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Free temp numbers and virtual numbers to receive SMS online

Pick a number, use it to sign up, then read the code here. Every number is a real phone number that everyone shares: a free text message number for one-time codes, without a SIM card, sign-up or registration.

Public inbox: anyone can read messages sent to these numbers. Don't use them for banking or for accounts you want to keep.

Free numbers receiving SMS now

Latest SMS received

Temporary phone numbers by country

Free numbers from the US (USA), the UK, Canada and 48 more countries.

Temp numbers for apps

How to receive SMS online with a temp number

  1. 1. Pick a number. There is nothing to make or create: choose one marked Receiving, from the country the service expects.
  2. 2. Use it to sign up. Enter the number with its country code and ask for the code.
  3. 3. Read the code here. Open the number's inbox. It updates every 15 seconds, and most messages arrive within a minute.

Temporary number for verification: what it is

A temporary number for verification is a phone number you use once to receive a verification code by SMS, then leave once the account is verified. People also call it a temp phone, a temp cell number, a temporary texting number, a disposable or throwaway phone number, a one-time phone number or a virtual number. This site is a free SMS code receiver for those numbers, a simple SMS verification tool with nothing to install.

What you can use it for

What it can't do

It only receives text messages: you can't send SMS or make calls from it. A free number is shared, so it is not a second phone number you can keep, and it is no good for two-factor authentication on an account you care about.

Didn't get the code?

Free numbers are shared, so a code can fail to arrive for reasons nobody here controls:

VoIP vs non-VoIP numbers

A VoIP number runs over the internet. It is cheap and quick to issue, and many apps reject it for verification. A non-VoIP number belongs to a mobile carrier and is tied to a SIM card. Apps accept it more often, but none of them promise to.

A private number is used by you alone, so nobody else can read your codes or reuse the number, and apps are less likely to refuse it.

Get a private number from $0.17

Frequently asked questions

Are these temp numbers really free?

Yes. Every number on this page is public and free to use, with no sign-up. Because they are public, anyone can read the messages they receive.

Why didn't my verification code arrive?

The number may already be used or blocked by the service you are signing up to. Pick a newer number and wait 30 to 60 seconds: the inbox updates itself every 15 seconds. If it still doesn't arrive, a private number avoids the shared-number problem.

What is an OTP number?

The meaning of OTP is one-time password: a 4 or 6 digit code that a service sends by SMS to verify a phone number. An OTP number is the phone number that receives it, like the free numbers above. Services also call it a verification code, an activation code or a PIN.

Is a temp number a virtual number?

In everyday use, yes. A virtual number is one you use online instead of on your own SIM card, and many virtual numbers are VoIP lines. This site can't tell whether each free number is a VoIP or a non-VoIP (carrier) line.

What is the difference between VoIP and non-VoIP numbers?

A VoIP number runs over the internet; a non-VoIP number belongs to a mobile carrier and a SIM card. Many apps reject VoIP numbers for verification and accept non-VoIP numbers more often, though none guarantee it. If you buy or rent a private number, the app shows whether it is a virtual (VoIP) line before you pay.

What does non-fixed VoIP mean?

A fixed VoIP number is tied to a street address, like a landline from your internet provider. A non-fixed VoIP number is not: anyone can get one online, for example from a second-number app. Many services refuse non-fixed VoIP numbers for verification.

Can I send texts from a temp number?

No. These numbers only receive SMS. You can read every text message they get here, but you can't send or reply.

Can I use a temporary phone number for verification on any app?

It depends on the app. Many apps refuse numbers that other people have used, and every public number here is shared. Use them for sign-ups you can afford to lose.

How long does a temp number stay active?

A number stays in the list while it keeps receiving messages. Numbers with no message in the last 24 hours move to older numbers, and each card shows when the number was added.

Is it safe to use a free temporary phone number?

It is fine for one-off sign-ups. Don't use one for banking or accounts you want to keep: anyone who can read the number's messages could also receive its recovery codes.

Can I get a number only I can use?

Yes. Private numbers start from $0.17. Only you read the codes, and you see the price before you pay.

Pick a number

Anyone can see messages sent to this number.

No code yet? Private number from $0.17