Virtual number providers compared: 2026 overview

Phone number services fall into three groups: one-time activation numbers for a single code, rented numbers you keep for weeks or months, and VoIP calling and texting apps. The right choice depends on whether you need one code, a number for an account you plan to keep, or a second line for calls and texts. This page compares 15 providers plus SMS Hallo using only facts from each provider's own website, checked between 30 September and 1 October 2026. Disclosure: this page is published by SMS Hallo, which is one of the services listed.

How we compared

We compared each service on seven points: what type of number it offers, how it prices, which payment methods it accepts, what identity checks it states, how many countries it covers, what its refund or guarantee terms say, and the date we checked.

Every fact about another provider comes only from that provider's own website, such as its homepage, FAQ, pricing page, terms or refund policy. We checked these pages on 30 September and 1 October 2026; the exact date for each provider is in the Checked column, and every page we used is listed in the sources below.

Where a provider's own pages did not state something, we wrote "Not stated" instead of guessing. We did not use review sites, forums or third-party reports.

SMS Hallo publishes this page and is included in it. To keep the comparison fair, we give no ratings, stars, scores or rankings, and we do not list other providers' dollar prices, because those change often; we describe each price model in words. The table order is not a ranking.

Providers change their offers. Before you pay anywhere, check the provider's current terms on its own website.

How to choose

Start with what you need the number for. The same service can be a good fit for one job and a poor fit for another.

If you need one code, once: a one-time activation number is built for this. You pay for a single code for one service, and the number usually expires within minutes. The trade-off is that you normally cannot receive a code on that number again later, for example when the app asks you to log in again or confirm a new device.

If the number will stay linked to an account you plan to keep: choose a rental you can renew. Many apps send a new code when you change phones, reset a password or sign in from a new place, so the number needs to stay yours. Check how long rentals last, whether you can extend them, and what happens to the number when the rental ends.

If you want to call and text people: look for a service that includes outgoing SMS and calls, not only incoming codes. VoIP apps and some rental services cover this; many activation services are receive-only.

Also check the practical points: which countries you need, which payment methods you can use, what identity checks the provider states, and how refunds work if a code never arrives. Remember that each app decides which numbers it accepts, so no provider can promise that every app will accept every number.

Rented numbers vs one-time activations vs VoIP apps

One-time activations give you a number for a short window, often 20 minutes, to receive one code for one service. Several providers in this comparison, such as HeroSMS, GrizzlySMS and 5SIM, describe their core product this way, and many refund the balance automatically if no code arrives in time.

Rented numbers stay assigned to you for a set period, from days to a year depending on the provider, and can often be extended. PVAPins, OnlineSIM, SMSPool, SMSPVA, Quackr and TextVerified list rentals alongside activations, and SMS Hallo offers rentals only.

VoIP calling and texting apps, such as Google Voice, TextNow, Hushed and Burner, give you a second number inside an app for calls and texts over the internet. Their own sites describe limited country coverage, mostly in North America, and some features, like receiving verification codes, may depend on the plan.

App-specific services are a fourth, smaller group. Wabi, for example, provides numbers for WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business only, and says they cannot make or receive calls.

None of these types is right for everyone. A single code for a one-off sign-up has different needs from a number that must keep working for years.

Notes on each provider

HeroSMS (hero-sms.com) sells one-time activation numbers that run from 20 minutes, charges per SMS with no monthly subscription, and also lists a full-rent option. It takes cryptocurrency top-ups, says it covers 180+ countries, and returns funds to the balance automatically if no SMS arrives within 20 minutes.

PVAPins (pvapins.com) offers free public numbers, one-time activations and rentals from 72 hours to 30 days in 200+ countries, on a pay-as-you-go basis. Its refund policy says approved refunds go to the account balance only, must be requested within 48 hours, and are not given after a code is received.

