Free temporary China phone number to receive SMS online (+86)
Need a China number to get a one-time code? Pick a +86 number below, open the inbox, and watch the SMS land on screen. No app, no SIM, no sign up. It costs nothing and works right in your browser.
A temporary +86 Chinese phone number lets you receive a one-time password (OTP) for account sign-up or two-factor authentication (2FA) on WeChat, Taobao, Alipay, and other Chinese platforms. No physical SIM card required. There are two ways to do it here: a free shared number for quick low-stakes checks, and a private disposable virtual number for about $1 when the service is stricter about who it sends codes to.
Which apps deliver to a public +86 number
People use a temporary +86 number to receive a one-time password (OTP): the verification code Chinese apps send when you create an account or confirm two-factor authentication (2FA). Not every website or social platform sends an SMS to a shared +86 number. Some let the code through, some block it on sight. Here is what we see when we test these +86 numbers ourselves.
Where a shared number usually worksTested
Smaller sites, forums, and local Chinese apps that only want to confirm you are a person tend to accept a public number with no fuss. The code arrives, you paste it, done.
Services that often accept a shared number
These are the kinds of platforms where a shared number has a fair shot:
WeChat sends the signup code to a +86 number. A shared number receives it for the initial registration step. Alipay requires a Chinese mobile number to create an account; a shared one works for basic account opening. Meituan and Ele.me check identity by SMS. The code usually arrives on a shared number without issue.
No promise here. A number others already used may be blocked, but it costs you nothing to try, so it is worth a shot.
Popular apps that usually reject itHit or miss
Big companies keep lists of public numbers and flag them fast. They want one person per number, so a shared one gets a "this number is already in use" error, or the code is never received at all.
If you need one of these to go through on the first try, skip the queue and get one for $1.
The 2-3 minute rule
For Chinese apps like WeChat, Taobao, and Alipay, the code typically arrives in under a minute. The SMS stays within Chinese carrier networks (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) and doesn't need to cross borders. For apps based outside China that send to a +86 number, add a minute or two for cross-border routing.
If delivery is slower than that, the message likely went to whoever requested it first. Hit refresh, and if it stays empty, pick a fresh number and try again.
How to catch a fresh code
A few small habits raise your odds of getting the SMS you are waiting for:
How to use a phone number to receive SMS
The whole thing takes under a minute. No download, no account on this site, just five simple steps.
How to enter a Chinese number correctly
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits and start with 1, for example, 138XXXXXXXX or 185XXXXXXXX. When a Chinese site asks for your phone number, type in the 11 digits and leave out the +86 country code. If the site shows a +86 flag with a separate input field, enter only the 11-digit number in that field. If it asks for the full international format, type +86 followed by the 11 digits.
When to switch to a paid number
A shared number falls short when:
The fix: a private number from just $1 that only you can read. See private pricing below →
For a throwaway check, though, this costs nothing. There is no need to pay when a public number does the job.
Are these real Chinese phone numbers?
The numbers carry the +86 country code and route through Chinese carrier networks: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, so SMS from Chinese apps reaches them the same way it reaches a local SIM. They are not routed through internet gateways, which is why they pass the carrier checks that reject numbers delivered over the internet. MIIT (China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) governs how these numbers are issued and operated. That means Chinese apps treat them as standard mobile numbers when sending a verification code.
A private China number for $1
When the public route stalls, a private +86 number is yours alone for about 20 minutes. No one else sees the inbox, so the code lands the first time and your privacy stays intact.
Pay only when the code arrives. No code, no charge.
What you get
If no message comes through, you are not charged. The price covers a code that actually lands, not a number that sits empty.
Why it beats a shared phone number
A shared number is a lottery, you are racing strangers for the same inbox. A private one removes that. The code is yours, it shows up fast, and no one reads your messages.
Where even a paid number will not help
We would rather be straight with you. A short-term virtual number is great for a one-time code, but it is not built for everything.
For all of that, you need a real SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom, bought in person in Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen.
A quick filter
If the task is a one-time sign-up or OTP, our number fits. If it asks for your legal identity or a permanent home, reach for a local SIM instead.
Why not just use a burner, VoIP, or eSIM?
People ask about these three a lot. Each can work, but each has a catch when all you want is a China code on demand.
A burner SIM
A China SIM means showing your passport at a shop in person. That is slow and costly for one code you will never reuse.
A VoIP number
Many apps spot VoIP ranges and block them on sight. You set it up, then the code just never comes.
A travel eSIM
Most travel eSIMs give you data only, no Chinese number to receive SMS on. Wrong tool for this job.
When VoIP or an eSIM does make sense
These tools shine for other jobs, just not quick verification:
For data while you travel
Heading to China and want maps and chat apps online? An eSIM is perfect for staying connected on the go.
For an ongoing work number
A VoIP setup is handy if you want a steady business number that takes calls and forwards them anywhere.
Public vs private vs burner: a quick look
Three ways to get a +86 number, side by side, so you can pick the one that fits your task.
↔ Scroll sideways to see every column.
| What matters | Free number | Private $1 | Burner SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Privacy
Who else can read your inbox
|
Shared | Yours only | Needs ID |
|
Success rate
Will the code actually land
|
Hit or miss | High | Slow setup |
|
Cost
What it sets you back
|
Free |
From $1
Only if the code arrives
|
SIM + trip |
Prices and each site's policy on shared numbers shift over time, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a fixed promise.
Start with a public number, it costs nothing to test. If one stalls or gets rejected, the Private $1 option above is the quick fallback.
Keep a burner SIM for the rare case you need a permanent, name-linked number. For everyday sign-ups, the first two columns cover you.
China numbers: common questions
Short, honest answers to what people ask us most.
› Is this really free?
› How long does a code take to arrive?
› Why was my code rejected by a big app?
› Can I use it for WhatsApp or Telegram?
› Do I need an account on this site?
› Is it safe to receive a code this way?
› Can I keep the same number to log in again?
› Will it work for dating apps like Tinder?
› Can it receive calls too?
› Which Chinese services usually accept it?
› What if I need a number from another country?
Need a number from another country?
Not after a +86 number? Here are nearby countries people often pick, plus the full directory of every option we offer.
New to SMS verification?
Our plain-English guide walks you through how online verification works, how to verify any account, and how to pick the right number for any service.