SecondSim
SecondSim is a London-based UK MVNO that sells real, non-VoIP UK mobile numbers delivered as eSIMs on Vodafone's network, targeting freelancers, small businesses, and distributed teams that need guaranteed WhatsApp Business, banking, and payment-platform verification on a second phone line.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2026
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SecondSim does
SecondSim, operated by SERIOUS PEOPLE LTD and headquartered at 86-90 Paul Street in London, is a UK telecommunications provider that issues real, carrier-grade UK mobile numbers (+44) as eSIMs rather than as VoIP virtual numbers. The service runs on Vodafone UK's mobile network infrastructure, with eSIM QR codes delivered by email and installed in roughly 60 seconds on iPhone and Android devices, enabling a second active line on a single handset alongside the user's existing physical SIM via Dual SIM Dual Standby. The company targets freelancers, solopreneurs, e-commerce sellers, trades, real estate agents, consultants, and small distributed teams whose personal mobile numbers are used for work and who need guaranteed verification on WhatsApp Business, UK banks (Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, Monzo, Revolut, Starling), and payment platforms (Stripe, PayPal, Amazon).
The core product suite consists of three subscription tiers — Flex Monthly (£5.99), Quarterly (£15.99), and Yearly (£59.99) — each providing unlimited UK calls and SMS and a 100% money-back guarantee if verification fails within 7 days. A premium Pro Data add-on at £19.99/month adds unlimited 5G/4G data with tethering, and a centralised Team Management Dashboard with 10% (5+ lines) and 15% (10+ lines) volume discounts supports B2B procurement. Supplementary services include Number Porting via PAC code (one working day, zero downtime), Number Parking at £2.99/month, a referral programme (50% off for referrer and referee), and a Totum student discount (50% off first month). Supporting marketing tools — a VoIP Verification Checker, an eSIM Compatibility Checker, a Business Mobile Cost Calculator, an AI Search Visibility Audit Tool, and an A-Z index of 100+ verified platforms — function as both utility and lead-generation assets.
The go-to-market is fully self-serve and product-led: customers purchase on the website, receive an eSIM instantly, and activate without sales interaction, with no credit checks or ID verification required at signup. Marketing is concentrated on content/SEO across the company website, guides library, and industry-specific landing pages, supplemented by organic social on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, and co-marketing partnerships with Werksy (workspace), Totum (student discounts), and the City Wellbeing Series (Greater Manchester). The company serves 3,000+ UK small businesses and freelancers, is privately held and bootstrapped by three co-founders (Jenna Banks ex-BBC/TalkTalk, Stephen Monaghan ex-BT, Robert Brock ex-Moonpig/Lastminute.com), and currently operates only within the UK with international roaming unsupported.
SecondSim firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SecondSim
- Legal name
- SERIOUS PEOPLE LTD
- Website
- https://secondsim.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2026
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SecondSim is a London-based UK MVNO that sells real, non-VoIP UK mobile numbers delivered as eSIMs on Vodafone's network, targeting freelancers, small businesses, and distributed teams that need guaranteed WhatsApp Business, banking, and payment-platform verification on a second phone line.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SecondSim industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Telecommunications Services (eSIM)
- NAICS
- Telecommunications Resellers (517121), Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)
- SIC
- Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Voice Calling (VoIP) Apps (BPAMACAC)
Keywords
Where SecondSim is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SecondSim business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Core eSIM Subscription (Standard Plans): Recurring subscription for a real UK mobile number with unlimited UK calls and SMS. Plans are available monthly (£5.99), quarterly (£15.99), and yearly (£59.99). Unlimited Data add-on available at £19.99/month for high-speed 5G/4G data, hotspot/tethering, and full UK data use.
