---
title: "Real mobile or virtual number: which should you pick? | Tether Mobile"
description: "US mobile or a virtual number in Canada, the UK or the Netherlands? A short guide to picking a Tether Mobile number by country and by service."
url: "https://tethermobile.com/blog/use-cases/real-mobile-or-virtual-number"
language: "en"
---

#  Real mobile or virtual number: which should you pick? 

 October 28, 2026 UTC   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](https://tethermobile.com/blog/deep-dives/why-services-block-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](https://tethermobile.com/service-compatibility) 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.

| Service | US mobile | Canada | UK | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google / Gmail | Untested | Untested | Works | Untested |
| Apple / Apple Account | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Amazon | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Facebook / Meta / Instagram | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| WhatsApp | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| ChatGPT / OpenAI | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| PayPal | Untested | Untested | Works | Untested |
| Uber | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Chase | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Bank of America | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Telegram | Works | Doesn’t work — use a US mobile number | Works | Works |
| Discord | Untested | Untested | Untested | Works |
| Wells Fargo | Works | Doesn’t work — use a US mobile number | Doesn’t work — use a US mobile number | Doesn’t work — use a US mobile number |
| Venmo | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Capital One | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Citi | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Shopify / Shop | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| American Express | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Claude / Anthropic | Works | Doesn’t work — use a US mobile number | Untested | Untested |
| Stripe | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Signal | Untested | Untested | Works | Untested |
| U.S. Bank | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Delta | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| United | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Wise | Untested | Works | Works | Works |
| Charles Schwab | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| PNC | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Truist | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| USAA | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| TD Bank | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Plaid | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Air Canada | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Goldman Sachs (Marcus, Apple Card) | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Morgan Stanley | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| HSBC | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Barclays | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) | Untested | Works | Works | Works |
| Wealthsimple | Untested | Works | Works | Works |
| Fifth Third | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| BMO | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Huntington | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| First Citizens | Works | Untested | Untested | Untested |
| Cathay Pacific | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| KOHO | Untested | Works | Untested | Untested |
| Neo Financial | Untested | Works | Untested | Untested |
| Klaviyo | Works | Works | Works | Works |
| Cineplex | Untested | Works | Untested | Untested |
| Coast Capital Savings | Untested | Works | Untested | Untested |
| BCAA | Untested | Works | Works | Works |

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](https://tethermobile.com/blog/deep-dives/us-banks-verification-codes).

## 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](https://tethermobile.com/help/do-you-support-number-porting) 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](https://tethermobile.com/service-compatibility) 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](https://tethermobile.com/pricing) to put your numbers together.

##  Pick your numbers 

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

[ Get a number ](https://tethermobile.com/signup)

## Related Posts

[ ![Why Some Services Won't Text Virtual Numbers](https://tethermobile.com/images/blog/generated/why-services-block-virtual-numbers.png?v=9652fa13)](https://tethermobile.com/blog/deep-dives/why-services-block-virtual-numbers)[ Deep Dives ](https://tethermobile.com/blog/deep-dives)

###  [ Why Some Services Won't Text Virtual Numbers ](https://tethermobile.com/blog/deep-dives/why-services-block-virtual-numbers)

 Jun 9, 2026 UTC  · 5 min read

[ ![How to Get SMS Verification Codes While Traveling](https://tethermobile.com/images/blog/generated/sms-verification-codes-while-traveling.png?v=db5f996b)](https://tethermobile.com/blog/use-cases/sms-verification-codes-while-traveling)[ Use Cases ](https://tethermobile.com/blog/use-cases)

###  [ How to Get SMS Verification Codes While Traveling ](https://tethermobile.com/blog/use-cases/sms-verification-codes-while-traveling)

 Mar 17, 2026 UTC  · 5 min read

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