What is a phone line without a SIM?
It's a phone number you get from an app instead of a SIM card. The number reaches your phone over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so calls ring in the app like any call, and texts and voicemail arrive there too. You'll also see it called a virtual number or a VoIP number.
The number itself comes from a licensed carrier. The difference is the route: the internet instead of a cell tower. That's why it works anywhere you have a connection, and why one phone can hold several lines.
How it compares with a SIM
| A carrier SIM | A line in an app, like Nimra | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting one | A store or website, often with ID and a plan | In the app, in minutes |
| Your phone | Takes a SIM slot | An app on the phone you have |
| Travel | Roaming, or a new SIM | Any Wi-Fi or data connection |
| Several numbers | One SIM each | Several lines in one app |
| Paying | Monthly plan or contract | Prepaid credit, no contract |
When it fits
- Work. A separate line that shows its name on every call, and goes quiet after hours.
- Selling online. A number for buyers, deliveries and payments. The sellers' guide.
- Travel and living abroad. The line rings on hotel Wi-Fi or a local data plan, with the same number wherever you are. A SIM abroad, or a number in an app?
- Sign-ups and listings. A number for forms and classifieds, where you can block anyone.
When it doesn't
Plainly: some banks and large apps refuse internet-based numbers for sign-up or security codes, and no provider can honestly promise otherwise. Test the service you care about first. Internet numbers also aren't for emergency calls: Nimra hands 911 and 112 to your phone's own dialer. Why some apps reject numbers.
How you pay with Nimra
- Prepaid credit, bought in the app. It never expires.
- The line is paid from that credit every 30 days.
- Calls are charged by the minute; voicemail is free.
- No contract. Stop adding credit and the line lapses.
Numbers are US and Canadian for now. Every price is on the pricing page.
Getting started
- Download Nimra on iPhone or Android.
- Pick a number and name it: Work, Personal, Shop.
- Add credit. The line works right away.
Common questions
Does it work without internet?
No, it needs Wi-Fi or mobile data. When your phone is offline, calls go to voicemail, or to your own phone if you've turned on call forwarding.
How many lines can I have?
As many as you need. Each Nimra line has its own number, name and settings.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Nimra is on iPhone and Android.
A line without a SIM, in minutes
Calls, incoming texts and voicemail you can read. Prepaid, no contract.