- Number Parking: Optional paid service at £2.99/month to retain a UK mobile number after subscription cancellation. Numbers are otherwise deactivated and recycled by the carrier if not parked.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Flex Monthly — £5.99/month, pay as you go, cancel anytime |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Quarterly — £15.99/3 months (save 11%) |
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly — £59.99/year (2 months free) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Unlimited UK Data Plan — £19.99/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Totum Student Discount — 50% off first month |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
SecondSim product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SecondSim sells real, non-VoIP UK mobile numbers delivered as eSIMs over Vodafone UK's carrier-grade mobile network, allowing customers to add a second mobile line to their existing smartphone. The core subscription (from £5.99/month) provides a genuine +44 number with unlimited UK calls and SMS and guaranteed compatibility with WhatsApp Business, UK bank 2FA, and e-commerce platform verification—capabilities that VoIP virtual numbers cannot deliver. The service targets UK freelancers and small businesses that need a dedicated business line without carrying a second physical device or signing expensive corporate contracts.
Product overview
SecondSim is a UK telecommunications provider offering real, carrier-grade UK mobile numbers (+44) as eSIMs, not VoIP services. The core offering is the Standard Plan suite (Flex Monthly at £5.99, Quarterly at £15.99, and Yearly at £59.99), providing unlimited UK calls and SMS plus guaranteed verification with WhatsApp Business, banks, and e-commerce platforms. The product portfolio also includes the Unlimited Data Business eSIM add-on (£19.99/month) for high-speed 5G/4G data with tethering, the Team Management Dashboard for centralized B2B eSIM deployment, Number Porting via PAC code, Number Parking (£2.99/month) for inactive number retention, a Referral Programme (50% off for referrer and referee), and Student Totum discount (50% off first month). Supporting tools include a VoIP Verification Checker, AI Search Visibility Audit Tool, Business Mobile Cost Calculator, eSIM Compatibility Checker, Setup Guides, and a Supported Platforms Verification Index covering 100+ services. The service operates on Vodafone's UK network infrastructure with 4G (99% population) and expanding 5G coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Real UK Mobile Number eSIM Plan (Flex) Subscription-based eSIM plan delivering a genuine, non-VoIP UK mobile number (+44) on the Vodafone network. Includes unlimited UK calls and SMS, guaranteed verification with WhatsApp Business, UK banks (Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, Monzo, Revolut, Starling), and major e-commerce and payment platforms (Stripe, PayPal, Amazon). Available in monthly (£5.99), quarterly (£15.99) and yearly (£59.99) billing cycles, with instant eSIM QR-code delivery by email and activation within 60 seconds on iPhone or Android under Dual SIM Dual Standby.
- Pro Data Unlimited UK eSIM Premium add-on tier at £19.99/month (rolling, cancel anytime) that adds unlimited high-speed 5G/4G UK data on the Vodafone network (subject to a 650GB/month fair use policy) on top of the standard eSIM features: real UK mobile number, unlimited UK calls and SMS, guaranteed 2FA and verification, and personal hotspot/tethering. Designed for remote workers, dual-SIM power users, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and iPad/tablet data use.
- Team Management Dashboard Centralized admin dashboard for teams and small organizations to purchase, deploy, manage, and revoke multiple eSIM business numbers across employees from a single account. Includes centralized billing, QR-code distribution by email to new line holders, and automatic volume discounts (10% off for 5–9 lines, 15% off for 10+ lines). Designed for agencies, real estate teams, remote teams, and consultants that want to avoid handing out physical handsets.
- Number Parking Optional paid service at £2.99/month that lets customers keep their real UK mobile number live after cancelling the main subscription, preventing carrier deactivation and recycling of the number. Useful for sole traders who take a break but want to preserve the verification trust and account history built up on the number across banks, WhatsApp Business, and e-commerce platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000+ UK small businesses and freelancers trust SecondSim daily
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SecondSim
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SecondSim technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SecondSim partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and flagship.
- City Wellbeing SeriesminorMental health and wellbeing partnership targeting freelancers and sole traders. SecondSim is official partner of the 'Solo Squad' team at the Greater Manchester Wellbeing Run & Walk (May 21, 2026, Heaton Park, Manchester). SecondSim provides subsidised event entry (£25 instead of £45) and free first month of service for first 100 sign-ups. Addresses the freelance isolation crisis with 200,000 self-employed people in Greater Manchester.
- WerksyflagshipStrategic workspace partnership providing SecondSim customers with £10 free credit towards flexible, on-demand workspace across 10+ UK locations (London, Reading, Manchester). Werksy is SecondSim's first partner, positioned as adding workspace utility to the freelancer toolkit. SecondSim promotes Werksy on its partnerships page as a complementary tool for independent workers.
