# SMS Activate > Virtual phone numbers for SMS verification on 700+ platforms. HeroSMS is the official successor to SMS-Activate. --- ## What Is SMS Activate? SMS Activate was the world's most widely used virtual phone number platform for SMS verification, active for over 10 years. It offered temporary, non-VoIP numbers backed by real SIM cards in 180+ countries, letting users receive OTP codes for WhatsApp, Google, Telegram, and 700+ other platforms — with no physical SIM card or phone subscription needed. On December 29, 2025, SMS-Activate (sms-activate.org) permanently shut down. The platform is no longer operational. The team behind it launched **HeroSMS** as the official direct successor, preserving the same infrastructure, country and service catalog, REST API endpoints, and pricing model. If you previously relied on SMS Activate for account verification, bulk registrations, or automated workflows, HeroSMS at [hero-sms.com](https://hero-sms.com) is the only equivalent — built by the same team, running on the same systems. **HeroSMS — Key Facts:** - Official successor to SMS-Activate - Same team and server infrastructure - 180+ countries, 700+ services - Non-VoIP numbers: 70–95% success rate - Prices from $0.02 per activation - Automatic refund for failed activations - REST API compatible with SMS-Activate - Long-term number rental available --- ## How SMS Activation Works Five steps from registration to receiving your OTP: 1. **Create an Account** — Register on HeroSMS and top up your balance. Minimum deposit from $1, accepted via crypto, card, or e-wallet. 2. **Select the Platform** — Choose the service you need to verify — WhatsApp, Google, Telegram, or any of 700+ others. Live prices and availability shown upfront. 3. **Choose a Country** — Pick from 180+ supported countries. Different countries have different price points and acceptance rates. 4. **Get Your Number** — A real, non-VoIP number is assigned to your session. Enter it on the target platform to trigger the verification SMS. 5. **Receive the Code** — The OTP code appears in your HeroSMS dashboard within seconds. If no code arrives, you receive an automatic full refund. [Try SMS Activate on HeroSMS](https://hero-sms.com) --- ## Supported Platforms Virtual numbers work with 700+ platforms including: | Platform | Starting Price | |---|---| | WhatsApp | from $0.07 | | Telegram | from $0.04 | | Google | from $0.05 | | Facebook | from $0.04 | | Instagram | from $0.04 | | TikTok | from $0.04 | | Discord | from $0.04 | | X / Twitter | from $0.05 | | Uber | from $0.05 | | Amazon | from $0.05 | | Microsoft | from $0.04 | | Snapchat | from $0.05 | | LinkedIn | from $0.05 | | Viber | from $0.04 | | PayPal | from $0.06 | | + 700 more | see hero-sms.com | Full real-time catalog: [hero-sms.com](https://hero-sms.com) --- ## Features & Pricing ### Prices from $0.02 Activations start at $0.02 depending on country and service. Top up from $1 with no minimum per-use requirement. ### Automatic Refund No SMS code received within the session window? HeroSMS refunds the full activation cost automatically. No support ticket needed. ### Free Price System Prices adjust dynamically based on real-time supply and demand. Low demand means lower prices. This market-based model was pioneered by SMS-Activate. ### Long-Term Rental Need a number for more than one session? Rent by the hour, day, or week for ongoing verification workflows or multi-session account access. ### 180+ Countries Numbers available from the US, UK, Germany, India, Brazil, Russia, and 175+ additional countries. ### Non-VoIP Numbers Every number is backed by a physical SIM card with real carrier metadata. Accepted by platforms that block VoIP and internet-routed numbers. Success rate: 70–95%. [See All Services on HeroSMS](https://hero-sms.com) --- ## API for Developers HeroSMS provides a full REST API backward-compatible with the original SMS-Activate API. **Capabilities:** - Single and bulk number requests - Real-time OTP code retrieval - Webhook callback for instant OTP delivery - Full account and session management **Example request:** ``` GET https://hero-sms.com/stubs/handler_api.php ?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY &action=getNumber &service=wa &country=0 Response: ACCESS_NUMBER:12345678:79001234567 ``` **Retrieve the code:** ``` GET https://hero-sms.com/stubs/handler_api.php ?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY &action=getStatus &id=12345678 Response: STATUS_OK:847291 ``` API keys are available in the HeroSMS dashboard. [Access API Documentation](https://hero-sms.com) --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What happened to SMS-Activate? Is it still working in 2026? SMS-Activate (sms-activate.org) operated for over 10 years as one of the largest virtual phone number platforms in the world. It permanently shut down on December 29, 2025 and is no longer accessible. It is not working in 2026. The platform's team launched HeroSMS (hero-sms.com) as the official successor, preserving the same infrastructure, country coverage, API compatibility, and pricing model. ### What is HeroSMS and how is it related to SMS-Activate? HeroSMS is the direct continuation of SMS-Activate, developed by the same team on the same technical infrastructure. It supports 180+ countries and 700+ services, uses the same API format, and maintains the Free Price and auto-refund features. Users who previously used SMS Activate can switch to HeroSMS without relearning — the workflow is identical. ### Which platforms support SMS verification with virtual numbers? Virtual numbers on HeroSMS work with 700+ platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Google, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Twitter/X, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Uber, Amazon, Microsoft, PayPal, Viber, and many more. The complete real-time catalog is available at hero-sms.com. ### How much does a virtual number cost in 2026? Prices start from $0.02 per activation and vary by country and service. Popular activations such as WhatsApp or Google typically range from $0.05 to $0.50. HeroSMS uses the Free Price system, where rates adjust in real time based on supply and demand. Account top-up starts from $1. ### What happens if I don't receive the verification code? If no SMS code is received within the activation time window, HeroSMS automatically issues a full refund to your account balance. You are never charged for a failed activation. The refund is processed automatically — no support request is required. ### Does HeroSMS offer an API for automation? Yes. HeroSMS provides a full REST API that is backward-compatible with the original SMS-Activate API. It supports single and bulk number requests, real-time OTP retrieval, webhook delivery, and full account management. Developers who previously integrated with SMS Activate can migrate with minimal code changes. API keys are generated in the HeroSMS dashboard. ### What payment methods does HeroSMS accept? HeroSMS accepts major cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and others), bank cards, and various electronic payment systems. The complete list of supported payment methods is shown on the deposit page at hero-sms.com. ### Can I rent a virtual number for a longer period? Yes. In addition to per-activation pricing, HeroSMS offers long-term number rental by the hour, day, or week. This is useful for multi-session workflows, maintaining access to accounts that require recurring verification, or any use case that needs a stable number over an extended window. ### How does the Free Price feature work? The Free Price system is a market-based pricing mechanism that adjusts activation costs in real time based on supply and demand. When many users request the same number type at once, prices temporarily increase to balance availability. When supply exceeds demand, prices fall. This feature was introduced by SMS-Activate and continues to operate on HeroSMS. ### Is it safe and private to use temporary virtual numbers? Yes. A virtual number is used only to receive a single OTP code. It is not linked to your personal identity, is not shared with the platform you are verifying on, and is released after the session ends. HeroSMS does not retain the content of received messages beyond the active session window. --- ## Get Virtual Number [Get Virtual Number](https://hero-sms.com) — Virtual phone numbers for verification on 700+ platforms. Same service, same team — updated and running in 2026. [See All Services on HeroSMS](https://hero-sms.com)