Second Number for WhatsApp: 7 Tested Apps for 2026 (What Actually Survives the Anti-VoIP Filter)
Short answer: Most people who search for a second WhatsApp number want a number they keep. TwoLine does not sell that. TwoLine sells one-time numbers, so it fits a single signup code and nothing after it. For a number you keep, this guide points to Hushed, Sideline, TextVerified, or a prepaid SIM.
How WhatsApp's anti-VoIP filter actually works
WhatsApp signup runs a Twilio-Lookup-class check on the number before sending the verification SMS. The check returns a routing classification: physical-SIM, MVNO, business mobile, or VoIP. If the route classifies as consumer VoIP, WhatsApp will often still send the SMS — the verification appears to succeed — and then run a secondary review on the account within 24–72 hours. If the secondary review confirms the number sits on a recycled or shared VoIP route, WhatsApp bans the number silently. The user sees "this number is no longer registered" the next time they open the app.
Three categories have a better starting point with the filter, though apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number:
Physical-SIM-class non-VoIP rentals. Services that say they source from rental SMS providers using physical SIM banks or business-mobile MVNO inventory (TextVerified, SMSPool). The number type is the reason people pick them. It is a better starting point at the signup check and the post-signup review, not a promise.
Business-mobile rentals from established providers. Hushed and Sideline source from different upstream stacks; Hushed's monthly tier belongs here because the routes lean business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP.
One-time codes. TwoLine, 5sim and similar pay-per-code services give you a number for the SMS only. You do not hold the number afterward. WhatsApp's post-signup review still runs against the carrier route, and you cannot receive a second code on that number. A one-time number can finish a signup. It cannot protect the account later.
What usually fails: free consumer apps (TextNow, TextFree, Google Voice with most newer numbers) and the cheapest "$0.99/month US numbers" that recycle VoIP routes. Public user reports describe these passing the initial SMS and getting banned days later.
How this comparison was made
This guide compares what each provider publishes: prices, countries, refund terms, and number type. It also uses public user reports, including threads in r/whatsapp, r/WhatsAppBusiness, and r/PrivacyPals. TwoLine does not publish its own delivery measurements. No provider gets a pass rate here, because acceptance changes by app, by country, and over time.
One pattern in those reports is worth planning for: a WhatsApp account can look fine at signup and get flagged days later. Treat the first week on any new number as a trial period, and don't move business conversations onto it until that week has passed. I can't independently audit the upstream sourcing for any provider, so the number types below are stated provider differences, not externally verified facts. See the methodology page for how these comparisons are made.
The 7 apps, compared one by one
1. TwoLine: one-time numbers for a single WhatsApp code
Verdict tag: One-time number, not a second line. Best if you need one WhatsApp code and you accept that you cannot receive another code on that number.
TwoLine sells one-time numbers for SMS verification. You search for the app, pick a country and a line, see the live price with no account, then buy from your balance. Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps may refuse this number type. Apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number.
Prices are live and start at $0.39. They vary by app, country and line. A number lasts long enough for one code, usually 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes shorter. The order page shows the exact end time. See TwoLine pricing for how balance top-ups work.
If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically. You can also cancel after 2 minutes. Once a code has been delivered the purchase is final.
Where TwoLine wins for WhatsApp: One job, kept simple. You see the live price before you create an account. Countries vary by app and change with stock, so you are not tied to one fixed country list. Balance tops up by card or crypto. Codes appear on your private order page, tied to your account. It is not a public inbox. If no code arrives, the full price returns to your balance. Only need one code? Get a number.
Where TwoLine falls short: One number is for one code. You cannot keep it, renew it, or reuse it for later logins. That makes TwoLine the wrong tool for any account that may need a future SMS. A WhatsApp account you rely on is usually that kind of account, because moving to a new phone can trigger a new code. No calling and no texting out (Hushed has both). No lifetime tier. Balance top-ups start at $4.99 by card and $9.99 by crypto, and balance is not cash. If you want a WhatsApp number you keep, use Hushed, Sideline, TextVerified, or a prepaid SIM.
