By Alex Carter, Editor at GetVerifyCode
What app lets you receive verification codes for free? Google Voice, mainly for US users, and ad-supported texting apps such as TextNow give you a free second number. Many sign-ups reject these free VoIP numbers, though, and public receive-SMS sites show your code to anyone, so a private temporary number is the backup when free fails.
Key facts
- A temporary activation stays live for about 20 minutes.
- If no SMS arrives before the timeout, the hold returns to your wallet.
- The number is shown right after you confirm, and you can cancel early from the inbox.
- GetVerifyCode lists numbers in 194+ countries.
Free apps vs paid numbers compared
- Google Voice: tied to your Google account / some apps refuse it / free for personal use / best for long-term US calling and texting.
- Free texting apps such as TextNow: a VoIP number that can be reclaimed if unused / often refused at sign-up / free with ads / best for casual texting.
- Free receive-SMS websites: not private, anyone can read the inbox / rarely work / free / best for throwaway tests only.
- Authenticator app: private / only for login codes after you sign up, not for phone verification / free / best for your own two-step login.
- GetVerifyCode temporary number: private, only you see the inbox / often works, but each app decides / live price per service and country / best for one-time sign-up codes.
Is Google Voice a free way to receive verification codes?
Google Voice gives you a free second number, but it is mainly for users in the US, and setup links it to your Google account. Google explains the steps in Set up Google Voice. Because it is a VoIP number, some sign-up forms refuse it. OpenAI's help centre, for example, says it does not support Google Voice or other VoIP numbers (OpenAI phone number rules). If Google Voice is refused or you live outside the US, see Google Voice alternative for SMS OTP.
Do free texting apps like TextNow work for verification?
Free texting apps such as TextNow give you an ad-supported VoIP number. They are handy for chatting, but many apps that send verification codes block VoIP ranges, so the code may never arrive. Free numbers can also be reclaimed after a period of inactivity, which can lock you out of an account that still points to that number. Treat them as a convenience, not as the number behind an account you plan to keep. See TextNow alternative for SMS OTP and VoIP vs real-route numbers for OTP.
Are free receive-SMS websites safe to use?
Not for anything you care about. These sites post every incoming SMS on a public page, and the same number is shared by many people. Anyone can read your code, and someone may already have used that number on the same app, so it is often refused. Use them only for throwaway tests. GetVerifyCode has a page of shared free numbers for that purpose, and Free vs paid receive-SMS numbers explains why free numbers fail.
When is a paid private number worth it?
- The app refused your free or VoIP number, or the code never arrived.
- The code has to stay private, so a public inbox is out.
- You are traveling and can't receive SMS on your usual SIM.
- You are testing your own app and don't want to use your personal number.
For the privacy side, see Keep your personal number private and Second phone number for online sign-ups.
How to switch to a private number on GetVerifyCode
- Visit GetVerifyCode.
- Pick the service and country you need a number for (see options for WhatsApp, Telegram, Google, USA, United Kingdom).
- Review the live quote for the number.
- Confirm your purchase.
- Paste the number into the app you are using.
- Read the code in your inbox, or cancel early if you no longer need it.
Some apps reject virtual numbers. Acceptance is decided by the app, not by us.
Is it legal to use a free or temporary number?
Using a temporary number to protect your privacy, travel, or test your own app is generally lawful in many places, but laws differ by country and each app sets its own terms. Check both. Never use it for fraud, impersonation, or getting around a ban. For more information, see our guides on are temporary phone numbers legal and our acceptable use policy.
Related guides
- Didn’t receive verification code? SMS fixes
- What is a verification code?
- How to get a free phone number (and when to pay)
- Check OTP with a virtual number
- SMS holds, timeouts, and credit returns guide
Ready to try a private number? Start at GetVerifyCode or check pricing. Top up your wallet from $1. Each number is priced live per service and country, and you see the quote before you confirm. If no SMS arrives in about 20 minutes, the unused credit returns to your wallet.
About the author: Alex Carter is the editor at GetVerifyCode. Alex tests SMS verification routes across services and countries and writes plain-language guides on receiving OTP codes safely.
GetVerifyCode is not affiliated with the apps named in this article. Follow each app's terms and local law.
Live prices and routes: SMS verification numbers
FAQ
FAQ
Google Voice, mainly for US users, and ad-supported texting apps such as TextNow give you a free number that can receive SMS codes. Many sign-up forms refuse these VoIP numbers, so a free option may not work for every app. Both Google Voice and TextNow have Android and iPhone apps, but each service still decides whether it accepts the number.
Google Voice is free for personal use, mainly in the US, and it can receive SMS codes. Some apps refuse Google Voice numbers; OpenAI, for example, says it does not support them.
Apps often block VoIP and shared numbers because they are linked to more abuse. Each app sets its own rules, so a number that works on one app can be refused on another.
Not for real accounts. The inbox is public, so anyone can read your code, and the number is shared with many people. Use them only for throwaway tests.
For logging in, often yes: once an account is set up, many apps let you switch two-step login to an authenticator app. It can't receive SMS, so it doesn't help when an app asks for a phone number at sign-up.
A one-time temporary number is usually cheaper than a rental or a monthly plan. On GetVerifyCode you top up your wallet, see the live price for your service and country before you confirm, and the hold returns to your wallet if no SMS arrives.
