Buy a phone number: search by area code

You buy phone numbers in Phone System → Numbers, in the Acquire Numbers panel — "Search by area code to find and claim new phone numbers." Type a 3-digit area code, press Search, tick the numbers you want, and click the Get button. A single number is provisioned for voice before the button returns, so it can take calls the moment it lands in your inventory; a bulk purchase provisions each number in the seconds that follow. Texting turns on once your 10DLC registration is approved.

Before you start

• Your account needs an active phone plan. If phone service isn't active yet, the Numbers tab points you to the phone plans page instead of the search panel.
• To send texts from the new number you'll also need 10DLC verification — buying the number works either way.

Step 1 — Search by area code

1. Open Phone System in the left sidebar, then the Numbers tab.
2. In Acquire Numbers, type the 3-digit Area Code you want (for example 425). A partial area code shows the message "Enter a full 3-digit area code (e.g. 303)".
3. Optionally set How Many results to fetch.
4. Leave Number Type on Local for a normal city number, or pick Toll Free for an 8xx number (toll-free numbers are voice-first).
5. Click Search.

Step 2 — Select the numbers you want

The results panel lists every available number with its region. Selecting a number is all it takes — there's no separate cart step:

• Click a row to select it (or use Select all).
• Each row shows whether it's covered by your plan: numbers inside your allowance are marked Free; numbers beyond it show the monthly extra price.
• The allowance line above the list shows how many numbers are included in your plan, how many you already own, and how many free slots remain.

Step 3 — Claim them

1. The action bar at the bottom of the panel shows how many numbers are selected and the Due today monthly total.
2. Click the dark Get button (it reads "Get 1 number", "Get 3 numbers", and so on).
3. If any selected number goes beyond your included allowance, Dispatch Bros shows a confirmation with Total selected, Covered by allowance, Beyond allowance, and the Extra monthly total — click Confirm to proceed.

Step 4 — Assign a call flow

Right after purchase, a setup dialog tracks each number as it provisions (Voice → SMS → Flow) and lets you finish routing:

1. Pick a published flow under Assign Call Flow and click Apply — or click Skip for Now and assign later from the Inbound Call Flow column in the Number Inventory table.
2. A number without a flow shows Awaiting flow: "Voice and SMS are live, but no call flow is assigned — inbound calls won't be routed yet."

Troubleshooting

• "No numbers found" — the app suggests "Try a different area code or number type." Inventory varies by area code; nearby codes usually have stock.
• Number stuck in provisioning — the Needs Attention panel on the Numbers tab lists any number that isn't fully live yet, with a Retry button. A freshly purchased number normally reads "No action needed. Provisioning will start automatically."
• SMS shows Pending 10DLC — normal for a new number. See What SMS Ready and Pending mean.
• Inbound calls go nowhere — assign a call flow. The edit dialog warns: "Inbound calls to this number will not be routed until a call flow is assigned."