Skip to main content

Real mobile or virtual number: which should you pick?

4 min read

Tether Mobile has two types of numbers: real mobile numbers in the US, and virtual numbers in Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. Which one you need comes down to two questions. Which country do your accounts expect? And which services need to text you?

The two types

Real mobile numbers are US only. They run on a US carrier network, and when a service looks up the line type, it comes back as "mobile". Services treat them like any other phone. $15/month.

Virtual long numbers (VLNs) are available in Canada, the UK and the Netherlands, at $15/month each. A line-type lookup shows them as virtual. Why some services won't text virtual numbers explains that check. Most services we've tested send codes to them. Some refuse.

Both types work the same way once a text arrives. You don't need a SIM card, and each text is forwarded to Email, Telegram, LINE or Discord as soon as it arrives. Every plan includes 50 SMS a month, shared across all your numbers.

Start with the country

Your accounts expect a number from a certain country. A US bank wants a US number. The Canada Revenue Agency sends codes to Canadian numbers. So the first choice is usually made for you.

  • Accounts tied to the US: get a US number. New US numbers are real mobile numbers.
  • Accounts tied to Canada, the UK or the Netherlands: get a virtual number in that country. Real mobile numbers are only available in the US.
  • Accounts in more than one country: get a number for each. They share one SMS allowance.

Then check the services

Within a country, the services you rely on decide the rest. The results below come from our service compatibility page and update with it. Choose your number's country to see what we've tested.

Services we’ve tested

Results from our own tests and from customers. Not every service is listed yet.

Works
37
Limited
0
Doesn’t work
0
Untested
12
Works
20
Limited
0
Doesn’t work
3
Untested
26
Works
20
Limited
0
Doesn’t work
1
Untested
28
Works
18
Limited
0
Doesn’t work
1
Untested
30
Category
  • All categories
  • AI
  • Banks
  • Financial
  • Government
  • Shopping
  • Social & messaging
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Other

  • Google / Gmail

    Tech

    Untested Untested Works Untested

  • Apple / Apple Account

    Tech

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Amazon

    Shopping

    Works Works Works Works

  • Facebook / Meta / Instagram

    Social & messaging

    Works Works Works Works

  • WhatsApp

    Social & messaging

    Works Works Works Works

  • ChatGPT / OpenAI

    AI

    Works Works Works Works

  • PayPal

    Financial

    Untested Untested Works Untested

  • Uber

    Travel

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Chase

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Bank of America

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Telegram

    Social & messaging

    Works with a US mobile number. Get one

    Works Doesn’t work Works Works

  • Discord

    Social & messaging

    Untested Untested Untested Works

  • Wells Fargo

    Banks

    Works with a US mobile number. Get one

    Works with a US mobile number. Get one

    Works with a US mobile number. Get one

    Works Doesn’t work Doesn’t work Doesn’t work

  • Venmo

    Financial

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Capital One

    Banks

    Works Works Works Works

  • Citi

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Shopify / Shop

    Shopping

    Works Works Works Works

  • American Express

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Claude / Anthropic

    AI

    Works with a US mobile number. Get one

    Works Doesn’t work Untested Untested

  • Stripe

    Financial

    Works Works Works Works

  • Signal

    Social & messaging

    Untested Untested Works Untested

  • U.S. Bank

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Delta

    Travel

    Works Works Works Works

  • United

    Travel

    Works Works Works Works

  • Wise

    Financial

    Untested Works Works Works

  • Charles Schwab

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • PNC

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Truist

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • USAA

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • TD Bank

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Plaid

    Financial

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Air Canada

    Travel

    Works Works Works Works

  • Goldman Sachs (Marcus, Apple Card)

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Morgan Stanley

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • HSBC

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Barclays

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

    Government

    Untested Works Works Works

  • Wealthsimple

    Financial

    Untested Works Works Works

  • Fifth Third

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • BMO

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Huntington

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • First Citizens

    Banks

    Works Untested Untested Untested

  • Cathay Pacific

    Travel

    Works Works Works Works

  • KOHO

    Financial

    Untested Works Untested Untested

  • Neo Financial

    Financial

    Untested Works Untested Untested

  • Klaviyo

    Other

    Works Works Works Works

  • Cineplex

    Other

    Untested Works Untested Untested

  • Coast Capital Savings

    Banks

    Untested Works Untested Untested

  • BCAA

    Other

    Untested Works Works Works

No services match your search.

Results can differ between Canadian, UK and Dutch numbers, so test the exact number you plan to use. For banks in particular, see which US banks send codes to Tether Mobile.

Common setups

You moved abroad from the US. Get a US mobile number for your bank, card and other US accounts. If you want to keep the US number you already have, porting US numbers to Tether Mobile is free. The porting help page explains how to start.

Your accounts are mostly Canadian. A Canadian number is $15/month and covers accounts like the Canada Revenue Agency and Wealthsimple. Add a US mobile number if you have a US bank account or another service that requires a US number.

You have accounts in the UK and the US. A UK number and a US mobile number come to $30/month, with 50 SMS shared between them.

You need three countries. With 3 or more numbers, you get 10% off every number. A US mobile, a Canadian and a UK number come to $40.50/month instead of $45.

If you need more than 50 texts a month across your numbers, larger allowances start at 150 SMS for $5/month. Pay annually and you pay for 11 months, then get the 12th free.

If a service blocks your virtual number

Banks are the most likely to refuse a virtual number. If it happens:

  • For a bank, ask support. It can sometimes lift the restriction on your account.
  • Use the service's own sign-in. If it offers an authenticator or lets you approve sign-ins in its app, use that instead of SMS.
  • Move that account to a US mobile number, if the service accepts a US number.

When you're not sure

Check the compatibility list for the services that matter most. If one isn't listed, we haven't tested it yet. Add your new number while your old one still works and trigger a real code before you depend on it.

For US accounts, pick the US mobile number. For everything else, pick the country your accounts expect.

Personal plans receive and forward texts only. They don't send texts, make calls or include mobile data. See pricing to put your numbers together.

Pick your numbers

US mobile, Canada, UK or Netherlands. Plans start at $15/month.

Get a number

Related Posts