How to Get a French Phone Number

• By SMSPool Admin
• July 28, 2026
• Guides

Many French sites such as Leboncoin require SMS verification when signing up. Getting a French phone number usually requires a French address, ID or bank account. With SMSPool you can get a real non-VoIP French phone number without handing over sensitive information.

Get a French Phone Number Now

What Do People Use French Phone Numbers For?

French platforms ask for a phone number to verify accounts, cut down on spam and fake signups, and in some cases to check you're based in France.

Leboncoin

Leboncoin is where the French buy and sell everything, a bit like eBay. Registering requires phone verification, but you don't strictly need a French number. Leboncoin accepts numbers from France and neighbouring Schengen countries, so an EU number like Denmark, Portugal or the Netherlands works too. What won't work is a UK or US number, since neither is in the Schengen Area.

We would suggest using an IP address that matches the phone number's country. For example, if you use a French number, use a French IP address, preferably a residential one.

Vinted France

Vinted doesn't require a French number to sign up, but plenty of people still use one. The French catalogue has brands and listings you won't see on the UK version, and sellers ship within France, so a French account paired with a forwarding address unlocks items that are otherwise hard to reach from abroad. A separate number also keeps your personal one off the account.

French services and utilities

A French number is also handy for the everyday French services that expect a local phone number, streaming platforms, food delivery apps, transport and loyalty schemes. Most of these are built for the domestic market and assume a 06 or 07 number, so a French number saves the hassle of a number being refused or the code never arriving.

Why Do French Sites Want a French Phone Number?

France is in the EU, so a lot of French sites will technically accept a number from another neighbouring EU country. However, some French sites have SMS systems built for French mobiles (06 and 07), so delivery to a foreign number can be less reliable, or just silently fail. You request a code and nothing arrives, with no error telling you why.

Why Is It Hard To Get a French SIM Card?

Getting a real French number as a non-resident is harder than you'd expect.

A postpaid contract with Orange, SFR, Bouygues or Free needs proof of a French address, a French bank account with an RIB, and usually ID, so it's a non-starter if you don't live there. Prepaid SIMs are easier, but you generally have to buy them in person in France and register them with ID, so you can't order one from abroad and have it work.

Travel eSIMs such as SimJuno are what most people try next, and it's where they get caught out. Many are data-only, so you get internet but no French number that can actually receive an SMS.

SMSPool skips all of this. You get a real, non-VoIP French number from a real mobile carrier, wherever you are in the world.

How to Get a French Phone Number on SMSPool

Our numbers use real SIM cards, also known as non-VoIP, which is exactly what French services want. Here is how to get one in a few minutes:

Step 1: Create an SMSPool account. Go to SMSPool.net. Registration is fast and does not even require an email address if you would rather not use one.

Step 2: Add funds to your balance. Go to the Deposit page and add credit using card or crypto. French verifications are low cost, so we would suggest adding $3 to get started.

Step 3: Order a French number. Go to the Order page, select France as the country, then search for the website, service or app you want to register on in the Service menu. If it isn't listed, use the "Not Listed" service. If you want to test it first without spending anything, the free SMS page lets you do that.

Step 4: Complete the purchase. Click the Quick Purchase button. SMSPool will generate a real, non-VoIP number for you within seconds.

Step 5: Verify your account. Enter the number on the site's signup screen and request the code. When it arrives in your SMSPool dashboard, copy it and enter it on the site before it expires.

Order Your French Number

What If I Need to Verify Again Later?

French numbers from SMSPool are temporary and for a single verification. Once you've verified, the number won't stay active, so you can't use it to receive a second code later.

For one-time signups that's fine. Verify once, your account's created, and you won't need the number again. But if a service is likely to text you again for logins, password resets or security checks, be aware you won't be able to receive those on a used temporary number.

FAQ

Can I get a French number without living in France? Yes, you can get one instantly through SMSPool without living in France.

Do I need ID or proof of address? For a French SIM card, yes. Through SMSPool, none of that is needed.

What do French numbers look like? French numbers are 10 digits and start with 0 domestically, for example 06 12 34 56 78. Internationally you drop the leading 0 and add 33, so it becomes 33 6 12 34 56 78.

What's the difference between 06 and 07 numbers? There's no difference. 07 is just the newer range, it works exactly the same as 06.

Can I use a VoIP number? No. Leboncoin, Vinted and most other sites block VoIP numbers, which is why you need a real non-VoIP number.

Will it work on Leboncoin? Yes. Our numbers are non-VoIP, which is what Leboncoin's verification requires.

Do I need a French number for Vinted? No, but a lot of people use one for the French catalogue or to keep their personal number private.

Can I receive codes without being in France? Yes. The code arrives in your SMSPool dashboard, though we'd recommend a French residential proxy or VPN for the best success rate, especially on Leboncoin.

How long does the code take? Usually between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

What if no code arrives? Click the Refund button to cancel the number, or let the timer run out and it refunds automatically.

Can I use the same number for multiple verifications? No. Our French numbers are single-use and don't support resends, so you'll need a separate number per verification.

Can I use a French number for banking or government services? No. We don't allow financial services, government sites, identity verification or mobile carriers to be verified.

How much does it cost? Pricing varies by country and service. You can check it on our homepage, or create an SMSPool account to see live prices.

Ready to get a French phone number?

Get a French Phone Number Now

Return to knowledgebase