Research on SMS number prices and rules
Last updated
Quick answer
Where can I find dated prices for SMS numbers?
In the KeepANumber SMS verification price index. The October 2026 edition compares public prices of 12 providers read on 18 October 2026: a median of $20 for a 30-day any-service rental and $5 for a rental tied to one service, with crypto and ID rules and closures.
Headline figures, October 2026
| Figure | Value | Basis | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median 30-day rental, any service | $20 | USD list prices | 3 prices: $18, $20, $24.99 |
| Median 30-day rental, one service | $5 | USD list prices | 3 prices: $2.25, $5, $45 (computed) |
| Median monthly price, second-number apps | $7.99 | App list prices, calls included | 3 apps: $1.99, $7.99, $7.99 |
| Services closed in 2025–2026 | 2 | Notices on their own sites | SMS-Activate, DaisySMS |
| Countries where a prepaid SIM needs an ID | 10 of 14 | Laws and regulators, by country | The 14 countries we cover |
Publications
- SMS verification price index 2026
Rentals, one-time numbers and apps compared, with medians and method.
- Prepaid SIM rules by country
Where a SIM card needs an ID, country by country, with sources.
- Best phone number rental sites 2026
Seven rental services compared on scope, price, periods, crypto and ID rules.
How do we collect the data?
- Prices are read on each provider's own page or public price list, on a stated date, without promo codes.
- A price we cannot read (bot check, login, script) is left out, never estimated.
- A price computed from a daily rate is labelled "computed".
- Telecom rules come from laws, regulators and the national numbering plans filed with the ITU.
- KeepANumber's own prices are shown for reference and excluded from every median.
What did the October 2026 edition find?
Scope matters more than brand: a rental tied to one service costs a fraction of one that receives texts from any service, so compare like with like. Short-lived numbers remain cheap but last minutes, which explains why users of the two services that closed, SMS-Activate and DaisySMS, lost the numbers on their accounts. Identity checks appear where card payments are involved: SMSPVA's May 2026 policy requires an ID and liveness check for card payments.
How to cite this research
Name the edition and the date: "KeepANumber, SMS verification price index, October 2026 edition, prices read on 18 October 2026", with a link to the index page. Each figure links to its source on that page.
Questions about the research
How often is the index updated?
Monthly. The next edition is planned for November 2026.
Why are some providers missing?
Because their prices were behind a bot check, a login or loaded by script on the day we read them. We do not estimate.
Can I reuse the figures?
Yes, with the edition, the date and a link to the index.
- SMSPool public rental price list (API), read 2026-10-18
- VirtualSMS rentals, read 2026-10-18
- TextVerified home page, read 2026-10-18
- PVADeals home page and prices, read 2026-10-18
- SMSPVA AML/KYC policy (May 2026), read 2026-10-18
- SMS-Activate closure notice, read 2026-10-18
- DaisySMS closure notice, read 2026-10-18
- GSMA, mandatory registration of prepaid SIM cards, read 2026-10-18