Recently experimenting with overseas account registration, I found that using virtual phone numbers to receive texts can save a lot of trouble. I’ve encountered many pitfalls before—some platforms can’t receive verification codes, others have delays of half a day. Later, I summarized a few good ones to share.

Basically, the SMS verification platform is a service that rents virtual numbers to receive SMS verification codes. No need to get a new SIM card, which protects privacy from spam and makes testing various applications more convenient. Among the platforms I’ve used, SMS-Activate and 5SIM offer the best overall experience, with verification codes arriving within about 10 seconds, covering many countries, making them especially suitable for cross-border application testing.

If mainly used domestically, Super Cloud SMS and Little Bird Verification are also decent. US numbers typically receive responses in 10-30 seconds, Chinese numbers usually within 5-20 seconds, though it might be slower during peak times. Getsmscode is cheap, but sometimes SMS from less popular platforms can be delayed; it depends on your needs.

When using virtual phone numbers to receive SMS, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for: some numbers are shared and can be used by others; verification codes may be delayed, especially for less common countries; it’s best to choose reputable platforms rather than just going for the cheapest. Also, don’t use virtual numbers as your main number long-term, as privacy and security are not guaranteed.

My experience is, if you’re just testing APIs, any platform supporting API access will do; if you need stable registration for overseas websites, it’s best to buy several numbers as backups so you can switch quickly if one becomes invalid. Some platforms also support “one-click number change,” which is very practical and helps avoid waste. Overall, receiving SMS with virtual numbers is a common need—finding the right platform can make your work much more efficient.