I built TwoLine. This guide includes it because a single WhatsApp code is a real part of the second-number search, and it says plainly where TwoLine is the wrong pick.
2. Hushed — established US/Canada WhatsApp with lifetime upside
Verdict tag: Monthly second-line. Best for a US/Canada WhatsApp Business number you'll keep for 5+ years (lifetime tier $99) or for users who want outbound voice calling alongside WhatsApp.
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps may refuse this number type. Routes that lean business-mobile are a better starting point than consumer VoIP, but a number can rotate back into a flagged route after signup.
Pricing tiers. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy. - 7-day pass: $1.99 - Monthly: $9.99 - Annual: $49.99 - Lifetime: $99 one-time (with 90-day inactivity reclamation per their published ToS)
The lifetime tier is the standout — no other app in this guide offers it, and at $99 over 5+ years of weekly use it beats every monthly competitor on price. Set a quarterly reminder to send one SMS to keep the number active.
Where Hushed wins for WhatsApp: Mature carrier relationships mean the routes lean business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP. Outbound calling included (helpful for verifying WhatsApp Business with a callback flow if SMS fails on first try). Apple/Google IAP-paid means no Stripe-card friction.
Where Hushed falls short: US/Canada only. No UK, NL, or DE coverage — if WhatsApp needs to be on a UK number for a UK-based audience, Hushed can't do it. A number can still be banned days after signup if its route rotates, and that is the failure mode WhatsApp users complain about most.
3. TextVerified — US non-VoIP per-rental, strongest stated non-VoIP sourcing
Verdict tag: Per-rental. Best if you want stated non-VoIP sourcing on a US number, or if you want a US number for a few days/weeks rather than a full month.
Acceptance varies by app. TextVerified's stated non-VoIP sourcing is a better starting point than consumer VoIP, but strict apps may still refuse a number, and no provider can promise WhatsApp's decision.
TextVerified specializes in non-VoIP US numbers — they explicitly source physical-SIM-class routing rather than consumer VoIP. Pricing is per-rental rather than per-month, which makes the math harder to compare directly: a 1-day rental might cost $1.50, a 30-day rental $9, a 6-month rental $30+.
Where TextVerified wins for WhatsApp: Non-VoIP routing class is genuinely different from consumer apps. TextVerified emphasizes physical-SIM-class routing in their marketing and dashboard; consumer apps source from rental SMS providers leaning consumer VoIP (different upstream stacks). I can't independently audit the upstream sourcing for any provider; these are stated provider differences, not externally verified.
Where it falls short: US-only. Pricing structure is awkward to compare against monthly subscriptions. UI is dated. If you also want outbound calling, you'll need a separate app.
4. SMSPool — US-focused per-code with stated non-VoIP routing
Verdict tag: Per-code. Best for one-shot WhatsApp signups when you want a Stripe + crypto payment option and US non-VoIP routing.
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps may refuse this number type, even on a stated non-VoIP route.
SMSPool runs an explicitly non-VoIP US inventory. Pricing $0.50–$2 per WhatsApp code. Free tier exists but for low-quality services only — the paid tier is the one to use for WhatsApp.
Where SMSPool wins for WhatsApp: Cleaner US carrier routing than crypto-first competitors. Auto-refund on no SMS. Decent dashboard UI. Pay with Stripe or crypto.
Where it falls short: US-only. Higher minimum than 5sim. Not as wide a country catalog as 5sim if WhatsApp needs to be on a non-US number.
5. Sideline: US/Canada business line for WhatsApp Business
Verdict tag: Monthly second-line. Best for a WhatsApp Business number you'll keep, when you also want business calling on the same line.
Sideline charges $9.99 a month per line, with team plans starting at $14.99/line/month for 2+ lines. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy. Outbound calling, voicemail transcription, custom business hours, away messages, and team forwarding are part of the product.
