Published: March 10, 2026 | 8 min read
Whether you're setting up a second WhatsApp account for business, need to verify without your personal number, or just want a dedicated number for a project — this guide covers exactly what to buy, where to buy it, and how to do it in under 5 minutes.
How to Buy a Virtual Number for WhatsApp Verification (2026)
Why People Buy Virtual Numbers for WhatsApp
WhatsApp ties your account to your phone number — which creates real problems for a lot of legitimate use cases:
- Second account for business: Keep work and personal WhatsApp separate without carrying two phones
- Privacy protection: Don't want clients, communities, or strangers to have your personal number
- No SIM card / tablet use: Verifying WhatsApp on a device that doesn't have a SIM slot
- International number: A number for a WhatsApp Business profile targeting a specific market
- Account recovery testing: Developers testing WhatsApp Business API integrations need test accounts
- Travelling: Setting up WhatsApp on a temporary local number without transferring your main account
All of these are valid — and they all require the same thing: a real phone number that isn't yours personally. Browse WhatsApp activations for live country availability.
What Types of Numbers Does WhatsApp Accept in 2026?
WhatsApp's verification system has become significantly stricter since 2023. Here's where different number types stand today:
| Number Type | Examples | WhatsApp Accepts? | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| VoIP numbers | Google Voice, Skype, TextNow | ❌ Usually blocked | 5–15% |
| Free public numbers | receive-sms sites | ❌ Blacklisted | <5% |
| Shared virtual numbers | Some activation services | ⚠️ Unreliable | 20–40% |
| Real SIM (US) | Prepaid AT&T, T-Mobile | ✅ Yes | 80–90% |
| Real SIM (major carriers) ⭐ | VirtualSMS — Vodafone, EE, Orange, T-Mobile | ✅ Yes | 90–95% |
The pattern is consistent: real physical SIM cards pass; virtual/VoIP numbers usually don't. WhatsApp uses carrier-level lookup APIs (similar to Telegram) to check if a number is legitimate mobile before sending the SMS. For the technical detail, see our VoIP vs physical SIM breakdown and why SMS verification gets blocked.
Where to Buy a Virtual Number for WhatsApp (Best Options 2026)
1. VirtualSMS ⭐ Recommended
VirtualSMS uses physical SIM cards across 145+ countries to provide genuine mobile numbers for WhatsApp and 2500 other services. These are not virtual overlays or VoIP — they're real SIM cards receiving your SMS in real time.
- ✅ 95%+ WhatsApp success rate
- ✅ Numbers from 145+ countries — Germany, UK, France, Netherlands and more
- ✅ Private dedicated numbers (not shared)
- ✅ Automatic refund if SMS doesn't arrive
- ✅ Works for WhatsApp Business too
- ✅ API available for bulk use
Price: from $0.05 per activation (varies by country). Open WhatsApp activations or jump to Germany / United Kingdom.
2. SMS-Activate — Large Inventory
SMS-Activate has a wide selection of WhatsApp numbers across 145+ countries. Quality is variable — some numbers are shared or semi-virtual, leading to 40–65% success rates on WhatsApp. Better for volume buying at low cost than for single activations where reliability matters.
- ✅ Huge inventory, many countries
- ✅ Low price starting at $0.15
- ⚠️ Variable quality and success rates
- ⚠️ Some numbers shared across users
3. Grizzly SMS — Budget Option
Grizzly SMS offers WhatsApp numbers from India, US, UK, and other regions at budget prices. Useful for non-critical verifications or testing, but not recommended for primary accounts where reliability matters.
- ✅ Very affordable ($0.10–$0.50)
- ⚠️ Lower quality numbers
- ⚠️ Higher failure rates on strict platforms
For a head-to-head comparison, see our best SMS verification services 2026 roundup.
Step-by-Step: Buy and Use a Virtual Number for WhatsApp
- Go to VirtualSMS → Activations
No account required for one-time use. Sign up for API access or bulk credits. - Search "WhatsApp" and select a country
UK, Germany, France, or Spain are recommended — high availability, high success rate. The number will look like +44 7xxx xxxxxx or +49 176 xxxxxxx. - Complete payment — get your number instantly
Activations start from $0.05; WhatsApp typically runs $0.75–$1.50. Number appears in your dashboard immediately. You have 20 minutes to use it before it expires (unused = auto-refund). - Open WhatsApp → Agree & Continue → Enter your number
Select the correct country code from the dropdown. Enter the number digits WITHOUT the country code (WhatsApp adds it automatically). Tap "Next." - WhatsApp sends a 6-digit SMS code
Check your VirtualSMS dashboard. The code typically arrives within 30–60 seconds. Don't close the browser tab while waiting. - Enter the 6-digit code in WhatsApp
WhatsApp may auto-detect it if you're on the same device. If not, type it manually. - Add your name and profile photo — done
Your WhatsApp account is live. For long-term use, set up two-step verification (Settings → Account → Two-step verification) to protect access.
