Looking for Free Non-VoIP Numbers? Here’s What You Need to Know

‍The internet is full of free non-VoIP numbers, and let’s face it, the offers are tempting. Who wouldn’t want a free service like that? Imagine how much you could save.

‍But is it worth it? And where can you look for the best options? We’ll answer these and many more questions in this guide.

‍A non-VoIP phone number is the one that’s linked to a landline or a SIM card (both physical and eSIM) and comes from traditional cellular service carriers. Depending on your location, these could be AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Optus, China Unicom, etc.

‍So, basically, they come in 2 types:

• Landline. Your typical landline phone that is tied to a particular location. Nowadays, they’re mostly used for business purposes. But if you’re old enough, you had one at home as well (we’re in that group, too, so don’t worry😅).
• SIM/eSIM. This is your normal SIM card that you can go and get from any mobile carrier.

‍Note: This doesn’t include internet-based apps that sell you eSIMs for internet use only. Those don’t belong to VoIP or non-VoIP, as they don’t really issue a phone number for you. They just give you an eSIM with internet access.

‍Source: North Escambia

‍VoIP numbers, on the other hand, are the digital equivalent of these contact lines and are operated through Internet connections only. Think Google Voice or even “burner” apps that issue temporary contact data.

‍These also have 2 types:

• Fixed. These are mostly used by businesses. They are tied to a specific location, but, unlike landlines, require an internet connection. Often, companies use these for their customer support because even a remote team can have a code of a particular area.
• Non-fixed. These are only tied to an email address. And most of them are the free calling apps we use, like Skype and Google Voice. Out of all, this option is the least trustworthy when it comes to any type of verification.

‍Source: GETVOIP

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

‍Okay, so why should you care about all those different types of numbers? Because all of them have their own downsides and potential risks, especially in the business context.

‍Out of the two, non-VoIPs are the most credible ones and work best for people who are concerned about security. Usually, they work for all authentication services, unlike VoIP, which can get flagged when you decide to use it for verification.

‍For example, you’ll need to use a SIM or landline for:

• Your Google verification.
• Signing up for most e-commerce and payment platforms.
• Authenticating financial services or registering on a banking app since the KYC requirements are strict.

‍So, in most cases, you’ll need a traditional cellular carrier for these and other similar purposes. Why? Because it’s more secure and helps reduce fraud.

‍Basically, your contact number has to be tied to a billing address and have mobile network registration. That’s exactly why, even though fixed VoIPs also have a billing address, they won’t work for most authentication purposes, as they have no mobile network registration.

‍You might be thinking, that’s all well and good, but what has that got to do with your marketing moves? Let’s see some of the common use cases for these “credible” phone lines in the next section.

‍Most marketers and SEO experts opt for non-VoIP phone numbers for several reasons, some of which are:

Better Delivery Rates for Email Marketing & SMS Outreach

‍Many big brands use text messages to announce their newly launched product or service to their customers. They also rely on it to engage directly with their buyers and drive revenue.

‍Source: Attentive

‍On the flip side of that coin, many clients are also tired of getting spam messages. So, if your contact triggers the spam filters, chances are no one will get to see your campaigns.

‍But with a non-VoIP line, you don’t have to worry much about being flagged by carriers and spam filters when you send out your marketing messages. This is a pretty big deal if SMS is one of your distribution channels.

‍Typically, you get a better delivery rate since they are seen as more legit compared to VoIP, which are usually filtered since they often appear in spammy campaigns.

‍And these lower bounce rates can directly impact your sales volumes in a good way.

Social Media Account Creation

‍It’s no news that social media is a big tool for marketers. In fact, 96% of small businesses rely on it in their marketing strategy. But believe it or not, most social media don’t generally trust VoIPs.

‍This includes most major platforms like LinkedIn, Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, X, etc. Most times, if you try to sign up on any of these with such a number, they will reject it.

