When Wabi is the better choice
- You only need a WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business number and want to set it up from your phone.
- You want to pay with Apple, Google Play or a card — PhoneBorn is crypto-only.
- You want a free trial where it offers one.
Subscription app for WhatsApp Business numbers
Wabi alternative: a real mobile number you keep
The best Wabi alternative, if you need a number for more than WhatsApp, is a real mobile number that also receives SMS and calls for other apps, such as a PhoneBorn plan. Wabi remains a simple option if all you want is a WhatsApp Business number set up from your phone, paid through the app store.
Updated By PhoneBorn TeamEditorial policy
Short answer
Reviews on Wabi's Trustpilot page (read 1 Oct 2026) repeatedly mention numbers already blocked by WhatsApp and refund requests turned down, and its FAQ limits refunds to a few WhatsApp-specific cases. PhoneBorn numbers are real mobile numbers for WhatsApp and 110+ apps, with a 7-day replacement guarantee: a free same-country replacement, or a full refund if never used.
Fact table
Wabi and PhoneBorn: the facts
| Fact | Wabi | PhoneBorn |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $3.99/month, per its App Store listing (varies by country) | From $1.80/mo (12-month plan); single-use OTP numbers from $0.10 per code |
| Payment methods | Credit card, Google Play, Apple App Store (per its FAQ) | Crypto only (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC and more) |
| ID / KYC | Not publicly stated; its site says setup needs no paperwork | None — email and password only |
| Coverage | 30+ countries (website) or 60+ (App Store listing) — stated inconsistently | 200 countries |
| Number type | Described as dedicated virtual numbers, tested with WhatsApp Business | Real mobile numbers (not VoIP), one customer at a time |
| Refund policy | No refunds as a rule; exceptions for WhatsApp validation errors or bans WhatsApp won't lift (per its FAQ) | OTP: automatic refund if no code arrives; plans: 7-day replacement guarantee, full refund if the number was never used |
| API | Not publicly stated | Yes — REST API and signed webhooks |
| Last checked | 1 Oct 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 |
Wabi facts come from the public pages listed under Sources, as checked on 1 Oct 2026. "Not publicly stated" means we could not find the fact on a public page.
Overview
How Wabi works
Wabi (wabi-app.com, from Applaud Software) is an iOS and Android app that sells a dedicated number for activating WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business. You choose a country, subscribe in the app, and use the number to register a second WhatsApp account. Its App Store listing advertises plans from $3.99 a month and a free trial in many destinations, and it describes the numbers as dedicated, never shared and tested with WhatsApp Business before you get them.
The scope is narrow by design. Its FAQ says the numbers are for WhatsApp activation only, so they are not meant for Telegram, Google, banks or other apps. Refunds are the exception rather than the rule: its FAQ considers them only for a WhatsApp Business validation error or a ban that WhatsApp refuses to lift, and breaking WhatsApp's policies voids them.
PhoneBorn is broader: a real mobile number — not VoIP — that works with WhatsApp, Telegram, Google and 110+ apps, with SMS and calls both ways, backed by a 7-day replacement guarantee.
Facts reflect Wabi's public pages as checked on 1 October 2026. Wabi and WhatsApp are trademarks of their owners; PhoneBorn is not affiliated with either.
Typical limitations
- Its FAQ says numbers are for WhatsApp activation only, so other apps' codes are out of scope.
- Refunds are generally not offered, with narrow WhatsApp-specific exceptions.
- Its website and App Store listing state different country counts, so check your country first.
- Reviewers report numbers that were already blocked by WhatsApp and charges that continued after cancelling.
- It is a subscription per number, billed through the app store or a card.
Which to choose
Wabi or PhoneBorn?
Choose PhoneBorn if…
- You need the number for more than WhatsApp — Telegram, Google, banks or any of 110+ apps.
- You want SMS and calls both ways: plans include monthly outgoing SMS and calling minutes.
- You want a 7-day replacement guarantee that covers any app, not just WhatsApp, plus a full refund if the number was never used.
- You prefer email-only sign-up and crypto payment over an app-store account.