Acceptance varies by app. Sideline's business-grade routing leans business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP, which is a better starting point than a free app, but strict apps may still refuse this number type.
Where Sideline wins for WhatsApp: It is a number you keep, so a later code can still reach you when you move phones. It is the closest thing in this guide to a real business phone line at consumer pricing. Where it falls short: US/Canada only. Business framing means the UI assumes you're using it for work. Not for: a single code you'll never need again, where a one-time number is enough.
6. 5sim — cheapest WhatsApp codes, 50+ countries
Verdict tag: Per-code. Cheapest option globally for WhatsApp signups. Best if WhatsApp needs to be on a non-US country or you prefer crypto top-up.
Acceptance varies by app and by route. Number sources rotate, so strict apps may refuse a given number or ban it soon after signup.
5sim covers 50+ countries with US WhatsApp codes starting at $0.30. Top-up via crypto (USDT primarily) or card. Mature platform with a decade of operating history.
Where 5sim wins for WhatsApp: Cheapest, widest country selection. If WhatsApp needs to verify on an Indonesian or Brazilian number, 5sim is one of the few options.
Where it falls short: Dashboard is dense. Support via Telegram only. Crypto-first checkout filters out users who want a regular card flow. Number quality varies by upstream provider — some routes clean, some pre-flagged. A per-code number is a one-shot, so it has the same limit as TwoLine for any account you need to keep.
7. TextNow (free) — consumer VoIP, the wrong number type for WhatsApp
Verdict tag: Free consumer VoIP. Included for completeness; not recommended for WhatsApp.
Acceptance varies by app, but this number type is exactly what WhatsApp's anti-VoIP filter targets. Public user reports describe numbers refused at signup ("can't verify this number") and accounts banned within days.
TextNow is the most-installed free second-line app in the US (50M+ Android installs). It runs consumer VoIP routing across the US and Canada. Free with ads on the Free tier; SMS verification reads are paywalled at Premium ($9.99 a month) — but even on Premium the underlying routing is the same consumer VoIP.
Where TextNow wins: Not for WhatsApp. It works fine for casual texting, low-trust verifications (some games, free trials), and as a throwaway social media handle. WhatsApp specifically is the wrong job for TextNow.
Where it falls short: WhatsApp's anti-VoIP filter is tuned against consumer VoIP routing. Public reports describe TextNow numbers failing at signup or getting banned within days. If WhatsApp is your goal, skip TextNow even on Premium and use one of the paid options above.
Country coverage: where each service actually works for WhatsApp
| Service | US | Canada | UK | NL | DE | Other countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TwoLine | Varies by app, live stock | |||||
| Hushed | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| TextVerified | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| SMSPool | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sideline | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| 5sim | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50+ countries |
| TextNow | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — (consumer VoIP) |
For WhatsApp specifically: country breadth narrows the field hard. If you need a kept WhatsApp number in the UK or the Netherlands, no app in this guide covers it, so use a prepaid SIM from a local carrier. Many prepaid SIMs expire after 90+ days of no top-up, so set a reminder. If you need one code on a UK or NL number, TwoLine and 5sim can both work, but TwoLine availability is live and varies by app. If US/Canada → Hushed has the longest track record. If a non-US/UK/NL country → 5sim is the realistic per-code answer (SMS-Man covers similar ground with 20+ countries and rental durations from 24 hours to one month, but it isn't profiled in this guide).
Provider Risk Score (will this WhatsApp number still work in 12 months?)
The same scoring method I used in the SMS-Activate alternatives post, TextNow alternative post, Hushed alternative post, and rent-a-phone-number post. Four signals: payment processor health, number sourcing geography, SMS routing transparency, public uptime data. Each scored 0–3, summed for a total out of 12.
How to read 0–3: 3 = established and transparent (Google, Apple/Google IAP, Stripe + public docs). 2 = solid with one weak signal. 1 = single fragile rail or no public transparency. 0 = known reliability problem.