‍Even to register a Google Voice account, which is technically a VoIP, you need a “normal,” traditional cellular carrier. This already tells us something about the trustworthiness of the VoIPs…

‍Source: Google

‍So, if you’re a marketer and need several verified social media accounts where you can run your ads and promote your business, then you have no choice but to find a non-VoIP phone number, whether it’s an app or any other solution.

Lower Bounce Rates and Higher Engagement

‍Normally, high SMS bounce rates in marketing campaigns are linked to untrusted or spammy mobile contacts. This is likely to happen more with internet-based lines, as many of them come from burner apps.

‍Source: Attentive

‍Besides, it also works the other way around. If you, as a business, don’t accept VoIPs, you can improve your deliverability and open rates.

‍That’s all because you won’t deal with “fake,” temporary contact info. So, it might be a good idea to verify the contacts in your database to make sure you’re reaching more qualified (or at least real) leads.

‍You might be surprised by how effective this is. Most people actually receive and open SMS-based communications. And according to some sources, when you have verified leads, your average SMS open rates can be as high as 98%, which is simply insane by any standard.

Multiple Verified Business Accounts

‍Like we mentioned earlier, when it comes to the best SMS verification service, it’s usually the one that offers non-VoIP lines. So, this should be your first choice if you want to run multiple business accounts, which are verified.

‍You might not think you need to be worried about that now, but chances are you will, at least sooner or later. Why?

‍First of all, sometimes, it’s better to have a backup business account. Plus, at some point, you might need to expand your online presence to new platforms or create several profiles to increase your audience reach.

‍Source: Maker & Moxie

‍But this can be trickier or even impossible unless you get a SIM-based cell line.

A/B Testing for SMS Campaigns

‍Every marketer knows how important it is to use A/B testing for their campaigns.

‍It gives you the actual data that helps you figure out which message is more likely to resonate with your audience.

‍You could try to do this with a VoIP line, but chances are that the information you get will be “distorted” and may not reflect the real situation. So, it’s much better to use a non-VoIP SIM for your marketing testing.

‍This way, you won’t hurt your deliverability rates, so the insights you get will be much more representative. Besides, often, you’ll be able to reach more people for your tests when you use a SIM card (again, due to trustworthiness and better deliverability).

‍Source: Textline

Scalability Without Hurting Sender Reputation

‍The truth is that even if you use a VoIP contact for your campaigns, it’s not the end of the world. But what happens when you try to scale up? Suddenly, you send a ton of messages and get flagged for spam. Yes, it’s more than just a typical situation.

‍That’s why the better alternative is to use non-VoIPs, which are designed for larger message volumes. This way, your scaling efforts will be less likely to hurt your reputation.

‍Sure, you still shouldn’t get spammy and overwhelm your receivers, but it will definitely work for reasonable message volumes. Plus, typically, with legit numbers, you can monitor your reputation in the same way email platforms track spam behavior.

‍Source: Caller ID Reputation

Automation of Lead Verification

‍It’s really crucial to verify the leads you have, so you are not wasting your time and efforts shooting into the wind. But it’s a pain to do this manually, so most companies turn to an automated system to handle it for them.

‍Still, typically, you need a phone number that can receive verification codes to set up the automation system. In most cases, that has to be a non-VoIP contact, as most platforms reject temporary numbers.

‍Your lead verification will also be more accurate when the people on the other end use non-VoIP cell lines, too, as these don’t normally have a high bounce rate.

‍So, as we’ve already mentioned, setting up some filters for the contact details you accept when collecting data could be helpful.

‍Overall, it’s one of those easy ways for your team to save time that they would otherwise have wasted on manual verification. Instead, they can focus on hunting down new, more qualified leads.

Regional Campaigns With Real Local Numbers

‍Local SEO is essential for businesses targeting specific regions. If you are a company that runs regional local link building or pretty much any other local promotional campaign from time to time, then you are going to need non-VoIP contact info from those locations.

‍The best way to get these is by using a real local contact and skipping the internet cells. Why go through the trouble?

‍Chances are that customers are more likely to trust messages from a regional line than one that is international or internet-based. This, as a result, improves your trustworthiness, which can increase conversions.

