Tutorial

What you need before you start

Before you can buy your first verification, two things have to be in place: a ZapSMS account and a funded wallet. The account is created with your email and a password, and it holds your balance and your order history in one place, so nothing gets lost between sessions.

The wallet is prepaid — there is no subscription. You add credit with crypto: USDT on Polygon or Arbitrum, or BTC and LTC. Send the exact amount shown to the address on the top-up screen and then tap "I've paid". Once the balance shows up, you are ready to pick a service.

What each step of the order flow actually does

Steps 3 to 6 are the part people ask about most. Step 3 is where you find the platform you are verifying with in the services list and open its page; that page shows the price and the delivery time so you know what to expect before spending anything.

Step 4 is the purchase: clicking "Buy" assigns a fresh US number to an order page straight away, and your balance is charged for that single order. Step 5 is where you paste that number into the service's phone field. Step 6 is the finish — the code arrives on the order page with a copy button, and you use it once.

Things that trip people up

The most common slip is closing the order page while you wait. The page refreshes automatically and the incoming SMS and code appear there, so leaving it open is the simplest way to catch the code. If you keep it open, no code follows you elsewhere.

The second is treating the number as reusable. Each order gives you a number for one verification; the code is meant to be used once. If you need a number for longer than a single code, that is a different product from the one-time verification described here — see our notes on renting a US phone number for a day up to a year.

Paying: the top-up only credits once you send the exact amount shown to the displayed address and tap "I've paid".

Where to go next

If you want to know what a given platform costs before you buy, the pricing page lists one-time SMS verification starting at $0.50 and voice from $3.50. The services page explains what the numbers are: real non-VoIP US numbers used for one-time codes. If you are new to the whole idea of SMS verification, the guides explain what it is and how it works, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most often after a first order.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the code take to arrive?

The service pages show a delivery time for each platform before you buy, so check there. Once the SMS lands, the code appears on your order page — keep that page open because it refreshes automatically.

Do I need a subscription to use ZapSMS?

No. ZapSMS is a prepaid storefront: you top up your wallet with crypto and each verification is charged as a single order against that balance.

What can I top up with?

USDT on Polygon or Arbitrum, or BTC and LTC. Send the exact amount shown to the address on screen, then tap "I've paid" to credit the wallet.

Can I reuse the same number for another verification?

No. Each order gives you a fresh US number for one-time verification, and the code is used once. For a number you keep from a day up to a year, look at the rentals page instead.

What if I close the order page?

The number and the incoming code are tied to your order page, which refreshes on its own while you wait. Keeping it open is the easiest way to see the code as soon as it arrives.