How to Get a Virtual Phone Number Without a SIM Card (2026)
A virtual phone number is a real +country phone number that lives in an app, not on a SIM. Here's how it works, what it costs, and what it can and can't do.
A virtual phone number is a real phone number — with a real country code — that you receive calls and SMS on, without any SIM card. It lives in a server somewhere, routed to whatever app or browser you're signed into. You can buy one in 60 seconds for $0.99/month, keep it for years, and use it the same way you'd use any other phone number.
The main reasons to get one in 2026 are: keeping a UK or US number while abroad, separating work and personal, registering for services that block VoIP, and not handing out your real mobile to Craigslist buyers and Tinder matches.
What a virtual number actually is, in one paragraph
A normal mobile number is bound to a physical SIM card that talks to a carrier's tower. A virtual number isn't. It's a number a carrier assigns to a service provider (callmins, in our case), which routes inbound calls and SMS to wherever you've configured — usually a browser tab or mobile app. From the outside, callers and SMS senders see a normal +country number. They have no idea it's not a SIM.
This is why virtual numbers work as second numbers, SMS-verification numbers, and "real" business numbers — because they are real. They just don't need plastic.
Who actually uses them
| Use case | Why virtual works | Typical user |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a UK number while living in Spain | Stop missing calls from UK family / GP / bank when your physical SIM is Spanish | Diaspora |
| Separate work and personal | One device, two numbers, no plastic | Freelancers, contractors |
| Sign up for services that need SMS | Real +country number, real SMS inbox | Online shoppers, expats |
| Selling on Craigslist / OLX / Vinted | Don't expose your real mobile to strangers | Anyone selling secondhand stuff |
| Receive SMS for a region you don't live in | Banks, services, social apps that gate sign-up by country | Remote workers |
| Receive customer calls for a small business | Local +country number signals legitimacy | Freelancers, side hustlers |
What a virtual number can and can't do
Can do
- Receive inbound calls to a real +country number, ringing in the callmins app on your phone or browser.
- Receive inbound SMS — and yes, that includes verification codes from most services (banks, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Apple, etc.).
- Place outbound calls and SMSshowing your virtual number as the caller ID. So when you call your nan back, she sees your +44 number, not a +34 or +1 she doesn't recognise.
- Forward to another number — your physical mobile, a colleague, voicemail-to-email.
- Stick around for years. As long as you keep the subscription active, the number is yours.
Can't do
- Connect to emergency services (999, 911, 112). Always keep a real SIM for emergencies.
- Pass certain bank / government verifications that explicitly reject VoIP numbers. This is rare in 2026 — most major banks accept VoIP for SMS — but some legacy services still flag it.
- Roam onto a physical network. There's no SIM to roam. Your virtual number works wherever you have internet.
- Replace a SIM if you literally have no internet. You need data or Wi-Fi for it to ring.
The "rejected by some services" caveat is the one most users hit. It used to be common — many "virtual number for SMS verification" landing pages exist because of this — but as of 2026 the major hold-outs are mostly older bank platforms and a handful of region-locked services (e.g., some Chinese platforms, some Russian banks). For everything else, a virtual number from a real carrier-grade provider works.
How the pricing works in 2026
Virtual number rental is its own product, separate from the cost of calls and SMS. Two things on the bill:
- The monthly rental — $0.99–$1.99/month depending on country.
- Any outbound calls or SMS you make — per-minute or per-SMS at the destination rate.
So if you buy a UK virtual number for $0.99/month and never make outbound calls, you pay $0.99/month. If you call the UK from it, those calls are billed at $0.09/min on top.
Here's the snapshot for callmins:
| Country | Monthly rental | Annual rental | Inbound calls | Inbound SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (+1) | $0.99 | $9.90 | Free | Free |
| United Kingdom (+44) | $0.99 | $9.90 | Free | Free |
| Canada (+1) | $1.49 | $14.90 | Free | Free |
| Germany (+49) | $1.99 | $19.90 | Free | Free |
| France (+33) | $1.99 | $19.90 | Free | Free |
| Netherlands (+31) | $1.99 | $19.90 | Free | Free |
| Poland (+48) | $1.49 | $14.90 | Free | Free |
| Lithuania (+370) | $0.99 | $9.90 | Free | Free |
See the full pricing page and start a buy flow.
What to look for when picking a provider
Most "buy a virtual number online" landing pages obscure these. They matter:
1. Where the underlying number actually comes from
The cheap end of the market resells numbers from grey-market wholesalers — these get flagged as "VoIP" by services and rejected for SMS verification. The expensive end uses licensed carrier numbers (Telnyx, Twilio, Vonage) that pass cleanly. callmins uses Telnyx as its underlying carrier; you can confirm this in our pricing page. MoreMins, our closest competitor, also uses licensed carriers.
2. SMS support, not just voice
A number is only useful if it actually receives SMS. Some providers sell "voice-only" virtual numbers cheap and bury that in the fine print. Make sure the listing says "Receive SMS" explicitly. Every callmins virtual number receives SMS at no extra cost.
3. Refund policy on rejected sign-ups
If a service rejects your virtual number for SMS verification, you want to be able to swap to a different country's number without losing the rental fee. Look for a refund or swap window. callmins gives a 7-day swap window on virtual numbers used solely for verification.
4. Portability
When the subscription lapses, what happens to the number? Most providers reclaim it. Don't use a virtual number as your primary identity at any service you can't bear to lose access to. Treat it like a rental flat, not a deed.
Step-by-step: getting your first virtual number on callmins
- Create a free account — no card required.
- Top up your wallet — $5 is plenty to start. Or pay-by-card direct on the buy flow.
- Open the Numbers tab in the Store, pick a country (UK, US, NL are available today; more coming as Telnyx KYC clears).
- Pick monthly or annual — annual is 2 months free.
- Confirm. The number is active in about 30 seconds. You'll see it in My subscriptionsand on the dialer's "Call from" picker.
- Test it. Send yourself an SMS from another phone. The text shows up in your callmins Messages tab in real time.
That's it. The number is now yours to receive calls and SMS on. If you want a UK caller ID for outbound calls (so your nan sees +44 when you ring), select it as the Call from number on the dialer.
Common questions
Can I keep a virtual number forever?
As long as the subscription stays active, yes. If you cancel, the number goes back to the pool after a grace period (typically 30 days).
Can the same virtual number ring on multiple devices?
Yes. Sign into the callmins app on as many devices as you want — phone, tablet, browser. Incoming calls ring everywhere; first to answer wins.
Can I use a US virtual number while living in Europe?
Yes. The number is location-independent — it routes through callmins, not through a US-based SIM. You receive calls and SMS wherever you have internet. Some users specifically buy US numbers from outside the US to keep a "home" line.
Does the recipient see the virtual number or my real number?
For outbound calls and SMS from callmins, the recipient sees your virtual number. Your real mobile isn't exposed.
Will my bank accept a virtual number for 2FA?
Most will. The big ones — Chase, Wells Fargo, Barclays, HSBC, Monzo, Revolut, Wise — all work with callmins numbers in our testing. A few older platforms still reject anything they detect as VoIP. If your specific bank matters, send a test SMS to your virtual number before committing.
TL;DR
A virtual phone number is a real working +country number that doesn't need a SIM. It costs $0.99–$1.99/month, receives calls and SMS, and works wherever you have internet. Use it for: keeping a home-country number while abroad, separating work and personal, signing up for services without exposing your mobile, or running a small business.