Based on payment processor stability, operating history, ToS scans, and carrier routing data as of May 1, 2026.
| Provider | Payment | Geography | Routing | Transparency | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hushed | 3 (Apple/Google IAP, Stripe) | 3 (US/CA carriers) | 2 (proprietary routing) | 2 (some public uptime) | 10 of 12 |
| Sideline | 3 (Apple/Google IAP) | 3 (US/CA business carriers) | 2 (Twilio-class routing) | 2 (business documentation) | 10 of 12 |
| TextVerified | 2 (Stripe) | 2 (US non-VoIP) | 2 (stated non-VoIP) | 2 (active blog) | 8 of 12 |
| SMSPool | 2 (Stripe + crypto) | 2 (US non-VoIP) | 2 (stated providers) | 2 (active dashboard) | 8 of 12 |
| 5sim | 2 (crypto + cards) | 3 (50+ countries) | 1 (rotating sources) | 1 (limited) | 7 of 12 |
| TextNow (free) | 2 (Apple/Google IAP) | 2 (US/CA only, VoIP) | 1 (VoIP routing flags) | 1 (no public uptime) | 6 of 12 |
| TwoLine | — | — | — | — | Not scored (our own product) |
Hushed and Sideline tie at the top. Hushed has nine years of operating history and Apple/Google IAP rails. Sideline has the same IAP rails plus business-carrier routing. TextVerified and SMSPool tie at 8 — proven payment stack, US-focused inventory. 5sim's wider country coverage trades against routing transparency. TextNow scores lowest because its VoIP routing is exactly what WhatsApp's anti-VoIP filter targets. TwoLine is not scored because it is our own product, and a one-time number is not something you hold for 12 months anyway.
This isn't a buy/avoid scoreboard. A score of 7 doesn't mean 5sim disappears tomorrow. It means if I had to bet on which WhatsApp routes survive WhatsApp's filter improvements over the next 12 months, I'd weight Hushed, Sideline, and the Stripe-direct services higher.
What I'd do today (decision tree)
Three questions, one primary pick per leaf. No "it depends" loops.
Q1: Do you need a WhatsApp account, or do you just need to sign up for one once and never re-verify?
If just one signup (no future SMS needed) → Q2-A. If you'll receive WhatsApp messages on this number for at least a month and possibly need re-verification → Q2-B.
Q2-A: One WhatsApp signup only. Default: TwoLine. Prices are live and start at $0.39. They vary by app, country and line. If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically. Get a number. Disclosure: I built TwoLine. Use 5sim ($0.30–$0.80) if you prefer a per-code service with a 50+ country list. Use SMSPool only if both miss your specific use case.
Check this answer before you buy. One number is for one code. You cannot keep it, renew it, or reuse it for later logins. If WhatsApp asks for a code again, that number is gone. If that would hurt, go to Q2-B. If you do sign up on a one-time number, add a recovery email and turn on two-step verification right after signup.
Q2-B: A WhatsApp number you'll keep. One more question:
Q3: Which country and how long?
- US, kept for 1–12 months → Hushed monthly at $9.99, or Sideline at $9.99 if you also want business calling. Both are numbers you keep.
- US/Canada, planning to keep 5+ years with weekly use → Hushed lifetime at $99 with a calendar reminder to send one SMS every 90 days.
- UK or Netherlands → a prepaid SIM from a local carrier. No app in this guide offers a kept number in those countries.
- Strict non-VoIP required (WhatsApp Business for a regulated industry, banking-adjacent KYC) → TextVerified per-rental.
- A non-US/UK/NL country (Brazil, Indonesia, India) → 5sim as a per-code workaround. No persistent monthly option exists in this guide for those countries — the trade-off is real. A local prepaid SIM is the kept option.
Five leaf nodes, each with one primary pick.
