Virtual Numbers 2026: Simbye vs Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily & Sonetel

Updated 11 November 2026 · Simbye prices are live · other providers' prices checked 10 November 2026 · 6 providers compared

Simbye publishes this comparison and is one of the six providers in it. We say where another provider is the better buy. How we compared ↓

Our pick for virtual phone numbers (November 2026): Simbye. We compared it with Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily and Sonetel. Simbye sells US +1, UK +44, Dutch +31 and Australian +61 numbers for 30 days, 6 months or 12 months, paid once with no subscription. US, UK and Dutch numbers need no ID, and you can read SMS in the app or on a web page from any country. Simbye numbers receive texts, and UK, Dutch and Australian numbers can also receive calls with an add-on; they cannot send texts or make calls. If you need that, one of the other five is the better choice, compared below.

Virtual phone numbers compared 2026: Simbye vs Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily and Sonetel

Many people who search for a virtual number want to receive verification codes, so that is our focus. The table shows what each provider states; scroll sideways on a phone.

Virtual phone numbers compared · Simbye prices live, other providers checked 10 Nov 2026
Criterion	Simbyefrom 9,95€View	Hushed	Google Voice	TextNow	Saily	Sonetel
Number countries	US +1, UK +44, NL +31, AU +61	US, Canada, UK, Puerto Rico	US only	US and Canada area codes	US (+1) only	69 countries, incl. US, UK, NL and AU
Price	US 14,95€ · UK 9,95€ · NL 10,95€ · AU 10,95€for 30 days, one-off; 6 and 12 months available	From $6.99/month (Unlimited); prepaid $7.99 per 30 days, $20.99 per 90 days, $55.99 per 365 days	No monthly fee for US users; paid plans $10.00 or $20.00/month	No monthly fee; iOS in-app list: number lock $1.99 (1 week)	From $0.99/month plus call and text plans	Numbers from $1.79/month (US), $2.29 (UK, NL), $2.39 (AU)
Receive SMS	Yes, in the app or on the web order page	Yes, in the Hushed app	Yes, from anywhere in the world	Yes; most codes need a TextNow SIM or a paid add-on	Yes (SMS only, no MMS)	Some numbers; SMS delivered by email
Send SMS	No (receive-only)	Yes, within US/Canada or within the UK	Yes, to US, Canada and Puerto Rico (included)	Yes, unlimited nationwide (US)	Yes; no MMS, no short numbers	From the app, in 15 of 69 countries
Receive calls	UK/NL/AU: with the calls add-on, paid once, kept on every renewal; US: no	Yes, in the app over Wi-Fi or mobile data	Yes (app, web or linked phone)	Yes, in the TextNow app	Yes; incoming calls use package minutes	Yes, in the app or forwarded to a phone
Make calls	No	Yes; international only on PAYG plan	Yes; US/Canada calls mostly included from the US	Yes; 230+ countries at low-cost rates	Local calls only, no international calls	Yes, via the app at local call rates
ID check	Not required (US, UK, NL)	No ID or address needed	Yes, government ID for new numbers	Only if asked (ID check via Persona)	Yes, identity check (KYC) is mandatory	Billing address and ID number required
Subscription	No subscription; auto-renew is optional	Prepaid: no auto-renew; Unlimited: renews	Basic plan without fee; paid plans monthly	No fee for basic use; code features are subscriptions	Recurring number plan, cancel in the app	Subscription; auto-renewal can be off
App needed	No: SMS also on web page; calls in app	Yes, the Hushed app	Google Voice app or web browser	App or web browser (TextNow.com)	Saily app; number tied to a Saily eSIM	No: call forwarding and SMS to email
Restrictions	Receive-only; the US number gets SMS only	Third-party codes not guaranteed	US only; some banks won't text it	Sign-up only in North America	Some apps don't accept it for codes	Verification use only for long-term use

Prices as shown by each provider on 10 Nov 2026, without discount codes; Simbye prices are live.

Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily and Sonetel are trademarks of their owners; the logos only identify the providers, with no affiliation or endorsement.

Our picks by need

Your need	Our pick	Cheapest of the other five
A US number for codes, used from anywhere, without ID or an app	Simbye US number, 14,95€ for 30 days; SMS only, in the app or on a web page	Google Voice (US only, government ID) and TextNow (North America only; most codes need its SIM or a paid subscription): no monthly fee for basic use. Outside North America without ID: Hushed, $6.99 per month or $7.99 for 30 days, in its app
A UK number without ID and without an app	Simbye UK number, 9,95€ for 30 days, or 12,95€ with incoming calls in the Simbye app	Sonetel from $2.29 per month, with billing address and ID number. Without ID: Hushed prepaid, $7.99 for 30 days, in its app
A Dutch or Australian number	Simbye NL number, 10,95€, or AU number, 10,95€, for 30 days; no ID for NL	Sonetel, the only other one with both in our check on 10 November 2026: from $2.29 (NL) and $2.39 (AU) per month, on a subscription with billing address and ID number
A guaranteed WhatsApp or bank code	Not Simbye: no provider can promise it	None of the five promises it either

When another provider is the better choice

You want the lowest price for a US number. In our check on 10 November 2026, all five others listed a lower entry price than Simbye's 14,95€ for 30 days: Google Voice (US only) and TextNow (North America only) with no monthly fee for basic use, Saily from $0.99, Sonetel from $1.79 and Hushed from $6.99 per month.
You want a lower price for a US or UK number without ID. Hushed prepaid costs $7.99 for 30 days, $20.99 for 90 days and $55.99 for 365 days, with 50 to 500 calling minutes or 150 to 1,100 SMS and no automatic renewal. That is less than Simbye's UK number at 9,95€ for 30 days or 86,95€ for 12 months. Hushed works only in its app and says texting is only available on select numbers.
You need a UK, Dutch or Australian number and can show ID. Sonetel lists UK and Dutch numbers from $2.29 and Australian numbers from $2.39 per month, on a subscription with billing address and ID number. Check the number type first: the lowest price may be for a type without SMS, and on 10 November 2026 the Dutch page both offered SMS by email and listed SMS-to-email as not supported.
You need a number outside the US, UK, Netherlands or Australia. Sonetel lists 69 countries, on a subscription with billing address and ID number. Hushed and TextNow also offer Canadian numbers; TextNow says Canadian verification codes are largely unsupported.
You need to send texts or make calls. Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow and Saily do both; Sonetel places calls from its numbers and sends texts from numbers in 15 of its 69 countries. A Simbye number can do neither.

Why Simbye is our pick for virtual phone numbers

You can use the number from anywhere, with no app needed for SMS and no ID for US, UK and Dutch numbers. The number is hosted in the cloud and works worldwide with Wi-Fi or mobile data. SMS appear in the Simbye app and on simbye.com/pages/topup with your order number and email. In our check on 10 November 2026, none of the five others offered all three: Google Voice is US-only and needs a government ID for new numbers, TextNow works only in North America, Saily requires an identity check and Sonetel an ID number, and Hushed needs no ID but works only in its app, which is not available in 35 countries.

You get US, UK, Dutch and Australian numbers from one provider, without a subscription. Simbye sells all four for 30 days, 6 months or 12 months, paid once. In the same check, Sonetel was the only one of the five others with Dutch and Australian numbers, on a subscription with billing address and ID number.

UK, Dutch and Australian numbers receive calls with a one-time add-on that stays for every renewal. You pay for it once, and calls ring in the Simbye app for the whole term, whether 30 days, 6 months or 12 months. Saily says its incoming calls use package minutes. The Simbye US number does not receive calls.

The other five providers

Hushed second numbers

Hushed is best for a second number to text and call from, and it costs less than Simbye for a US or UK number. It sells US, Canadian, UK and Puerto Rican numbers: Unlimited from $6.99 per month, renewing automatically, or prepaid at $7.99 for 30 days and $55.99 for 365 days. Hushed says sign-up needs no verification, and that texts from WhatsApp, Gmail or some banks may not arrive. Against it here: it works only in its app, which is not available in 35 countries, including India.