Feature by feature
Wabi vs PhoneBorn
| Feature | Wabi | PhoneBorn |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $3.99/month (App Store listing) | From $1.80/mo (12-month plan) |
| Works for | WhatsApp activation only, per its FAQ | WhatsApp and 110+ apps |
| Number type | Described as dedicated virtual | Real mobile numbers |
| Send SMS / make calls | Not publicly stated | Yes, within monthly allowances |
| Payments | Card or app store | Crypto only |
| If the number doesn't work | Refund only in listed WhatsApp cases | 7-day replacement guarantee; money back if unused |
| App | Native iOS and Android | Browser dashboard on any device, plus API |
Based on public information as checked on 1 Oct 2026; features and prices change, so check Wabi's current terms. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners; PhoneBorn is not affiliated with them. Spotted an error? Email support@phoneborn.com — see our editorial policy.
A WhatsApp-only number vs a general-purpose one
A number bought for one app works well until you need it for a second. WhatsApp itself may also ask for a new code when you reinstall or change phones, so it matters that the number stays yours. Read our guide to a number for WhatsApp for what WhatsApp checks, and non-VoIP phone numbers for why line type matters.
What PhoneBorn does not do
PhoneBorn has no native app and no free trial, and accepts crypto only. Plans carry monthly caps on outgoing SMS and minutes, and bulk messaging is prohibited. WhatsApp, like every app, decides which numbers it accepts — which is why every plan has a 7-day replacement guarantee.
Switching
How to switch from Wabi
- 01
Back up your WhatsApp chats
In WhatsApp settings, back up your chats before changing numbers.
- 02
Get a PhoneBorn number
Sign up with an email, choose a country and a plan (From $1.80/month on the 12-month plan; 1-, 3- and 6-month terms are also available — see all term prices at checkout).
- 03
Use WhatsApp's Change number feature
In WhatsApp, open Settings → Account → Change number and enter your PhoneBorn number; the code arrives in your dashboard.
- 04
Cancel the old subscription
Once the new number is verified, cancel the old subscription in the app store where you bought it.
Pricing
PhoneBorn pricing
Phone-number plans
From$1.80/mo
on the 12-month plan
Choose 1, 3, 6 or 12 months at checkout — all term prices are shown there. Same price in all 200 countries.
See plans & buy- Real mobile number — not VoIP
- Unlimited incoming SMS & calls
- 500 SMS + 1,000 min out / month
- Keep it as long as you want
- 7-day replacement guarantee
- Pay with crypto — no KYC
7-day replacement guarantee — or your money back
If your number doesn't work for WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Telegram or any app you need within 7 days of purchase, replace it with a new number from the same country for free — instantly from your dashboard, up to 3 times, no questions asked.
Never used it? If the number hasn't sent or received a single SMS or call, you can take a full refund instead within the same 7 days.
- 1Buy a number and try it with your app
- 2Not working? Press “Replace number” within 7 days
- 3Get a new number from the same country — instantly, free
Applies to every phone-number plan. Single-use OTP numbers are refunded automatically if no code arrives.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Wabi — website — model and country count
- Wabi — FAQ — WhatsApp-only use, payments, refunds
- Wabi on the App Store — starting price and country count
- Wabi reviews on Trustpilot — user-reported issues, read 1 Oct 2026
All sources checked on 1 Oct 2026. We run PhoneBorn, so read them yourself before deciding.
FAQ
Wabi alternative: FAQ
What is the main difference between Wabi and PhoneBorn?
Wabi sells numbers for WhatsApp activation only, through a mobile app subscription. PhoneBorn sells real mobile numbers that work with WhatsApp and 110+ other apps, with SMS and calls both ways, on plans you renew.
Can I use a PhoneBorn number for WhatsApp Business?
Yes. Register it in WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business like any other number; the verification code arrives in your PhoneBorn dashboard.
What if WhatsApp doesn't accept my PhoneBorn number?
Each app sets its own rules, so WhatsApp decides which numbers it accepts. If WhatsApp doesn't accept your PhoneBorn number within 7 days of purchase, open the number in your dashboard and press “Replace number” to get a new number from the same country for free — instantly, up to 3 times. Your plan and expiry date stay the same. If the number was never used for any SMS or call, you can take a full refund instead. Single-use OTP numbers are refunded automatically if no code arrives.
Can I pay by card or app store?
No. PhoneBorn is crypto-only (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC and more). If you need app-store billing, an app-based service may suit you better.
Is PhoneBorn affiliated with Wabi or WhatsApp?
No. Wabi and WhatsApp are trademarks of their owners. This comparison uses Wabi's public pages and public reviews as checked on 1 October 2026.
Keep reading
More comparisons
Try a real mobile number — risk-free.
Email-only sign-up, crypto payments, SMS and calls included — backed by a 7-day replacement guarantee, or your money back if the number goes unused.