Question 1

How do I check if a number is available?

Accepted Answer

Just type a word, phrase or number into the search box at the top of the page. It shows you all seven toll free versions and the status of each one.

Question 2

Do I type the 1-800 part?

Accepted Answer

No need. Just type the word, like PLUMBER. If you type 1-800-PLUMBER, we drop the 1-800 and show all seven toll free area codes, plus the local area codes in your state.

Question 3

What do the colors mean?

Accepted Answer

The green ones you can get now. “Activate this number for $49” is a one time $49, and a green one with a monthly price is rent to own. The yellow Backorder ones are in disconnect and are $395 to $995. The red ones are NOT available. The blue Requestable ones are with other vendors and are usually thousands of dollars, or in a few cases a large monthly fee.

Question 4

My word is longer than 7 letters. Does that work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Only the first 7 letters dial, and the phone system ignores the rest, like the R in 1-800-MARKETER. Callers can dial the whole word and it still connects. You see commercials for numbers longer than seven digits all the time, like 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and 1-800-STATEFARM. Just don’t start a new word after the 7th letter unless it’s a phrase people know.

Question 5

What's the difference between 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833?

Accepted Answer

They all work the same way. Dial any of them from anywhere in North America and you reach the same person, free to the caller.

800 was the first toll free prefix, opened in the 1960s, so most of the good 800 numbers were taken decades ago. 888 opened in 1996, then 877, then 866, 855 (2010), 844, and 833 (2017). Newer prefixes have more available inventory and the same call quality.

The number itself matters more than the prefix. 888-BLUE-CLEAN is more memorable than 800-followed-by-random-digits. Don’t get hung up on the prefix, focus on the word.

In real customer data, 800 is still the most requested (38%), but 833 (22%) and 855 (19%) are right behind. Customers have already adapted.

Question 6

Everything I want is taken. Now what?

Accepted Answer

Don’t quit on the first one. Your business still needs a front door, and you probably didn’t get the first domain name you searched for either. Try your brand name, a short word in front, or the other area codes. Digging a little deeper usually turns up something better.

Question 7

My word is taken or too short. How do I find more options?

Accepted Answer

Just type in the word by itself. Instead of having to try each different small word in front of it, it tries them all and gives you a list to pick from. The number four has a good flow in front of anything.

Question 8

What does Prefix do?

Accepted Answer

It puts a short word or a digit in front of yours, like CALL, GO, MY or 4, and shows only the versions that are available or just disconnected. More tries a longer list. If you add a digit, 4 is the best one, and 844-4 gives it some alliteration and repetition.

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