How online SMS verification services work?

There are many services the offers the possibility to receive an online sms so you can activate your account if you want to keep your privacy.

They typically split into two variants:

1. Non-VoIP phone numbers, which mean they are real phone numbers attached to a physical sim card. They have a high quality for any online service that require sms verification of the account. But since they are limited and expensive in production — the price on market is expensive too.

For example US, NL, UK Non-VoIP phone numbers will cost around $0.50–$1.50 per received SMS.

Usually you pay only for received SMS, if you cancel your order before receiving an sms, most services will automatically refund the funds to your account. But to be sure, you should test it on small amount before top up.

2. VoIP phone numbers, these are “Virtual” phone numbers, while they are still REAL phone numbers, they are not attached to a physical sim card, but they exist, they can receive sms/phone calls and everything that a physical sim card can.

They work on most online services for sms verification, so usually people pick them because prices are much cheaper than non-VoIP numbers.

For example on smskody.com prices vary from $0.05 per SMS, which is literally 10x times lower than for non-VoIP numbers. Thats why most people choose VoIP numbers for normal services activation, and non-VoIP for special platforms that don’t send to VoIP numbers (only about 1% of online platforms do not like VoIP numbers).

One more thing to know is that you must look if the platform has a transparent policy about how many times the same phone numbers can be used for activating accounts on the same platform multiple times.

Because if the number you used was used few more times before or after you create your account — you may end up being suspended.

Ideally would be to find a service where they only use one max two times for activating a service on the same service.

Thank you!