Short answer: A UK virtual phone number is a real +44 mobile number that receives SMS in an online account rather than on a SIM card, so you can use it from any country. eSIM Signal sells UK virtual mobile numbers online on 1, 3 or 12-month plans, with free unlimited incoming SMS, outgoing SMS from your account, and no contract. The numbers are for SMS only and do not make or receive calls.
Who needs a UK virtual phone number?
A +44 number is still the key to a lot of British life. Shops, couriers, councils, apps and online services often ask for "a UK mobile number" and will not accept anything else. That is easy if you live in the UK with a British SIM, and awkward if you do not.
People who buy a UK virtual number usually fall into one of these groups:
- British expats who have moved abroad and no longer keep a UK SIM, but still need a UK number for online accounts
- International students before arrival or after graduation, when their UK SIM has gone
- Remote workers and freelancers with British clients or platforms that expect a +44 number
- People outside the UK shopping with British retailers or signing up for UK-only apps
- Anyone who wants a second UK number for listings, deliveries or sign-ups, so their personal number stays private
What you get with an eSIM Signal UK number
- A real UK mobile number starting with +44 7, the format British services expect
- Free, unlimited incoming SMS, delivered to your account within seconds
- Outgoing SMS sent from your account, charged per message
- A number of your choice: take any available number at no extra cost, or pick one from the list for a small one-off fee
- Three plan lengths: 1, 3 or 12 months, with the 12-month plan the cheapest per month
- No SIM card, no new phone, no contract: read and send messages from any phone, tablet or computer
Get a UK mobile number for SMSGet a number
How to get a UK number online, step by step
- Create a free eSIM Signal account with your email address.
- Top up your credits by card. A small minimum top-up applies, and numbers are paid from these credits.
- Open the UK page, choose 1, 3 or 12 months, and pick any available number or a specific one.
- Confirm. The number is yours straight away and shows on your phone numbers page.
- Use it. Give it to the service that needs a UK number; codes and messages appear in your account.
The whole process normally takes a few minutes, and you can do it from anywhere: a flat in Lisbon, a hostel in Bangkok or a sofa in London.
Tip: if you need the number for an important account, pick the 12-month plan and leave renewal on. You will get an email reminder five days before each renewal.
What a UK virtual number is good for
- Verification codes from UK online shops, food delivery apps, marketplaces and loyalty schemes
- Delivery and appointment texts from couriers, garages, surgeries and letting agents
- Signing up for UK-only apps and services that reject foreign numbers
- A contact number on CVs, listings and forms that does not reveal your personal mobile
- Staying reachable by text for people back home after you move abroad
What it will not do
It is worth being clear before you buy:
- No calls. UK numbers from eSIM Signal are SMS only. A service that insists on phoning you to read out a code will not work.
- Some services refuse virtual numbers. A few banks, payment apps and messaging apps check the number type and only accept numbers tied to a physical SIM. Test the service that matters most to you early.
- It is not your old number. You cannot move an existing UK mobile number into the account; this is a new number.
For the basics of how codes arrive and how a number differs from a data plan, see virtual phone numbers for SMS verification and virtual number vs eSIM.
Visiting the UK? Add data too
A UK virtual number gives you a +44 number for texts; it does not give your phone internet. If you are travelling to Britain, pair it with a data plan so maps, trains and apps work from the moment you land. Since Brexit, EU mobile plans are no longer guaranteed to roam free in the UK, so check your own tariff before you go. Our best eSIM for the UK guide covers coverage in London, on trains and in the Highlands.
See UK eSIM data plans and pricesSee plans
Choosing the right UK plan length
- 1 month: a single sign-up, a one-off delivery or a short trial. The highest price per month, but the smallest commitment.
- 3 months: a season abroad, a house move or a project with an end date.
- 12 months: anything linked to an account you will keep. The lowest price per month and the fewest renewals to think about.
All three renew for the same length until you switch renewal off, and the number simply ends on its paid-until date when you do.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a UK phone number if I do not live in the UK?
Yes. You can buy an eSIM Signal UK virtual number online from any country; you only need an account and credits topped up by card.
Is it a mobile or a landline number?
It is a UK mobile number with the +44 country code, the type most British apps and services ask for.
Can I receive verification codes on a UK virtual number?
Yes. Codes arrive in your account within seconds and incoming SMS are free. A few services refuse virtual numbers, so try the one you need first.
Can I make calls from a UK virtual number?
No. Our UK numbers are SMS only: you receive SMS for free and send SMS from your account.
Can I keep the same UK number for years?
Yes. As long as renewal stays on and your credits or saved card cover it, the number renews for the same plan length and stays yours.
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