Real Chat, No Real Number
A private phone number for person-to-person texting
Share a dedicated US or Canada number instead of your own. When someone texts you, the message lands in your email — reply right from your inbox, and your real number never shows. No app to install. No lock-in.
Hey! This is Jane, what's up?
How does texting from your email work?
Receive texts in your email — no app to download, no second phone, no new account to learn
Dedicated Virtual Numbers
Each subscriber receives a unique, dedicated number assigned exclusively to them for the entire rental period.
US & Canada Numbers
Choose from available area codes across the United States and Canada.
Reply From Your Inbox
Anyone who texts your number lands in your email. Reply by email and it goes back as SMS — or start a conversation yourself by putting their number in the subject line. Every conversation stays saved and searchable in your inbox, a clear record of what was said.
Instant Notifications
Receive real-time alerts the moment a new SMS arrives on your virtual number.
Privacy First
Keep your real phone number private while staying connected and accessible.
No tracking, no profiling
We don't build a profile on you or sell your data, and we don't keep your messages longer than we need to. Privacy as the default, not an upsell.
A day, a few days, or a week
Rent a number for a single day, a few days, or a full week. Pay for exactly what you need, nothing more.
Security, Privacy & Reliability
256-bit SSL encryption on every transmission and a 99.9% uptime SLA. Your number is exclusively yours for the entire rental period.
How do I get a virtual phone number without an app?
How a Petitext virtual number works — receive, reply, or start the conversation, all from your email
Choose Your Number
Select from available area codes and get instant activation of your virtual phone number.
United States
Post or Share Your Number
Share it with the people who need to reach you — post it where you'd otherwise post your real number, or hand it to someone directly. Your real number stays hidden.
Blue city bike — $120
Posted 2 hours ago · Pickup downtown
Receive & Reply by Email
When someone texts your virtual number, the message lands in your email inbox. Reply by email and your response goes back to them as SMS from your virtual number.
messages@petitext.com
2:41 PMNew text from +1 (604) 555-0142
Hi! Is the blue bike still available? Could I come see it toda…
Weekend Deals
1:07 PMSave 20% this weekend only…
Or Text Someone First — Straight From Your Inbox
No need to wait for them to reach out. Email messages@petitext.com with their phone number in the subject line — including the country code, like +1 604 330 2816 — and your email body is delivered as a text from your Petitext number.
To: messages@petitext.com
Subject: +1 604 330 2816
Hi! Is the blue bike from your listing still available? I could pick it up this weekend.
In short: Petitext gives you a dedicated US or Canada phone number that works entirely from your email. Texts sent to your number arrive in your inbox; you reply by email and it goes out as an SMS. To text someone first, put their phone number in the email subject line (with country code, e.g. +1 604 330 2816) and your email body becomes the text. No app to install. Passes run from $1.99 for a day to $8.99 for a week. Numbers are VoIP-classified and are not reliable for one-time verification codes.
How much does a Petitext number cost?
Simple day, 3-day, and weekly passes — $1.99 to $8.99, no hidden fees, no long-term contracts.
Day Pass
A single day of conversations
- 1 dedicated virtual number
- Unlimited inbound messages
- Up to 50 outgoing messages
- Full two-way texting from your inbox
3-Day Pass
A few days of back-and-forth
- 1 dedicated virtual number
- Unlimited inbound messages
- Up to 200 outgoing messages
- Full two-way texting from your inbox
Week Pass
A longer stretch
- 1 dedicated virtual number
- Unlimited inbound messages
- Up to 500 outgoing messages
- Full two-way texting from your inbox
All plans include our core features with no setup fees
When should you use a private phone number?
Where people use a Petitext number — for the moments you'd rather not give out your real one
Selling your stuff
Letting go of a couch, a bike, or the kids' old gear on Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist? Post your Petitext number — buyers text it, you reply from email, and your real number never shows.
