Receive SMS online with a private number
You can receive SMS online without a SIM card or a second phone: get a number, enter it in the app and read the text on a web page. Onlineselling gives you a private number for the service you choose, shows the message on your order page and charges only when the code arrives.
- Private inbox
- No code, no charge
- Pick service and country
- Card or crypto
Numbers available now
Live from the Temp SMS store: services you can receive messages for and their current starting price.
Temp SMS numbers: coming soon
How to receive SMS online in four steps
Pick the app and the country
In the Temp SMS store, choose the service you are signing up for and a country with numbers in stock. Prices are shown live.
Get your number
The number is reserved for your order and shown on your order page straight away. Copy it with the country code.
Request the code in the app
Paste the number into the app’s sign-up or verification screen and ask it to send the SMS.
Read the message online
The text appears on your order page as soon as it arrives, and a copy goes to your email. You are charged only at that moment.
Free public inboxes vs a private number
Free sites that let you receive SMS online publish a handful of numbers that everyone shares. That is the root of most problems with them.
| Free public SMS sites | Private number on Onlineselling | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can read your messages | Anyone who opens the page | Only you, on your order page |
| Will the code arrive? | Often not: the numbers are overused and many apps block them | The number is reserved for your order and the service you picked |
| Cost | Free | Charged only when a code arrives |
| Account safety | Anyone could request a reset code for your account later | Still temporary: use it for sign-ups you will not need to recover |
| Choice | Whatever numbers the site lists today | Choose the service and country from a live list |
Which country should your number be from?
Prices differ by country, and so does how readily each app accepts numbers from it. The store shows, for every service, which countries have numbers in stock and what they cost right now.
Some apps compare the number’s country with your location or your app store region, so a matching country can help. Others don’t mind at all, and the cheapest country works fine.
Because a one-time number is charged only when the code arrives, trying a second country costs you nothing but a minute. Start with the country that makes sense for your account and switch if the code doesn’t come.
Why codes sometimes don’t arrive
A missing SMS is rarely random. These are the usual causes, and what to do about each.
The number is overused
Apps notice when one number has signed up dozens of accounts and stop sending codes to it. This is why free public numbers fail so often. A fresh, reserved number avoids it.
The app filters number types
Some apps reject numbers from certain ranges or countries. If a code doesn’t come, try another country for the same service; you are not charged for the one that failed.
Too many requests
Asking for a new code every few seconds can trigger a temporary block on the app side. Wait a minute between requests.
Wrong format
Enter the number exactly as shown, with the right country code, and check that the app’s country selector matches the number.
Common mistakes when receiving SMS online
Most failed attempts come down to a few avoidable slips. None of them cost you money on a one-time number, because you pay only when a code arrives, but they do cost time.
Receive SMS online through the API
Everything you can do on the website also works from your own code. The API documentation has the details.
Personal API keys
Create keys in your account settings and keep them out of your source code. Each key works only for your account.
Order, then poll
Request a number for a service and country, then check the order for the incoming message until the code appears.
Test across countries
Run the same sign-up test against numbers from several countries before you launch an app in new markets.
When to receive SMS online, and when not to
Receiving SMS online is the quickest way to keep your personal number out of a sign-up, test an app before you commit or run a second work profile. Developers also use it to test their own SMS flows end to end.
It is not the right tool for accounts that hold money or that you will need to recover later. A temporary number may be reassigned, so a future reset code could reach someone else. Use your own number for those.
Every app has its own rules about phone numbers. Please follow them and our Terms of Service.
Receive SMS online: questions and answers
Can I receive SMS online for free?
Yes, free public SMS sites exist, but their numbers are shared by everyone and anyone can read the inbox. Many apps block those numbers, so codes often never arrive. A private number costs a little and is charged only when the code arrives.
Is it safe to receive SMS online?
It is safe when the inbox is private and you use the number for short-term sign-ups. On Onlineselling only you can see messages on your order page. Avoid public inboxes for anything personal.
Which countries can I get a number from?
It depends on the service and on live stock. The Temp SMS store shows the available countries and current prices for each app.
How long does it take to receive the SMS?
Usually seconds after the app sends it. If nothing arrives within a few minutes, the app may not accept that number; try another country.
Do I need an account to receive SMS online?
To order a private number you need an Onlineselling account, so that the number and its messages stay on your own order page. Sign-up takes a minute and supports two-step sign-in.
What if I don't receive the SMS?
You are not charged. One-time numbers are charged only when a code arrives; otherwise the reserved amount returns to your balance.
Can I receive SMS online for WhatsApp?
Yes, when WhatsApp numbers are in stock. Choose WhatsApp in the store (see WhatsApp numbers) and pick a country. WhatsApp may ask you to verify again later, so keep a WhatsApp you rely on on your own number.
Related guides
Receive your next code on a private number
Choose a service and country, read the SMS on your order page, pay only when it arrives.
Onlineselling is not affiliated with WhatsApp, Telegram or any other app named on this page. Use numbers in line with each platform’s rules and our Terms of Service.