Three Free Ways to Get a Temporary Phone Number
A free temporary phone number usually comes from one of three places: a public receive-SMS website like this one, a free texting app that assigns you a number, or a free trial of a paid second-number app. Each one is free in a different way and suits a different job.
For a single verification code, a public website is usually quickest. If you need to reply or hold on to the number for a while, an app fits better. Here's how they stack up.
Free numbers available now
Click a number to open its public inbox, enter the number on the signup form, then press Update Messages on the number's page to fetch the code.
Public receive-SMS websites
These sites publish the inbox of each number on a web page. You choose a number, type it into the signup form and read the code in your browser.
- Pros: no account, no download, works on any device with a browser, and numbers from several countries, including the US and the UK.
- Cons: every text sent to the number is public, numbers rotate out of the list, you can't send texts or take calls, and some services refuse shared numbers.
It's also the only one of the three that doesn't ask for an email address, a card or an account of any kind.
Free texting apps that give you a number
Some apps hand out a number you can text from, and sometimes call from, funded by ads. Many of them only offer US or Canadian numbers.
- Pros: the number is yours alone while you keep it, you can reply, and messages stay inside your account.
- Cons: you usually need to create an account, and some ask for an email address or an existing phone number first. Numbers you stop using may be reclaimed, and many services refuse app-based numbers for verification.
The guide to free texting services explains how these apps work in more detail.
Free trials of second-number apps
Paid second-number apps sometimes offer a short free trial with full features, so you get a private number for a few days.
- Pros: a number only you can read, often with calling and texting, and in some apps a choice of area code.
- Cons: many trials ask for a card up front and roll into a paid plan unless you cancel in time, and the number usually goes away when the trial ends.
Side-by-side comparison
| Question | Public SMS website | Free texting app | Free trial of a paid app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account needed? | No | Usually | Yes, often with a card |
| Who sees your texts? | Anyone | Only you | Only you |
| Can you send texts? | No | Yes | Yes |
| How long does the number last? | While its provider keeps it online | While you keep using it, per the app's rules | Until the trial ends or you cancel |
| Which countries? | Several, including the US and UK | Often US and Canada only | Depends on the app |
| Setup | Open a web page | Install and create an account | Install, sign up and add payment details |
Which one suits a one-off verification
If you need a free temporary phone number for one code on a low-stakes account, the public website wins on speed. With no signup, there's nothing to cancel and no account to delete afterward. Start with a number from the active list.
Move to a free texting app if the service needs you to reply by text or keeps turning down shared numbers. A trial only makes sense if you need a private number for a few days and you'll remember to cancel.
A sensible order for a one-off code: try two or three public numbers first, move to a free texting app if the service refuses them all, and leave the trial for last.
None of the three belongs on an account tied to money or your identity; use your own number there. The main guide also compares burner apps and SIM cards.
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