Get a temporary UK phone number to receive your WhatsApp code without a SIM
You need a UK +44 number to verify WhatsApp, but you'd rather not use your own SIM. Get a private number that takes the code and expires when you're done.
How to receive a WhatsApp SMS code on a temporary UK number
Choose the country and service, check the price, and get the number. It all happens on this page.
Choose the UK and WhatsApp
Pick the service and country in the tool below and see the price before you pay.
Top up and get the number
Add a small balance and the +44 number is yours for 20 minutes.
Enter it in WhatsApp and request the OTP
Type the number into WhatsApp's registration screen and request the SMS.
Receive the SMS verification code in your browser
The code lands in your browser. Copy it into WhatsApp and you're done.
Your UK +44 number and its mobile carrier
Number format
A UK mobile number is the +44 country code followed by 10 digits starting with 7, written locally as 07xxx xxxxxx.
Mobile networks
The numbers here run on real UK mobile carriers:
- EE
- O2
- Vodafone
- Three
Good to know
If the first number doesn't take the code, swap it for a fresh one in one click, or the money returns to your balance.
Numbers in the UK on our last check
On 7 Aug 2026 our catalogue listed 184,199 numbers in the UK that take the WhatsApp code from $0.78. They come from 4 networks: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Of the recent activations we measured, 20% received the code. Among the 17 countries we list for WhatsApp that puts it in position 6 by price; the cheapest is Indonesia at $0.28.
Why our UK numbers work for WhatsApp when VoIP numbers don't
Many virtual numbers are VoIP, the kind WhatsApp flags and rejects. The numbers here are real-SIM, so WhatsApp treats them like an ordinary phone and the code arrives.
A VoIP or app number
WhatsApp flags most VoIP and app-generated numbers, so the code never arrives, however many you try.
The real-SIM number here
These run on real mobile-carrier SIMs, so WhatsApp accepts them and the code lands.
Beyond whether the code arrives, the options differ on price and commitment:
| Free temporary | App or VoIP number | Private 20-minute number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it costs | Free | From $5 a month | Pay per use, no subscription |
| Commitment | None | Usually a month minimum | None, just 20 minutes |
| Money back if no code | Nothing to refund | Usually not | Yes, to your balance |
| Accepted by WhatsApp | Often already used | VoIP usually rejected | Real SIM, private |
| Best for | Less-strict sign-ups | Ongoing calls and texts | A one-time verification code |
Price, stock and networks on this page come from our live catalogue, last checked 7 Aug 2026. The exact price is shown in the tool above before you pay.
What else people verify with a UK number
People use a UK +44 number to receive the sign-up code on apps that check the number's country. These are the common ones.
- Deliveroo
- Just Eat
- Gumtree
- PayPal
- Telegram
- Gmail
When a temporary number won't keep your WhatsApp
A temporary number is for receiving the code. You don't keep it afterwards, like any temporary number. Turn on WhatsApp two-step verification and add a recovery email right after you sign in, and nobody who later gets the number can reach your account.
WhatsApp in the UK: common questions
Can I get a temporary UK phone number for WhatsApp?
Can I use WhatsApp without my own number?
What if the WhatsApp SMS code doesn't arrive?
What if the number is already registered on WhatsApp?
Will a UK number work for Deliveroo, Just Eat and other apps?
Do I need to be in the UK to use the number?
Is using a virtual number for WhatsApp legal in the UK?
Will I lose my WhatsApp account when the number expires?
How do I pay?
Get a UK number that receives your WhatsApp SMS code
You pay per use and keep the number for 20 minutes. If the code never comes, the money goes back to your balance.
Get your number