Getting Started with Tether: Receive SMS Anywhere

You're in a coffee shop in Lisbon, trying to log into your bank. The app sends a verification code to your US phone number. You wait. And wait. The code never arrives because your American SIM is sitting in a drawer back home.

This is the problem Tether solves.

What Tether Actually Does

Tether gives you a dedicated phone number that forwards incoming SMS messages to Telegram, Email, or other platforms you actually use. No physical SIM required. No roaming fees. No missed codes.

Here's what that means in practice:

A compatible service sends a login code to your Tether number
The message arrives in Telegram within seconds
You copy the code and get on with your life

Simple as that.

How the Setup Works

Getting started takes about five minutes.

Step 1: Create your account. Sign up with your email. We'll verify it's really you.

Step 2: Connect Telegram. Search for the Tether bot in Telegram and link your account. Takes 30 seconds.

Step 3: Pick your country. Choose where you want your phone number. If your accounts are based in Canada, get a Canadian number. If you need a UK number for European services, get that.

Step 4: Choose your number setup. Browse available numbers where inventory is shown before checkout. For U.S. numbers, request the country or a preferred area code and Tether assigns the number after checkout based on availability.

Step 5: Subscribe and activate. Complete payment and your number goes live immediately.

Step 6: Test it. Send an SMS to your new number from any phone. Watch it appear in Telegram.

That's the whole process.

Choosing the Right Plan

Tether has four active plans. Pick based on how many numbers you need and how many messages you expect.

Backpacker ($4/month)

For light personal use. One phone number, 50 messages per month, forward to Telegram or Email. Good for occasional verification codes.

Nomad ($8/month)

The sweet spot for most travelers. One active number, 500 messages per month, and two destinations. This handles most digital nomad needs with room to spare.

Globetrotter ($20/month)

Power user territory. Up to three active numbers across different countries, 2,000 messages, three destinations. Adds Slack and Discord forwarding. Priority support included.

Business ($40/month)

For teams. Five numbers, 5,000 messages, ten destinations. Includes webhook integration for custom workflows and a team dashboard.

All plans work with our 8 supported countries: US, Canada, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. U.S. numbers are assigned after checkout based on provider availability; other supported countries usually show available inventory before checkout. More coming soon. Country surcharges apply for some regions.

Countries and Pricing

Base prices above are for US and Canadian numbers. Other countries add a monthly surcharge:

US, Canada: No surcharge
UK: +$5/month
Australia, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia: +$12/month
Sweden: +$25/month

So a Nomad plan with a UK number runs $13/month instead of $8.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Tether

Update critical accounts first. Start with email, work systems, and the accounts you depend on most. Check compatibility before relying on any one SMS method.

Keep your old number if you can. Use Tether for services that still rely on SMS where compatible. Keep your personal number for friends and family.

Enable Telegram notifications. Verification codes expire fast. Make sure you'll see them immediately.

Consider multiple countries on higher plans. If you work with clients in different regions, having numbers in multiple countries simplifies things.

Common Questions

How fast do messages arrive? Most arrive in Telegram within a few seconds. We built the infrastructure for speed because verification codes don't wait.

Can I send SMS from my Tether number? Not yet. Tether is receive-only for now. We're focused on making incoming messages bulletproof before adding outbound.

What if I run out of messages? You can buy message packs anytime. 100 messages for $2, 500 for $5, or 1,000 for $9. Credits expire at the end of your current billing period while you have active subscription access, or 30 days from purchase if you do not.

Can I port my existing number? New port requests are temporarily paused while we improve the reliability of the process. Existing customers can join the porting waitlist and tell us which country their number is from.

What happens if I need to pause service? Number parking and service pauses are not currently available. Keep your subscription active if you need to retain your Tether number.

Get Started

Setting up takes five minutes. After that, compatible SMS messages can follow you wherever you work or travel.

No more asking friends to forward codes. No more rushing to find WiFi for alternative authentication. No more stress about staying connected to accounts that matter.