GrizzlySMS (grizzlysms.com) sells one-time numbers only: 20 minutes, one service, usually one SMS, and no calls. You pay per received code; its FAQ says the balance is refunded if no code arrives within 20 minutes or if you cancel.

OnlineSIM (onlinesim.io) offers short-term numbers for one service (10 minutes to 1 hour) and extendable long-term rentals in 110+ countries, paid from a prepaid balance. Its terms say client identification may be required at any time, and its refund policy says refunds are handled case by case on email request.

SMSPool (smspool.net) sells temporary verification numbers and monthly long-term rentals, described as non-VoIP, in over 150 countries. It says no email is needed to sign up, though its payment processor may require KYC and some sensitive services need a written application.

SMSPVA (smspva.com) offers temporary activation numbers and rentals for days, weeks or months in 60+ countries, and says it provides both real SIM-based and virtual numbers. Its refund policy says there is no refund after a successful activation and that non-receipt claims are considered individually within 7 days.

Quackr (quackr.io) lists free temporary numbers plus private non-VoIP rentals for 1 week, 1 month, 6 months or 1 year, with paid numbers in 15+ countries. Its refund policy asks for reports within 48 hours and gives a full refund after two failed replacements, but not once a code is received.

Wabi (wabi-app.com) is an app subscription that provides numbers for WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business only, in 30+ countries; its FAQ says these numbers cannot make or receive calls. Its terms say payments are non-refundable, with refunds or replacements considered case by case in specific situations.

SMS-Activate (sms-activate.org) says on its own website that it has closed and ceased operations, and that its technology was handed over to the team behind HeroSMS. The site says balance withdrawals were available until 5 February, so we list no current features for it.

Google Voice (voice.google.com) is a phone service for calls, texts and voicemail through an app and the web. Google's help pages say the basic personal plan is US-only and needs an existing phone number for setup, while paid Workspace business plans are offered in 14 countries.

TextNow (textnow.com) is a calling and texting app with a free number that, according to its support pages, can be downloaded and used within North America only. Its paid Ad-Free+ option adds receiving verification codes and number lock-in.

Hushed (hushed.com) is a second-number app for calling and texting over Wi-Fi or mobile data, with Prepaid, Unlimited and Pay-as-you-go plans. It lists numbers for Canada, the United States and the U.K.

Burner (burnerapp.com) is a second-phone-number app sold as a subscription with unlimited calls and texts. Its site says the app is available in the US, Canada and Australia, with numbers in the US and Canada.

5SIM (5sim.net) sells single-use numbers for receiving SMS, with no outgoing SMS or calls, in more than 180 countries. Its FAQ says a refund is made automatically if no SMS is received.

TextVerified (textverified.com) focuses on the United States, offering single verifications and rentals (short-term from 1 to 14 days, or long-term). Its homepage describes real US mobile lines on physical SIMs and accepts credit cards and cryptocurrencies.

Where SMS Hallo fits

SMS Hallo rents real mobile phone numbers (non-VoIP, in each country's local mobile format) in 181 countries. It offers rentals, not one-time activations, so it fits accounts you plan to keep rather than a single throwaway code.

Every number includes unlimited incoming SMS, unlimited incoming calls, 500 outgoing SMS per month and 1,000 outgoing calling minutes per month. Allowances reset every 30 days, and unused allowance does not roll over. The dashboard has an SMS inbox with code detection and one-tap copy, a send-SMS screen, a browser dialer, a call log and usage meters.

Numbers are private: while you rent a number, only you see its messages, and inboxes are never published. SMS Hallo is not a free public receive-SMS site.

Prices start from $1.80 per month on the 12-month plan ($21.60 billed yearly), the same in every country, with no setup fees. 1-, 3- and 6-month plans are also available, with prices shown when you choose a number. You pay in USDT or USDC on Tron, BNB Chain, Polygon, Base or Solana, from a prepaid wallet (minimum top-up $5) or directly for a number.

