On February 29, the well-known foreign SMS verification platform SMS-Activate issued a notice announcing the upcoming termination of its services and directing users to migrate to a new platform called HeroSMS.
This news quickly spread across the Chinese internet, sparking widespread discussion. Many users believe this is not a simple "business handover" but more like a typical rebranding operation.
SMS-Activate has ceased operations
SMS-Activate has ceased operations, and the withdrawal threshold for balances has caused dissatisfaction.
According to SMS-Activate's official statement:
- The platform has entered the shutdown phase
- Users must request balance withdrawal before January 19, 2026
- Withdrawal prerequisite: Account balance must be greater than $30
The problem lies precisely here.
For most ordinary users, SMS-Activate has always been a "pay-as-you-go" tool:
- Common top-up amounts: $1, $2, $5
- Few users hoard long-term balances
- Use-and-leave is the typical usage scenario for SMS platforms
In this case, the $30 withdrawal threshold is almost equivalent to "directly confiscating balances".
Many users bluntly state that this approach is no longer a technical issue but clearly unreasonable rules.
As a result, a large number of small-balance users will be unable to retrieve their funds.
Recommending HeroSMS: Handover or Second Harvest?
In the announcement, SMS-Activate stated:
Handing over technical achievements to a new and energetic team to continue operations
Subsequently, the official recommendation directed users to the HeroSMS platform to continue using the service.
However, this move has only made users more wary.
The reason is simple:
- The old platform has not properly handled user assets
- A large number of balances are "stuck" by the threshold
- Yet it is eager to guide users to migrate to a new platform and top up again
For users, this feels more like:
Cheat you once, then take you to the next pit.
HeroSMS Suspected of Being a Rebranded Version of SMS-Activate
Some netizens conducted a simple investigation into HeroSMS and found:
- HeroSMS domain registration date: 2025-11-19
- Only a little over a month ago
- The launch time coincides highly with SMS-Activate's shutdown
Combined with the following:
- Almost identical service positioning
- Exactly the same usage scenarios
- Highly overlapping target users
It is hard not to suspect:
HeroSMS is likely a "rebranded" project of SMS-Activate.
Although there is no direct evidence proving they are operated by the same entity, considering the timeline and behavioral logic, this suspicion is not unfounded.
About SMS-Activate: Why Was It So Popular?
If you have been involved in registering overseas accounts, you have probably heard of SMS-Activate.
Platform Positioning
SMS-Activate has been one of the most well-known foreign SMS verification platforms in the Chinese internet in recent years, primarily used for:
- Registering ChatGPT / OpenAI
- Google accounts
- Telegram
- Claude and other overseas services
During the ChatGPT boom from 2022 to 2024, it almost became a "standard tool" in many tutorials.
Platform Advantages (Early)
- Coverage of 180+ countries, 700+ services
- Low single number prices, from a few cents to a few RMB
- Rapid number updates
- Early success rates reaching 80%–90%
- Support for refunds on failures
Because of these features, many users developed a "relatively reliable" expectation of it.
SMS-Activate's Operation Time and Background
There have been different claims on the internet regarding SMS-Activate's establishment date.
- Current verifiable domain registration date: August 28, 2019
The official website and some promotional materials claim:
- Established in 2013
- Or 2015
A more reasonable explanation is:
- 2019 is when the current main domain was activated
- There may have been earlier domains or predecessor projects
- The service itself may originate from earlier Russian virtual number businesses
Therefore, "operating for ten years" is not entirely incomprehensible, but it does not mean this current site has been stable for ten years.
Alternative SMS Platforms After SMS-Activate's Shutdown
If you still need SMS verification services during SMS-Activate's shutdown/migration phase, consider the following platforms:
- nexsms.net (I have been using it for a long time)
- grizzlysms.com
- tiger-sms.com
But it must be emphasized:
- SMS platforms are inherently unstable
- Risk control, account bans, and number recycling are common
- Do not hoard long-term balances
- Always top up small amounts and use them immediately
Such platforms are only suitable as tools and not worthy of trust as "long-term services."
Personal Advice
My advice is simple:
- Withdraw as soon as possible if you can
- If you can't, treat it as a lesson
- Do not top up HeroSMS
- When using SMS platforms in the future, always test with small amounts
SMS verification platforms have never been "legitimate services."
They survive on gray demand,
And when they finally collapse, they rarely take responsibility for users.
This time is just another example.
Truly reliable SMS decoding still requires NexSmS!
