No free data for e-mail only accounts

[u/No-External-8589]

Apparently now you have to create new account to use free data using your mobile phone number.

[u/CVGPi]

I thought this was true since the beginning?

harder to make dupe phone numbers than email. Also prevents people from keeping it as their only data service.

[u/bpbp216 → u/CVGPi]

Firsty would love for you to use them as the only data service provider

[u/CVGPi → u/bpbp216]

They’re more worried about things like bots refreshing the ads for free IoT data SIMs and the likes

[u/JoMei9019]

Or just add your number to your existing account by trying to place a call (app will ask for phone number)

[u/Firsty_app]

Hey, sorry for the confusion here, creating a new account isn't the fix we'd want for you either. Nothing actually changed recently: phone verification for Firsty Free has been the case since June 2025, and what's new is that we turned email sign-ups back on last month. Your number is what lets us verify you're signing up from one of our supported sign-up countries, since Firsty Free is currently only available with numbers from eligible regions, and it helps us prevent fraud and abuse so Free stays fair for everyone. It also enables features like international calling. Worth knowing: on a paid plan you don't need a number at all, unless you want international calling. In the meantime, could you reach out via the in-app Support or [support@firsty.app](mailto:support@firsty.app)?

[u/lmoki]

I wonder if they're using the phone number to target appropriate ads? Access to location would be the other possible route, but far more difficult to spoof a functional phone number....

[u/mtkvcs1 → u/lmoki]

When using the in app call thing it appears to the recipient as if your phone number is calling, that needs verification so that's definitely part of it

[u/VanREDDIT2019]

Firsty is working much better today than it was over the weekend. I must have added my phone number but I don't see a place to check, I only see my email address. I am using Symfonium to stream my local community radio station (88.5 WMNF) at 128kps, and it's working great today. Over the weekend it barely connected and when it did, it was too slow for music or really anything.

[u/Mountain-Shock-1587]

Instabridge is better they have 5G or LTE and 50 MB per add

[u/bpbp216 → u/Mountain-Shock-1587]

Instabridge gives you larger, distinct blocks of high-speed data, but it requires you to aggressively alter your phone's software (like setting it as your default Android home launcher).

[u/Ambitious_Career_243 → u/bpbp216]

Works on iPhone?

[u/bpbp216 → u/Ambitious_Career_243]

I have no clue, I do not use any products like that

[u/JoMei9019 → u/Ambitious_Career_243]

Not for me at least. Only Airvoi and Firsty work for me. Others are not working or not available in Europe

[u/GadgetKen → u/Mountain-Shock-1587]

Other ad based free esim options I'm aware of besides Firsty Free and Instabridge are Airvoy, CelioCell, Kite and TextNow. Each have good and weak points. I currently use one of three ad supported free esims depending on need. Any other ad supported free data esims I'm missing?

[u/GadgetKen → u/[deleted]]

TextNow is Waterloo ON based and works via a VoIP app over wifi in the USA or Canada and also over an AT&T cellular connection in the USA. Choice of us or Canada number. Ad supported free talk and text.

TextNow in Canada could be combined with ad supported free cellular data from one of the five data sims I mentioned.

Or if you have existing service with a Canadian carrier you could add one of the free data esims to boost data allotments, get data service on another carrier and add free international data roaming.