Sign-up needs only an email and password: no SIM card, no ID documents and no local address. You keep a number by renewing for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months at a time or by turning on auto-renew. After expiry a number may be given to someone else, so renew numbers linked to important accounts.

Every rental includes three guarantees: a 7-day free replacement (swap for another available number in the same country, free, up to 3 times, keeping the plan and expiry date); works or 100% refund (if the number doesn't work with the app it was rented for, request within 7 days and get 100% of what you paid); and a 7-day money-back guarantee (a full refund within 7 days, no questions asked, if no call or SMS has been made or received on the number).

SMS Hallo's Acceptable Use Policy forbids breaking an app's terms, returning to an app after a ban, bulk or fake account creation, fraud, and getting around bank or KYC identity checks. Numbers are meant for privacy and a second number for legitimate sign-ups.

Provider	Type	Price model	Payment	Identity checks	Countries	Refunds / guarantee	Checked
SMS Hallo	Rented real mobile numbers (non-VoIP) with SMS and calls; 1-, 3-, 6- or 12-month plans	From $1.80/month on the 12-month plan	USDT or USDC on Tron, BNB Chain, Polygon, Base or Solana	Email and password only; no ID documents, SIM card or local address	181 countries	7-day free replacement; 100% refund if it doesn't work with the app; 7-day money-back if unused	2026-10-01
HeroSMS	One-time activation numbers (from 20 minutes); a 'Full rent' option is also listed	Pay per SMS; no monthly subscription	Cryptocurrency top-ups (processing up to 2 hours)	Email registration; no approval process stated	180+ countries	Funds return to balance automatically if no SMS within 20 minutes	2026-10-01
PVAPins	Free public numbers, one-time activations, and rentals from 72 hours to 30 days	Pay as you go	Cards, Apple Pay, bank transfer, crypto (USDT BEP20) and many regional methods	Not stated	200+ countries	Approved refunds credited to account balance only; request within 48 hours; none after a code is received	2026-10-01
GrizzlySMS	One-time numbers only: 20 minutes, one service, usually one SMS, SMS-only (no calls)	Pay per received code	Bank cards, online wallets, cryptocurrency (minimum deposit per FAQ)	Email only; email confirmation at sign-up	Over 180 countries (homepage)	Balance refunded if no code within 20 minutes or on cancel; none after a code arrives	2026-10-01
OnlineSIM	Short-term numbers for one service (10 min to 1 hour) and extendable long-term rentals	Prepaid balance; price shown after choosing a country	Bank transfer and electronic or digital asset payment methods	Client identification may be required at any time (terms)	110+ countries	Not automatic; case-by-case on email request; no refunds for non-delivery outcomes as far as law allows; short-term number can be closed without charge if no SMS	2026-10-01
SMSPool	Temporary verification numbers (usually one-time, up to 24h for most suppliers) and monthly long-term rentals; non-VoIP	Pay per use; rentals priced monthly	Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL via Stripe; crypto via licensed partners; no PayPal	No email required to sign up; payment processor may require KYC; some sensitive services need a written application with identity	Over 150 countries	Balance refund if deposited within 14 days and not partly spent; EU/EEA 14-day withdrawal for unused balance	2026-10-01
SMSPVA	Temporary activation numbers and rentals (days, weeks or months); real SIM-based and virtual numbers	Per number, by country, operator and service	Credit/debit cards and cryptocurrency	Email and contact details at registration	60+ countries	No refund after successful activation; non-receipt or invalid-number claims within 7 days; considered individually	2026-10-01
Quackr	Free temporary numbers, plus private non-VoIP rentals for 1 week, 1 month, 6 months or 1 year	Per rental period; lower per-period cost for longer terms	Credit and debit cards (auto-renewing subscriptions via Stripe for 1 month+), dozens of cryptocurrencies	Not stated	15+ countries for paid numbers	Report within 48 hours; full refund after two failed replacements; none once a code is received	2026-10-01
Wabi	App subscription numbers for WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business only; cannot make or receive calls	Auto-renewing subscription with free trial; price not listed on website	Credit card, Google Play, Apple App Store	Registration info (phone/email); terms require use under true identity	30+ countries	Payments non-refundable; refund/replacement considered case by case in specific situations	2026-10-01
SMS-Activate	Closed: its official site says the service has ceased operations (technology handed to HeroSMS)	Not stated (service closed)	Not stated (service closed)	Not stated (service closed)	Not stated (service closed)	Not stated (site says balance withdrawals were available until 5 February)	2026-09-30
Google Voice	Phone service (calls, texts, voicemail via app and web); personal plan and Workspace business plans	Basic personal plan at no charge; Workspace plans paid	Not stated	Google account; requires an existing phone number to forward calls and verify by text	Personal plan: US only; Workspace business plans in 14 countries	Not stated	2026-09-30
TextNow	Calling and texting app with a free number (North America)	Free number; optional Ad-Free+ in-app purchase	Not stated	App or website account	Download and use within North America only	Not stated	2026-09-30
Hushed	Second-number app for calling and texting over Wi-Fi or mobile data	Prepaid, Unlimited and Pay-as-you-go plans	Not stated	Not stated	Canada, United States, U.K.	Not stated	2026-09-30
Burner	Second-phone-number app (subscription with unlimited calls and texts)	Subscription (price not stated)	Not stated	Not stated	App available in US, Canada, Australia; numbers US and Canada	Not stated	2026-09-30
5SIM	Single-use numbers to receive SMS; no outgoing SMS or calls	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	More than 180 countries	Automatic refund if no SMS is received	2026-09-30
TextVerified	US verification numbers: single verifications and rentals (short-term 1-14 days or long-term); real US mobile lines on physical SIMs	Not stated	Credit cards and cryptocurrencies	Not stated	United States	Not stated	2026-09-30