‍At this point, you probably have no doubt about which type of lines are the best for your digital marketing efforts.

‍AtBut where do you get a non-VOIP number for free (or reasonable money) that you can use for verification purposes?

‍AtHere are some of the common options you can try:

Limited Trials

‍To be honest, it’s going to be nearly impossible to find authentic, non-VoIP options for long-term use that are completely free. Chances are, if such a thing even exists, then you have to check their terms and conditions properly.

‍Still, if you insist on looking for free options, you can try out some platforms that offer a limited free trial. This way, you can try different SMS verification services for free before paying for the full package and making any long-term commitment.

‍As for the exact tools, this could be Text Verified or any similar alternative.

‍Source: Text Verified

‍While you can use these numbers for any purpose, it’s really advisable not to choose a temporary contact for anything too important, like main account registration, business registration, etc.

‍For everything that truly matters, you need a line that you can always access in case there are any issues to resolve with the account. Besides, it’s just common sense to avoid anything that has potential security issues.

‍It’s quite logical that the free options you get are not private. This means that anyone else can use the same contact. And anyone can see every single message.

‍For example, take a look at this USA phone number SMS info. Anyone can access it.

‍Source: Anonym SMS

Secondary SIM/eSIM cards

‍Don’t like the idea of sharing the same line with others or using a public one for your SMS verification needs? How about the next best thing? Getting another SIM card.

‍Source: Wikipedia

‍Yes, it’s obvious. But often, it’s the best solution.

‍Sure, it involves spending an initial cost for the SIM/eSIM card in the first place, but this is the next best, almost free option you can get. Besides, the cost is usually justified, as you shouldn’t get any expensive surprises in the future, like what might happen with most online alternatives.

‍All you need to do is pay for the card, and then you can insert it into any spare phone and use it for your verification needs. You can get some of those for your employees or as a business.

‍This way, you always have access to this line and know that it is safe and sound.

Certain Apps

‍There are several solutions out there that claim to be the best free non-VoIP phone number app. But whether this claim is 100% true or not depends on your own use case and how the application fits into that.

‍If you search through the Google and Apple App Stores, you have multiple options, such as TextNow, Textr App, etc. But these are all VoIPs, meaning that they likely won’t work for your verification.

‍Source: App Store

‍So, the best thing you can do is either choose:

• A mobile carrier app.
• Any platform we’ve mentioned above (e.g., Text Verified, 5 SIM, etc.)

Paid Alternatives

‍Many marketers use sites like Major Phones, Text Verified (Pro), etc., if you want something more pocket-friendly.

‍With paid alternatives, you don’t really have to worry about your codes being recycled and given to someone else. Besides, the paid options offer a lot more features and reliability compared to the free ones.

‍One of the paid solutions that many businesses choose is to rent a non-VOIP number. So, while you’re renting it, no one can access it, which is a good thing if you’re running some temporary campaigns or creating temporary accounts.

‍You can pay for your line while you need it and then just cut this cost. If you do this, just make sure nothing important is associated with the contact anymore when you drop it.

‍Source: Quackr

‍If you want something more serious (like an enterprise-level tool), you can try something like Twilio. It helps you build a whole system with both VoIPs and non-VoIPs.

‍It’s definitely not an option if you just want to randomly receive a verification code.

‍But if you need a platform that covers most (if not all) of your business phone communication needs, it’s a really good solution.

‍Source: Twilio

‍Even though there are ways that you can get your hands on a paid or free non-VoIP phone number, there are still some risks that come with either of these choices.

‍So, it’s important to understand this and carefully weigh it since some of these risks can lead to serious issues. This way, you can at least plan ahead for them.

#1 Privacy and Security (Of Course)

‍We already mentioned that most of these free phone numbers usually offer you the option of using a shared contact. If you want a private line, normally, you have to pay. And that’s where the problem starts.

