How to buy a phone number?

Purchasing a phone number allows you to make calls to any country, subject to regional restrictions. We offer a wide selection of numbers for various countries to meet your communication needs.

Why do you need to add a phone number to your account?

You will only be able to use the CallHippo services once you have an active CallHippo number in your account.

You will not be able to make and receive calls/SMS using CallHippo unless you have a CallHippo number added to your account.

The number you select and add to your account will be the number visible at your client’s end, to which you will be reaching out.

Important information before adding a number:

• Almost all numbers must undergo an address verification process before activation, and call functionality is enabled.

• The number verification timelines may vary depending on the selected country and the number type.

• We offer three types of numbers: Local, Mobile, and Toll-Free.

Differences between local and mobile numbers

Local Numbers:

  • Have specific prefixes tied to local regions.

  • Require country-specific documents for verification.

  • For example, UK local numbers need UK-issued documents.

  • They are associated with particular cities or states.

  • Typically do not support SMS (send or receive).

  • Offer the same calling features as mobile numbers.

Mobile Numbers:

  • Have unique prefixes different from local numbers.

  • Often (not necessarily) accept globally recognized documents.

  • For example, UK mobile numbers can be obtained using documents from any country.

  • Are not tied to any geographic location.

  • Mostly supports SMS—both sending and receiving.

  • Offer the same calling features as local numbers.

You can refer to the article “Understanding Different Types of Phone Numbers” for more clarification on the number types.

Step-by-step guide to purchasing a number:

• Log in to your CallHippo account and then click on the 'Numbers' section visible on the left side of the dashboard.

• Click on 'Add Number' visible on the right side, as visible in the screenshot below.


• Select the desired country. If it's not listed on the homepage, use the search bar.

 


• You will be redirected to the country-specific number selection page.

• Use available filters (Prefix / Number / Location) to find your desired number.



• Optional: Check if the number supports SMS functionality (displayed alongside number details).


• Click on a number to view pricing (if any) and document requirements for number verification.


• Upload the required documents (if applicable) as it is a mandatory process. 

  • In any case you forget to upload the documents on this page or you have any confusion regarding the same, contact support via live chat or email at [email protected].

• Proceed to payment. If a card is already added, charges will be deducted automatically.

• Number verification timeline may vary as per the country and the number type. Updates will be sent to your registered email address.

Important: If the number of the country you are trying to add shows as ‘available on request’ as visible in the screenshot below, you can contact support for more details on the number availability, procurement process, documentations required, and timeline to procure that number.


Important Note About Receiving OTP via SMS on Virtual Numbers:

Some third-party applications and service providers may not recognize virtual phone numbers for their SMS-based verification or OTP (One-Time Password) processes. Whether or not a virtual number is accepted depends entirely on the policies of the third-party provider.

Examples of services that may not accept virtual numbers for OTP delivery include:

  • Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram

  • Online banking or financial services

  • Social media platforms

  • E-commerce or delivery apps

  • Government or utility services

Because of these limitations, CallHippo cannot guarantee the successful delivery of OTP or verification SMS messages sent by such external services to your virtual number.

Additional information:

For most numbers, the number verification process typically takes between 24 to 48 business hours. 

Any updates regarding the status of your number verification will be proactively communicated to you via email on your registered CallHippo email address. 

This completes the process of purchasing a number.


Global Number charges:

For more information about other country number charges, please visit the following link
https://callhippo.com/global-number-charges/?phonesystem=business


Frequently asked questions:

Q: Why am I charged for adding a number if I am eligible to get one free number per user?
A: There is a chance that you might have already added and deleted a number in the same billing cycle for which the ‘1 free standard number per user’ benefit is already utilized.

Q: Why is the system asking me to upgrade to a paid plan when I have not fully used the free trial?
A: You might have already added and deleted a number in the free trial, for which the ‘1 free standard number’ benefit as per the free trial has already been utilized.

Q: Why am I unable to add a number to my account?
A: Please check the error message visible on the dashboard while adding the number that you are getting for the exact reason. For more clarification, please reach out to the support team.

Q: The specific country’s number I want to add is not available in the dashboard.
A: You can directly reach out to the support team to check the availability of the number via live chat or email at [email protected].

Q: What is the difference between a standard number and a premium number?
A: This categorization between the numbers is made by CallHippo as per the internal process of the number procurement process and its complexity, and it does not imply any difference in the calling services or number series that is procured for you. Another difference is that the premium number is chargeable to you in every case, even though you have an extra user with the ‘1 free standard number per user’ benefit available.

Q: I want to replace the currently added number in my account between the ongoing billing cycle. How do I do that?
A: Please note that the number replacements are chargeable to you. To achieve this, you need to delete the currently added number in your account and then add a new number to your account as per the steps provided in this article, for which you will be charged instantly on a pro-rata basis.

Q: Are there any numbers that I can add and activate in my account without submitting any documentation?
A: Yes, the US local number and Australia mobile numbers are the only 2 numbers which you can add and activate in your account without submitting any documentation. For all other country numbers and number types, documentation is needed.

Q: Is it possible to get OTP for/activate WhatsApp, Telegram, Banking services, etc., for verification using the CallHippo numbers?
A: No, CallHippo numbers are virtual in nature, and as such, we cannot guarantee the receipt of OTPs (One-Time Passwords) from third-party applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. These applications may or may not recognize virtual numbers as valid, which can impact OTP delivery.

Q: I want to replace the number I added in the free trial in my account. How do I do that?
A: You are not able to change the number you added in the free trial, as we offer only 1 free standard number in the free trial. You will now need to delete the number, then upgrade to a paid plan, and then add a new number to your account.

Q: What is my CallHippo number? How to check?
A: Your CallHippo number is the virtual number you purchased and added to your account. You can view it by logging into your CallHippo dashboard and going to the 'Numbers' section.

Q: Can I add a number to my account before inputting the card details?
A: Yes, if your account is eligible for a free trial, you can add one free standard number without entering card details.

Q: When I am trying to add a number, it asks to request a number, and it's not adding.
A: This means the number is available only on request. Please contact the CallHippo support team via live chat or email at [email protected] for further assistance.

Q: Can I use my personal number via CallHippo?
A: If it’s a virtual number, yes—you can port it into CallHippo, which usually takes around 3 to 4 weeks. If it’s a physical SIM number, it cannot be used with CallHippo.

Q: I am procuring a country number, but I do not live in that country. For example, I live in Pakistan but want to add and use a UK number. Will it work?
A: Yes, it will work. CallHippo numbers can be used globally, and your physical location does not affect their usage.

Q: How long does it take to activate a number after purchase?

A: Most numbers are activated within 24 to 48 business hours after document verification. The timeline may vary depending on the country and number type.

Q: Can I use my CallHippo virtual number to receive OTPs from apps like WhatsApp or Telegram?
A: It depends on the app's verification policy. Many messaging apps do not accept virtual numbers for OTP delivery, so we recommend using a personal mobile number instead.

Q: Why am I not receiving verification codes from my bank on my CallHippo number?
A: Banks and other financial institutions often block virtual numbers for security reasons. Since CallHippo provides virtual phone numbers, OTP messages from such services may not be delivered.



We hope this information was helpful to you.


For any more queries regarding the number types, you can contact support via live chat or email at [email protected].