Google Voice numbers

Google Voice is best for people who live in the US. The basic plan has no monthly fee; standalone plans cost $10.00 or $20.00 per month. Texts to the US, Canada and Puerto Rico are included, and Google says almost all calls from the US to the US and Canada are too. Against it here: the service is only available in the US, new numbers need a government ID, the basic plan must be verified with another number, and some websites, such as banks, will not text Google Voice numbers.

TextNow numbers

TextNow is best for people in North America who want unlimited US texting and low-cost calls. Basic use has no monthly fee, in the app or on TextNow.com. TextNow says most verification codes arrive once you activate a TextNow SIM or buy a Lock In Number or ad-removal subscription; its App Store listing shows "Lock Your Number for 1 Week" at $1.99. Against it here: sign-up works only in North America, and some services do not accept TextNow numbers.

Saily phone number

Saily is best for travellers who already use a Saily eSIM and want a US number on it. Its App Store listing says number plans start at $0.99 per month, plus call and text plans; incoming calls use package minutes. Saily lists WhatsApp among apps commonly reported as working for codes, without a guarantee. Against it here: the number is tied to a Saily eSIM, an identity check (KYC) is mandatory, and Saily says it cannot currently verify ID documents from Russia, Belarus, Iran and six other countries.

Sonetel phone numbers

Sonetel is best for businesses that need numbers in many countries. It lists 69 countries, including all four of ours, with US numbers from $1.79 per month, on a subscription. Every customer gives a billing address and ID number, and Australian mobile numbers also need a photo ID and proof of address. Against it here: numbers may be used for identity verification only long term, and since 5 February 2026 SMS received on US numbers are charged, per message on Basic and above an allowance on paid plans.

Verification codes and WhatsApp: what the rules say

No provider here can promise that an app will accept its number, and neither can we. WhatsApp's help page says the number must be able "to receive phone calls and SMS" and lists VoIP numbers, 1-800 and 0800-type numbers, paid premium numbers, universal access numbers (UAN) and landlines as unsupported; landlines work only in WhatsApp Business. You can only register a number you own (WhatsApp help centre).

For a Simbye buyer: the US number receives SMS only, so a code sent by call will not reach it; UK, Dutch and Australian numbers can receive calls with the add-on; and Simbye does not guarantee codes from banks or payment services and asks you to check with your bank first.

The other five say much the same: Hushed does not guarantee third-party codes, TextNow and Google say some services will not accept or text their numbers, Saily's list of working apps is not guaranteed, and Sonetel cannot guarantee the WhatsApp PIN. If a code does not arrive, wait a few minutes, request it once more, and try the call option if your number receives calls.

Keeping your number after the code arrives

If a number secures an account, you may need it again later. TextNow warns that a released number can cause trouble with accounts tied to it, and security concerns if someone else takes it.

Simbye: renew before expiry and you keep the number; Simbye sends reminders. An expired number goes back to the pool, so a later purchase gets a new one.
Hushed: says it cannot guarantee that an expired number can be restored.
Google Voice: reclaims numbers with no activity; you then have 45 days to get one back.
TextNow: recycles unused numbers on the no-fee plan; daily use or a paid Lock In Number or ad-removal subscription keeps the number.
Saily: releases the number for good 30 days after the plan ends.
Sonetel: may reclaim unused US numbers after 5 days' notice.

Number only, or an eSIM with its own number?

For codes, pick the country the service expects: +1 for US services, +44 for UK services, +31 or +61 for local services in the Netherlands or Australia. If you travel and also need mobile data on the same number, a number-only plan is the wrong tool. The United States eSIM with Calls & Phone Number has a +1 number with calls and texts within the US and AT&T data, full speed for the first 50 GB and then about 512 kbps; it works only in the US. The United Kingdom eSIM with Calls & Phone Number has a +44 number on Three UK with 40, 100 or 200 GB for 30 days, receives calls and texts and cannot be topped up.