‍Imagine how secure it is to have your verification sent to a public or shared line? Anyone on the site can see those codes. This can lead to someone else getting hold of those verification codes and then hijacking your accounts.

‍After all, there is a reason why you always get a warning to never share those codes with anyone.

‍Source: Google Support

‍This is clearly not a great idea for a business, as sensitive info can get leaked. And now, imagine if this also leaks your clients’ information. Exactly.

#2 Legitimacy Issues (of Course #2)

‍When you use many of these free non-VOIP phone number apps, there is really a limit to what you are allowed to do with them.

‍For one, most platforms already know them and flag them as spam, so chances are that your contact, too, will get tossed into the spam list. This doesn’t do any favors for your reputation as a business.

‍If you overuse it, you could get permanently banned, which means all your hard work building that account goes down the drain. In this case, you will have no choice but to start from scratch.

‍And, let’s be honest, chances are that it won’t just happen to one account since most brands tend to create several of them. If you violate the platform policy with those random phone numbers that are hardly legit, all your accounts could be affected.

‍If you think that’s the worst that can happen, not even close.

‍When a service is promising you a free SMS number for Google verification that is 100% available forever, chances are you are looking at a lie or worse, a scam.

‍Even when you try to create multiple legit Gmail accounts with your personal phone, you’ll soon get a warning, which won’t allow you to register anymore. So, how can a free random platform give you that opportunity?

‍Source: Google

‍Even if you do get a contact, it’s probably for a limited time unless you pay. Shady providers who lure people in with promises of free unlimited lines have been known to suddenly cut off the line.

‍If that’s the case, chances are, your messages will not reach your audience, which can seriously hurt your campaigns and maybe even your reputation.

#3 Limited Availability

‍True free phone numbers that work for verification are really rare. If you are lucky enough to discover one, it’s like finding that special needle that got lost in the haystack that everyone else has been looking for.

‍That’s because most free non-VoIP services are tied to trials or promotions.

‍What’s more? You are not the only one looking to get your hands on some free lines. That’s why some providers share the same contact with several people. So, the one you used just a minute ago can be used by someone else shortly.

‍In some cases, the line might be active for just a day or two, so you can’t use it for anything serious, like your marketing campaigns. Basically, you’ll see that most free services simply recycle the same contacts or limit the duration of use.

‍All of this happens because of scarcity, and the fallout from that could affect your reputation negatively and hurt your brand loyalty.

#4 Lack of Support or Reliability

‍If you heard all of that and thought to yourself, “Well, I could reach out to the customer support service and ask for the validity of the line to be extended,” then we’ve got news for you.

‍Most providers of free phone numbers that work for verification don’t have any support services, which is also logical, to be honest.

‍That’s why when you don’t see that code you’ve been waiting for, you are on your own here. The line suddenly stops working out of the blue? Ah, yes, that’s on you, too.

‍Does this mean that even if the contact should suddenly become inactive or go offline without notice, there’s no one to call to fix it? Yes. Now, imagine if your marketing account suddenly can’t get verification codes. Not the best scenario, for sure.

#5 Limited Features

‍It is quite possible to get your hands on a US number SMS line that works, but it could also come with pretty limited features, especially if it’s free.

‍For example, most of these lines do not support two-way messaging, and you can’t use them for voice calls or to interact with international audiences. The only thing you can do is receive SMS, and that’s it.

‍Want to integrate it into a CRM system or scale up the way you use it later in the future? Sorry, not a lot of free tools let you do that (pretty much none of them).

‍So, this type of line is clearly not suitable for full business phone system replacements. But in case you’re looking for one, try to find a comprehensive platform. Yes, you will pay for it, but it will definitely be worth it in the long term.

‍Trying to get a free SMS for Google verification number can feel like a full-time job on its own. You have to research carefully and check that you are not making a costly mistake that will be hard to fix later.

‍TryingStill, it’s better to take the time to do that initial work at the beginning. We hope we have made that task a little easier for you by gathering all the intel you need to make an informed choice.

‍TryingSo, choose wisely, and may the choice you make work in your favor.