Physical SIM vs VoIP for OTP: what our tests show

The offers at a glance

Overall ratings assigned by the lab. Reception is equal: each scored provider delivered 20 of 20 expected messages.

What the number labels actually describe

The lab recorded physical-SIM offers at VirtualSMSNumbers and BuySMSNumbers, a mix of VoIP and physical SIMs at TemporarySMSNumber, and a mix of virtual routes and mobile SIMs at SMSario. This gives a useful first filter when a destination service asks for a mobile number.

A mixed catalogue gives information about the provider’s offer; it does not identify the route used for a particular message. The test has no activation-by-activation breakdown of number types. That distinction matters when comparing results: a successful trial at a mixed provider cannot be relabelled as a successful VoIP-only trial.

Compare the results before assigning an advantage to SIMs

In the scored comparison, each of the 4 sites delivered 20 messages across 20 services over 1 month. That includes the physical-SIM offers and the mixed catalogues. On measured reception, the scored providers are tied at 100%.

SMSPVA adds a different experience. Over 1 month and 20 services, the lab found it decent overall but encountered missing SMS messages. Its official offer includes physical-SIM and virtual numbers. The exact received count is unrecorded, so the table keeps this qualitative result alongside the scored providers.

Use number type together with cost and API access

For someone looking specifically at a physical-SIM offer, VirtualSMSNumbers combines a recorded price of €0.10–€0.15, a €30.00 crypto top-up and the lab’s favourite interface. Its REST API, OpenAPI documentation and webhooks also make its integration features explicit. BuySMSNumbers adds the option of card payments, with €0.40–€1.20 recorded prices and a standard API.

Among mixed offers, TemporarySMSNumber combines a clear catalogue with an API the lab found practical. Its prices are €0.50–€0.99, with a 25 $ minimum. SMSario suits direct website use with a modern, organised interface; no API was offered in the record. Its $1.20–$2.90 prices concern US numbers, and its minimum top-up is $25.00.

Keep the reception result separate from code acceptance

The useful comparison is the provider, the required destination service, the offered number type and the cost for that combination. Catalogue labels alone cannot settle which offer will suit a particular request. Our provider-level results give a starting point without pretending that every country, service or route was tested.

Reception and acceptance are separate outcomes. The dataset counts received messages but has no separate count of codes accepted by destination services. The overall scores also measure editorial preference, rather than a technical advantage of SIM over VoIP. For SMSPVA, the unattractive but usable interface and the missing messages are the practical drawbacks to weigh when considering its physical-SIM offer.

Explore the SMS test

• Full SMS ranking and test results
• SMS verification without KYC: tested services, costs and trade-offs