How we compared

Simbye prices are read live from the shop and show in your currency; other Simbye details come from our product pages and shop.
Other providers' US-dollar prices were read on 10 November 2026 on their own websites, help centres or App Store listings, without discount codes or cashback; other currencies are converted at the shop's current rate and marked ≈.
We give each entry price with its plan; a monthly price and a 30-day price are not the same unit.
Saily's website showed an automated security check, so the Saily details come from its public help-centre API and App Store listing.
We did not buy the other providers' numbers or run WhatsApp or bank registrations. The table shows what each provider states.
Send corrections to support@simbye.com.

Frequently asked questions

Simbye vs Hushed for a second number: which is better?

Choose Simbye to read SMS on a web page without an app, for a Dutch or Australian number, or if you are in one of the 35 countries without the Hushed app. Choose Hushed to send texts and place calls, or for a lower price: its prepaid plan costs $7.99 for 30 days, Simbye's UK number 9,95€. Both sell plans that do not renew automatically, and neither asks for ID for US and UK numbers.

What is the cheapest way to get a number for SMS codes?

For a US number, Google Voice and TextNow have no monthly fee for basic use, followed by Saily from $0.99 and Sonetel from $1.79 per month, in our check on 10 November 2026. Each has a catch: Google Voice is US-only with a government ID, TextNow is North America only and needs its SIM or a paid subscription for most codes, Saily needs its eSIM and an identity check, and Sonetel an ID number and long-term use. For a UK number without ID, Hushed prepaid at $7.99 for 30 days costs less than Simbye's 9,95€, and less for 12 months too. Simbye is not the cheapest for either country.

Which of these numbers can receive calls?

Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily and Sonetel receive calls; Saily's incoming calls use package minutes. Simbye UK, Dutch and Australian numbers receive calls in the Simbye app with the calls add-on, kept for every renewal: a 30-day UK number costs 12,95€ with calls instead of 9,95€, and adding calls later costs 2,95€. The Simbye US number does not receive calls.

Can a virtual number register WhatsApp?

Maybe, and no provider can promise it. WhatsApp says the number must be able to receive calls and SMS, and lists VoIP, 1-800 and 0800-type, paid premium and UAN numbers as unsupported. The Simbye US number gets SMS only.

Do I need an ID to get the number?

Not at Simbye for US, UK and Dutch numbers, and Hushed says no verification is needed either. Google Voice needs a government ID for new numbers, Saily requires an identity check, and Sonetel asks for a billing address and ID number. TextNow may ask for an ID check through Persona.

Can I use the number abroad?

Yes, with Simbye: the number is hosted in the cloud and works worldwide with Wi-Fi or mobile data. Google says Google Voice texts can be received anywhere in the world, but it offers the service only in the US. TextNow says it works only in North America, and Hushed says its app is not available in 35 countries. Saily says calls with its number work in over 150 countries and territories, and Sonetel delivers SMS by email; both need an ID check.

Can I use a disposable number from a public receive-SMS website?

Not for an account you want to keep. On those websites the number is shared, anyone who visits can read your code, and you cannot count on the number when you need a code again.

Verdict

Simbye is our pick for a number that receives SMS codes from anywhere, paid once per term, in the US, UK, Netherlands or Australia, with no ID for US, UK and Dutch numbers. It is not the cheapest: Hushed's prepaid plan costs less for US and UK numbers, and Google Voice, TextNow, Saily and Sonetel cost less per month for a US number, each with limits. To send texts or place calls, pick Hushed, TextNow or Google Voice; for a number in another country, Sonetel.

View Simbye phone numbers Or go straight to the US number, the UK number, the Dutch number or the Australian number.

Virtual Phone Numbers Compared (2026): Simbye vs Hushed, Google Voice, TextNow, Saily & Sonetel