FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Tether forwards SMS messages from phone numbers directly to LINE, Telegram, or Email. Higher-tier plans also support Slack, Discord, and webhooks. You get a phone number, and all SMS messages sent to that number appear instantly in your chosen destination. No SIM card required.

After signing up, you'll be guided through a simple process: First, select a plan (Backpacker, Nomad, Globetrotter, or Business). Second, browse and choose your phone number from our available inventory. Third, confirm your purchase and complete payment via Stripe. Your number will be activated within 2-3 minutes and you'll receive notifications via email and your chosen destination when it's ready.

We offer phone numbers from 11 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Thailand. Each country has different pricing based on our tier system.

Your number activates within minutes of purchase. You'll receive notifications via your chosen destination and email once it's ready.

Pricing & Plans

Plans range from $4–$40/month depending on how many numbers and messages you need. Some countries have small surcharges. Annual billing saves 2 months. See our pricing page for complete details.

Pricing varies by country based on local telecom costs:

US, Canada	No surcharge
UK, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden	+$3/mo
Finland	+$5/mo
Estonia, Thailand, Switzerland, Czech Republic	+$12/mo

Purchase message packs anytime. Credits are added immediately and expire at the end of your billing period.

Postcard	$2 for 100 messages
Care Package	$5 for 500 messages
Supply Drop	$9 for 1,000 messages

Yes! Add numbers up to your plan's limit anytime from your dashboard. Need more slots? Upgrade your plan.

Account Management

Globetrotter and Business plan users can pause any number for up to 30 days. While paused, your number won't receive SMS messages but you'll retain ownership. Each number can only be paused once per year. You can resume at any time during the pause period.

Yes, you can cancel a number at any time from your dashboard. When you cancel, the number enters a 7-day holding period during which you can reclaim it if you change your mind. After 7 days, the number is permanently released. You won't be charged for cancelled numbers in future billing cycles.

Yes! Backpacker and Nomad plans support 1 active number. Globetrotter supports up to 3 active numbers. Business supports up to 5 active numbers. Some plans also allow parked numbers for keeping a number without actively receiving messages. Each number forwards to your chosen destination(s), clearly labeled so you know which number received each message.

Billing & Payments

If a payment fails, you'll have a 7-day grace period to update your payment method. During this time, your numbers will continue working normally. If payment isn't resolved within 7 days, your service will be suspended and numbers will be released. You can update your payment method in the Billing section of your dashboard.

If your subscription expires, your number will stop receiving SMS messages. You'll have a 7-day grace period to renew before the number is released. We'll send reminder notifications before expiration so you never lose important messages.

Features & Privacy

Currently, Tether focuses on SMS reception only. You can receive SMS messages from any sender, but outbound SMS sending is not supported. This keeps the service simple, reliable, and cost-effective.

Yes. Message content is deleted from our servers immediately after delivery—we don't read, analyze, or store your messages. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We never sell your data or use it for advertising. See our privacy policy for full details.

SMS messages typically arrive in your chosen destination within seconds of being sent to your number. Our infrastructure is optimized for fast, reliable delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still Have Questions?