Can the SMS receiving platform really be used? I tested 5 of them, and the results were a bit surprising.

Recently, I discovered a problem: when signing up for an overseas account and testing the SMS verification interface, I was forced into a dead end of having to buy a new SIM card every time. Later, I found out about this thing called “code receiving platform” — virtual numbers that receive SMS, billed per use. Sounds good, but there are also quite a few pitfalls.

I have stepped on a lot of landmines myself, so I decided to test it systematically. Core finding: the stability varies greatly, choosing the wrong platform can make you wait half a day for a verification code.

What is a receiving code platform?

In simple terms, it means renting a temporary phone number. You don't have to buy a SIM card; you can use a virtual number to receive verification codes for just a few bucks. The advantage is that privacy is guaranteed, while the downside is that the quality of the numbers varies greatly—some platforms receive codes ridiculously fast (within 10 seconds), while others are slow enough to brew tea.

5 Platform Comparison Test

1. SMS-Activate

• Speed: about 10 seconds to arrive
• Coverage: Most countries, suitable for experimenting with overseas accounts
• Disadvantages: A bit pricey.

2. Super Cloud SMS

• US number: 10-30 seconds
• China number: 5-20 seconds (this is unexpectedly fast)
• Trap: Shared accounts are prone to risk control, it is recommended to spend money to buy exclusive accounts.

3. 5SIM

• User-friendly interface, clear API documentation
• Tested, both Google and Twitter can be used.
• Overall performance is the most stable, but the downside is that it is easy to fall behind.

4. Bird Receives Code

• Fastest application speed in the country (5-15 seconds)
• Good cost performance
• There may be delays during peak hours, but changing the account can solve the issue.

5. Getsmscode

• Cheap, suitable for light users
• Niche platforms may experience delays
• The application in the China region is not bad.

Pitfalls

• Issue with Shared Account: It's easy to encounter the message “This account has already been registered”, wasting time.
• Uncontrollable Delay: It can really take a long time during peak hours, especially for less popular countries.
• Risk Control Number Segment: Some accounts on certain platforms have been blacklisted by the target website, try changing the account on key platforms.
• Never use as the main account: Privacy and security are not guaranteed.

My Suggestions

If it's just for testing the interface, any API-supported one will do; if you really want to stably register overseas accounts, it's necessary to have a few more accounts. It's also recommended to use 2-3 platforms at the same time, so that if one doesn't work, you can switch immediately.

Currently,综合来看SMS-Activate and 5SIM are the most stable, with fast speed and full coverage, but if mainly using Chinese number segments, Niao's code receiving has the highest cost-performance ratio.

Has anyone used a more stable one? Share in the comments~