Recently, many friends have been asking me: Jason, is there a low-cost way to get a US phone number? The US cards I recommended before are either expensive in monthly rent or getting harder to obtain.
I recently discovered a new tool that many bloggers are recommending—Saily.
By following a specific sequence of operations, you can get a US +1 number including 30 minutes of calls + 30 SMS for as low as $0.98. After that, it only costs $0.99 per month to keep the number, and receiving SMS is completely free!
Before applying for Saily, I actually tried the Redpocket card. It's said to be good, but even I failed at it, so I don't recommend it anymore; the cost isn't that low anyway. To succeed, you need a very stable static IP, an eBay account that won't get banned, and the hardest part—registering a Redpocket official account.

If you need a low-cost, real cellular network US phone number that can register for overseas services, Saily is currently one of the best choices. But be warned, there is a very specific order to these operations. If you get the first step wrong, you'll pay several dollars more. Just follow my tutorial step-by-step!
I. Conclusion: Is the Saily US Number Worth It?
Saily is a travel eSIM brand under Nord Security (the company behind NordVPN). This year, they added an independent US +1 phone number feature. The key is—it gives you a real cellular number, not a VoIP virtual number like Google Voice.
This means registration success rates for Telegram, WhatsApp, and US PayPal are much higher.
- Type: US Cellular (Non-VoIP)
- First Month Cost: ~$0.98 (with discount code + credits)
- Monthly Rent: $0.99 (receiving SMS is free)
- Includes: 30 mins talk + 30 SMS (30-day validity)
- KYC: Required (supports Chinese ID/Passport)
- Payment: Visa/Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Best for: Registering Claude, X, Telegram, WhatsApp, Amazon, etc.
- Not for: US Bank 2FA, heavy calling, or primary data use.
II. Is this card reliable?
Yes. Saily is backed by Nord Security, a global cybersecurity giant. The risk of them disappearing is near zero. The number uses a real carrier line (Choice Wireless Texas) and shows up as Mobile/Cellular in databases.
However, I must be clear: being technically a cellular number doesn't mean US banks will accept it. Saily numbers are essentially "prepaid travel numbers without a US credit identity." They pass checks for X or Discord easily because those platforms only check for VoIP. Banks, however, check for identity alignment, which Saily lacks. For stable US banking, Tello Mobile ($5/month) remains the king.
III. Preparation
- A smartphone to run the Saily App.
- International payment method (Visa/Mastercard or Apple Pay).
- ID Document (Chinese ID or Passport).
- VPN/Proxy (Use US, Singapore, or Japan nodes).
- Physical eSIM Card (for Chinese iPhone users): If your phone doesn't natively support eSIM, you need a tool like BeeSIM.
IV. Step-by-Step Tutorial
Part 1: Download and Register
- Search for "Saily" in the App Store or Google Play.
- Sign in with Google or Apple.
- Check Credits: Go to the "Credits" tab and ensure you have US$2.00 (new user bonus).


Part 2: The Critical Trick—Activate the Discount Code First
Do not click "Explore phone numbers" yet!
- Click "Explore data plans".
- Pick any country (e.g., USA) and select a plan over $5 (e.g., 20GB for $39.99).
- Go to checkout, find "Got a voucher code?", and enter: ZHIKUI8049. Apply it.
- Once you see the green "Voucher applied!" message and the price drops by $5, DO NOT PAY. Go back to the home screen.


Part 3: Purchase the US Number
- Now click "Explore phone numbers".
- Click "Get a phone number" and select "China" as the destination (this is for the call/text package usage area, you still get a US +1 number).
- Select the "30 min + 30 SMS / 30 days" plan. The $5 discount should already be applied.

Part 4: Checkout
- Enable the "Pay with credits" toggle to use your $2.00 bonus.
- The total should be: $7.98 - $5.00 (Voucher) - $2.00 (Credits) = $0.98.
- Complete the payment via Apple Pay or Credit Card.



Part 5: KYC Verification
Follow the prompts to verify your identity. Select "China," upload your ID card photos, and complete the face recognition. It usually takes a few minutes to approve.


Part 6: Get the eSIM QR Code
Once verified, go to install the eSIM. Choose "On someone else's device" to generate a QR code. Save this screenshot; you'll need it for the next step.

V. For Chinese iPhones: Using BeeSIM to Write the eSIM
If you have a Chinese iPhone without eSIM support, you need BeeSIM—a physical SIM card with a Bluetooth chip that allows you to write eSIM data onto it.



How to use BeeSIM:
- Insert the BeeSIM card into your phone.
- Open the BeeSIM WeChat Mini Program (or use their web tool).
- Connect to the card via Bluetooth (Default PIN: 0000).
- Select "Add eSIM" and scan the Saily QR code you saved.
- Wait for the profile to download (about 1 minute).
- Enable the profile. Your phone will now recognize the Saily US number as a physical SIM.





VI. Usage Tips
- Disable Data Roaming: To avoid unexpected charges, turn off cellular data for this line.
- Test SMS: I tested it with my Giffgaff number, and it received the SMS instantly.
- App Compatibility: Telegram and WhatsApp work perfectly. ChatGPT did not work in my test.


VII. Cost Summary
- First Month: $0.98
- Maintenance: $0.99/month
- Incoming SMS: Free

Don't wait until these methods get patched or prices go up. Get your US number now!





