One-Time Number or Rental? How Each Works for SMS Codes

A one-time number gets you one verification code. A rental keeps one US phone line for you, for a day up to a year, so it can receive messages from many services. Which you want depends on one question: will you need to receive a code on that number again?

Updated November 2026. Check pricing and rentals for current prices before you buy.

One-time numbers

• What you get: a US mobile number for one SMS (or one voice) verification on one service.
• How long it lasts: minutes. Once the code arrives, the number is done.
• What it costs: SMS verifications start at $0.50 and voice from $3.50. Price varies by service.
• How you pay: from a prepaid wallet. No subscription. You top it up with crypto, and each order is taken from the balance.
• If it fails: you get a full refund when the code never arrives.

Best for: a single signup where you will never need that number again.

Rentals

• What you get: one US number for a set time, with unlimited incoming SMS on one line.
• How long: from one day to one year. Rentals start at $3.30 for a day and go up to $54.00 for a year, with the price per day falling as the term grows.
• What it covers: any service that will accept the number, so you can receive more than one code over the period.

Best for: an account you will need to verify again, or several signups in a short time. The cost is higher, and the number is still not permanent.

What happens when a rental ends

The number goes back to the pool. It can later be given to someone else, who may then be able to receive texts meant for you, including login or recovery codes for an account that still uses it. So:

• Move important accounts to a number you keep before the rental ends.
• Turn on two-step verification where the service offers it.
• Do not use a rental as the only recovery method for an account you want to keep for years.

Which one to pick

• Verify once and forget it: a one-time number.
• Verify now and maybe again soon: a rental that outlasts the period you might need it.
• A service that only calls: add voice verification to either.
• An account for life: neither. Use your own number.

Receiving the code

After you buy, enter the number in the app (with +1 for the US) and open your order page. The code shows there by itself, usually within a minute. See the steps to receive an OTP on a US number. If it is slow, read how long to wait before requesting another code.

We cannot guarantee that any platform accepts a given number. Our numbers are real US mobile lines, not VoIP, which avoids the most common reason numbers are refused.

When not to use either

For banking, work accounts and anything you cannot afford to lose access to, use your own number. A rental ends and a one-time number is gone in minutes. See temporary numbers and bank verification.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a subscription?

No. You top up a wallet and each order is charged from it.

Can I extend a rental?

Rentals can be renewed. Check the rentals page for the current terms.

Can I get a refund on a rental?

The refund promise we make is for one-time verifications: a full refund if the code never arrives. See the rentals page for rental terms.

Does a rental work for every service?

No. Each service decides which numbers to accept.