Are these real SIM cards or VoIP numbers?

Real physical SIM cards from licensed mobile operators in EU, US, UK, Asian and LatAm countries. VoIP numbers from providers like Twilio and Google Voice are routinely blocked by WhatsApp, Telegram, Tinder, and most major services — VirtualSMS numbers pass those checks because they originate on real cellular networks.

How fast is delivery?

Most SMS arrive within 30-60 seconds of the service sending the verification code. If the SMS does not arrive within 20 minutes the activation is auto-refunded to your VirtualSMS balance — no dispute, no support ticket.

What payment methods are accepted?

Crypto via NOWPayments — USDT (TRC-20, ERC-20), BTC, ETH, LTC, BNB and more. No KYC, no phone number required from you. Card payments are intentionally not offered for privacy reasons.

How many countries and services are supported?

145+ countries with live SIM inventory and 2500+ services with per-country pricing. The supported list is published on the services page and country index, both kept in sync with live inventory.

Do I need an account?

No account is needed to view free shared numbers at /free-numbers. For dedicated private numbers — required for WhatsApp, Telegram, and any service that flags shared numbers — create a free account, top up with crypto, and start renting.

Is there an API for developers and AI agents?

Yes. Full REST API at /docs covering rent, activate, poll, cancel, and refund. AI agents can use the VirtualSMS MCP Server for one-install integration with Claude, Cursor, Codex, Windsurf, and other MCP-compatible clients.

Real SIM vs VoIP — why VirtualSMS costs more

Real SIM means real carrier-issued SIM cards connected to local carriers. VoIP means a number routed through internet-to-PSTN gateways with no SIM card involved. The difference shows up where it matters: real SIMs pass the carrier checks that block VoIP, so strict platforms accept them — VoIP numbers are widely rejected. The trade-off: VoIP is cheaper.

What “real SIM” means

We operate a network of real carrier-issued SIM cards on local carriers (a UK number runs on UK carriers like EE, Vodafone, O2, registered through normal carrier provisioning). When a platform sends an SMS to that number, it routes through the global cellular network exactly like sending an SMS to any normal mobile phone.

What “VoIP” means

VoIP-based services route numbers through software gateways. No SIM card is involved — the “number” is a software endpoint registered with a VoIP carrier (Twilio, Bandwidth, Plivo, and many others). When a platform sends an SMS to a VoIP number, the SMS travels over the internet rather than the cellular network.

Why platforms can tell the difference

Carriers maintain a global number-registry database that tags each phone number as one of three types: real cellular, landline, or VoIP. Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Tinder, banks, and crypto exchanges query this database during signup. If your number is tagged as VoIP, they often reject it or silently suppress the verification SMS.

Platform acceptance compared

Telegram: real-SIM passes the carrier check; VoIP numbers are often blocked entirely
WhatsApp: real-SIM accepted on supported country routes; VoIP widely rejected
Tinder, Bumble: real-SIM passes the carrier check; VoIP near-universally rejected at signup
Banking, crypto exchanges: real-SIM accepted at most institutions; VoIP rejected or flagged
Discord, less strict apps: both real-SIM and VoIP often accepted — pick the cheapest

Why VirtualSMS charges more than VoIP services

Operating real cellular SIM cards in 145+ countries costs roughly 5–10× more per number than pulling VoIP from upstream carriers. We pay for:

Physical SIM card acquisition + monthly carrier line rental in each country
Real carrier network infrastructure running 24/7 across regional markets
Maintenance of SIM rotation, fraud detection, and route quarantine systems
Compliance with each carrier’s anti-abuse policies (which evolve constantly)

If your use case tolerates failed verifications, VoIP is cheaper. If you need verifications to actually complete on strict platforms, real-SIM is the correct primitive.