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SMS-Activate Alternative: What to Use Now SMS-Activate Has Closed

SMS-Activate has closed. Its site now says: "SMS-Activate service is closed. We have completely ceased our operation since December 22." Withdrawals were available until February 5. It also warns that anything calling itself SMS-Activate today is a scam, and that is worth repeating. Several lookalike domains have appeared since, and none of them are the original service.

If you used it, you need a replacement. The right one depends on what you actually used it for, because SMS-Activate was unusually broad.

This page is written by SMS Portal, one of the alternatives. Facts about SMS-Activate come from its closure notice, checked in September 2026.

First, a safety note

  • Do not deposit on any site using the SMS-Activate name. The original operator's notice says any such service is a scam.
  • Rotate your old API key out of your code and delete it from config and CI secrets. It is dead, and a leaked config should not be a map of your old accounts.
  • Move account recovery off numbers you rented there. One-time numbers were recycled. If an account you still use lists one as its recovery phone, change it now, before you need it.

What kind of user were you?

You needed numbers from many countries

SMS-Activate's big draw was country coverage. If that is what you need, a US-only service like ours is the wrong replacement. Look at a multi-country provider such as 5SIM or SMSPool, and check each one's number type for the platform you care about, since multi-country inventory is often virtual rather than carrier-issued. SMS-Activate's own notice says its technology passed to a service called HeroSMS; we have not tested it and cannot vouch for it either way.

You needed US numbers that actually pass verification

This is the case we are built for. Every number we sell is a US mobile carrier line (non-VoIP), which is what strict platforms check before sending a code. See what non-VoIP means and how websites detect VoIP numbers.

  • Per-service prices are listed before you order on the pricing page. No bidding.
  • If no code arrives, cancel and the full price returns to your balance. Unused numbers are refunded automatically at expiry.
  • Carrier and area code: choose AT&T or T-Mobile, and the area codes you want, on the Temp (s2) server.
  • Rentals of 1 to 30 days for accounts that will text you again. See rent a number.
  • Payment by crypto deposit.

You had an integration on handler_api.php

SMS-Activate defined the handler_api.php protocol (getNumber, getStatus, setStatus, with responses like ACCESS_NUMBER and STATUS_OK) that many providers copied. Our API is REST and JSON with a bearer token, so it is not a drop-in replacement, but the mapping is short:

  • getBalance becomes GET /api/v2/account-details
  • getNumber becomes POST /api/v2/tn101/request-number with service_key
  • getStatus becomes GET /api/v2/tn101/get-number-details?order_id=…, with pin set once the code lands
  • setStatus with status 8 (cancel) becomes POST /api/v2/tn101/reject-number
  • setStatus with status 6 (complete) needs no call

We wrote a full call-by-call table, error mapping, and a Python adapter that keeps the getNumber and getStatus shape in our DaisySMS migration guide. DaisySMS used the same SMS-Activate protocol, so it applies here unchanged. You can also swap polling for signed webhooks (sms.received).

How to choose a replacement

  1. Write down the exact platforms and countries you need. That alone rules out most providers.
  2. Check the number type. For strict platforms (WhatsApp, Google, banks, marketplaces), you want real carrier numbers, not VoIP or "virtual".
  3. Price your specific service, not the homepage "from" price.
  4. Check the refund rule. Automatic, or on cancel, if no code arrives. Nothing else is acceptable.
  5. Deposit the minimum and test one number before moving volume.

Our honest comparison of SMS verification services covers the providers still operating, including where they beat us.

FAQ

Is SMS-Activate still working?

No. Its notice says it completely ceased operation on December 22 (2025), with withdrawals open until February 5, 2026.

Is there a new SMS-Activate site?

Not from the original operator. Its own notice warns that any service calling itself SMS-Activate is a scam.

Can I still withdraw my SMS-Activate balance?

The notice gave February 5 as the last day for withdrawals. After that, the only contact listed is its email address. We cannot access SMS-Activate accounts.

Does SMS Portal support countries other than the US?

No. We sell US numbers only. If you need other countries, pick a multi-country provider and check its number type.

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