Renting out your place
Listing your basement suite, a sublet, a room, or selling your home yourself? People can text you about it without you handing out your cell — and every conversation is saved in your inbox.
Temporary moments
A garage sale, a community event, a move, a short project — a number for exactly as long as the moment lasts, then gone.
A US or Canada number from anywhere
Living abroad, studying overseas, or staying in touch with people in North America? Get a private US/Canada number that works straight from your email — no local SIM, no app.
Acceptable Use Policy
Petitext is a person-to-person conversation service: every message is written by you, to one person at a time — and you're welcome to start the conversation, even with someone new. We actively enforce these rules in line with carrier messaging requirements and CTIA guidelines.
We prohibit and will terminate accounts engaged in:
- Messaging lists of numbers — purchased, scraped, or collected; conversations are one person at a time
- Spam, bulk outreach, or unsolicited broadcast messaging
- Marketing or promotional SMS campaigns
- SHAFT content: Sex/adult, Hate speech, Alcohol to minors, Firearms (unlicensed), Tobacco/Cannabis
- SMS verification for services that prohibit virtual numbers
- Automated or bot-generated messages
- Harassment, impersonation, fraud, or phishing
- Any use that violates carrier messaging rules or acceptable-use policies
Accounts violating these rules are terminated immediately and without refund. We cooperate with carriers and law enforcement when required by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about Petitext virtual numbers
No. Everything works from the email inbox you already use — receiving texts and replying. There's nothing to download.
Your phone number is the one thing you can't take back. When you give your real number to someone you've just met — online or off — they can save it, share it, and reach you long after the conversation is over. Scammers even target people who post their numbers publicly, asking for a "verification code" to hijack accounts in their name. A Petitext number keeps you in control: you share a dedicated number that's yours alone, the conversation stays in your email, and when you're done, the number disappears. Nothing to leak, nothing to take back.
Yes. To start a conversation, send an email to messages@petitext.com with the recipient's phone number in the subject line, including the country code — for example, +1 604 330 2816. The body of your email becomes the text message, sent from your Petitext number; the subject line itself is never sent. When they reply, the conversation lands in your inbox like any other. See the full step-by-step guide at petitext.com/how-to-text-someone-first-by-email.
Use the full number with the country code. Both +16043302816 and +1 604 330 2816 work — spaces and dashes are fine. A number without a country code, like 604 330 2816, cannot be delivered. Other text can share the subject line ("Bike question +1 604 330 2816" works) — just keep the number in one piece. The subject line is never sent to the recipient.
Messages are typically delivered within 3 seconds of receipt. Our system is optimized for real-time delivery and offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
For your privacy and security, numbers are automatically released when a subscription ends. If you need to keep a number for a longer term, please contact our support team to discuss options.
Your number is exclusively yours for the entire rental period — not shared with any other user while your rental is active. When your rental ends, the number is released back to the carrier pool.
Absolutely. We use 256-bit SSL encryption for all data transmissions and never store your messages longer than necessary. Your privacy and security are our top priorities.
No. We don't build a profile on you or sell your data, and we don't store messages longer than necessary.
Yes. Anyone who texts your virtual number lands in your email inbox, and you can reply by email — your reply is delivered to them as SMS from your virtual number. Conversations flow naturally from there.
We currently offer virtual numbers in the United States and Canada. We are actively working to expand our services to more countries.
Yes. As long as you can receive email, you can use a US or Canada Petitext number from anywhere.
There are no hidden fees. Our pricing is completely transparent—what you see is what you pay. No setup fees, no overage charges, and no surprise billing.
No. Petitext numbers are VoIP-classified, and many services detect and block virtual numbers from receiving one-time passcodes — so we can't guarantee verification codes will arrive. Petitext is built for real conversations with people, not for account verification.
No. Petitext is a person-to-person conversation service for individuals. Every message is written by one human to another. Automated messages, bulk messaging, and marketing campaigns are prohibited and result in account termination.