Why Depop asks for verification
Depop is a marketplace where strangers send each other money and parcels. A verified phone number makes it harder to run throwaway accounts and gives Depop a way to confirm it is really you when something changes on your account, such as a new device, a new payout method or a login from somewhere unusual.
For buyers, the number mostly stays in the background. For sellers it matters more: payouts, disputes and account reviews may all lead back to the number on file. That is why the number you choose should match how you plan to use Depop.
Browsing account or seller account: pick the right number
A browse-only account carries little risk. If you just want to follow shops, save items and watch prices, a private per-code number works well. It keeps your personal number off another database, and you only pay for the code you receive.
A seller account is different. You will have buyers messaging you, money arriving, and possibly a request to verify again before a payout or after a password reset. If that request goes to a number you no longer control, you may be stuck until support helps you, with orders waiting. A rental is a number you keep for the period you choose, with unlimited SMS, so every later code reaches you.
Never run a seller account on a free shared number. Its inbox is public, so anyone could read a login or reset code sent to it, and whoever controls the number can often take over the account and its balance.
UK or US number for Depop
If you use the UK version of Depop, choose the United Kingdom pool on the OTP page. These are real UK mobile numbers on +44, which tend to suit a UK-based service better than an internet number.
If you use Depop in the US, VoIP High Quality is the cheapest +1 option, from $0.50. Some marketplaces are stricter with VoIP numbers, so if Depop does not send the code, you are refunded automatically and can move to a UK number or a private non-VoIP rental.
Whatever you choose, select the matching country code in Depop's phone field before tapping send. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons a code never shows up.
Depop verification code not arriving
First, check whether the number is already linked to an account. Shared numbers often are, and Depop may say the number is in use or quietly skip the SMS. A fresh private number solves this.
Second, give it time and do not keep tapping resend. Each new request can cancel the last code, and many apps slow down repeated requests. Wait a few minutes before trying again.
Third, if Depop refuses the number type, step up: UK number, then a private non-VoIP rental. Depop's code is usually a short numeric code with a warning not to share it, so once it lands, copy it straight in before it expires.
Depop without phone number: what is realistic
People search for how to use Depop without a phone number. In practice, if Depop asks you to verify a number, you need one to continue. What you can control is which number. A separate number from ASMS.ai lets you complete Depop verification without giving out your personal line.
This is about privacy, not about getting around Depop's rules. Depop expects one honest account per person and may ask for identity or payout checks for sellers. A separate number does not change that, and it should not be used to create extra accounts or to come back after a ban.
Step by step
For a browsing account, sign in to ASMS.ai, top up your wallet, open the OTP page, pick Depop and the United Kingdom or US pool, and check the price and stock before paying. Paste the number into Depop and read the code in your inbox.
For a seller account, go to the Numbers page instead, rent a number for as long as you expect to sell, and use it for Depop. If you rented by mistake, cancel between 5 and 120 minutes after renting, before any SMS arrives, for a refund.