- TotumflagshipStudent and young professional discount partnership offering Totum members 50% off their first month of SecondSim (from £5.99 to £2.99). Totum members get access to an exclusive promo code to apply at checkout. Totum is a student discount/rewards platform, making this a co-marketing arrangement targeting the student/freelancer demographic.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SecondSim competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Airalo: Leading global eSIM marketplace serving travellers with mobile data plans across 200+ countries. Comparable as an eSIM-first digital telco selling directly online, but focused on travel data rather than UK-based business/verification mobile numbers.
- TextNow: Provides free and low-cost second phone numbers with calling and texting for individuals and SMBs in North America. Comparable as a second-number service targeting personal/business separation, but primarily VoIP-based and US-focused rather than UK carrier-grade.
- Hushed: Provides second phone numbers for privacy and business use, targeting individuals and small businesses who want to separate work and personal communications. Directly competes with SecondSim's core use case, though Hushed historically relies on VoIP infrastructure rather than carrier-grade mobile numbers.
Broad incumbents
- Vodafone UK: SecondSim's underlying network partner and the UK's largest mobile carrier. Directly comparable as a UK mobile service provider, but operates its own network infrastructure and serves a much broader consumer and enterprise base than SecondSim's freelancer/SMB focus.
- Google Voice: Free VoIP-based second phone number service for individuals and SMBs. Competes for the same 'separate work and personal number' use case but is explicitly VoIP and frequently fails the bank/WhatsApp verification that SecondSim guarantees.
- EE (BT Group): Major UK mobile network operator offering consumer and business mobile plans, including multi-SIM options. Directly comparable as a UK mobile service but serves a much broader mass-market audience with traditional contract models rather than SecondSim's self-serve eSIM.
- Truphone: Global eSIM provider offering mobile data and voice plans for travellers and IoT devices across multiple countries. Comparable as an eSIM-first carrier-grade mobile service, but focused on enterprise IoT and international travel rather than UK freelancer verification.
- Twilio: Provides programmable virtual phone numbers, SMS verification, and voice APIs to developers and businesses globally. Comparable as a virtual number and SMS verification provider, but primarily VoIP-based and developer-focused rather than consumer freelancer eSIM.
Emerging players
- Knowroaming: eSIM marketplace providing mobile data plans for international travellers across multiple countries. Comparable as an eSIM-first digital mobile provider, but focused on travel data rather than UK verification/business use cases.
- Gigs: Provides embedded mobile data plans via API for businesses integrating connectivity into apps and devices. Comparable as an eSIM-first digital mobile provider targeting developers and businesses, but focuses on data connectivity rather than voice/SMS verification numbers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SecondSim social profiles
Digital presenceSecondSim financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SecondSim leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SecondSim funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SecondSim M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SecondSim
What does SecondSim do?
SecondSim sells real, non-VoIP UK mobile numbers delivered as eSIMs over Vodafone UK's carrier-grade mobile network, allowing customers to add a second mobile line to their existing smartphone. The core subscription (from £5.99/month) provides a genuine +44 number with unlimited UK calls and SMS and guaranteed compatibility with WhatsApp Business, UK bank 2FA, and e-commerce platform verification—capabilities that VoIP virtual numbers cannot deliver. The service targets UK freelancers and small businesses that need a dedicated business line without carrying a second physical device or signing expensive corporate contracts.
Is SecondSim a public or private company?
SecondSim is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SecondSim founded?
SecondSim was founded in 2026. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SecondSim based?
SecondSim is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SecondSim make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Core eSIM Subscription (Standard Plans) is the primary driver. The others are number Parking.
Who are SecondSim's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Airalo, TextNow and Hushed. Broad incumbents are Vodafone UK, Google Voice, EE (BT Group), Truphone and Twilio. Emerging players are Knowroaming and Gigs.
Does SecondSim have an API?
No public API is recorded for SecondSim.
What industry is SecondSim in?
SecondSim's product category is Mobile Telecommunications Services (eSIM). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMACAC, Voice Calling (VoIP) Apps. Its NAICS code is 517121 and its SIC code is 4812.