Definitely checkout JMP Chat, they're actually based in Canada and offer super affordable alternative phone numbers. Using their Cheogram app even lets you incorporate it fully into your phone, so when you call, it'll ask which number you'd like to use for the call. Calling has limited minutes each month, but the overage charges are very reasonable. It comes with unlimited texting as well. They encrypt everything on their end and it's fully open source!
this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
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Privacy
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Yes, Twilio. There may be other providers but this is the market leader. I have rented a number for years for this purpose. In their interface you can plug a script into the number to redirect all SMS messages to an email address. No need for any physical phone or SIM. I am always mystified that so few other people do what I am doing.
2 USD a month for a European mobile number. Canada may be different but for many countries you will need to submit documentation to prove identity and your right of residence there.
Tello gives you a real (US though) number, E911 and all, for 5 USD a month. You get an eSIM you can activate from anywhere in the world via Wi-Fi Calling. Send and receive unlimited texts and get 100 minutes a month for the odd service that insists on verification calls rather than texts. I've had zero issues.
5 usd a month is a lot...
You can pick up a sim for about $15 and then get pay as you go from 7-11 wireless or whatever other cheap provider. This gives you a "real" secondary number and doesn't cost much if you aren't using any data.
If it matters, I believe "voip.ms" is Canada based. I'm using them for a phone number with sms, kind of like what you said you're looking for.
IIRC, I'm paying ~$12 USD per year (+ $1 USD per month for a phone voip app, but there are free app options too).
YSK, their site/service setting aren't always the easiest to figure out so read their docs carefully.
Best of luck!
Unfortunately some verification providers don't allow VoIP SMS numbers, I'd say it's always about 50/50 whether it'll work or not very frustrating. But otherwise yeah, VoIP.ms is great! And indeed Montreal based!
Ah, ok... I used to use usmobile.com as a data backup on their cheapest plan. It was ~$8 USD for 2Gb of data and like 100 texts per month. Obv a lot more than voip.ms, but you get assigned a real number by a cell provider. U.S. based though so it might not be useful for you.
Does anyone know of an American one?
JMP Chat works in the US even though they're based in Canada. I highly recommend the service, it's absolutely fantastic!
Will def check it out! Thanks!
I don't think that exists. I'm also looking for a cheap way to save my Skype number now that MS is shutting it down and can't find anything cheaper than $8/mo or so.
I can't even transfer it to Google voice directly because it is treated as VOIP number so I have to transfer it to a real phone first and then to Google voice. Not sure if it'll work for SMS verifications after that.
Callcentric has Canada numbers. For their Pay Per Minute plan, there is a US$3.95 setup fee. Monthly charge of $3 for the number, plus $0.015 per minute incoming voice (outgoing charge varies by location called) and $0.01 per SMS. Probably an additional charge for 911 emergency number access if you tell them you are going to use the number from inside the USA or Canada.
You can read your text messages on their website and/or have them sent to your email address.
I got a California number from them when I was living there in 2009 or so, and added the SMS more recently (which added $1 to my previous monthly charge of $2). It has never failed me for SMS verification for banks, etc. I have not tried WhatsApp or Telegram.
Fongo World seems to be a weird but working option for me.