How To Verify AliPay with a Free Temporary Phone Number
Step 1: Choose a Temporary Phone Number
On the current page, you will see a list of available phone numbers from different countries (e.g., USA, UK, Canada, etc.). Choose a free number from a country that is supported by AliPay for phone verification (China, Malaysia, Hong Kong are commonly accepted).
Click on the phone number you want to use. This will open a page showing all incoming messages sent to this number.
Step 2: Sign Up for a AliPay Account
Open a new tab in your browser.
Go to https://www.alipay.com/.
Click on Sign Up to create a new account.
Enter your email address and create a password, or sign up with Google, Microsoft, or Apple if you prefer.
Step 3: Enter the Temporary Phone Number
During the account creation process, Alibaba Group will ask for a phone number to verify your account.
Return to the receive-sms.io tab and copy the temporary phone number you selected.
Go back to the AliPay sign-up page and paste the temporary number into the phone number field.
Make sure to select the correct country code that matches the phone number’s country (e.g., +1 for USA).
Step 4: Wait for the Verification Code
After entering the temporary phone number, AliPay will send a verification SMS to that number. Go back to the receive-sms.io page where you selected your phone number. Refresh the page if necessary to check for new messages.
Step 5: Enter the Code into AliPay
Once you see a message from AliPay, copy the verification code from the SMS. Return to the AliPay sign-up page. Paste or type the verification code into the box provided. Click Submit or Verify.
Step 6: Check If Verification Was Successful
If the code is correct, Alibaba Group will confirm your phone number, and your account creation will continue. If you receive an error message or the SMS text doesn’t appear, you will need to return to https://receive-sms.io and select a different phone number. Repeat the process using the new number.
Why Use a Temp Phone Number for AliPay SMS Verification
1. Privacy Protection
Many users prefer not to share their personal phone numbers with companies, including Alibaba Group. By using a temporary number, they can keep their personal information private and avoid potential unwanted contact or data collection.
2. Avoid Spam or Marketing Messages
Some services may send follow-up messages, promotions, or notifications after verification. With a temporary number, you reduce the risk of receiving spam on your personal number.
3. Account Management & Testing
Temporary numbers are useful if you need to create multiple AliPay accounts for testing, development, or business purposes, without needing a separate physical SIM card for each account.
4. No Long-Term Commitment
Temporary numbers are disposable and typically expire after a short time. This makes them ideal for one-time verifications, without any long-term connection to your identity.
5. Access When Traveling
If you’re traveling or in a country where you don’t have a local SIM card, temporary numbers can provide quick and free access to https://www.alipay.com/.
Similar services where you can register using disposable phone numbers:
FAQ
Can I use a temporary phone number to register on Alipay?
Alipay's registration requirements vary significantly depending on the type of account and the user's location. For the international version of Alipay (Alipay International), basic account creation may accept a virtual number for the initial SMS step in some cases. However, Alipay is a regulated financial service — for Chinese domestic accounts specifically, real-name verification (实名认证) under China's financial regulations requires a carrier-registered Chinese phone number linked to verified identity. A virtual number alone is insufficient for full Alipay functionality.
What is Alipay's real-name verification and why does it block virtual numbers?
Alipay's 实名认证 (real-name authentication) is mandated by the People's Bank of China (PBoC) as part of anti-money-laundering regulations for all Chinese mobile payment platforms. This process requires linking an Alipay account to a Chinese national ID, a bank card, and a carrier-registered Chinese phone number. Because virtual numbers on receive-sms.io are not carrier-registered with verified Chinese identity, they cannot satisfy real-name verification requirements. This is a legal regulatory requirement, not just a platform policy.
Does Alipay International work differently with virtual numbers?
Alipay has an international version aimed at tourists and travellers visiting China, which allows some non-Chinese payment methods and simplified verification. For this version, the phone verification step at account creation may work with a virtual number in some cases — though Alipay's fraud detection has become increasingly sophisticated. The international account has more limited functionality than a fully verified domestic Alipay account.
What can I actually do on Alipay with an account created using a virtual number?
Without completing real-name verification, an Alipay account has very limited functionality — most payment and money transfer features are locked. You can browse the app and some merchant-facing features, but actually sending or receiving money, topping up a balance, or linking a bank card all require completing the KYC process with a real carrier-registered number and government ID. For full Alipay functionality, a real phone number is essential.
Can international users outside China use receive-sms.io to create a basic Alipay login?
For the initial sign-up SMS step on Alipay International specifically, some international users have had success using virtual numbers from receive-sms.io. The experience varies — Alipay's systems regularly update their detection capabilities. If you're attempting to create an international Alipay account specifically for use during travel to China, it's worth trying a virtual number for the initial step, while being aware that payment functionality will require further real-identity verification.
Is there a free Chinese virtual number that works with Alipay?
receive-sms.io provides free Chinese +86 virtual numbers. However, as explained above, Chinese domestic Alipay accounts require real-name verification with carrier-registered numbers linked to Chinese national ID — a virtual number will not satisfy this. For international Alipay, non-Chinese country virtual numbers from receive-sms.io may work for basic sign-up in some cases. No payment is required to access any virtual number on receive-sms.io.
What should I use instead if I need an Alipay-connected payment solution without a Chinese SIM?
For users who want to make payments in China without a Chinese SIM, Alipay International's tourist mode allows linking international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) with simplified verification. WeChat Pay also has an international mode. These options bypass the need for a carrier-registered Chinese number for basic payment functionality, though their spending caps and available merchants may differ from fully verified domestic accounts.
How is Alipay different from AliExpress when it comes to virtual number verification?
AliExpress is a shopping platform — its phone verification is a basic account security step, and virtual numbers generally work for it. Alipay is a regulated financial service with PBoC-mandated KYC requirements. This is a fundamentally different category of verification: shopping platform registration versus financial identity verification. AliExpress account creation with a virtual number is straightforward; Alipay's full functionality requires a real carrier-registered identity, making the two very different use cases for receive-sms.io.
