Frequently asked questions

1) Create an account with email and password. 2) Top up your balance using crypto (BTC, USDT, ETH, and 100+ others). 3) Browse services and pick the one you need. 4) Click "Buy" — you receive a number/email instantly and wait for the verification code (usually 20 seconds to 2 minutes).

Yes, registration is required because we need an email to send you the verification codes and to credit your balance. Sign-up takes 30 seconds — just email and password. No phone number, no KYC, no document verification.

Yes. Codes are tied to your account and visible only in your dashboard while logged in. We never share codes via public URLs or with third parties. Each code is for one-time use only — once you complete verification, the rental ends.

A virtual SMS number is a real phone number rented from telecom operators in 190+ countries. You use it to receive SMS verification codes when signing up to services like Telegram, WhatsApp, Google, Twitter, dating apps, marketplaces, and 800+ others. We pay the carriers, you pay us a small fee per code — no SIM card, no real phone needed.

Usually within 20 seconds to 2 minutes after the service sends it. Our system polls our provider every few seconds and notifies you instantly when the code lands. If no SMS arrives within 20 minutes (the standard rental window), the activation expires and you get a full refund automatically.

No. Each number is rented for a single activation — you receive one SMS code, then the number is returned to the pool. For repeated use, buy a new number each time. This is industry standard and protects everyone from abuse.

We support 800+ services across 190+ countries — including Telegram, WhatsApp, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Discord, TikTok, Tinder, Uber, Airbnb, and hundreds more. Numbers from US, UK, Russia, Germany, France, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, and most other major markets.

For most countries, you cannot pick the operator — our provider returns the best available number across all carriers. For a few premium markets we may offer per-operator selection in the future. For now, just pick the country and service.

Open the activation from your dashboard or "My activations" page. If no SMS has arrived yet (status: waiting), you'll see a Cancel button — click it and the balance is refunded immediately. Once a code arrives (status: SMS received), you can either Complete (confirming you used the code) or Cancel (if the code didn't work).

You'll see "No numbers available" when trying to buy. The pool refills throughout the day as numbers are released. Try a different country, a different service, or wait 5-10 minutes. We don't take your money for unavailable numbers — the charge happens only when a number is successfully assigned.

An email verification number is a temporary email address you can use to receive verification codes from services that prefer email over SMS (like account recovery, signups, magic links). It works the same way as SMS: pay → receive address → wait for email → get the code. Unlike SMS, the address can sometimes be reused for multiple emails within the activation window (20 minutes).

Yes, within the activation window (default 20 minutes), the same email address can receive multiple emails. After the window expires, the address is released back to the pool. SMS numbers, in contrast, only accept one verification message per activation.

We currently support Gmail (gmail.com) addresses, with more providers being added. The available providers are shown when you browse email services. If you need a specific provider, contact us.

Default is $5. You can top up any amount from $5 to $1000 per transaction. There's no expiry on your balance — money you deposit stays in your account until you spend it.

We charge a small markup over wholesale cost. This covers payment processing fees, hosting, customer support, refund handling, and continued development. We're transparent about it — our prices are still significantly below most competitors, and our refund policy is automatic and no-questions-asked.

Yes — we accept crypto only (BTC, USDT, ETH, LTC, BNB, and 100+ others) via NOWPayments. Top up your account once and use the credit for unlimited activations. No fiat, no credit cards, no KYC — just send to the address we generate and your balance updates automatically when confirmed.

No. The price you see when buying is exactly what is deducted from your balance. Crypto network fees during top-up are paid by you (visible at checkout via NOWPayments). There are no monthly fees, subscription costs, or maintenance charges.

If no SMS arrives within 20 minutes, the activation expires automatically and your balance is refunded — no questions asked. If you receive a code but it doesn't work for the service, you can manually cancel from the activation page and get refunded, as long as you haven't marked the activation as complete.

Refunds are automatic. If your activation expires without receiving an SMS (or email), the full amount is credited back to your account balance within 1-2 minutes. You can then use that balance for any other activation. We never charge for unsuccessful activations.

Using virtual numbers is legal in most jurisdictions for legitimate purposes: privacy protection, testing, business automation, separating work/personal accounts. However, some services explicitly forbid virtual numbers in their Terms of Service — using them anyway is your responsibility. We don't encourage circumventing fraud-prevention measures.

We store the minimum needed: your email, account balance, and activation history. We never share data with third parties. Account registration requires only email + password. We don't require KYC, real names, or any government ID. Crypto payments mean no banking footprint either.

Email us at contact@nova-sms.com from your registered email address with the subject "Delete my account". We will delete your account, balance history, and personal data within 7 days, in compliance with GDPR. Note: your remaining balance will be forfeited upon deletion, so use it first or request a refund (subject to crypto withdrawal fees).

We use essential cookies only — for session management (keeping you logged in), CSRF protection, and language preference. We do not use advertising trackers, analytics fingerprinting, or third-party cookies. Your IP is logged for security/abuse prevention but is never sold or shared.

Not yet, but it's on the roadmap. If you want bulk access (1000+ activations/month), email us with your use case and we'll arrange API access manually.

Email us at contact@nova-sms.com. We typically respond within a few hours during business days. Include your account email and (if relevant) the activation ID you're asking about.