SMS-Activate alternative after its closure (2026)
SMS-Activate no longer sells numbers. What its former users can check before moving their verifications elsewhere.
What happened to SMS-Activate?
Its website shows "SMS-Activate service is closed" and says operations "ceased … since December 22" without a year; a third-party article dates the announcement to late December 2025. HeroSMS says it is "powered by SMS-Activate technical infrastructure".
In August 2025 the Russian outlet Gazeta.ru reported that SMS-Activate said it would stop issuing Russian numbers for registration from August 25, 2025. Some users allege on review sites that small balances could not be withdrawn before the closure; we have not verified those claims.
Which multi-country providers are still live?
| Provider | Coverage claimed | US WhatsApp | Number type | No code received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMSPool | Many countries (US, UK, Netherlands, Sweden and others) | $1.56 | Not verified (website not readable by our checker) | Not verified |
| 5SIM | About 180 countries | $0.85 | No claim found; US operators are labelled "virtual" | "if no SMS is received, your money is refunded automatically" |
| Tiger SMS | 260+ countries claimed | $0.30 | Yes: "Real numbers from physical SIM cards" (US page) | "No code — automatic refund in 20 minutes" |
| SMSPVA | 60+ countries | $0.65 | Mixed: "both real SIM-based and virtual numbers" | Not verified |
| PVAPins | 200+ countries claimed | $3.65 | Yes: "non-VoIP numbers sourced from real cellular carriers" | "No-Code, No-Pay"; claims within 48 hours |
| HeroSMS | 180+ countries | Not readable | Lists "Physical numbers" and "Virtual numbers" stock separately | Refunded to the balance if no code within 20 minutes |
| RealSIM Numbers | 12 countries | $1.12 | SIM-based mobile numbers | Credited back to balance |
Read on each provider's own pages or public price API on 2026-10-18.
What should I check in a replacement?
- Countries: SMS-Activate covered many countries. Check that the replacement has the ones you use; we cover 12.
- Number type: for services that refuse VoIP, look for an explicit non-VoIP or SIM statement.
- No code, no charge: look for a written rule, and for the window in minutes.
- Balance rules: keep balances small; after two closures in a year, a balance is only as safe as the provider.
Which countries can I move to RealSIM Numbers?
| Country | Telegram | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.12 | $0.56 | $0.36 |
| United Kingdom | $1.35 | $1.35 | $0.23 |
| Canada | $1.12 | $0.56 | $0.36 |
| Australia | $3.47 | $2.42 | $0.56 |
| Germany | $1.35 | $2.16 | $0.45 |
| France | $1.52 | $2.26 | $0.73 |
| Netherlands | $0.90 | $1.35 | $0.45 |
| Spain | $2.70 | $0.81 | $0.20 |
| Italy | $3.60 | $1.35 | $0.20 |
| Poland | $0.90 | $1.58 | $0.45 |
| Sweden | $1.22 | $1.69 | $0.20 |
| Ireland | $2.53 | $1.58 | $0.23 |
Prices as of 2026-10-18.
Spend or keep your old balance
Use what is left on your SMS-Activate balance first; balances rarely move between providers.
Top up $20 here
Open an account with an email and a password, then top up in BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC or TRX.
Order the same service and country
The order screen shows the price before you confirm; a number that receives no code costs nothing.
Move a verification here
From $0.36 per US code; no ID upload.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeroSMS the same as SMS-Activate?
HeroSMS says on its homepage that it is "powered by SMS-Activate technical infrastructure" (read 2026-10-18). We have no further information on their relationship.
Do I need to verify my identity?
No. RealSIM Numbers asks for no ID, no selfie and no documents: an email and a password open an account. The acceptable use policy still applies to every order.
Sources
- sms-activate.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- www.bitbrowser.net/news/sms-activate-shutdown (checked 2026-10-18)
- hero-sms.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Gazeta.ru, 2025-08-11 (checked 2026-10-18)
- api.smspool.net/request/price (checked 2026-10-18)
- 5sim.net/v1/guest/prices?country=usa (checked 2026-10-18)
- tiger-sms.com/country/united-states (checked 2026-10-18)
- smspva.com/service/whatsapp (checked 2026-10-18)
- pvapins.com/buy/usa-virtual-number (checked 2026-10-18)
- hero-sms.com/country/usa (checked 2026-10-18)