Virtual number for WhatsApp
Yes: a callmins UK (+44) number receives WhatsApp verification codes, for $3.00/month, no setup fee. US numbers don't receive WhatsApp codes. You read the code in your browser or the callmins app, with no SIM.
Updated
Which callmins numbers work with WhatsApp
From our carrier's delivery records. We update this when the records change.
| callmins number | Receives codes? | Price |
|---|---|---|
| UK +44 | Works | $3.00/mo |
| US +1 | Doesn't work | $2.00/mo |
| Canadian +1 | Not confirmed | $2.00/mo |
“Not confirmed” means we have no delivery records either way yet: it may work, or WhatsApp may refuse an internet number.
How to set up WhatsApp with a callmins number
Get a UK number
Sign up at callmins.com, top up your wallet by $5 or more and buy a UK number ($3.00/month, no setup fee).Enter the number in WhatsApp
Install WhatsApp (or WhatsApp Business) and enter your callmins number with its country code.Enter the code
Choose to receive the code by SMS. Open Messages in callmins and type the 6-digit code into WhatsApp.Lock it down
Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp (Settings → Account) so a PIN is needed to register the number again.
Before you start
Things to know about WhatsApp
- WhatsApp asks for a new code when you move to a new phone or reinstall, so keep the number as long as you use the account.
- WhatsApp decides which numbers it accepts and can change that without notice.
A private number, not a shared one
Free “receive SMS online” sites publish one number to everyone, so your WhatsApp code is readable by strangers. A callmins number is rented to you alone, by the month, and receives calls as well as texts. See receive SMS online for how that works, or the temporary number guide if you only need it briefly.
Questions people ask
Can I use a virtual number for WhatsApp?
Yes: a callmins UK (+44) number receives WhatsApp verification codes, for $3.00/month, no setup fee. US numbers don't receive WhatsApp codes. You read the code in your browser or the callmins app, with no SIM.
Why not use a free number from a website for WhatsApp?
Free receive-SMS sites show every number and its texts to anyone who visits, so anyone can read your WhatsApp code and take over the account later. Apps also block those shared numbers quickly. A callmins number is rented to you alone.
What happens if I stop paying for the number?
The number is released when its paid month ends if it isn't renewed, and may later go to someone else, who could then receive your WhatsApp codes. Keep the number for as long as you use the account, or move WhatsApp to another number first.
Does WhatsApp need a phone number?
Yes. WhatsApp ties your account to one phone number and verifies it with a 6-digit code sent by SMS or voice call.
Why doesn't a US number work for WhatsApp?
WhatsApp doesn't deliver its codes to our US numbers: our carrier's records show none arriving. That's WhatsApp's choice of which number ranges to trust, and it can change. Our UK numbers do receive them.
Can I use WhatsApp on a phone that doesn't have this number's SIM?
Yes. WhatsApp only needs the number to receive the sign-up code. After that it runs over Wi-Fi or mobile data on whatever phone you install it on, with no SIM for the number.
Which callmins number should I buy for WhatsApp?
A UK (+44) number. Our carrier's delivery records show UK numbers receiving WhatsApp codes, while our US numbers received none. A UK number also costs only about a dollar a month more than a US one, and there's no ID check.
Does it work for WhatsApp Business?
Yes. WhatsApp Business verifies the number the same way as WhatsApp, with an SMS or voice code, so the same UK number works. One number can be on WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business at a time, not both.
What if the WhatsApp code doesn't arrive?
Wait the full timer, then ask for the code again or choose "Call me" to get it by voice call, which rings in the callmins app or browser. Check that you typed the number with +44 and without the leading 0. If nothing arrives after a few tries, contact info@callmins.com.
More about WhatsApp
Other apps
A UK number for WhatsApp.
$3.00/month, no setup fee. Yours alone, in your browser or the callmins app. Cancel renewal any time.