Virtual SIM Card: What It Is, eSIM vs Virtual Numbers

A virtual SIM card usually means an eSIM: a SIM built into your phone that lets you add a carrier plan without a plastic card. Three, a UK network, says “eSIMs are virtual SIMs installed on your device”, and Apple calls an eSIM “an industry-standard digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical SIM.”

A virtual SIM isn’t a virtual phone number, though, and the difference matters for verification codes.

What is a virtual SIM card?

The term covers three things:

• An eSIM, the usual meaning. T-Mobile explains that an eSIM “is integrated into your device’s circuitry and can be programmed directly by a mobile network operator”, so you download your plan instead of inserting a card.
• A soft SIM. T-Mobile uses the name for this: “Also known as a virtual SIM, soft SIM technology is cloud-based and may be used in some tablets, smartwatches, or other connected devices.”
• A second number in an app. No SIM is involved here: it’s a virtual phone number (see below).

An eSIM does the same job as a plastic SIM. The GSMA, which first proposed eSIM technology, says “the role of the SIM itself is not changing”, and Three says eSIMs “come with the same SMS, Voice Calls, Roaming and Data capabilities as a physical SIM.”

Virtual SIM vs virtual phone number

An eSIM is a phone line from a carrier. A virtual phone number has no SIM at all: Twilio defines it as “a standard telephone number that is not locked down to a specific phone.” You use it in an app over Wi-Fi or data, and app numbers are usually VoIP. TextNow, for example, refers to “TextNow’s VoIP phone numbers”.

A rented non-VoIP number sits in between: a real mobile number from a carrier that you use online, with its texts on a dashboard. That’s what PVADeals offers.

eSIM number: does every eSIM come with a phone number?

Not always. A plan with calls and texts does, which is how a Dual SIM iPhone holds “two active phone numbers”. But many travel eSIMs are data only. Airalo, which sells them, says that while it offers eSIMs with calls and texts, “many only include data.” A data-only eSIM gives you internet, not a number for codes.

The EID your carrier may ask for isn’t a phone number either: Google lists it next to the IMEI as a phone ID number.

How to add an eSIM on iPhone and Android

You need a phone and a carrier plan that both support eSIM: on iPhone, “An iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later”; on Pixel, “Pixel 4 and later: All phones work with eSIM.” Your carrier provides the eSIM, a QR code or an activation code.

On iPhone (Apple’s guide), depending on your carrier:

• Carrier activation: tap the Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed notification, then Continue.
• QR code: scan it with the Camera app, tap Cellular Plan Detected, then Add Cellular Plan.
• Manual entry: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Add Cellular Plan > Enter Details Manually.
• From your old iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM.

On Android:

• Pixel (Google’s guide): Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Set up an eSIM.
• Samsung Galaxy: Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add mobile plan, then scan your carrier’s QR code or tap Add using activation code.

How much does a virtual SIM cost?

An eSIM costs whatever your carrier charges for the plan. The eSIM itself is usually free: Three says “eSIMs and traditional SIMs cost the same,” and T-Mobile’s prepaid page says “There are no fees to activate a device with an eSIM.”

Two catches if you want a number from another country:

• Carrier plans can require you to live there. T-Mobile’s prepaid terms say “you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our network.”
• Many travel eSIMs are data only, with no number for codes.

Which one gets verification codes?

Many apps check what kind of number you give them and refuse VoIP. WhatsApp lists VoIP among its unsupported numbers, Microsoft asks for a mobile number instead, and OpenAI says “Landlines, VoIP numbers, Google Voice numbers, and premium numbers aren’t supported”.

An eSIM on a plan with texts is a mobile line, so it works where a plastic SIM does: WhatsApp says it “works with an eSIM the same way it works with a physical SIM.” App numbers are the weak spot. TextNow says “Some services do not support TextNow numbers for verification or for setting up Two-Factor Authentication.”

A SIM isn’t a guarantee on its own, though. Steam notes that “Select carriers use VoIP technology in their cellular plans and we are unable to support these.” See how to check if a number is VoIP and VoIP vs non-VoIP numbers.

A real mobile number without a SIM

If you only need a number for sign-ups and codes, you don’t need a SIM or a second plan. PVADeals rents real US and UK mobile numbers from carriers (non-VoIP numbers), so a website sees an ordinary mobile number. Texts appear on your PVADeals dashboard wherever you are. The numbers receive SMS only.

1. Create a free PVADeals account and add credits: crypto from $3, or a card through Stripe from $5.
2. Choose the website and the country: the United States or the United Kingdom. If the website isn’t listed for your country, rent an All services number, which works on any website.
3. Pick a rental. Short-term lasts 20 minutes, from $0.09. Long-term lasts 3, 7, 14 or 30 days, from $0.70, with auto-renew. All services costs $12.99 a month in the US, or $6.99 a month or $11.99 for 3 months in the UK.
4. Enter the number on the website and ask for the code by text message.
5. Copy the code from your dashboard, where it appears as soon as it arrives.

If an eligible number receives no SMS during the rental, its cost comes back to your balance automatically as store credit. For accounts you’ll keep, such as banking or 2-step verification, skip the 20-minute number: use a long-term number on auto-renew, All services or your own number, plus an authenticator app where offered.

Related guides

• Virtual phone numbers: what they are
• How to get a second phone number: five ways compared
• Burner numbers: which ones still receive codes
• US phone numbers, UK phone numbers and prices