Toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833) work nationwide from a single number. FrontDesk's own setup flow provides local numbers; a toll-free number is possible, with a texting caveat.
Getting a toll-free number
The Phone setup page searches local numbers by area code and has no toll-free option (see Get a phone number). The Setup Assistant can search toll-free numbers when you ask it for one: it shows a card of available numbers, then a confirmation card with the monthly cost before it buys anything. The usual rules apply: one active number per location, an owner or admin who belongs to the location, and a verified account email. See Why is the assistant asking for an area code?.
Texting on it
The texting registration on Settings → Phone & SMS → Texting is the US carrier registration for local numbers (A2P 10DLC); see Turn on texting. Toll-free numbers go through a separate carrier verification before they can send texts, and there is no screen for it in FrontDesk. Contact support before relying on a toll-free number for reminders or two-way texting. Calls work on it straight away.
Local or toll-free?
| Situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| One practice, one city | Local: clients answer local numbers more readily, and texting registration is built in |
| Several states under one number | Toll-free, after checking texting with support |
| You already have a number clients know | Keep it: port it, or forward it to FrontDesk |
See Forwarding vs. buying a number and Port your existing number.