Stop overthinking — your move right now
If you only need one WhatsApp signup and you accept that the number can't receive another code, stop reading. Get a number. Search for WhatsApp, pick a country and a line, and see the live price with no account. If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically. The rest of this post doesn't apply to you.
If you need a WhatsApp number you'll keep: - US/Canada under $10 a month → Hushed or Sideline at $9.99 - US/Canada with $99 lifetime upside → Hushed - UK or NL → a prepaid SIM from a local carrier TwoLine is not on this list on purpose. It is the one-code option, not a line you keep.
Don't over-research a $10–$99 decision for an hour. The cost of picking the wrong tool is a few dollars; the cost of analysis paralysis is hours of your time.
Where Hushed and TextVerified still beat TwoLine for WhatsApp
I built TwoLine, so I'm biased. Here are three honest scenarios where the other apps are the better WhatsApp pick. In each of them TwoLine is simply the wrong tool:
Scenario 1: Long-term WhatsApp number on a US line you'll keep for 5+ years. Hushed lifetime at $99 with a 90-day inactivity-reset is unbeatable on dollars-per-year. TwoLine cannot keep a number at all, so this one is not close. If you'll send a WhatsApp message at least once a quarter for the next decade, Hushed wins on math and on fit.
Scenario 2: WhatsApp Business for a regulated context (legal, financial, healthcare-adjacent). TextVerified's stated non-VoIP sourcing is a stronger compliance story than any monthly second-line app, and a one-time number from TwoLine is no compliance story at all. The per-rental pricing is awkward but the routing class is the cleanest non-VoIP signal in this guide.
Scenario 3: WhatsApp + outbound voice calling matter equally. TwoLine doesn't include calling. Hushed and Sideline do. If you'll text on WhatsApp and also call outside WhatsApp, picking Hushed gives you both in one app.
TwoLine fits one narrow job: a single WhatsApp code on an account you can afford to lose. For that job it's what I'd recommend. For a WhatsApp Business account you run every day, it isn't. "Best for me to ship" doesn't mean "best for everyone for WhatsApp specifically." Pick by your real situation.
FAQ
Can I use a free app number for WhatsApp?
Usually not. WhatsApp's anti-VoIP filter is tuned against consumer VoIP routing, which is exactly what TextNow, TextFree, and most "free US number" apps run on. Google Voice with newer numbers is also a weak fit, because that routing has been re-classified. If you only need one code, a paid one-time number is a better fit: TwoLine prices are live and start at $0.39, and they vary by app, country and line. If you need a line you keep, plan on a paid second-line app such as Hushed or Sideline at $9.99 a month, or a prepaid SIM.
What's the cheapest way to get a US number for WhatsApp Business?
For a one-time signup (you don't need to receive future SMS): TwoLine or 5sim. On TwoLine, prices are live and start at $0.39. They vary by app, country and line, and US availability is live stock, so check the price before you buy. 5sim lists $0.30–$0.80 with crypto top-up. For a persistent number you'll keep: Hushed and Sideline both list $9.99 a month, and Hushed adds a $99 lifetime tier. TwoLine does not sell a kept number, and a business account usually needs one, because moving to a new phone can trigger a new code. Anything significantly cheaper tends to recycle VoIP routes, which is the pattern WhatsApp's filter targets.
Will a rented WhatsApp number get banned later?
Sometimes, yes. WhatsApp runs a secondary review on numbers within 24–72 hours of signup. If the carrier route gets re-classified as consumer VoIP, WhatsApp will ban the account silently. Public user reports describe this across providers, and no provider can promise it won't happen. TwoLine does not publish its own delivery measurements, and apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number. Plan for a backup verification path if this happens to your account. On a one-time number that path cannot be the number itself, so add a recovery email and two-step verification right after signup.
Can I use the same number for personal WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business?
