Alvin

Source: How to Get a Foreign Phone Number for Free: Registering and Activating a UK SIM Card Giffgaff

To register on many platforms like TikTok, ChatGPT, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, etc., in China, you need to bind a phone number. However, domestic phone numbers are restricted and cannot be bound. Therefore, having a foreign phone number can bring a lot of convenience to our cross-border business.

Today, I will introduce a method to obtain a foreign phone number for free.

Giffgaff#

There are many foreign phone numbers available, such as those from the United States, Russia, Singapore, etc. However, these are not the best choices; one reason is that these phone numbers are relatively expensive, and another is that they require credit card payment. So today, I will introduce Giffgaff.

Giffgaff is a UK mobile operator that provides phone number services globally. Giffgaff's services are very affordable; activation only costs a few pounds, and you can get a globally usable phone number. The biggest highlight is that you don't need to buy a plan; you can use it with zero monthly fee, as long as you send a text or make a call every six months to keep the number.

If you are only using it to register on some platforms in China, then Giffgaff is the best choice. If you are going to the UK, purchasing this phone number in advance will also bring more convenience.

Giffgaff's official website is: http://www.giffgaff.com. The link I shared with you is an affiliate link, and if you register through this link, both you and I can receive a £5 credit.

Here are the main reasons I recommend it:

• Cost-effective: No monthly fee, can receive texts for free, recharge once, and just send a text every six months to keep the number. It can be used for over 20 years just to receive texts and codes, making it one of the most cost-effective receiving cards in China!
• Security: With a physical card, there's no need to worry about the number being restricted, and you can change the number twice, which is more convenient than services like Google Voice that are often restricted.
• Roaming: Supports activation and roaming in mainland China.
• High stability: Unlimited validity, just send a text every six months to keep the number.
• Good compatibility: Supports most overseas apps/banks, such as TikTok/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/LINE/WhatsApp/Telegram, and can also be used to bind ChatGPT 3.5/4.0, foreign Apple IDs, Amazon, PayPal, OCBC Bank, Swiss Bank, and some newly emerged virtual credit cards, etc.

Registering Giffgaff#

After entering through the link, you will see the following page:

From this page, you can see that you will receive a £5 credit. Note that if you register directly on the official website, there is no reward; you must be invited to receive it.

Registering for Giffgaff is also very simple; you only need an email and your real address. Note that you need to fill it out in English or Pinyin, and do not fill it out randomly, as a physical card will be mailed to you. After receiving the card, there will be an activation code for activation.

After registration, you will receive an email similar to this in your inbox:

Note that the logistics may be slow, and did you notice? We did not fill in a phone number; how will we receive the goods?

The SIM card may take two weeks or even longer to arrive in China. Since you did not fill in a phone number, you need to check your community mailbox frequently to see if it has arrived. This mailbox is a real physical mailbox, the old-fashioned kind for receiving letters, and you need to ensure that you can receive it; otherwise, it may get lost.

Activating Giffgaff#

After receiving the card, there is no phone number or login password on the card, only an activation code and a physical card. You need to use this activation code to activate it for use.

Activating Giffgaff is also very simple; you just need to enter your activation code on the activation page of the official website and follow the prompts step by step. If you are only using it to receive texts, do not buy any plans (choose Pay As You Go), and remember to turn off your data to avoid using this card for internet access, as data charges are extremely high.

What should you pay attention to during activation?

1. Please prepare a physical credit or debit card from VISA or MasterCard; cards issued in China are also acceptable. UnionPay, JCB, AE credit cards, and any virtual credit cards cannot be used.
2. The minimum recharge is £10; please ensure your card has enough balance (a special reminder: PayPal is not supported for the first recharge, but can be used for subsequent recharges).

Once activation is complete, you can start using your Giffgaff number.

This is how to obtain a foreign phone number for free. With Giffgaff, we can easily get a globally usable phone number, bringing convenience to our cross-border business.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Unable to make calls, send texts, or register software successfully?#

1. Incorrect number format. UK phone numbers all start with 07, with a leading 0. However, when adding the international code, it changes to +447; do not omit the plus sign, and remove the 0.
2. When receiving verification codes, some websites have fixed +44, and you can try filling in 7 or 07 after that.
3. Some software may not succeed in registration using Wi-Fi or VPN; you must register using mobile data. You need to enable mobile data roaming to access the internet.

What is my card number?#

When you first insert the card, you will receive a text message confirming activation, which will include your phone number. You can also log in to the official website to check it later.

What should I pay attention to when using an iPhone?#

It is not recommended to enable iMessage/FaceTime features because if you click confirm, Apple will send a text message from the backend, which will incur a charge of £0.3.