💡 Pro tip: If WhatsApp gives you a "call instead" option after 60 seconds, use it. Voice calls deliver the code just as reliably as SMS — and VirtualSMS supports incoming calls on supported numbers.
Prefer to do this from your phone? You can also activate through @VirtualSMSioBot on Telegram — same numbers, same prices, no browser required.
Common WhatsApp Verification Problems (And How to Fix Them)
"This phone number is already registered on WhatsApp"
The number was previously used for another WhatsApp account. VirtualSMS provides numbers that haven't been used for WhatsApp. If you see this message, get a new number from a different country.
Verification code never arrives
WhatsApp may be rate-limiting your number request. Wait 60 seconds and tap "Resend code." If it still doesn't arrive within the window on VirtualSMS, the auto-refund kicks in — or contact support for a replacement. Never use a number from a public "receive SMS" site — these are blocked. See our free numbers note for context.
"You need a phone number to use WhatsApp" error
This appears when WhatsApp detects a VoIP number. Real SIM numbers from VirtualSMS don't trigger this error. If you see it, your current number source is VoIP — switch to a real SIM service.
Account banned shortly after creation
WhatsApp bans based on behaviour, not number type. Common triggers: sending mass messages, adding many unknown contacts quickly, using unofficial WhatsApp apps (GB WhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus), or using automation tools. The number source itself is not the cause.
WhatsApp asks to verify with an existing device
If your number was previously active on WhatsApp, it may have transfer/migrate prompts. For numbers purchased through VirtualSMS, this shouldn't happen — our numbers don't have prior WhatsApp history.
Can You Use a Virtual Number for WhatsApp Business?
Yes — WhatsApp Business uses the same verification process as regular WhatsApp. A real SIM number from VirtualSMS works for both. The main difference is that WhatsApp Business asks for a business name during setup, but verification is identical.
If you need a WhatsApp Business API number (for high-volume messaging via third-party integrations), that's a different process — it requires Meta Business Manager verification and doesn't use the standard SMS flow. Virtual numbers work for the standard WhatsApp Business app, not the API tier.
Quick summary:
- WhatsApp (personal): ✅ Virtual SIM number works
- WhatsApp Business (app): ✅ Virtual SIM number works
- WhatsApp Business API: ⚠️ Requires Meta business verification — different process
Get a summary or follow-up answer in your favourite AI assistant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a virtual number for WhatsApp verification?
Yes — if it's a real physical SIM number. WhatsApp blocks VoIP numbers (Google Voice, Skype, TextNow) but accepts genuine mobile numbers from physical SIM cards. VirtualSMS provides physical SIM-backed numbers with a 95%+ WhatsApp success rate.
How much does it cost to buy a virtual number for WhatsApp?
WhatsApp activations on VirtualSMS start from $0.05 and typically run $0.50–$2.00 depending on country. UK and German numbers usually fall in the $0.75–$1.50 range. If the SMS doesn't arrive within the window, you receive an automatic refund.
Will WhatsApp ban an account made with a virtual number?
No — WhatsApp doesn't ban accounts simply for using a virtual number. Bans happen based on behavior: spam, mass messaging, using unofficial WhatsApp apps, or violating Terms of Service. An account created with a real SIM virtual number and used normally will not be banned because of the number source.
Can I use a virtual number for WhatsApp Business?
Yes. WhatsApp Business uses the same SMS verification process as regular WhatsApp. A real SIM number from VirtualSMS works for WhatsApp Business. Note: this applies to the WhatsApp Business app — the WhatsApp Business API uses a different, Meta-verified process.
Do I need to keep the virtual number active after verifying WhatsApp?
No. Once verified, your WhatsApp session stays active independently of the number. However, if you're ever logged out, you'll need the original number to receive a new verification SMS. To avoid this risk, enable two-step verification in WhatsApp Settings immediately after creating your account.
VirtualSMS
Maintained by the VirtualSMS team. We've been shipping real-SIM SMS verification infrastructure since 2022 — 2500+ services across 145+ countries, MCP server v1.2.0 listed on Smithery and the official MCP registry. Open source, MIT licensed.
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