sms.1mail.lt vs SMSPool — A Real Comparison
SMSPool is the main card-friendly Western alternative to SMS-Activate. We're their newer, cheaper, faster-checkout competitor. Here's the honest breakdown.
Head-to-head
| What | sms.1mail.lt | SMSPool |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Telegram number | €0.20 (wallet) | ~€0.40-0.60 |
| Cheapest WhatsApp number | €0.20 wallet, €0.40 guest | Sometimes cheaper on US stock, but requires whitelist |
| Payment methods | Stripe (all cards, Apple/Google/Revolut Pay, EU rails) | Cards + crypto (both work reliably) |
| Country coverage | 25 (EU-first) | 100+ |
| API automation | Planned Q4 2026 | REST API (rate-limited) |
| WhatsApp signup friction | Buy immediately | Whitelist enrollment required (24-72h wait) |
| Guest checkout | Yes — no account needed | Signup required before any purchase |
| Time-to-first-purchase | ~30 seconds | ~5-10 minutes (signup + email verify + deposit) |
| UI | Modern mobile-first | Functional but dated |
| Jurisdiction | EU / Lithuania | US |
Where SMSPool wins
Country coverage
100+ countries including many we don't stock (Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Colombia). If you specifically need a number from outside our EU-focused 25-country list, SMSPool likely has it.
API for automation
Full REST API with clear docs. Rate limits are a bit tight for high-volume users but adequate for most side projects. Ours ships Q4 2026 — until then, they win for programmatic use cases.
US-based, US-timezone support
If you're in the Americas and want same-timezone support, they're your provider. Ours is EU-based (Vilnius) so response times are best for European customers.
Where we win
Prices on common services
Telegram, Discord, Google, Instagram on EU country stock — we're consistently 40-60% cheaper in wallet mode. SMSPool's pricing rewards US buyers on US stock; on the "buy a Telegram number for cheap" use case that dominates search volume, we win on price by a comfortable margin.
No whitelist bullshit for WhatsApp
SMSPool requires WhatsApp buyers to apply for a whitelist before they can purchase — presumably to reduce their exposure to abuse. The wait is 24-72 hours. If you need a WhatsApp number today, we sell you one in 30 seconds; SMSPool tells you to fill out a form and check back tomorrow.
Guest checkout for one-offs
SMSPool requires account signup + email confirmation + wallet deposit before any purchase. We let you skip all that with guest checkout — pay €0.40, get code, close tab. For someone who just needs one number, we save ~5-10 minutes of setup friction.
Stripe rails (Apple Pay, Revolut, iDEAL)
SMSPool takes cards and crypto but does not integrate Apple/Google Pay or European local rails (iDEAL, Bancontact). We do — checkout is one click on mobile.
Who should use which
Use SMSPool if…
- You need countries outside our 25-country list
- You need programmatic bulk purchasing via API today
- You're a US buyer wanting US-timezone support
- You're planning to buy 50+ numbers/week and can invest the 5-min signup one time
Use sms.1mail.lt if…
- You want to buy a WhatsApp number today without a 24-72h whitelist wait
- You want the cheapest per-number price for Telegram / Discord / Google / Instagram
- You want Apple Pay / Revolut Pay / iDEAL — not just plain cards
- You need one number right now (guest checkout, no signup)
- You're an EU buyer wanting EU-timezone support and VAT invoices
FAQ
Why does SMSPool require WhatsApp whitelist?
SMSPool's stated reason is to prevent abuse. In practice it means casual buyers wait 1-3 days for approval. If you're building a business around WhatsApp virtual numbers this may be fine; if you just need one code today, we're a faster path.
Is SMSPool safe?
Yes, they're a legitimate US-based business with years of track record. Payment flow is standard, refunds work. No concerns beyond the friction points we listed.
Which has better delivery reliability?
Roughly equal on shared services. SMSPool has slightly better US stock delivery for Facebook and TikTok; we have slightly better UK/NL/PL stock for WhatsApp and Telegram. Neither has a decisive advantage on delivery reliability.
Can I use both?
Yes, and it's smart if you're doing anything at scale. Different country pools burn at different rates. When one provider's stock is stale, the other usually has fresh.
What's your refund policy?
Full refund on failed delivery. Guest checkout → Stripe refund to card in 2-5 business days. Wallet mode → instant credit. No lock-in, no store-credit-only trap.