Second phone number with no app and no subscription
Last updated
Quick answer
How can I get a second phone number without an app or a subscription?
KeepANumber gives you a second phone number that receives SMS in a web dashboard: no app to install, no SIM and no subscription. You prepay 7, 30 or 90 days in crypto, from $8.50 (US, 7 days, October 2026), and nothing renews unless you choose to. It receives texts only; it cannot make calls.
What are the ways to get a second number?
| Option | What you need | Calls | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second SIM or eSIM from an operator | A phone with dual SIM; an ID in many countries | Yes | A monthly plan |
| Second-number app (MySudo, Hushed, Burner) | The app, an app store account, a card or store payment | Yes | $1.99 to $7.99 per month |
| Google Voice | A Google account; available in a limited set of countries | Yes | See Google's own terms |
| Rented number (KeepANumber) | An email and crypto | No, SMS only | $8.50 for 7 days, $13.50 for 30 days (US) |
Do I need an ID for a second SIM card?
In many countries, yes. Prepaid SIM cards must be registered with an ID in Germany (§ 172 TKG), France, Spain (Ley 25/2007), Italy, Poland (since 2016), Sweden (since 1 August 2022), Australia, Brazil, Mexico (line registry opened on 9 January 2026) and Indonesia (face check for new SIMs from 1 July 2026). The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have no registration duty, and the GSMA lists the United States among countries that decided against it.
Each country page gives the rule and its source. A rented number avoids the question because no SIM is issued in your name: you rent the use of a number for a period.
When is a rented second number the right choice?
- You need texts, not calls: codes, confirmations, replies from a listing.
- You do not want another app on your phone, or you want to read the texts on a computer.
- You need a number from another country than the one you live in.
- You want to pay in crypto and stop at the end of the period without cancelling anything.
If you need to call people, a second-number app or a second SIM is the better tool. We would rather say so than sell you the wrong thing.
How private is a rented second number?
The people and services that text the number see that number, not your personal one. We keep your account email, your orders and the SMS shown in your dashboard, as described on the privacy page. A rented number keeps your own number out of a database; it does not make you invisible, and it should not be used to hide from a service you are banned from.
Questions about second numbers
Can I use the second number on WhatsApp or Telegram?
Messaging apps decide which numbers they accept and may ask for the number again later. Rent for 30 or 90 days, keep the rental active as long as you use the account, and expect that a service may refuse a virtual number.
Can I keep my second number for a year?
You can keep renewing it, 90 days at a time, before each end date.
Will my contacts see my real number?
No. They only see the rented number, and only if you give it to them.
- GSMA, mandatory registration of prepaid SIM cards, read 2026-10-18
- MySudo plans, read 2026-10-18
- Hushed pricing, read 2026-10-18
- Burner pricing, read 2026-10-18