Get a second phone number without a second SIM
Rent a private second number that is yours alone and receives SMS verification codes in your browser or the Temp Number app. Keep your personal number off apps, marketplaces and sign-up forms.
- From $3.49
- 4 countries
- 2-hour refund window
What is a second phone number?
A second phone number is an extra number that is separate from your personal SIM. You hand it out where you do not want your real number, and its messages arrive somewhere you control - with Temp Number, in your dashboard and app.
Think of it as a front door for your phone. Sign-up forms, sellers, dates and newsletters all get the second number. Your personal number stays with the people you actually know.
Our second numbers are receive-only: they collect SMS and verification codes, and they cannot place calls or send texts. That focus keeps them simple and inexpensive, and it is exactly what most people need a second number for.
Free temporary number or your own second number?
Temp Number offers both. The difference is who else can read the messages.
Good for a quick, one-time code
- Free, with no account needed
- Ready in seconds
- Shared - anyone can open the same inbox
- Many apps already know these numbers and may refuse them
- Not for accounts you want to keep
Yours alone for the whole rental
- Only you can read its messages
- Non-VoIP mobile numbers where available
- Unlimited incoming SMS
- Free private email inbox included
- Week, month, 6-month or yearly rentals
Why some second numbers never get the code
Before an app sends a verification code, it often checks what kind of number you typed. Numbers from free calling apps are usually VoIP numbers - issued by an internet service rather than a mobile network - and many apps refuse them because they are cheap to create in bulk.
A non-VoIP number belongs to a real mobile network, like the number on a normal SIM, so it passes that check far more often. That is why we rent non-VoIP numbers wherever they are available, and label the few countries where only VoIP numbers are offered.
Curious about a number you already have? Our free phone carrier lookup shows whether it is mobile, landline or VoIP.
Ways to get a second phone number, compared
Each option suits a different job. If you mainly need verification codes, you do not need to pay for calls you will never make.
| Option | Typical cost | What you need | Calls & texts out | Verification codes | Set-up time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual SIM / second SIM | Monthly plan | Needs a SIM slot, often ID | Yes | Yes | Days |
| eSIM plan | Monthly plan | eSIM phone, often ID | Yes | Yes | Hours |
| VoIP calling app | Free - low cost | App on your phone | Yes | Often refused | Minutes |
| Free public number | Free | Nothing | No | Often refused | Seconds |
| Temp Number private number | From $3.49 | Nothing - browser or app | No | Usually accepted | About a minute |
General guide only - plans, prices and app rules vary by country and change over time.
When a second number makes life easier
Most people get a second number for privacy: one number for the world, one for the people they trust.
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Selling online
List items on marketplaces and classifieds without putting your personal number in front of strangers.
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Dating apps
Sign up and chat on your terms. If a match turns out wrong, they never had your real number.
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Sign-ups without spam
Shops, newsletters and loyalty schemes get a number that is not yours, so marketing texts stay out of your phone.
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Side projects & business
Register a project, a client account or a social profile under a number separate from your private life.
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A number in another country
Receive codes from a US or UK service while you live or travel elsewhere - no local SIM needed.
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Privacy after data leaks
Fewer sites holding your real number means fewer places it can leak from, and fewer spam calls.
How to get your second phone number
No SIM card, no store visit. The whole thing takes about a minute.
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1
Choose a country
Pick where your second number should be based. Prices and number types are shown up front.
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2
Pick how long to keep it
Rent for a week, a month, six months or a year, and pay by card, PayPal or crypto.
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3
Receive your SMS
Use the number anywhere. Messages appear instantly in your dashboard and the Temp Number app.
Where your second number can be based
Starting prices for a private number in each country. Longer rentals cost less per day.
Your second number, in your pocket
The Temp Number app keeps your second numbers next to your free ones. New codes arrive in the same inbox you see on the web, so you can sign up on a laptop and read the code on your phone.
Second phone number questions
What is a second phone number?
A second phone number is an extra number that is separate from your personal SIM. You give it to apps, websites and people you do not want to have your real number, and the messages it receives show up somewhere you control - here, in your Temp Number dashboard and app.
Can I get a second phone number for free?
Yes, for one-off codes. Our free temporary numbers are public: anyone can read their inboxes, so they suit quick sign-ups only. A private second number that only you can read is a paid rental, starting from $3.49.
Can I make calls or send texts from the number?
No. Our second numbers are receive-only: they receive SMS and verification codes, but they cannot place calls or send messages. If you need two-way calling, a calling app or an eSIM plan is the better fit.
Will my second number work with WhatsApp, Telegram and Google?
In most cases, yes. Where available we rent non-VoIP numbers on real mobile networks, which apps accept far more often than internet-only VoIP numbers. No provider can promise every service accepts every number, which is why unused numbers can be refunded within 2 hours.
What is a non-VoIP number?
A non-VoIP number belongs to a mobile network, just like the number on a normal SIM. A VoIP number is issued by an internet calling service. Many apps check this before they send a code and refuse VoIP numbers, so non-VoIP numbers get verified more reliably.
How long can I keep my second number?
You choose: rentals run for a week, a month, six months or a year, depending on the country. The number is yours alone for that whole time. Renew before it ends if you want to keep using it.
What happens when my rental ends?
The number stops receiving messages for you and can later be issued to someone else. Before it ends, move any account you rely on - especially banking or two-step login - to a number you will keep long term.
Do I get anything else with the number?
Yes. Every rented number includes a free receive-only email inbox at privnum.com, so you can sign up with an email address and a phone number that are both separate from your personal ones.
Get your second number in about a minute
Private, non-VoIP where available, and refundable within 2 hours if it has not received a message yet.
Last updated October 22, 2026