Short answer: A virtual phone number for selling online lets you put a real mobile number on marketplace listings, classified ads and shop sign-ups without exposing your personal number. With eSIM Signal you can get a UK, Australian or Brazilian mobile number in minutes, receive buyers' texts and verification codes free in your account, reply by SMS, and cancel when you stop selling. The numbers are SMS only, so buyers text rather than call.
Why sellers should not use their personal number
Every listing you post copies your phone number onto a page that strangers can read and, often, that scrapers can collect. The results are familiar to anyone who has sold a sofa or a phone online:
- Texts and calls long after the item has sold
- Scam messages asking you to "confirm" a payment or click a link
- Marketing lists that start with a scraped listing
- Your personal number tied to your name on more and more sites
A separate number stops all of that at the door, and when you stop selling you simply let it go.
What a virtual number gives a seller
- A real mobile number in the UK (+44), Australia (+61) or Brazil (+55), the format local buyers and platforms expect
- Free, unlimited incoming SMS, so buyers' messages and platform codes cost you nothing
- Replies by SMS from your eSIM Signal account, charged per message
- No SIM, no second phone: read and reply from the phone or laptop you already use
- No contract: switch renewal off when the selling season ends
Get a number for your listingsGet a number
Where to use it
- Marketplace and classified listings, where buyers text to arrange a viewing or collection
- Seller account sign-ups and SMS verification on selling platforms
- Your own small web shop, as the contact number on order pages and invoices
- Delivery and courier accounts that text collection slots
- Payment and shipping tools that need a mobile number, if they accept virtual numbers
Tip: write "texts only, please" on your listings. Our numbers do not take calls, and buyers who know that up front will message you rather than give up.
Selling in the UK, Australia or Brazil
Selling in the UK
UK marketplaces and couriers expect a +44 mobile number. A UK virtual number fits that exactly, and with 1, 3 or 12-month plans you can match it to a decluttering weekend or a year-round side shop.
Get a UK mobile number for SMSGet a number
Selling in Australia
Australian classified sites and marketplaces are a popular way to sell furniture and cars, especially at the end of a working holiday. An Australian number on a 3-month plan covers a typical sell-everything-before-you-fly period.
Get an Australian mobile number for SMSGet a number
Selling in Brazil
Brazilian marketplaces often expect a +55 number for contact and verification. A Brazilian virtual number lets you list from inside or outside the country without giving out your personal one.
Get a Brazilian mobile number for SMSGet a number
Set it up in five minutes
- Create a free eSIM Signal account and top up your credits by card.
- Buy a number in the country you sell in.
- Add it to your seller profile and listings, and save the platform's verification code from your account.
- Reply to buyers from the account by SMS.
- Switch renewal off when you finish selling, and the number ends on its paid-until date.
Staying safe while selling
A separate number helps, but common sense still matters:
- Never share a code a "buyer" asks you for. Requests for a verification code are a classic scam to take over your account.
- Do not click payment links sent by text. Check payments in the platform or your bank's own app.
- Meet in public places for collections, and do not share your home address until you are sure.
- Keep the conversation on the platform where possible; it gives you a record if something goes wrong.
Limits to know about
- No calls. Buyers who want to ring you will need to text instead.
- Some platforms refuse virtual numbers for seller verification. Test the platform you use most before adding the number to every listing.
- Do not cancel too early. Leave the number running until every sale is complete and any platform account you want to keep is moved to another number.
If you mostly want a number for privacy rather than selling, our guide on a second phone number without a second SIM compares all the options. And if you have been tempted by public free SMS numbers, read why they are risky in free SMS websites vs a private number.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a virtual number on marketplace listings?
Yes. A virtual number is a real mobile number, so buyers can text it like any other. Write "texts only" on the listing, because our numbers do not take calls.
Can I verify a seller account with a virtual number?
Often, yes. Codes arrive free in your eSIM Signal account. A few platforms refuse virtual numbers, so test yours first.
Can I reply to buyers from a virtual number?
Yes. You can send SMS from your eSIM Signal account; outgoing messages are charged per message.
What happens to the number when I stop selling?
Switch renewal off and it ends on its paid-until date. Move any account you want to keep to another number before then.
Does a buyer see my personal number?
No. Buyers only see the virtual number, and your replies are sent from it.