Order briefing · 10-minute read · Updated 13 October 2026
Read this before you order a virtual number
Whether a code arrives depends partly on the app and partly on choices you control. Buy the number for the exact app, type it with the right country code, request the code once and give the app a few minutes. If nothing arrives, cancel and try another carrier in the same country before you change country. A failed order costs nothing: the price returns to your VSIM balance.
Telegram 13% of 4,552 orders got a code
WhatsApp 11% of 2,265 orders got a code
WeChat 67% of 1,431 orders got a code
Fiverr 65% of 1,167 orders got a code
Google 19% of 1,143 orders got a code- VK 58% of 629 orders got a code
Facebook 8% of 420 orders got a code
Signal 39% of 187 orders got a code
Instagram 11% of 171 orders got a code
TikTok 21% of 108 orders got a code
Apple 25% of 106 orders got a code
Viber 1% of 103 orders got a code
- 13,062 orders in the log
- 27% got a code
- 73% refunded in full
- 21% after switching carrier
- 59 s median wait before a retry
- 67% WeChat, the easiest app
- 1% Viber, the hardest
- 5 open orders at once
Key takeaways
What decides whether your code arrives?
Six rules for the part you control. Each one comes with what it looks like on screen, so you recognise it when it happens.
- 01
Buy the number for the exact app
A number bought for Telegram receives Telegram's SMS only. Messages from any other app never reach it.
The order page says it too: “This number only receives messages from Telegram.”
- 02
Type the country code once
Pick the country in the app's list, then paste only the digits after it.
- 03
Ask for the code once, then wait
In our log, half of all retries were placed within 59 seconds of the order that failed.
- 04
Switch carrier before you switch country
After a miss, another carrier in the same country delivered 21% of the time; another country, 11%.
- 05
Read the rate, not the price
A dearer number delivered more often for 5 of 8 apps, and less often for 3.
- 06
Secure the account before you leave
The number is released when the order ends. Your password and authenticator keep the account yours.
+44 ▾Your first order
How does a first order go, step by step?
Seven steps from an empty balance to a code on your screen. First orders need it most: only 15% of customers' very first orders got a code, against 27% across all orders.
1 / 7
- 1
Top up your balance
Pay in crypto through Heleket or NOWPayments, from $1.00. The balance is kept in US dollars and spent only on VSIM.
- 2
Find the app
Search the finder for the exact app you are signing up to. A number bought for one app receives that app's SMS only.
- 3
Pick a country by its rate
Every country shows a delivery rate next to its price. Read the rate first; it tells you how often codes arrived lately.
- 4
Choose the carrier
On the confirm page, VSIM offers the cheaper carrier and the best-delivering one. If a previous order failed, take the other.
- 5
Copy the number
The number appears within seconds, the price is held and the timer starts. Copy it from the order page.
- 6
Paste it into the app
Pick the country in the app's own list, then paste only the digits after the country code. Press Send once.
- 7
Read the code
The SMS appears on the order page by itself. Enter it in the app; the hold becomes the charge.
USA
CanadaApp briefing
How does your app behave with virtual numbers?
Pick the app you are verifying. The figures come from VSIM's own log; the finder shows today's rate for every country and carrier.
Telegram with a virtual number
Hard
13% of 4,552 Telegram orders got a code
Telegram is the app VSIM customers order most, and one of the strictest. If Telegram says it sent the code to the Telegram app or to another device, the number already has an account: press "Number already used in the app? Report it and refund" on the order page.
Best countries in our log
- USA21%1,708 orders
- Canada19%675 orders
- Estonia13%78 orders
After a failed Telegram order, the next try got a code 24% of the time on another carrier, 9% on the same carrier and 8% in another country.
Find a Telegram number
WhatsApp with a virtual number
Hard
11% of 2,265 WhatsApp orders got a code
WhatsApp refuses many virtual numbers. If it asks for a two-step verification PIN after the code, the number had an earlier WhatsApp account and cannot be used. Report it from the order page; a person reviews it.
Best countries in our log
- Canada35%240 orders
- South Africa23%39 orders
- Indonesia18%101 orders
After a failed WhatsApp order, the next try got a code 15% of the time on another carrier, 5% on the same carrier and 14% in another country.
Find a WhatsApp number
WeChat with a virtual number
Usually works
67% of 1,431 WeChat orders got a code
WeChat was the most reliable app in the log: about two codes in every three orders, and 92% on US numbers.
Best countries in our log
- USA92%765 orders
- United Kingdom52%242 orders
- Ivory Coast29%369 orders
Fiverr with a virtual number
Usually works
65% of 1,167 Fiverr orders got a code
Fiverr delivers well. UK and US numbers led the log, both above 65%.
Best countries in our log
- United Kingdom71%199 orders
- USA66%861 orders
- Canada58%26 orders
Google with a virtual number
Hard
19% of 1,143 Google orders got a code
Google delivered about one code in five. Add a recovery email to the account, because a one-time number cannot receive Google codes for you later.
Best countries in our log
- Canada36%166 orders
- Germany29%28 orders
- Italy28%54 orders
VK with a virtual number
Usually works
58% of 629 VK orders got a code
VK delivered more than half the time, and almost every VK order in the log used a US number.
