# US Phone Number From Abroad: How to Get One, What Works for WhatsApp and Codes, and What It Costs

> You can get a US phone number from abroad as an app-based +1 number that runs over the internet. This guide compares the options, explains which verification codes tend to work and which rules apply, and shows the costs, setup steps and honest limits of the USVirtualNumbers.com number.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/blog/us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-11-08
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

- Published: 2026-11-08
- Author: BroadNet Editorial Team

The simplest way to get a **US phone number from abroad** is an app-based (VoIP) +1 number. You pay online, pass an ID check, pick an area code and use it in an app over the internet. [USVirtualNumbers.com](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) sells one such number, the TripoSIM US Virtual Number, for $100 a year or $12.99 a month. It includes US and Canada calls, voicemail and incoming texts. It cannot send texts or call 911.

> Facts checked at their sources on 8 November 2026. Product facts come from USVirtualNumbers.com, its plans, how-it-works, FAQ and tested-apps pages, and its published facts file. Rules come from WhatsApp, Google, Apple and Venmo help pages, the US Code of Federal Regulations and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Each one is linked where it is used. Prices and app rules change, so check the linked page before you buy.

## What are the ways to get a US phone number from abroad?

There are four common options. Only two of them give you a +1 number that people can call, and only one is built for living outside the US. The table below compares them on the points people ask about most.

| Option | What you get | Works outside the US | Send texts | 911 | Typical sign-up needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App-based (VoIP) US number | A +1 number inside an app, over the internet | Yes, anywhere with internet | Depends on the provider (the TripoSIM number is receive-only) | Usually not | Payment card, often an ID check | Living abroad and staying reachable on +1 |
| US carrier SIM or eSIM line | A full mobile line from a US carrier | Only with roaming | Yes | Yes | Usually a US address | Living in the US full time |
| Travel data eSIM | Mobile data only | Yes, in the countries it covers | No number | No | Payment card | Internet on a trip |
| Free or temporary public numbers | A shared number with a public inbox | Yes | No | No | Nothing | Throwaway sign-ups only |

This summary follows the side-by-side table on the [number type comparison page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/compare-number-types/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026). A travel data eSIM is useful, but it does not give you a phone number. If you only need internet on a trip, our guide to the [best eSIM for international travel](https://www.broadnet.me/blog/best-esim-international-travel-2026) covers that choice. Many people abroad combine both: a data eSIM or local SIM for internet, and an app-based number for +1 calls.

Free public numbers are a different thing. Anyone can read the codes in a public inbox, and the number can be taken back at any time. Do not use one for a bank, a work account or account recovery.

## How does an app-based US number work?

An app-based number is a real +1 number that is not tied to a SIM card. Calls and texts reach an app on your phone over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so the number works in almost any country.

US rules call this kind of service interconnected VoIP. The federal definition at [47 CFR 9.3](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-9.3) describes real-time two-way voice that needs a broadband connection and can make and receive calls with the ordinary phone network. In plain words: it behaves like a phone number, but it runs on the internet.

A call to your number follows a simple path:

1. A caller in the US dials your +1 number like any other US number.
2. The provider's network sends the call over the internet to your app.
3. Your phone rings in the app, next to your own local SIM.
4. If you are offline or do not answer, the caller can leave voicemail.

For the TripoSIM number, the [how-it-works page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/how-it-works/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) adds two practical points. On Android you install the TripoSIM app. On iPhone you add the TripoSIM web app to your Home Screen. In both cases you must allow notifications and the microphone, or calls will not ring.

## Will a US virtual number receive WhatsApp, bank and app verification codes?

Often yes, but it depends on each app's rules and on the provider. Test the apps that matter to you before you rely on the number, and keep a second way into every important account.

### What the apps themselves say

- **WhatsApp.** Its [phone number registration help page](https://faq.whatsapp.com/684051319521343/?locale=en_US) says you must be able to receive calls and SMS on the number. It lists VoIP, toll-free and premium numbers as unsupported, and allows landlines only in WhatsApp Business. The code arrives by SMS or by phone call, and it has 6 digits.
- **Google.** Its [help page on changing your phone number](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3463280) says it may take a week before a new number can verify you for sensitive actions, such as changing your password. Add a new number well before you need it.
- **Apple.** Its [two-factor authentication page](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102660) says the 6-digit code appears on your trusted devices or is sent to your trusted phone number. A number you keep for years is a good trusted number.
- **Payment apps.** Some send codes from 5-digit short codes. Venmo's [verification help page](https://help.venmo.com/cs/articles/phone-and-email-verification-vhel283) says its code comes from a 5-digit number and asks users to make sure short-code messages are enabled. Short-code delivery to app-based numbers is not the same as delivery from a normal US number.

