VirtualSMS.io VS 9Proxy

VirtualSMS.io's answer

Three reasons:

1. Real SIM numbers work where VoIP fails. Most competitors (5SIM, SMS-Activate, SMSPVA) lean heavily on VoIP. That gets blocked by services that matter — WhatsApp Business, banking apps, dating platforms. Our numbers don't.

2. Built-in MCP server for AI agents. Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, and any MCP-compatible AI agent can handle phone verification autonomously through our MCP server. No other SMS API in this category ships with this.

3. Pay-per-use, no contracts, no minimum deposit. From $0.05/code. Free API key. Public price endpoint lets you check pricing before signing up. Auto-refund on failed deliveries. x402 stablecoin payments for international developers who want to skip KYC.

9Proxy's answer:

Individuals should choose 9Proxy for its extensive pool of over 20 million clean residential proxies, offering high anonymity and secure connections. With competitive pricing starting from just $0.015 per IP and $0.68 per GB, 9Proxy provides a cost-effective solution for various online use cases, ensuring a smooth and dependable user experience.

VirtualSMS.io's answer

Developers building OTP-dependent workflows: signup testing, QA automation, account verification at scale, and onboarding flows.

Growing segment: AI agent builders using MCP-compatible tools (Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT) that need autonomous phone verification capability.

Also: teams migrating from legacy SMS verification providers that no longer meet their needs — either because their suppliers shut down or because their numbers are now blocked as VoIP.

9Proxy's answer:

9Proxy's primary audience includes SEO professionals, market researchers, and data analysts who require reliable and anonymous internet access for data scraping, SERP analysis, and market research. It also caters to businesses involved in ad tech, multi-accounting, and price aggregation, providing them with the necessary tools to perform their tasks efficiently and securely.

VirtualSMS.io's answer

VirtualSMS launched because every SMS verification API on the market was either VoIP-only — rejected by WhatsApp, banking apps, and most major services — or built around legacy plain-text protocols that modern AI agents couldn't use natively.

We started with a modern REST API and real-SIM-backed numbers. We added an MCP server from day one, making us the first SMS verification service designed for both developers and autonomous AI agents. x402 stablecoin payment support followed — removing KYC friction for international developers who'd been priced out of legacy providers.

9Proxy's answer:

We are a group of professionals identifying a gap in the market for reliable, affordable, and anonymous proxy services. We then leverage our expertise in network technology and security to create a solution that addresses these needs, leading to the establishment of 9Proxy. The company has grown by focusing on customer needs, technological advancements, and quality service.

VirtualSMS.io's answer

-AI agent platforms integrating our MCP server for autonomous phone verification

-E-commerce QA automation teams testing signup and checkout flows

-Crypto-native developer projects using x402 stablecoin payments

-Developers migrating from sms-activate-style legacy providers

9Proxy's answer:

Our biggest customers generally include: Digital marketing agencies SEO and SEM professionals Big data analytics firms E-commerce companies Cybersecurity companies Academic and research institutions

VirtualSMS.io's answer

VirtualSMS uses real SIM-backed phone numbers, not VoIP — so it works with services that reject VoIP (WhatsApp Business, Telegram bot at scale, banking apps, dating platforms). It's also the only SMS verification API that ships with an MCP server for AI agents and x402 stablecoin payment support — making it the first SMS API designed for both developers and autonomous AI agents.

9Proxy's answer:

9Proxy stands out with over 20 million clean residential proxies, ensuring high anonymity and security for users. With competitive pricing starting from just $0.015/IP and $0.68/GB, 9Proxy delivers reliable and cost-effective proxy solutions, making it an attractive choice compared to many competitors on the market.

VirtualSMS.io's answer

REST API over HTTPS with OpenAPI 3.1 specification

TypeScript MCP server (Model Context Protocol)

Mintlify-hosted developer documentation

x402 stablecoin payment protocol on Base / Polygon / Arbitrum / Optimism

WebSocket for real-time SMS delivery notifications

Webhook event notifications for async integration

sms-activate-style legacy compatibility endpoint (/stubs/handler_api.php) for drop-in migration

9Proxy's answer:

9Proxy is built on a scalable cloud-native infrastructure using high-performance proxy routing technology, distributed IP management systems, and secure authentication layers. Our platform leverages modern backend frameworks and real-time traffic optimization to ensure stability, anonymity, and 99.95% uptime.