How to make an email account without a phone number
The easiest way is to pick a provider that never asks. Proton, Tuta, and a few others let you sign up with just a name and password, no number at all. This guide covers which ones actually work without a phone number, how to create one, and what to do if the email you really want, Gmail for instance, still insists on a number.
The short version
See the providers →Skip the phone number entirely by choosing Proton, Tuta, Skiff, or Mail Fence, all of which sign you up without a number and have free plans. Create the account with a name and password, complete a captcha or add a recovery email, and you are done. If you specifically want Gmail or another service that still asks for a number, a temporary number reads the code without using your own.
Email providers that don't ask for a phone number
Several privacy-focused providers let you create an account with no phone number, each with a free plan. They differ in how they check you are human and how much storage you get, so pick by what matters to you.
| Provider | Free storage | How it verifies | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | 500 MB | Name and password; may request a recovery email | Recovery email is optional but often prompted |
| Tuta | 1 GB | A captcha instead of a number | New accounts may wait up to 48 hours before sending |
| Skiff | 10 GB | Name and password | The most generous free storage; custom domain on free |
| Mail Fence | 500 MB | Name and password | Accepts crypto payment if you later upgrade |
A couple of these are worth a word. Proton signs you up without a number, though it usually asks for a recovery email during setup, so it is private from phone-number tracking rather than fully anonymous. Tuta swaps the number for a captcha, and may hold a brand-new account for up to two days before it can send, as an anti-abuse step. None of that requires a phone number, which is the point.
How to create one without a phone number
The flow is much the same across these providers, and it takes a couple of minutes.
Pick a username and password
On the sign-up page, choose your address and a strong password. This is all most no-number providers need to start.
Clear the human check
Complete a captcha, or add a recovery email if the provider asks for one. Neither is a phone number, and the recovery email is often optional.
Confirm and start using it
Finish sign-up and the account is live. On Tuta, a new account may wait a short while before it can send; the rest are ready right away.
If a provider offers a recovery email, it is worth adding one, since it is your way back in without a phone number on file. That keeps the account both no-number and recoverable, which is the sensible middle ground.
Truly free vs paid
Not every private provider is free. Proton, Tuta, Skiff, and Mail Fence all have real free plans, so those are your no-cost options. StartMail and Mailbox.org, by contrast, are paid-only after a trial, so they are worth it if you want their features but not if free is the goal.
One more to flag: Fastmail is a good service but generally requires a phone number to register, and does not accept most internet numbers. There is a workaround, signing up through its mobile app and paying right away waives the number, but if avoiding a phone number is your whole reason, the free no-number providers above are the simpler path.
When an email service still wants a phone number
Sometimes you want a specific mailbox, Gmail or Outlook, and those do ask for a number, especially if the sign-up looks unusual to them or you turn on two-factor security. That is where a temporary number helps, without dragging your own into it.
The move is simple. Open a free number in your browser, put it into the sign-up when the service asks, and read the code on the page. If that particular service refuses a shared number, a private number for a few cents goes through instead. Either way the email gets verified and your own number stays off the account. For the step-by-step on getting a Gmail this way, the Gmail without a phone number guide covers it in full.
FAQs about email without a phone number
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More guides and numbers
Keep going if you need a number for the sign-up, or jump straight to the country pages.
US phone numbersEvery temporary number online in the United States
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Canada phone numbersTemporary +1 numbers to receive SMS
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Gmail without a phone numberSkip the number, or use one that isn't yours
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Receive SMS onlineThe full walkthrough for any device with a browser
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Temporary phone number typesFree, private, or app: which one fits your task
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FAQsMore questions about temporary numbers
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