this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2025
31 points (94.3% liked)

Privacy

33527 readers
464 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

What service would you recommend for receiving SMS confirmation codes etc. that is not blocked by most services (which probably only leaves the paid ones)?

top 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 1 points 51 minutes ago

I have been using Hushed for this for years. I don't think it's the best service, but it's not blocked by most things and it's cheaper than JMP; I pay $35 USD for a year of talk and text (something like 6000 texts and 2700 minutes of calls per year).

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've used smspool.net a few times without issue.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Have you been successful creating Google accounts using this?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Yes. The first number didn't work so I refunded it but it worked on the 2nd try.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

I use a text/limited voice only plan from https://tello.com/

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I've been using Vitelity (paid) but Twilio is a bit cheaper and has a better API. However, the more obnoxious confirmation code senders can detect all of these as being in data centers. IME it's only a few senders that are snotty about that. You could always get a burner phone.

Hmm, I don't know what happens if you get a mobile burner phone, set up call forwarding to your VOIP number, then throw the burner phone away (i.e. shut it off so you don't have to keep it powered and broadcasting its location). The cheapest mobile plan that I know of ($30/year redpocket) unfortunately went up to $45 a few months ago, but it gets you a usable backup sim.

Added: 1) r/nocontract on reddit showed a $36/year infimobile plan with a 20% off coupon (so a little under $30/y) on amazon. Similar deal to redpocket I think. 2) Another idea: get cheap mobile plan, port number into a voip provider, cancel mobile plan. I wonder if the number then reports as data center terminated.

There are now starting to be a few "free" mobile providers where you are required to keep a spyware app running. I don't think I'd bother with those. textnow.com is the one I remember but there were others. textnow does NOT support call forwarding on free plans.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

I ended up switching to NumberBarn from Google Voice. They're a bandwidth.com reseller. I usually don't have a problem with receiving codes from services, but there are the rare places that don't allow VOIP numbers.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 21 hours ago

Probably not the lowest cost possible but connect by t-mobile (prepaid) is a reliable option for $15 a month in the US