How to Use ChatGPT Without a Phone Number, Best ChatGPT Alternatives That Don't Require a Phone Number
- Users in select countries like India, Indonesia, and Ukraine can verify their ChatGPT account via WhatsApp, which may accept VoIP numbers that SMS verification rejects.
- Access ChatGPT technology without a direct account by using Microsoft Bing, Snapchat's My AI, or the /r/ChatGPT Discord server bots.
- Tools like Perplexity, Google Bard, and Character.ai offer similar AI chat capabilities without requiring phone number verification for signup.
 |
| Photo by Levart_Photographer on Unsplash |
Accessing ChatGPT usually requires a mobile phone number for account verification which can be a significant hurdle for privacy conscious users or those without a compatible mobile plan. The platform uses this requirement to verify identity and location but it strictly blocks most landlines and VoIP numbers like Google Voice. Fortunately there are several workarounds and alternative platforms that allow you to bypass this restriction or access similar AI technology without handing over your personal contact details.
One effective method involves using WhatsApp for verification if you are located in specific countries. Users in regions such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam, Ukraine, Malaysia, Egypt, and Turkey can select an option to verify via WhatsApp instead of a standard SMS. This is particularly useful because while WhatsApp requires a phone number to sign up it is often more lenient with VoIP or landline numbers than OpenAI. You simply select your country from the dropdown menu during signup and if eligible click "Do you have WhatsApp?" to receive your code through the app.
For those outside these regions paid SMS verification services offer another potential solution. Websites like SMSPool and Autofications provide temporary phone numbers from real cellular carriers rather than VoIP services which increases the likelihood that ChatGPT will accept them. While these services are not free and come with risks associated with using temporary numbers they can successfully bypass the verification filter that blocks free apps like TextNow. You should proceed with caution when using these third party tools as success rates can vary.
Microsoft Bing offers a seamless way to access GPT 4 technology without a direct OpenAI account. Since Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI its Bing Chat integrates the technology directly into the search engine. While you need a Microsoft account to use it the verification process for Microsoft is generally more flexible than OpenAI allowing the use of VoIP numbers or sometimes just an email address. You can access this by visiting the Bing website and signing in to start chatting immediately.
Snapchat users have ready access to ChatGPT through the "My AI" feature which is embedded directly into the social media app. This chatbot is powered by OpenAI's technology but does not require a separate phone number verification for the user. It is available on the mobile app and also via the web interface at snapchat.com. Although My AI is optimized for casual conversation and might have some limitations compared to the full ChatGPT interface it remains a highly accessible option for those who want to interact with the underlying tech anonymously.
Another community driven workaround is found within the Reddit ChatGPT Discord server. The /r/ChatGPT subreddit hosts a public Discord server that features several chatbots including versions of ChatGPT and Bing AI. By joining this server and accepting the invite you can interact with these bots using your Discord account. This method completely sidesteps the need for phone verification with OpenAI as you are essentially using the community's access to the API rather than a personal account.
If you have a trusted friend or family member you can ask to use their phone number for verification. OpenAI allows a single phone number to be associated with up to two separate accounts. However this method requires a high level of trust because the owner of the phone number can technically reset the account password and gain access to your chats at any time. It is a simple and free solution but one that comes with inherent privacy compromises regarding your account security.
For users who want to avoid these workarounds entirely there are robust alternatives to ChatGPT that require no phone number. Perplexity AI is a powerful free chatbot that cites its sources and requires no account creation at all making it excellent for research. Google Bard (now Gemini) is another strong competitor that relies on your Google account rather than a fresh phone verification. Other platforms like You.com, Character.ai, and DuckAI allow for immediate use with minimal or no signup barriers offering different strengths such as persona based chatting or privacy focused search integration.