Need to create an account on a U.S. site? Sometimes this might be possible, but if the site asks you to enter a U.S. phone number to verify your identity, you might be scratching your head about what to do next.
The good news is that it is possible to access sites even when a U.S. number is required—and that’s all thanks to companies like https://www.smspool.net/, which let you hire American phone numbers for short-term use.
If you’ve never bought a temporary number for this purpose before, we’re walking you through how the process works in this guide.
Why Your Own Number May Not Work on U.S. Websites
Before we look at how to get onto U.S. sites using an alternative phone number, let’s start by understanding why your own number may not work.
This usually comes down to the site’s intended audience. If the site is for U.S.-based customers only, it may not provide SMS verification to phone numbers based in other countries, or your number may be flagged as incorrect because it doesn’t use the U.S. country code. If you need to access the site for research or on behalf of U.S.-based clients, this can become an issue.
How to Get Into U.S. Sites Without An American Number
The easiest way to access U.S. sites without an American phone number is to buy a temporary non-VoIP number for this purpose.
You can choose from numbers all around the world, including those based in America, and buy them for short-term use (usually up to an hour) for just a few dollars. You can then use your purchased number to receive an SMS verification code, so you can log into the website straight away.
When Can You Use Temporary Numbers for U.S. Site Logins?
The best time to use a temporary number to log into a U.S. site is when you just need the number once, such as to receive an SMS verification code when you’re first creating an account.
A few occasions when you might use a temporary number to access a U.S. site are:
- To create accounts on behalf of your U.S.-based clients and customers
- To access streaming or other digital services that are only offered to a U.S. audience
- For testing a service or an app for American customers
On the other end, given that you’ll only have access to the number for an hour or two at most, it can’t be used as a substitute for your real number for a website that requires it every time you log in, such as for two-factor authentication.
Takeaway
If you ever need to access location-restricted content or services temporarily in the U.S., temporary numbers give you an easy solution.
Just make sure to purchase your phone number from a reputable provider, so you can quickly access your chosen site with no issues.
Photo by DuoNguyen on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)
Image published on May 21, 2021
