What is a disposable phone number used for?
Why might you need registration using a virtual number? Here are some examples from our users:- Register a new account on social networks or messengers without using an additional SIM card
- Create accounts in bulk, combine them into a network, sell them on exchanges, or use them for personal purposes
- Send commercial mailings, promote products or services without using a personal account
- Receive bonuses, promo codes, and discounts for registration on marketplaces and other services
- Bypass geographic restrictions during registration using numbers from different countries
- Maintain anonymity on social networks, messengers, and forums
Categories of numbers for SMS activation
A virtual number for account verification can be used under different conditions and for different periods of time. There are a total of 3 categories:One-time SMS Activate — one-time SMS reception from the selected service within 20 minutes.
Rental — the number receives an unlimited number of SMS messages for a period from 4 hours to 4 weeks. For the rental service, many providers from the list also offer call forwarding.
Free number — a publicly available number that you can use without payment or registration. It does not belong to you, and the SMS content can be seen by any user.
If you use or develop software for auto-registrations, you can contact the experts from SMS-Active, and we will help you integrate with popular providers on the best terms.
SMS activation platforms
| Platform | Service Type | Payment Method | Has API | Reason | Prices from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HeroSMS SMS verification platform4.8 | One-time Code Reception, Number Rental | PaypalCredit CardCryptocurrencyWeChat PayAlipay | Yes | Stable service | $0.10 | Visit |
 SMS-MAN SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception, Number Rental, Free Code Reception | Credit CardAlipayCryptocurrency | Yes | User-friendly interface, Stable service | $0.15 | Visit |
 5Sim SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception | AlipayUnionPay QuickPassCredit Card | Yes | Low price | $0.05 | Visit |
 SimTonet SMS verification platform4.5 | Number Rental | Cryptocurrency | Yes | High anonymity | $0.20 | Visit |
 OnlineSIM SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception, Number Rental | Apple PayGoogle PayCredit CardAlipayCapitalistWeChat PayCryptocurrency | Yes | Rich numbers | $0.12 | Visit |
 AnonymSMS SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception, Number Rental | Credit CardPayPalCryptocurrencyAlipayUnionPay QuickPass | No | — | $0.10 | Visit |
 SMSPVA SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception, Number Rental | CryptocurrencyCredit CardAlipay | Yes | Professional service | $0.10 | Visit |
 SimRim SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception | PayPalCredit Card | Yes | — | $0.10 | Visit |
 Quackr SMS verification platform4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | Yes | Number rental and free traffic generation | Free | Visit |
 Pingme Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | — | Free | Visit |
 SMS bus SMS verification platform4.5 | One-time Code Reception | CryptocurrencyCredit CardAlipay | Yes | — | $0.12 | Visit |
 Receive-SMS Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 VeePN Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
Receive SMSS Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 Free online SMS reception | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 Free online SMS reception | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 Free online SMS reception | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 SMS24 Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 Free online SMS reception | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
Free online SMS reception | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 SMSTOME Free online SMS reception4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 ESIMplus Free online SMS reception (virtual number)4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
 Wetalk App Free SMS verification App4.5 | Free Code Reception | Free | No | Free SMS verification | Free | Visit |
Advantages of using a virtual number
- More than 200 countries available — use numbers without restrictions
- Activate accounts for 1000+ websites and applications, as well as with the “Any other” option for other services
- Secure account verification via SMS, number, or bot call is available
- Explore the list and choose a provider with the most convenient top-up method and commission for you
- Discounts and wholesale prices for regular customers — find out which SMS provider is most loyal to large orders
- Profitable affiliate program — learn how to start earning with SMS-MAN, 5SIM, SMS-Activate, and other providers
FAQ
SMS activation platforms provide one-time physical or virtual phone numbers to receive SMS codes. This allows you to register on various websites (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google) without using your real mobile phone number, thereby protecting your personal privacy.
There are three main categories:
- One-time SMS activation: the most common paid service. The number is valid for about 20 minutes and expires after receiving the SMS. The price is very low.
- Number rental: renting a number for a specific period of time (for example, from 4 hours to 12 months). During this period, you can receive SMS messages multiple times. Suitable for accounts that need to be used for a long time.
- Free SMS activation: publicly available numbers that can be used without payment. However, the content of SMS messages is public, and the quality of numbers may vary. Recommended only for testing SMS providers.
The choice of platform depends on your specific needs. If you need to register on applications with strict risk control, such as WeChat and Telegram, it is recommended to choose a platform that provides a real SIM card number, such as SMS-MAN, SMS-Activate, and SMS Bower. Although the price will be slightly higher, the success rate is guaranteed. For regular website verification, it is usually sufficient to choose a cheaper virtual card platform, such as 5SIM or SMSPVA.
SMS-Activate.com is a platform that does not provide SMS activation services. We are a directory of popular SMS activation services to provide you with the most up-to-date and useful list of services tailored to your requirements and needs.
Physical SIM cards use real SIM card numbers, belong to legitimate operators, offer high stability, and are difficult to identify as “scanning numbers” by websites, which ensures a very high success rate. Virtual SIM cards (VoIP) are usually numbers generated by a network with extremely low cost, but they are easily blocked by websites with strict risk control measures. Simply put: physical SIM cards = high quality + high price, virtual SIM cards = low price + medium quality.
Yes, using temporary numbers to protect your privacy is generally legal. However, please note that you must comply with the terms of use of the website you are registering on and must not use these numbers for illegal purposes such as fraud.
Most services providing SMS verification codes offer one-time temporary numbers. If you need a number for long-term use (for example, for a bank account), it is recommended to choose a platform offering a “rental” function, such as SMS-MAN or SMS-Activate.
Sometimes a specific number may be blocked by the target website, or the operator’s network may be busy. Most platforms will not charge you if you do not receive the verification code. You can try canceling your current number and getting a new one, or try switching to a number from another country.