I need two new phone numbers now, just for a month, preferably physical SIM, though eSIM isn't out of the question. Does anyone know of other ways to get cheap phone numbers? No restrictions on the carrier. I've been using Visible, but I've found it's not that cheap either, and I'm also not sure whether it's best not to request too many eSIMs on the same phone. Does anyone have a better way? Thanks so much!
Note that some carriers will blacklist a device if you swap SIM cards too frequently.
Actually, the point you raised about requesting too many eSIMs on the same phone is the real key here. A lot of people just focus on the cheap monthly fee and overlook the risk controls on the device side. If the same IMEI repeatedly opens and cancels lines within a short period, the carrier will likely flag it as abnormal, and after that even normal activation becomes harder. First, clarify whether these two numbers are long-term backups or just for one or two months—the approach will be very different.
I want to follow up on that—when you say "month-to-month," do you mean you plan to cancel the line completely after one month, or is it fine as long as it lasts a month and then you just leave it alone? Because canceling versus letting it lapse with unpaid charges has completely different effects on your credit record and your ability to open a new line later. Also, when you used Visible before, which part ended up costing you more—the activation fee, the first month, or the limit on how often you can change numbers? Once we nail down these details, it'll be easier for everyone to give you more specific carrier combo suggestions.
First, make sure the cancellation and outstanding balance status of the card you currently have are fully confirmed before looking for a new plan.
The whole idea of cheap monthly disposable numbers really depends a lot on where you are. Here in the US, prepaid physical SIMs come with an activation fee, and even with a budget carrier, a SIM plus the first month often runs you into the teens, so the genuinely cheap route is usually to go for data-focused or IoT plans rather than a traditional voice number. That said, these kinds of SIMs have restrictions on device IMEI and usage, so you can't just pop them into any phone. You'll want to figure out first whether you need it to receive SMS verification codes or if you actually need to make calls.