Why Every SaaS Wants Your Phone Number (and How to Decide When to Give It)

Every few weeks someone asks me why their bank, their food delivery app, their project management tool and their dating app all need a phone number. Most people shrug and type it in. This post is a calm look at why SaaS products keep copies of your number, what actually happens to it afterwards, and how to make a deliberate choice instead of a reflexive one. There are a handful of honest reasons, and a few less honest ones. 1.