### What the security standard says

NIST's digital identity guideline, [SP 800-63B-4](https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-4/sp800-63b.html), treats codes sent by SMS or voice call as a "restricted" authenticator. The same revision removes the earlier ban on VoIP numbers for this kind of check. In practice, each app still makes its own choice.

### What TripoSIM reports for its number

TripoSIM says its US number receives verification codes (OTP SMS) from apps. It tested 22 apps from 3 to 18 October 2026, and each one sent its code. WhatsApp was tested on 13 October 2026 and WhatsApp Business on 18 October 2026. The list also includes Google, Microsoft, Apple ID, Amazon, PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, Stripe, Upwork, Fiverr, Uber and Airbnb. The full list with dates is on the [tested apps page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/verification-research/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026).

Read the two sources together. WhatsApp's general rule lists VoIP numbers as unsupported, and apps can change their checks at any time. TripoSIM's test shows the code arrived on the dates it lists. A test is not a promise for every future sign-up. The safe approach is simple: register the apps you need in your first month, then keep backup codes and an authenticator app on every account.

## What does a US phone number from abroad cost?

An app-based number usually costs far less than a US carrier plan on roaming. The TripoSIM number costs $100 a year (about $8.33 a month) or $12.99 a month.

| Time you need the number | Monthly plan ($12.99) | Yearly plan ($100) | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $38.97 | $100 | Monthly |
| 6 months | $77.94 | $100 | Monthly |
| 8 months | $103.92 | $100 | Yearly |
| 12 months | $155.88 | $100 | Yearly |

These totals come from the [plans and pricing page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/plans/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) and are in US dollars before local taxes. Other cost rules from the same page:

- Both plans include 300 outgoing minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers.
- Each outgoing call is rounded up to the next full minute. Unanswered calls are free.
- Incoming calls are included, with a fair use of 300 minutes a month.
- Extra outgoing minutes cost $5 per 100. They stay valid while your number is active.
- The yearly plan includes a $5 welcome credit for a travel eSIM or extra minutes. The monthly plan does not.
- Both plans renew until you cancel.

Keeping an old US carrier plan abroad usually costs more, because you pay the plan plus roaming or a travel pass.

## How do you get a US number outside the US, step by step?

With the TripoSIM number, the whole process takes a few minutes. You need an email address, a payment card, a passport or ID card and a phone with internet.

1. **Choose a plan** on the [plans page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/plans/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026): yearly or monthly. Checkout continues on TripoSIM.
2. **Verify your identity** with a photo of your passport or ID card and a selfie. It takes about 2 minutes. You do not need a Social Security number (SSN) or a US address.
3. **Pick your number** by US state or area code from the numbers available right then. Examples include New York 212 or 646, Los Angeles 213 or 310, and Miami 305. A specific number is never guaranteed.
4. **Install the app.** On Android, install the TripoSIM app. On iPhone, open TripoSIM in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, and always open it from that icon.
5. **Allow notifications and the microphone,** so calls ring and people can hear you.
6. **Set up voicemail.** Check the ring time, turn on email alerts and record a greeting with your hours and time zone.
7. **Register your apps.** Choose United States (+1), type the 10 digits with no extra 1 or 0, and request the code once.

A number written for a website or business card looks like this: +1 212 555 0123. That example is fictional.

## What are the honest limits of a US virtual number?

An app-based number is not a full US mobile line. Know the limits before you pay, and keep your local mobile line.

- **Receive-only texts.** The TripoSIM number receives texts from US and Canadian senders, but you cannot send or reply by text.
- **No 911.** It cannot call 911 or any emergency service. Use a local mobile line for emergencies.
- **Internet needed.** A phone that is off, offline or has notifications blocked will not ring. Callers reach voicemail instead.
- **Calls out go to the US and Canada only.** Anyone in any country can still call your number, at their own carrier's rates.
- **Foreign senders.** Texts from senders in other countries usually cannot reach US numbers.
- **Local rules.** Some countries restrict internet calling, so check the rules where you live.
- **Refunds are narrow.** Payments are not refunded, except a full refund if your ID check fails, if the number is not delivered within 72 hours, or where local law requires.
- **No bringing a number in.** Moving an existing number to TripoSIM is not confirmed. Ask support before you buy.
- **Allowed use.** Personal and small-business use only. Spam, robocalls and call centers are not allowed.
- **Availability.** People in almost any country can buy it, except countries under comprehensive sanctions.

If two-way texting or 911 is essential, a US carrier line or a business texting service is a better fit. The [USVirtualNumbers.com FAQ](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/faq/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) answers each of these points in more detail.

## How USVirtualNumbers.com does this

USVirtualNumbers.com is the guide and sales site for the TripoSIM US Virtual Number, a BroadNet Group brand. The number is a US +1 VoIP number that runs inside the TripoSIM app, the same app that sells [TripoSIM](https://www.broadnet.me/triposim) travel eSIMs.