Best countries in our log
- USA60%605 orders
Facebook with a virtual number
Hard
8% of 420 Facebook orders got a code
Facebook is one of the hardest apps: 8% overall, and no country with enough orders passed 12%.
Best countries in our log
- Mauritius12%25 orders
- Latvia8%61 orders
Signal with a virtual number
Mixed
39% of 187 Signal orders got a code
Signal sits in the middle. The samples per country are small, so trust the live rate on the finder over the figures here.
Best countries in our log
- USA40%25 orders
- Russia28%25 orders
Instagram with a virtual number
Hard
11% of 171 Instagram orders got a code
Instagram is hard on virtual numbers: about one code in nine. US numbers did best.
Best countries in our log
- USA18%49 orders
TikTok with a virtual number
Mixed
21% of 108 TikTok orders got a code
TikTok delivered about one code in five overall, and close to one in three on US and Canadian numbers.
Best countries in our log
- USA31%36 orders
- Canada29%28 orders
Apple with a virtual number
Mixed
25% of 106 Apple orders got a code
Apple delivered about one code in four, almost all of it on US numbers.
Best countries in our log
- USA22%83 orders
Viber with a virtual number
Hard
1% of 103 Viber orders got a code
Viber almost never delivered: about one code in a hundred orders. Plan for another way to verify Viber.
Best countries in our log
- Algeria3%35 orders
- Canada0%31 orders
A live order
What should you do in each minute of an order?
Press play, or pick a moment. The order page on the left changes with it, and the numbered spots show which part of the page matters now.
0:00
Copy the number, not the plus sign
The price is held from your balance and the timer starts. In the app, pick the country in its own country list, then paste only the digits that follow the country code.
0:30
Request the code one time
Press Send in the app once. Keep the VSIM order page open: it checks for the SMS every few seconds and shows the code by itself.
1-5 min
Give the app a few minutes
In our log, half of all new attempts after a failed order were placed within 59 seconds of the order that failed. Pressing resend again and again can make an app slow down or stop sending.
5-10 min
Resend once, or cancel
If nothing has arrived after a few minutes, use the app's resend once. Or press Cancel and refund: the full price is back on your balance within seconds.
When it lands
Use it straight away
The order closes when the first SMS arrives and the hold becomes the charge. One number gives one code, so finish the sign-up in one go.
15-20 min
No SMS means no charge
The supplier's timer ends at about 15 minutes in our tests, never later than 20. If no SMS came, the order closes and the full price returns automatically.
What each numbered spot on the order page does
- 1
Your number and Copy The number for this one app. Copy it, then paste only the digits after the country code.
- 2
Held from balance Set aside, not spent. It becomes a charge only if an SMS arrives; otherwise it comes back.
- 3
The timer Counts down to the end of the order. At zero without an SMS, the price returns.
- 4
Waiting for the SMS The code appears here on its own. No need to reload.
- 5
Cancel and refund Ends the order before a code arrives and returns the full price within seconds.
- 6
Number already used in the app? For numbers that already have an account in the app. Closes the order with a refund and marks the carrier.
- 7
Did the app reject this number? Shows once a code arrives. A person reviews the report, and the carrier is offered less for that app.
After a miss
After a failed order, what should you try next?
We followed every failed order to the same customer's next try for the same app within three hours. Pick a door, then open the others.
Across all apps: another carrier in the same country got a code on 21% of next tries, the same carrier on 13%, and another country on 11%. For Telegram the gap is wider: 24% against 9% and 8%.
How to switch carrier on VSIM. When you confirm a number, VSIM shows the cheaper carrier and the best-delivering one for that country. If the last order failed, choose the other one. If the carrier you picked has no number free, VSIM issues one from another carrier at the same price and says so on the order page.
How many tries until the first code?
Of the 311 customer-and-app pairs that got a code at some point:
- 1st try31%
- 2nd try18%
- 3rd try12%
- 6th or later25%
Every try that missed was refunded in full.
These are past orders, not a promise for the next one. Rates move every day, and the finder shows the current rate for each carrier.
Myth check
Does a more expensive number deliver better?
Not reliably. We split each app's orders at its median price. The dearer half delivered more often for 5 of 8 apps and less often for 3.
+41points for Fiverr's dearer half, 32% to 73%
−9points for Google's dearer half, 21% to 12%
So the number next to the price matters more than the price: VSIM shows a delivery rate for every carrier on the finder.
-
Telegram11%↗14%
-
WhatsApp13%↘9%
-
WeChat40%↘32%
-
Fiverr32%↗73%
-
Google21%↘12%
-
Facebook5%↗10%
-
Instagram4%↗18%
-
Signal38%↗40%
Message decoder
What does the app's message mean?
The app usually tells you what went wrong, in its own words. Here is what each message points to and which button to press. Scroll the screens sideways.
-
Fix and continue
“Invalid phone number”
The country code went in twice or not at all.
Choose the country in the app's list, then paste the digits after the code. Try again on the same number.
