I get asked a lot whether eSIMs include phone numbers for texts and phone calls, and well, most of them don’t. An eSIM is typically data only, meaning no phone number of your own.
But a different phone number can be useful when travelling. Particularly when it comes to sharing your number on loads of different apps and with new people you meet.
And whilst there are a select few eSIM brands offering phone numbers, sometimes you just want one number for all your travels. Which is where Saily’s new US phone number offering comes in.
It gives you texts and calls on your own US phone number, no matter where you are in the world. Keep on reading to find out more about this service, what you can use it for, and how to set it up.
Saily US phone number
A dedicated US +1 number that stays yours as you travel, sitting in the same app as your Saily data plan.
Do eSIMs have phone numbers?
Most eSIMs are data-only (find out what an eSIM is here). You buy a plan for a country or region, install it, and you get mobile internet. Calls and messages happen through apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, using that data.
A few eSIMs do come with a local number attached. The catch is that the number is tied to that specific plan for that specific destination. Switch to a plan for another country, and the number will usually disappear.
So if you want a number you can actually keep, the honest answer is that a standard eSIM won’t give you one. That is the gap Saily’s US number fills.
How is Saily’s number different?
Saily gives you a dedicated US number, a proper +1, that stays yours no matter where you are (for as long as you pay your subscription). Your data can be switched from one country to the next as you travel and purchase new plans, but the number does not change.
It lives inside the Saily app, right next to your data. So rather than juggling a data eSIM in one place and a separate calling app somewhere else, both live in the same place.
The number works for real calls and texts. That means it can receive the sort of texts that WhatsApp can’t, like verification codes and messages from businesses.
If you’d like to find out more about this particular eSIM brand, read my full Saily eSIM review here.
Get 10% off your US number (and any calls & text data you add) with code MVT10
What can you use a US number for?
There are many important uses for a personal US phone number separate from your usual number, particularly as a traveller or someone who uses many online services. Here is a rundown of my top uses:
Affordable international calls & texts
No need to turn on your home SIM card and rack up data roaming or call charges whenever you need to use it abroad! You can do everything within Saily instead, and it can work out a lot cheaper.
You can top up your US phone number with international calls and texts, with prices differing depending on the country you are calling/texting. I have found it to be a lot cheaper than using my phone number from home.
Keep personal & travel life separate
Food delivery apps, online marketplaces, newsletters, and even dating apps (for all the singles reading this) – many will require a working phone number.
I’d rather not hand my personal one to every sign-up form. Sharing the Saily number keeps my real number private for the people who actually matter.
Get verification codes
So many accounts now require a one-time passcode or ask for 2FA before they let you log in, forcing you to hand over your personal number time and time again.
Which is why I like to have those sent to a dedicated number, away from my main number. This keeps things tidy and means I am not locked out of any accounts when my usual SIM has no signal.
And handily, incoming messages are unlimited even if you haven’t bought a calls and texts plan. So you can receive your verification codes on the Saily number without paying for anything beyond the number itself.
Access US-only services
If you use a lot of US services, like apps and shops, you may well find you are often required to give a US phone number. Which may seem impossible when outside of the US.
The Saily phone number gives you access to a +1 US phone number without even needing to travel there, so you can get into any of those US services. So easy!
Get 10% off your US number (and any calls & text data you add) with code MVT10
How do you set it up?
It is really easy to get started with the new Saily US phone number feature. You can do it in just a few simple steps:
- Open the Saily app, tap “Get phone number”, and pick your plan.
- Follow the in-app instructions to set your Saily number as your line.
- Top up your phone number with an affordable plan for calls and texts; prices differ depending on the country.
- Start calling and texting.
You will need to verify your identity in the app after buying, which is standard for getting a real number. Then it is ready to go.
How much does it cost?
The US number itself starts at $0.99 a month. On top of that, you pick a call and text plan, which also starts at $0.99, depending on how much calling and texting you want to do. And to where.
Incoming texts are included at no extra cost, even without a call and text plan. Here are a few example plans to show how the pricing looks:
Billing is monthly, and you can cancel whenever you like (prices correct as of August 2026).
| Plan | Spain | Italy | UK | Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min + 5 SMS | £0.99 | £1.49 | £1.49 | £4.49 |
| 15 min + 15 SMS | £2.49 | £2.99 | £2.49 | £7.49 |
| 30 min + 30 SMS | £2.99 | £5.49 | £3.99 | £9.49 |
| 50 min + 50 SMS | £4.49 | £6.99 | £4.49 | £11.49 |
| 100 min + 100 SMS | £6.99 | £11.49 | £7.49 | £15.49 |
| 200 min + 200 SMS | £9.99 | £16.99 | £10.99 | £16.99 |
These prices are correct as of 17 August 2026. All displayed in GBP.
My verdict
Do eSIMs have phone numbers? Mostly no, and the ones that do hand you a throwaway local number you can’t keep. And in my experience, they tend to receive a lot of spam texts.
Saily’s US number is the exception; I find it both useful and convenient because it stays mine as I move and sits in the same app as my data.
I just hope they continue to roll out this feature with even more countries!
Saily US phone number
A dedicated US +1 number that stays yours as you travel, sitting in the same app as your Saily data plan.
FAQs
Do eSIMs have phone numbers?+
Most eSIMs are data only, so they do not come with a phone number. A few include a local number, but it is tied to that destination’s plan and disappears when you switch. A Saily US number is the exception, because it stays yours wherever you travel.
Can you get a US phone number with an eSIM?+
Yes. Through the Saily app you can add a dedicated US +1 number, verify your identity, and pair it with a data plan. You can then make and receive calls and texts on it.
Can I keep the same number when I change destination?+
Yes. The US number is persistent, so your data plan can change from one country to the next while the number stays the same. That is the main thing that sets it apart from a standard eSIM number.
Do I need to be in the US to use a US number?+
No. You can use your Saily US number while travelling anywhere, for calls, texts, verification codes and signing up to US-only services. The number is not tied to where you physically are.
Can I use a Saily number for OTP and 2FA codes?+
Yes. Because it handles real SMS, it can receive one-time passcodes and 2FA texts. Keeping those on a separate line from your main number is one of the tidier reasons to have one.
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