https://www. receivesms. org offers free phone numbers from 5 countries. https://sms-online. co/receive-free-sms offers phone numbers for various countries at different times.
Burner is not free, but popular on both Androids and iPhones for making and receiving calls and texts. Burner offers free 7-day trials to the service—you can cancel the service before the trial is over to avoid being charged. TextNow has a free ad-supported plan that you can use on any Android, iPhone, or iPad. Download the app at https://www. textnow. com/downloads. [2] X Research source Hushed is another paid service, however, its prices are cheap and include the ability to make international calls. [3] X Research source Skype offers temporary phone numbers in 25 countries and supports sending and receiving both calls and texts at low rates. [4] X Research source Google Voice doesn’t quite qualify as “temporary,” but it is an option if you want to send and receive texts and phone calls from a number that isn’t your own. See How to Get a Google Voice Phone Number to learn more.
Follow the instructions on the package for activation, which usually involves calling the service provider from a landline or visiting their website. There is no requirement to give the service provider your name or personal information. If you need more airtime than what is provided with the phone, purchase an additional airtime card from the same provider and activate it the same way.
Open your phone’s SIM card tray and replace your current SIM card with the new one. Then send a text to the number indicated on your card to activate it. Your new number will stay active until you run out of the minutes or data allotted with the card. You can purchase prepaid SIM cards from department stores like Best Buy and Walmart. Popular brands include Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and AT&T.
If you’re looking for someone else’s number, check out our guide on how to get cell phone numbers.