- **Price:** $100 a year (about $8.33 a month) or $12.99 a month. Yearly is cheaper from month 8.
- **Calls out:** 300 minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers, resetting on the day you bought the number. Extra minutes cost $5 per 100.
- **Calls in:** included with no roaming charges, fair use 300 minutes a month.
- **Texts:** received from US and Canadian senders, including verification codes. Sending is not included.
- **Voicemail:** messages up to 2 minutes, up to 30 a month, kept 30 days, with missed-call alerts.
- **Area code:** chosen by US state or area code after payment.
- **More than one number:** one person can hold as many numbers as they like on one account, each with its own plan, minutes and voicemail.
- **If the plan ends:** the number is paused and kept 30 days on the yearly plan or 90 days on the monthly plan, then released for good.
- **Support:** through the TripoSIM app or its contact page.

The site also has free tools. A [fit checker](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/tools/fit-checker/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) asks a few questions to see if the number suits you. An [area code lookup](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/tools/area-codes/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) shows which city a code belongs to and its local time. An [app check](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/tools/app-check/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026) shows TripoSIM's test result for a given app.

## How do you keep the number and your accounts safe?

Treat a second number like a key to your accounts. A number that lapses can be given to someone else, who may then receive your codes.

1. Keep the plan on auto-renew for as long as any account depends on the number.
2. Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp and set a recovery email.
3. Save backup codes and add an authenticator app or passkey where the app allows it. NIST's guideline treats SMS codes as restricted.
4. Before you cancel, move every account to a new number. List them first.
5. Test the number in your first week: a call in, a call out, a call with the screen locked, voicemail and one code from each key app.

## Which option should you choose?

Choose an app-based number if you live outside the US and mainly need US contacts to reach you, want to call the US and Canada, and need texts and codes from US senders. Choose a US carrier line if you live in the US, need to send texts or need 911. Choose a travel data eSIM if you only need internet. BroadNet runs messaging over 1,000+ direct operator connections in 200+ countries, and its [family of brands](https://www.broadnet.me/brands) covers both sides: TripoSIM for data and USVirtualNumbers.com for a +1 number.

Ready to get a US phone number from abroad? Compare the two plans, check which apps were tested, and pick your area code in a few minutes at [USVirtualNumbers.com](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026). Start on the [plans page](https://usvirtualnumbers.com/plans/?utm_source=broadnet.me&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=us-phone-number-from-abroad-guide-2026), and keep your US contacts one local call away.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I get a US phone number without living in the US?

Yes. App-based providers sell US numbers to people outside the US. For the TripoSIM US Virtual Number you need an email address, a payment card and a short ID check with your passport or ID card and a selfie. You do not need a Social Security number, a US address or an existing US phone number. People in almost any country can buy it, except countries under comprehensive sanctions.

### Can I use a US virtual number for WhatsApp?

Possibly, so test it first. WhatsApp's help page lists VoIP numbers as unsupported and says you must receive calls and SMS on the number. TripoSIM reports that its US number received the WhatsApp code on 13 October 2026 and the WhatsApp Business code on 18 October 2026. Register in your first month, turn on two-step verification and keep the plan active.

### Will banks and payment apps send verification codes to a US virtual number?

Many do, but each app sets its own rules and some check the line type. TripoSIM tested 22 apps in October 2026, including PayPal, Wise, Payoneer and Stripe, and each sent its code. Some payment apps send codes from short codes, which can behave differently. Add an authenticator app or passkey as a second way in.

### How much does a US phone number from abroad cost?

The TripoSIM US number costs $100 a year, about $8.33 a month, or $12.99 a month, which is $155.88 over 12 payments. Both plans include 300 outgoing minutes a month to the US and Canada, incoming calls, voicemail and texts from US senders. Extra minutes cost $5 per 100. Yearly is cheaper if you keep the number 8 months or more.

### Can I send text messages from a US virtual number?

Not with the TripoSIM US number. It receives texts from US and Canadian senders, including verification codes, but sending or replying by text is not included. If two-way texting is essential, a US carrier line or a business texting service is a better fit. Many people tell contacts to call, leave voicemail or write by email instead.

### Can I call 911 with a US virtual number?

No. The TripoSIM US number cannot call 911 or any other emergency service. It runs over the internet in an app and is not a carrier SIM or eSIM line. Always keep a local mobile line for emergencies in the country where you live, and save your local emergency number on your phone.

### Can I choose my US area code?

Yes. After payment and the ID check, you pick a number by US state or area code from the numbers available at that moment. Examples include New York 212 or 646, Los Angeles 213 or 310, and Miami 305. Availability changes, so a specific number is never guaranteed, and a missing area code is not a reason for a refund.

### What happens to my US number if I stop paying?

The number keeps working to the end of the period you paid for. Then it is paused and kept 30 days on the yearly plan or 90 days on the monthly plan. After that it is released and cannot be recovered, and it may go to someone else. Move your accounts to another number before you cancel.