Shared SMS Verification Number for Teams & Families

What Is a Shared SMS Verification Number?

A shared SMS verification number is a dedicated phone number that receives SMS verification codes and one-time passwords (OTPs) from banks, apps, and services—then delivers those codes to multiple approved people. Instead of one person’s phone getting every 2FA or login code, the number is shared: everyone you add can receive SMS verification codes sent to that number.

That makes it possible to receive SMS verification codes online as a team or family: one number for sign-ins, account recovery, and 2FA, with no need to hand out a personal mobile number. Businesses use it as a central OTP number for business so multiple employees or contractors can access shared accounts without depending on one device. MultiMFA provides exactly this: a dedicated shared SMS verification number with admin controls and multi-user access. For secure shared 2FA for teams, see our dedicated guide.

Why Businesses Use a Central OTP Number

When several people need access to the same accounts—client ad accounts, banking, internal tools—someone has to receive the SMS codes. Using one person’s personal phone ties business access to that device, creates offboarding risk, and leaves no audit trail. A central OTP number solves this: one dedicated number receives all verification codes, and the business controls who gets them.

With a central OTP number for business, you add or remove recipients as needed, see activity history, and avoid forwarding codes manually. Teams and families get the same benefit: one shared SMS verification number, multiple people can receive SMS verification codes online, and no one has to share a personal number or rely on a single phone.

Why Google Voice Isn't Built for Shared Authentication

Google Voice gives you a free number for calls and texts, but it’s not designed as a shared SMS verification number for teams or business 2FA. One Google account owns the number—so you either share that login (insecure, no per-user control) or one person receives every code and forwards it (back to manual OTP sharing). There’s no built-in way to add “approved recipients” or see who received which code.

For shared authentication, you need a service built for it: a dedicated number, admin-managed recipients, and the ability to receive SMS verification codes online and deliver them to the right people. MultiMFA is built for that. Compare MultiMFA vs Google Voice for the full picture. For team-focused use cases, see also our shared 2FA for teams page.

How MultiMFA Works

1. Get a dedicated number. Sign up and choose your shared SMS verification number. It will receive all SMS verification codes you route to it.
2. Add who should receive codes. Add team members or family as approved recipients. They can receive SMS verification codes online (via SMS or email) when codes are sent to your MultiMFA number.
3. Use the number for 2FA and sign-in. When a service asks for a phone number for SMS verification or 2FA, enter your MultiMFA number. Incoming codes are delivered to that number and forwarded to all approved users—no personal number needed, no manual forwarding.

Admins control who can receive and access verification codes. Learn more on our homepage and security page.

Use Cases

• Agencies

  Marketing and creative agencies manage multiple client accounts. A shared SMS verification number lets the team receive SMS verification codes for client logins without using personal numbers or one shared Google Voice login.

• Executive/Admin

  Assistants need to access executive accounts for travel, calendar, or tools. A central OTP number gives both parties the same codes with clear control: the executive owns the number and decides who receives codes.

• Families

  Households share streaming, banking, or utility accounts. One shared SMS verification number for the family means everyone can receive SMS verification codes online when needed, without one person’s phone being the only option.

Benefits

• Multi-user access

  Multiple people can receive SMS verification codes sent to the same number. No more one person forwarding OTPs to everyone else.

• No personal number dependency

  Shared accounts don’t depend on one person’s phone. Use a dedicated number for 2FA and keep personal numbers private.

• Admin control

  Add or remove recipients anytime. You decide who receives codes and can revoke access when someone leaves—no shared login to reclaim.

Frequently Asked Questions