No. WhatsApp ties one phone number to either WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business, not both. If you want both, you need two phone numbers. The common pattern: real cell number for personal WhatsApp, a kept second line for WhatsApp Business. Or two kept lines if you want to keep both off your real cell entirely. A one-time number does not fit this pattern, because a business account you run day to day may need another code later.
Does WhatsApp work on a UK or Netherlands rental number?
It can, but apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number. WhatsApp's filter behaves the same way regardless of country: it looks at the number type, and consumer VoIP is what it targets. TwoLine does not sell monthly rentals. It sells one-time numbers, and UK and NL availability is live and varies by app, so it suits a single code, not a line you keep. 5sim also covers UK and NL on a per-code basis but as a one-shot only. No app in this guide gives you a kept UK or NL number, so for that use a prepaid SIM from a local carrier.
Will WhatsApp Business send the verification SMS to a Hushed number?
It can, but acceptance varies and apps decide for themselves. Hushed's routes lean business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP, which is a better starting point than a free app. The failure users complain about most comes later: a number banned days after signup, on a route that had rotated back into a flagged segment. WhatsApp Business's signup flow uses the same SMS verification path as personal WhatsApp; the difference is at account level, not at SMS level.
Is it legal to use a rental number for WhatsApp?
Yes. There's no law against using a second number for WhatsApp. WhatsApp's terms forbid certain anti-spam patterns (mass-messaging strangers, using new numbers to circumvent an account suspension) but using a paid second number for a legitimate WhatsApp Business or personal account is not a ToS violation. The same goes for a one-time number. The legal question is not "can I use a rental number" but "what am I doing with the WhatsApp account once I have it."
What happens if I lose access to my rental number for a WhatsApp account?
WhatsApp's account recovery requires receiving a code on the original phone number. If you cancelled a rental and the number recycled to another user, you can't recover the account through the standard flow. A one-time number from TwoLine ends after one code, so you are in that position from day one. WhatsApp Business has slightly more recovery options if you also enabled two-step verification with a recovery email. The pattern: enable two-step verification with a recovery email immediately after creating any WhatsApp account on a number you won't keep, and use your own SIM for any account you must not lose.
The summary
Kavi's $12.99 mistake was renting from a free app for a WhatsApp Business number — exactly the route WhatsApp's filter is built to block. Don't make the same mistake.
- One-shot WhatsApp signup: Get a number. Live prices from $0.39, with the full price back in your balance if no code arrives. One number is for one code.
- WhatsApp number for 1–12 months: Hushed or Sideline at $9.99 a month in the US or Canada. A prepaid SIM in the UK or NL. These are numbers you keep.
- WhatsApp number for 5+ years, US/Canada, weekly use: Hushed lifetime at $99. Set a 90-day reminder.
- Regulated WhatsApp Business (compliance-adjacent): TextVerified per-rental for the stated non-VoIP sourcing.
Three categories, four answers. Pick by what WhatsApp will actually do with the route, not by sticker price.
A note on fit: I built TwoLine, and it does one thing. It sells one-time numbers, so it is the wrong tool for a WhatsApp number you want to keep. If you need a number for years, Hushed (nine years operating history) is the safer bet. If you need one in your own country, a prepaid SIM is. Use your own SIM for any account you must not lose. TwoLine's value is one code at a live price with the money back in your balance if no code arrives; Hushed's value is the operating track record. Both are honest products targeting different parts of the WhatsApp second-number market.
About this article
Written by Serhat Doğan, founder of TwoLine. London-based software developer building SMS verification tools full-time since early 2026. Previously worked in consumer apps and digital infrastructure. Disclosure: I built TwoLine. It shows up in this guide because a single WhatsApp code is one sub-niche inside the WhatsApp second-number search. For a number you keep, the other options in this guide are the better answer.
Methodology: this guide compares what 7 options publish: prices, countries, refund terms, and number type. It also uses public user reports. TwoLine does not publish its own delivery measurements. WhatsApp Business uses the same SMS step as standard WhatsApp signup. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy.
Last updated: November 1, 2026.