SMS-Activate vs SMS-GO
SMS-Activate shut down in late December 2025, ending the largest SMS activation marketplace. Its technical infrastructure moved to HeroSMS, and its API format survives as a compatibility layer across competing services.
Their prices, as published
| Service status | Shut down in December 2025, no live pricing |
Captured from their public pages on August 23, 2026.
Where SMS-Activate falls short
- The service shut down in late December 2025 and no longer sells numbers.
- Its infrastructure moved to HeroSMS, where Trustpilot reviews are mixed-negative, with complaints about deposits not matching credited balances.
- Independent 2026 tests of post-shutdown alternatives show 55 to 89 percent success rates, which is why automatic refunds matter when migrating.
What SMS-GO does differently
- Live today: SMS-GO sells US numbers now, with no migration wait.
- SA-compatible API: keep your handler_api.php integration and point it at SMS-GO.
- 30-day US rentals with public prices from $0.12.
- Automatic refund within 20 minutes if no SMS arrives.
Judge us on the live stock sheet, not on this page.
FAQ
Is SMS-Activate shut down?
Yes. SMS-Activate closed in late December 2025. Its technical infrastructure moved to HeroSMS, and the original site no longer sells numbers.
What happened to the SMS-Activate API?
The handler_api.php format became a de facto standard. Several live services, including SMS-GO, expose SA-compatible endpoints, so existing integrations can switch by changing the host and API key.
What is the closest SMS-Activate replacement in 2026?
SMS-GO: 30-day US rentals, public prices from $0.12, crypto top-up from $5, an SA-compatible API, and an automatic refund if no SMS arrives within 20 minutes.