-
Refund now
“We've sent the code to the Telegram app on your other device”
This number already has a Telegram account, so Telegram will not text it.
Press "Number already used in the app? Report it and refund". The order closes and the price returns.
-
Report it
“Enter your two-step verification PIN”
An earlier WhatsApp account on this number set a PIN. You cannot get past it.
Report that WhatsApp rejected the number on the order page. A person reviews it.
-
Switch carrier
“This phone number cannot be used”
The app blocks numbers from this carrier's range.
Cancel for a full refund, then switch to another carrier in the same country.
-
Fix and continue
“Too many attempts. Try again later”
The app is limiting your device or connection, not the number.
Wait before buying another number. A fresh number usually does not help until the limit clears.
-
Fix and continue
“Send code by SMS or call me”
The app offers two ways to send the code.
Choose SMS. The order page shows text messages.
-
Switch carrier
Nothing arrives for several minutes
The app did not send to this number, or the carrier did not pass it on.
Cancel and refund, then try another carrier. Or leave it: the timer refunds you when it ends.
Apps word these messages in different ways and change them over time; the meanings are what they point to.
Permanent US numbers
Ordering a permanent number? Which rule matters most?
A VSIM permanent number is a US Google Voice number delivered with its Google account. One rule decides whether it stays yours: where you sign in from.
Ready check
Are you ready for a permanent number?
Can you sign in to Google Voice from a US IP every time?A US virtual server with a fixed IP is the safest choice.
Will you change the password and add your own 2-step verification right away?Right after the first sign-in, on a device you keep.
Will you check the number within 30 days?Faults can be reported from your number page for 30 days.
After the code
How do you keep the account after the order ends?
A one-time number goes back to the supplier when the order closes, and it can be issued to someone else later. Anyone holding it could then ask the app for a login code. Four settings make the number irrelevant. Tick the ones you have done.
Who could get into this account?
Anyone who is issued this number later
0 of 4 locks set
Limits
Which limits apply when you order?
They keep numbers available for everyone and stop abuse. The full rules are in the Terms of Service.
- 5
Open orders at once
Finish or cancel one to start a sixth.
- 12per 5 min
New orders
A short pause clears it.
- 18+
Adults only
Accounts are for people aged 18 or older.
- 1app
One app per number
Each number receives one app's messages.
- STOP
No fraud, spam or bulk sign-ups
Accounts used this way are closed. You can appeal.
Questions
What do customers ask before their first order?
12 answers
Still unsure? Message @vsim_support on Telegram, 08:00 to 24:00 Tehran time (UTC+3:30), or open a ticket from your account.
01Why didn't my verification code arrive?
Most often because the app does not send codes to that carrier's numbers. A number typed with the country code twice never gets a code either. In VSIM's log of 13,062 one-time orders, 27% received a code; the rest were cancelled or ran out of time and were refunded in full.
02Should I try another country or another carrier after a failed order?
Another carrier first. In VSIM's log, a new attempt on another carrier in the same country got a code 21% of the time, against 13% on the same carrier and 11% in another country.
03Can I receive a second code on the same one-time number?
No. A one-time order closes when the first SMS arrives, and the number is released. Finish the sign-up with that code, and order a new number if the app asks again later.
04How long can I use a one-time number?
Until the first code arrives or the timer ends: about 15 minutes in our tests and never more than 20. If no SMS comes in that time, the full price returns to your balance.
05Do I need to keep the order page open while I wait?
It helps. The order page checks for the SMS every few seconds and shows the code as soon as it lands. If you close it, the code is still there when you open the order again.
06Why did VSIM give me a number from another carrier?
Because the carrier you chose had no number free at that moment. VSIM then issues one from another carrier at the same price and says so on the order page.
07Does a more expensive virtual number deliver codes more often?
Not reliably. Splitting each app's orders at its median price, the dearer half delivered more often for 5 of 8 apps and less often for 3. Compare the delivery rate shown next to each price instead.
08Why does Telegram say it sent the code to another device?
Because the number already has a Telegram account, so Telegram sends the code inside that account instead of by SMS. Use "Number already used in the app? Report it and refund" on the order page.
09Can I reuse a one-time number later to log in?
No. The number goes back to the supplier when the order ends and can be issued to someone else later. Add a password, an authenticator app and a recovery email before you leave the app.
10What do I need before buying a permanent US number?
A way to sign in to Google Voice from a US IP address, ideally a US virtual server with a fixed IP. A lock caused by a sign-in from outside the US cannot be fixed or refunded. Faults can be reported for 30 days.
11How many numbers can I order at once?
Up to 5 open orders at the same time and up to 12 new orders in any 5 minutes per account.
12Which apps work best with VSIM numbers?
In VSIM's log, WeChat (67%), Fiverr (65%) and VK (58%) delivered most often, while Telegram (13%), WhatsApp (11%), Instagram (11%), Facebook (8%) and Viber (1%) were the hardest.
No question matches. Try another word, or ask @vsim_support.
Briefed. Ready for your number?
- Exact app, country code once
- Ask once, wait a few minutes
- Missed? Switch carrier first
- Lock the account before you leave