Rent a phone number for SMS verification you can use again later
Last updated
Quick answer
Should I use a one-time number or a rented number for SMS verification?
For an account you plan to keep, rent a number for 30 or 90 days instead of a one-time number that disappears after about 20 minutes. KeepANumber rents numbers in 14 countries from $13.50 for 30 days (US, October 2026); codes sent later still reach your dashboard while the rental is active.
Why do one-time numbers cause problems later?
The code you receive today is only the first text. Services send new codes when you log in from a new device, reset a password, change a setting or after a routine security check. With a one-time number those texts go to whoever has the number next, or nowhere. 5SIM, a one-time provider, states that its numbers last 10 to 20 minutes.
How long should a verification number last?
- As long as the number is the way you log in to the account.
- At least until you have added another method: an authenticator app, a passkey or backup codes.
- If the account matters to you, 90 days and renewals, or move it to a number you own.
Will every service accept a rented number?
No. Some services refuse virtual numbers or certain ranges, and they change their checks without notice. Some public services only text local numbers: GOV.UK One Login says it cannot send a code by text to a number registered outside the UK. We cannot promise acceptance by a third party. If a number receives nothing at all, support reviews it under the refund policy.
What is a rented number for, and what is it not for?
It is for your own accounts: signing up without handing out your personal number, opening an account while you live abroad, testing your own product. Creating accounts in someone else's name, opening more accounts than a service allows, or getting back into a service that closed your account are against our acceptable use policy and lead to the rental being closed.
A safe set-up in four steps
Rent for long enough
Thirty days for a test, ninety days for an account you keep.
Enter the number in international form
With its country code, for example +44 for the UK.
Add a second login method
An authenticator app or backup codes, so the number is not your only way back in.
Renew or replace before the end date
Either renew the rental or change the number on the account first.
Questions about verification numbers
Is it legal to use a rented number for verification?
Rules depend on your country and on each service's terms, and this page is not legal advice. Using a number for your own accounts is the normal use; read the terms of the service you sign up to.
Can I receive codes from several services on one number?
The number receives the SMS sent to it during the rental. Whether a given service accepts it is up to that service.
How quickly do codes appear?
Texts appear on the rental page as they reach us; the page refreshes itself while it is open. We do not control how fast a service sends its SMS.
- 5SIM FAQ: long-term use of a number, read 2026-10-18
- GOV.UK One Login: getting a security code (updated 28 July 2026), read 2026-10-18