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a one-time activation and a rented number?

A one-time activation gives you a number for a short window, often 20 minutes, to receive one code for one service. A rented number stays assigned to you for a set period, so you can receive codes again later, for example when an app asks you to confirm a new device.

Which type of number should I use for an account I want to keep?

Use a rented number that you can renew. Many apps send new codes later, and a short activation number usually cannot receive them once it has expired. Check how long the rental lasts and what happens to the number when it ends.

Is SMS-Activate still operating?

No. Its own website, sms-activate.org, says the service has closed and ceased operations, and that its technology was handed over to the team behind HeroSMS.

Can any provider guarantee that an app will accept its number?

No. Each app decides which numbers it accepts. Look at the provider's refund and replacement terms instead. SMS Hallo, for example, offers a 7-day free replacement and a 100% refund if the number doesn't work with the app it was rented for, requested within 7 days.

Why doesn't this page list competitors' prices?

Providers change prices often, and many price by country, service or rental length. We describe each price model in words and recommend checking current prices on each provider's own website. SMS Hallo's public price is from $1.80 per month on the 12-month plan ($21.60 billed yearly).

Who publishes this comparison?

SMS Hallo publishes this page and is one of the services in it. We use only facts from each provider's own website, give no ratings or rankings, and list every source we used with the date we checked it.

Do these services require ID?

It varies. Some providers state only an email sign-up, OnlineSIM's terms say client identification may be required at any time, and SMSPool says its payment processor may require KYC. SMS Hallo needs only an email and password, with no ID documents. Where a provider's site did not say, the table shows "Not stated".

Can I make calls and send texts with these numbers?

It depends on the service. Some activation services, such as GrizzlySMS and 5SIM, say their numbers are for receiving SMS only. VoIP apps are built for calls and texts. Every SMS Hallo number includes unlimited incoming SMS and calls, 500 outgoing SMS and 1,000 outgoing calling minutes per month.

Sources

Competitor facts verified on 2026-10-01.

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