What Is a Burner Phone, and Are They Still a Thing in 2026?

January 12, 2026 By Janne Smith No Comments 7 minutes

Wondering what is a burner phone? It is a low-cost, prepaid mobile device designed for temporary, anonymous use. Once you use it for the required purpose, you can discard or burn it without consequences because it’s not tied to your identity. 

Burner phones gain their notoriety from crime dramas and thrillers, where a character gets a mysterious call, and they snap their phone in half. That’s quite simply how burner phones work. They’re disposable and untraceable mobile devices. But are burner phones still a thing and are they really untraceable in 2026?

This guide will answer questions about what a burner phone is, including whether it’s worth getting one. 

What Is a Burner Phone and What Does It Do?

A burner mobile phone is a cheap, prepaid phone that can be used for a short period and disposed of without consequences. It often comes with a basic flip or a bar-style design. The idea behind it is that the phone isn’t tied to your personal identity through a contract, credit check, or any long-term commitment. 

Think of it like a disposable camera versus your smartphone. Your smartphone is your permanent, connected digital life. A burner is for a specific, temporary need, after which you have no attachment to it.

What Does a Burner Phone Do?

Burner phones offer a separate phone number and a connection that keeps your digital identity separate. It serves two primary purposes:

• Privacy: It lets you keep your real number private in some situations.
• Anonymity: There are no strings attached. You get to use your phone anonymously without getting traced. 

The intent is to use it temporarily. When done, you can destroy it, throw it away, or simply stop topping up the credit. 

Do Burner Phones Still Exist?

Yes, burner phones still exist. They’re readily available at major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. Or, you can get them from convenience stores or online stores. The classic burner has now evolved into low-end Android smartphones. Instead of that, you can get: 

• Buy a basic Android for $20 to $50 and pay for a month of prepaid service. 
• Prepaid smartphone kits. These come with the phone, charger, and a SIM card with a set amount of service. 
• A burner app to generate temporary phone numbers on the existing phone. However, these are not anonymous, and your device can still be traced.

The classic burner phones are still available. However, the notion of a completely anonymous and untraceable device from movies is outdated. Currently available burner phones are more about segregating user privacy from specific areas of life rather than complete invisibility. 

Can a Burner Phone Be Traced?

Yes, burner phones can be traced. Despite the Hollywood movies showing a different narrative of burner phones, they’re not untraceable. A burner phone only provides extra privacy and anonymity. 

How a Burner Phone Can Be Traced

Here are the factors that make burner phones traceable: 

• Cell Tower Triangulation: The phone communicates with nearby cell towers. Authorities can map the phone’s location history and movements in real time via this data. 
• IMEI/IMSI Tracking: All phones have a 15-digit IMEI code and a SIM card’s IMSI ID. Authorities can track devices using these identifiers even if the SIM card is swapped.
• Digital Footprint: Logging into personal accounts on the burner phone will link it to your identity. Location services, WiFi connection, and bluetooth create data points. 
• Stingray Devices: Authorities can use cell-site simulators (IMSI catchers) to locate mobile devices in a specific area, inlcuding burners. 
• Purchase Records: If you bought your burner phone with a credit/debit card, you’ve left purchase records. Or, if you use cash, security footage can leak your identity. 

What Are the Uses of a Burner Phone?

The primary use is to temporarily protect user identity and personal information. Here are the primary uses of a burner phone: 

1. Political campaigns: volunteers and organizers coordinate while keeping their personal communications private.
2. Real Estate Agents: Burner phones work as a dedicated business line without giving out personal information. 
3. Online stores: The phone protects your primary number when buying or selling products online. 
4. Journalists and Researchers: Communication with confidential sources becomes easier. 
5. Whistleblowers: It provides operational security to those reporting wrongdoing or in vulnerable situations.
6. Temporary Projects: Organizing a festival or managing a political canvass requires the use of burner phones for additional privacy. 
7. Domestic Travel: Useful for rideshares in unfamiliar cities so drivers don’t have your permanent number. 

What Are the Disadvantages of a Burner Phone?

Burner phones are primarily for improved privacy. However, there are significant disadvantages. Here’s a list of them: 

1. Cost Inefficiency

Prepaid minutes and data come more expensive per unit than contract plans. Maintenance requires actively purchasing top-up cards. 

2. Double Carry

You’ll need to carry two devices if you also need your smartphone. This will require you to manage two separate phones. 

3. No Security Updates

Off-brand prepaid phones rarely receive software or security patches. This leaves them open to known security exploits. 

4. E-Waste

The disposable nature of burner phones contradicts sustainable practices. Improper disposal of phones and batteries contributes to toxic electronic waste.

Is It Legal to Own a Burner Phone?

Yes, burner mobile phones are legal to buy and use. However, engaging in malicious/illegal activities using the burner phone makes it illegal to keep. For example, using a burner phone for criminal activities, evading law enforcement, fraud, and harassment make them illegal. 

Legal Uses of Burner Phones

Burner phones are popular for offering improved privacy and security to users. Here are the common legal uses of them:

• Journalism: Retaining information confidentiality and documenting protests. 
• Travel: Keeping a burner phone helps keep your main device safe in risky areas.
• Privacy and Anonymity: Keeps your main number private from unwanted contacts.

Illegal Uses of Burner Phones

Using a burner phone to engage in malicious activities may lead to legal consequences. Here are the common illegal uses of burner phones:

• Investigation Evasion: Burner phones aren’t untraceable. They only offer anonymity for contacts, but not authorities. 
• Fraud and Scams: Using your phone for illegal activities makes it illegal. 

How Much Does a Burner Phone Cost?

Burner phones cost from $20 to $50. This depends on your requirements. Basic flip phones will cost around $20. However, if you need more functionality, such as Internet access or other apps, these will cost more ($50 – $100). 

Moreover, subscribing to additional services, such as prepaid airtime or a plan, adds to the cost. Plans vary, but they start from $5, and then top-up cards will cost from $10 to $300. 

Where to Get a Burner Phone From?

You can get a burner phone online or from a nearby retail store. Here are four options for getting a burner phone: 

1. Large Retail Stores

You can get a burner from the large retail stores, such as:

• Walmart
• Best buy
• Dollar general 
• Pharmacies like Walgreens

2. Mobile Carrier Stores

Official stores for popular brands, like:

• Cricket Wireless
• Boost Mobile
• Metro by T-Mobile 
• Tracfone
• Straight Talk 

You can buy the phone directly, but the store might ask for your ID, and if you want to activate a number. 

3. Online Stores

Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, or websites of prepaid carriers. You can have the phone shipped to be door. 

4. Burner App

App Store and Play Store offer various Burner Apps. These give you a burner number instead of a burner phone. They offer privacy from contacts but zero anonymity because the number will be tied to your primary device. 

Final Note: Debunking the Burner Phone Myth

No, burner phones are nothing like what Hollywood showed us all these years. These phones are traceable and are only advisable to keep if you want an extra layer of privacy from unwanted contacts. 

Keeping your digital habits without a third party sneaking into your data is practical. This is why we recommend connecting to FastestVPN when browsing the web. The VPN encrypts your information and reroutes your network traffic through an encrypted tunnel. Meaning, you get to browse the web anonymously, unlike a burner phone. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Receive the trending posts of the week and the latest announcements from FastestVPN via our email newsletter.

Email Address