How to Get a Virtual Phone Number: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

To get a virtual phone number, pick the country you need a number in, choose a provider that gives you a dedicated number with SMS, create an account, pay for the first month, and select a number from the catalogue. It then rings in an app or browser instead of on a SIM. On callmins a US (+1) number costs $2.00/month + $1.00 setup and is live in under a minute; a UK (+44) number costs $3.00/month + $2.00 setup and needs a one-time ID and proof-of-address check first, which usually takes a couple of days.

This guide walks through each decision in order: which country, what you need to have ready, how to judge a provider, the exact steps, and the problems people most often hit. If you want the background on what a virtual number actually is, read how a virtual phone number works without a SIM first.

Step 1: Decide which country's number you need

The country decides almost everything else: the price, how long setup takes, and which services will accept the number. Start from who will call or text it.

• Choose a UK (+44) number if UK people, banks, couriers, GPs or employers need to reach you, or a UK service wants a UK mobile for sign-up. callmins UK numbers are in the mobile range (+44 7…), so they can receive SMS.
• Choose a US (+1) numberif your contacts, clients or the apps you use are American, or you want the fastest possible setup. There's no ID check, so you can be receiving calls within minutes.
• Get both if you split your life between the two. Each number is billed separately, and the dialer lets you pick which one each outbound call or text goes out from.

callmins currently sells numbers in these two countries only. If you need a number in another country, you'll need a different provider for that one.

Step 2: Be clear about what you'll use it for

The use case changes which features matter. The common ones:

• Receiving verification codes: you need a dedicated number with inbound SMS, not a shared inbox.
• A second line for work or selling: you need calls on the devices you already carry, and the option to call back from the same number.
• Keeping a home number while abroad: you need the number to stay yours for years, so the monthly cost and the cancellation terms matter more than the setup fee.
• Calling home cheaply: the per-minute outbound rates matter as much as the number itself.

Step 3: Get the paperwork ready (UK numbers only)

UK rules require the carrier to know who holds each number. Before your first UK number, callmins asks for two documents, which our carrier, Telnyx, reviews:

• An ID document: passport, driving licence or national ID card.
• A proof of addressdated within the last three months, such as a utility bill or bank statement. It doesn't have to be a UK address.

The review usually takes a couple of days and costs nothing. You only do it once: after approval you can buy UK numbers straight away. US numbers skip this step entirely.

Step 4: Choose a provider

Most virtual number providers look alike on their landing pages. These are the questions that actually separate them.

Is the number dedicated or shared?

A dedicated number is yours alone: nobody else sees your texts, and you can use it for account recovery. Free "receive SMS online" sites use shared numbers that anyone can read, which makes them unsafe for anything you care about. Every callmins number is dedicated to your account.

Does it receive SMS, or only calls?

Some cheap numbers are voice-only. If you need verification codes, check that inbound SMS is included. On callmins, receiving calls and SMS on your number is free; you pay only for outbound calls and texts.

Browser, app, or both?

An app-only service means installing something on every device. callmins works in any web browser and in the callmins mobile app, and incoming calls ring on every device you're signed into.

What does it really cost?

Compare the monthly rent, any setup fee, and the outbound rates. Watch for bundles you don't need and minimum contract terms. On callmins numbers start from $2.00/month, are pay-as-you-go with no contract, and the one-off setup fee is passed through at cost with the first month.

Can you keep it, or take it with you?

A virtual number is yours while the subscription is active. Once you cancel, the provider releases it back to the carrier, and it can go to someone else. If porting a number in or out matters to you, ask before you buy; for callmins, email info@callmins.com.

UK vs US virtual number on callmins

Typical prices from our current price list. The exact price is shown before you confirm, and every figure below comes from the same tables billing uses.

Rates to every other country are on the callmins call and SMS pricing page.

Step 5: Get your number on callmins

1. Create an account. Sign up for freewith email or Google and confirm your phone with a one-time code. Any phone you already own works; it doesn't have to be in the UK or US.
2. Top up your wallet. Add enough to cover the first month and the setup fee ($3.00 for a typical US number, $5.00 for a typical UK one), plus some credit if you plan to call or text out. You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
3. Pick a number. Open Numbers, choose a country, and browse the available numbers.
4. UK only: complete the ID check.The first time you choose the UK, you're asked to upload your ID and proof of address. Nothing is charged while the carrier reviews them. Once approved, come back and pick your number.
5. Confirm.The first month's rent and the setup fee come out of your wallet, and the number is active in under a minute.
6. Test it. Text and call the new number from another phone. The SMS appears in Messages, and the call rings in your browser or the app.

To call or text from the new number, open the dialer and choose it in the Call frompicker. The person you're calling sees your virtual number, not your personal mobile.

Common problems and how to fix them

A verification code never arrives

Many apps accept virtual numbers, but some banks and services check the number type and refuse anything they classify as VoIP. There's no reliable way to know in advance, and no provider can promise every service will work. Before you depend on the number for an important account, have that service send a test code to it. Codes sent from five-digit shortcodes are also less likely to reach virtual numbers than codes sent from ordinary numbers.

My UK ID check is taking a while

Reviews usually finish within a couple of days. The usual causes of delay are a blurry photo, a proof of address older than three months, or a name that doesn't match between the two documents. If yours is stuck, email info@callmins.com.

Calls don't ring

A virtual number needs internet to ring. Check that you're signed in, that your browser has microphone and notification permission, and that the app isn't being shut down by battery-saving settings.

The number disappeared

The monthly rent renews from your wallet balance. If the balance can't cover it, you get a three-day grace period to top up; after that the number is released and can't be guaranteed back. Keep a little more than one month's rent in your wallet.

Quick answers

Can I get a virtual phone number for free?

Free numbers exist, but they're usually shared, short-lived, or rejected by the services you're trying to sign up for. A dedicated number costs a few dollars a month and is yours alone.

Do I need to live in the UK or US?

No. You can buy either number from anywhere. For a UK number you still need the one-time ID and proof-of-address check, but your address doesn't have to be in the UK.

Can I use it for WhatsApp?

Usually, yes. WhatsApp sends its code by SMS or a voice call, and both reach a callmins number. Like any service, it can reject a number it flags as VoIP, so test it before relying on it.

The short version

• Pick the country first: UK ($3.00/month + $2.00 setup, one-time ID check) or US ($2.00/month + $1.00 setup, instant).
• Choose a dedicated number with inbound SMS, and check the monthly rent, setup fee and outbound rates.
• Sign up, top up, pick a number, confirm, and test it with a real call and text.
• Test any important service before you rely on the number, because some services still reject VoIP numbers.

Ready to choose one? Compare and buy a US or UK virtual number, or go straight to the UK +44 virtual number.