pay-as-you-go principle, typically skipping any contact with mobile carriers. While burner phones have a reputation for being related to criminal activities (mostly because of their portrayal in pop culture), in reality they’re a useful tool for anyone who’s looking for some extra privacy. Here’s why:

• If you use cash instead of credit cards to buy burner phones, your purchases won't be associated with your identity (useful for journalists and undercover law enforcement workers).

• Burner phones help you bypass many third-party monitoring and tracing while you use them to go online or text (a huge benefit to those who work with highly sensitive data).

• It is unlikely that anyone will track you via the burner phone's GPS due to the burner’s typically limited GPS functionality (although it can vary, based on the phone type). This feature may be beneficial to human rights workers who operate in war zones or countries with strong censorship and persecution policies.

When you use a burner phone, you might have to register your  SIM card, but you’re unlikely to be required to enter into a legal commitment with a provider. When you exceed the initial SIM credit, you can toss it or load more credit, keeping your burner phone operational.

How do burner phones work?

Burner phones work like any other mobile phone. You can start using your burner phone as soon as you buy it. The box will likely contain instructions on phone setup. Furthermore, most phones will come with a prepaid SIM card. As long as you have credit on the SIM, you can use the phone. 

Generally, burner phones will work like any other phone you can use for calls and text messaging. Users can choose a classic flip phone with basic capabilities or a more up-to-date burner phone with smart features.

However, before setting it up you should remember to consider some additional privacy measures, for example disabling the phone’s location services, using encrypted communication apps, and keeping the burner away from your primary mobile to avoid accidental connections or cross-usage. After the burner becomes useless, it’s also crucial to perform a factory reset, making sure all data is wiped from the burner before disposal.

When you might want to use a burner phone

Some people may associate burner phones with illegal activities, law enforcement, or international spies. However, typically someone uses a burner phone for more mundane reasons. Here’s when people may (and do) use a burner phone:

When you seek more private communication

Getting a burner phone is a solid choice if you’re looking for more privacy when communicating via mobile phone. It provides you with a new phone number, typically linked to a prepaid SIM card, which can offer a level of anonymity if activated without providing personal information. In addition, people typically own their phone numbers for a very long period of time, which may lead to many of their accounts getting linked to that number. Having a burner phone lets you link non-essential services to the burner’s number, saving yourself some headaches from unwanted callers.

Another thing about using a burner phone is that it can allow you to avoid entering into contracts with mobile carriers (using a prepaid SIM instead) and limit your mobile phone network monitoring. Which may be useful if you’re not interested in mobile carrier plans and their marketing calls.

When you’re contacting potentially suspicious individuals

A burner phone can be a lifesaver when you make a purchase from Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and are communicating with a person you do not know. You won't need to reveal your real number to people you meet online, safeguarding your identity from potential scammers. The same might apply to people you meet through online dating platforms.

When you want to reduce spam calls to your real number

A burner phone reduces the chances of getting targeted with spam risk calls or smishing attempts. Using a burner SIM phone number instead of your primary number to fill in various less important forms or create accounts for online shops can help you secure your identity. After all, if your mobile number gets leaked and scammers begin targeting your burner phone, you can simply dispose of it without suffering any significant financial or other consequences.

When you seek to stay off the grid

Current smartphones offer endless opportunities for entertainment and communication. However, they also have negative effects, such as the urge to doomscroll or exposure to scams. A burner phone can be the cell phone you use strictly for calling and texting. Furthermore, instead of sticking to a postpaid plan, you can only pay for how much you use it.

When you’re looking for an affordable cell phone

Burner phones can be a budget-friendly choice. Since burner phones typically come with prepaid SIM cards, you won't need to sign a contract with a mobile carrier, saving yourself some money. Depending on various factors, such providers can overcharge or offer unfavorable conditions. So as long as you avoid switching your prepaid SIM often, you should be fine.

When you find yourself in an emergency situation

Burner phones can last an impressive amount of time (a single charge may keep one going for days), which makes them a great addition to survival kits and similar emergency-related equipment. Travelers (especially those who love extreme adventures) will only do themselves a favor by grabbing a burner in addition to their current phone when heading into remote areas or wilderness.

When you are buying a phone for a child

Parents might consider getting their children cell phones strictly for emergency phone calls. Burner phones are an affordable and safe option that suit this need well. Since burner phones can come in the shape of both regular and smartphone, you’ll have a choice of managing children’s screen time while also ensuring your kids will be within phone call’s reach.

What is the difference between a burner phone, a prepaid phone, and a burner SIM? 

The difference between a burner phone, a prepaid phone, and a burner SIM is mostly in the linguistics. A burner phone and a prepaid phone are virtually the same thing. Meanwhile, a burner SIM is a SIM card that you discard after using. In other words, if you buy a burner phone or a prepaid phone, you discard the phone, and if you buy a burner SIM, you discard the SIM card (both after they’ve served their purpose, of course). So technically, if you want to use a burner, buying a burner SIM can be cheaper than a burner phone while serving the same purpose. In addition, you can use burner SIM on different phones, making it more versatile than burner (or prepaid) phones. 

What are the disadvantages of a burner phone?

While they offer more privacy, burner phones are not completely untraceable. And while the fact that burner phones may be tracked may discourage some from buying them, we’ve yet to see an alternative that proves to be better than using a burner phone.

Burner phones may also come with additional cons, such as faulty or low-quality hardware (depending on where you buy it), lack of robust security features, and limited functionality. That’s why looking into some alternatives may be a valid option when aiming to secure your smartphone’s privacy.

Other ways to secure your smartphone’s privacy

Instead of getting a burner phone, you can consider getting a burner number and a burner app to secure your cell phone. Here’s why they might prove to be a better option:

• Burner apps let you create disposable phone numbers on your current smartphone.
• Burner apps are usually cheaper than burner phones or burner SIM cards.
• Burner apps grant you a phone number you can provide to people and companies.
• When someone calls your burner number, the app redirects the call to your primary number. As a result, your real number remains hidden.
• Some burner apps include voicemail transcription, call forwarding, or even the ability to send and receive encrypted messages.
• Such apps forward calls while keeping your information secret.

You can get the benefits of a burner phone without getting another gadget. The key factor is choosing a reliable burner app provider. You should read the privacy policy to understand what happens to  the data related to your calls. Call metadata can still reveal a lot about your contacts and communications. But if the app suits your requirements, it can be a long- or short-term alternative to a burner phone.

You can also enhance your online security by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) or Voice over IP (VoIP) services. 2FA adds an additional layer of security, granting users peace of mind in terms of unauthorized access. Since 2FA is used to confirm the legitimacy of the login (by sending approval requests to the account owner via text message or authenticator app), users are able to deny unauthorized login attempts as soon as they occur.

Meanwhile VoIP services (such as the Burner app or Google Voice) allow users to create temporary or additional phone numbers that can be used for specific purposes (such as dating or online transactions). Combining these tools with secure texting apps and a VPN can create a robust privacy solution that meets your needs.

Where to get a burner phone

You can get a burner phone in any local electronics or convenience store. These gadgets typically range from $20 to a few hundred dollars, depending on your needs. If you’re buying a burner smartphone, you may have to shell out more cash. But if your sole purpose is to have more privacy when talking on the phone, then you should have no problem getting your burner for just a couple dozen bucks.