Toll-Free Numbers
Get a US toll-free number on any of the seven codes in service, route it anywhere, and port your existing number free. Vanity patterns available on the newer codes.
A toll-free number is a phone number the caller dials at no cost to them. In the North American Numbering Plan, seven codes are currently in service — 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 — and all seven work identically. The business receiving the call pays for the inbound minutes.
Which prefixes are toll-free?
All seven below are genuine toll-free codes. There is no functional difference between them on the network; a call to an 833 number is as free to the caller as a call to an 800 number.
| Code | In service | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 1967 | The original toll-free code. Effectively exhausted, so availability is rare and usually resale only. |
| 888 | 1996 | The first expansion code. Well established and widely recognised as toll-free. |
| 877 | 1998 | Widely used. Good availability for most number patterns. |
| 866 | 2000 | Widely used, strong availability. |
| 855 | 2010 | Good availability including many memorable patterns. |
| 844 | 2013 | Strong availability, commonly issued for new accounts. |
| 833 | 2017 | Newest code in service. Best availability for vanity and pattern numbers. |
822 and 880–887 are reserved but not yet assignable, so any provider offering them today is misdescribing what you would receive.
Toll-free is free for the caller, not for you
This is the most common misconception, and it matters for budgeting. The number holder pays for inbound minutes, so a busy support line costs more to run than a quiet sales line. If call volume is high and growing, model the inbound usage rather than treating toll-free as a flat monthly cost.
Where a local presence matters more than a free call, a local number by area code is often the better choice — and in many markets callers now have unlimited mobile minutes, which has narrowed the advantage toll-free once had.
Vanity numbers
A vanity number spells something on the keypad. They work because people remember words far better than digits, which is why they remain valuable in broadcast and print advertising.
Be realistic about availability: 800 vanity patterns are effectively gone, and the good ones have been held for decades. The newer codes — particularly 833 and 844 — are where genuinely memorable patterns are still obtainable.
Porting an existing toll-free number
Toll-free numbers are portable between providers under FCC rules, and porting is free with Salamtalk. Keep your existing service running until the port completes, typically a few business days. Your RespOrg — the entity that administers a toll-free number — changes as part of the process.
Frequently asked questions
Is 855 a toll-free number?
Yes. 855 is one of seven toll-free codes in service in the North American Numbering Plan, alongside 800, 888, 877, 866, 844 and 833. A call to an 855 number is free for the person dialling it, and the business receiving the call pays for the inbound minutes. 855 entered service in 2010.
Is 844 toll-free?
Yes. 844 entered service in 2013 and is a standard toll-free code. It carries exactly the same cost structure as 800 — free to the caller, billed to the number holder — and is treated identically by carriers.
Is 833 a toll-free number?
Yes. 833 is the newest toll-free code, introduced in 2017, and functions identically to 800. Because it is the most recent, it generally has the best availability for memorable or vanity patterns.
What is the difference between 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833?
Functionally nothing. All seven are toll-free to the caller and behave identically on the network. The only real differences are recognition and availability: 800 is the most instantly recognised but is effectively exhausted, while newer codes like 833 and 844 have far better availability for the specific number you want.
Are toll-free numbers free for the business?
No — this is the common misunderstanding. Toll-free means free for the caller. The business holding the number pays for inbound minutes, so a high-volume support line costs more than a low-volume one. Budget for inbound usage rather than assuming a flat cost.
Can I keep my toll-free number if I switch providers?
Yes. Toll-free numbers are portable between providers under FCC rules, and porting is free with Salamtalk. Keep the existing service active until the port completes, which typically takes a few business days.
What is a vanity toll-free number?
A vanity number spells a word or phrase on the keypad, such as 1-800-FLOWERS. They are easier to remember and therefore valuable for advertising. Availability on 800 is extremely limited; newer codes like 833 and 844 are where most genuinely good vanity patterns remain.
Can toll-free numbers receive SMS?
Toll-free SMS is supported in the US and Canada, but the number must be verified before it can send messages, and unverified traffic is blocked by carriers. This is a real requirement rather than a formality, and we handle the verification as part of setup.
See global numbers for international toll-free and DIDs, virtual phone numbers for the wider overview, or auto attendant if you need menu routing on the number.
Find an available toll-free number
Tell us the pattern or vanity word you want and we will check it across all seven codes.