# textbee > The open-source SMS gateway for developers, automations, and AI agents. Turn an Android phone you already own into an SMS gateway and send or receive text messages over a simple REST API, with no per-message gateway fees. textbee is two parts: an Android app running on a phone you own, and a REST API at https://api.textbee.dev that your code calls. Messages travel over the phone's existing carrier plan, so there is no per-message markup and no number to rent. The whole stack is MIT licensed and can be self-hosted. Authentication: every request carries an x-api-key header holding an API key created in the dashboard at https://app.textbee.dev/dashboard. Send an SMS: curl -X POST "https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms" \ -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "message": "Your appointment is confirmed for Tuesday at 10am.", "recipients": [ "+12025550123", "+12025550124" ] }' List messages: curl "https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/messages?limit=50&page=1" \ -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" ## API - [API reference](https://textbee.dev/docs/api-reference): every public endpoint with parameters, request and response fields, error codes, and a curl example. - [OpenAPI spec](https://textbee.dev/openapi.json): the same reference as machine readable OpenAPI 3, generated from the running API. - [Full documentation in one file](https://textbee.dev/llms-full.txt): every docs page and the whole API reference as plain text. ## Documentation - [Overview](https://textbee.dev/docs): textbee turns an Android phone you own into an SMS gateway. Learn how it works, pick a way to send and receive, and find every docs section. - [Getting started](https://textbee.dev/docs/getting-started): Set up textbee in four steps: create an account, install the Android app, register your phone and send your first SMS from code. - [Setting up textbee](https://textbee.dev/docs/getting-started/setting-up-textbee): Create a textbee account, install the Android app, connect the phone and grant permissions, then send your first SMS from the API. - [Registering a device](https://textbee.dev/docs/getting-started/registering-a-device): Connect an Android phone to your textbee account with a QR code or an API key, name it, set a default device and check its heartbeat. - [Reconnecting an old device](https://textbee.dev/docs/getting-started/reconnecting-an-old-device): Reconnect a phone to its existing textbee device with the Device ID, so its message history and settings stay in one place. - [API keys and authentication](https://textbee.dev/docs/getting-started/api-keys): Authenticate textbee API calls with the x-api-key header: create, test, store, rotate and revoke API keys from the dashboard. - [Sending SMS](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms): Send SMS through your Android phone with the textbee API: single sends, bulk sends, scheduled sends, SIM choice and delivery tracking. - [Sending SMS](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms/sending-sms): Send an SMS with POST /gateway/send-sms: request fields, response, status codes, phone number format, segments and error handling. - [Sending bulk SMS](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms/sending-bulk-sms): Send many SMS in one call with POST /gateway/send-bulk-sms or a CSV upload, pace the phone with Send Delay and track failed recipients. - [Delivery status and message states](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms/delivery-status): What each textbee message state means, which timestamp it sets, how to track sends with webhooks or the API, and what failure codes mean. - [Send from a specific SIM](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms/choosing-a-sim): Pick the SIM that sends each message on a dual-SIM phone with simSubscriptionId, and find the ID in the textbee app or the device API. - [Schedule a message](https://textbee.dev/docs/sending-sms/scheduled-messages): Send an SMS later with scheduledAt: time format, the 72 hour window, validation errors, how to list pending sends and what happens offline. - [Receiving SMS](https://textbee.dev/docs/receiving-sms): Receive SMS sent to your Android phone through textbee: turn on forwarding, then get each message by webhook or by polling the messages endpoint. - [Message history and polling](https://textbee.dev/docs/receiving-sms/message-history): List sent and received SMS across every device with GET /gateway/messages: filters, page and cursor pagination, and polling without gaps. - [Filter incoming SMS on the phone](https://textbee.dev/docs/receiving-sms/sms-filters): Use SMS filters in the textbee Android app to forward only the incoming messages you need, with allow list or block list rules on sender and text. - [Managing devices](https://textbee.dev/docs/devices): List and inspect the Android phones on your textbee account, choose the sending device, read phone health from the API, and manage the device limit. - [Webhooks](https://textbee.dev/docs/webhooks): Get textbee SMS events on your server in real time: create a webhook subscription, verify the X-Signature header, and handle retries and pauses. - [Webhook events reference](https://textbee.dev/docs/webhooks/events): Every textbee webhook event with a full JSON payload and field table: received, sent, delivered, failed and unknown state, plus ordering rules. - [SDKs](https://textbee.dev/docs/sdk): Official textbee.dev client libraries. Send SMS, read message history and verify webhooks from your code without writing raw HTTP calls. - [JavaScript SDK](https://textbee.dev/docs/sdk/javascript): Send SMS from Node.js and TypeScript with the official @textbee/sdk package, a zero dependency wrapper around the textbee.dev REST API. - [Agents and automation](https://textbee.dev/docs/agents): Connect AI agents and workflows to textbee: the MCP server for Claude and Cursor, a curl quickstart for any agent framework, and n8n for no-code flows. - [MCP server](https://textbee.dev/docs/agents/mcp): Connect Claude, Cursor or any MCP client to textbee and send or read SMS through your own Android phone. Hosted connector or local npx server. - [Agent quickstart](https://textbee.dev/docs/agents/agent-quickstart): The two textbee API endpoints an AI agent needs: account-level send and message history with cursor polling, with copy-paste curl and SDK examples. - [n8n](https://textbee.dev/docs/agents/n8n): Send and receive SMS from n8n workflows with textbee: HTTP Request node configuration for sending, webhook trigger for incoming messages, and workflow patterns. - [Self-hosting textbee](https://textbee.dev/docs/self-hosting): Run the textbee API, dashboard and Android app on your own server with Docker Compose or a VPS, then point the SDK and MCP server at your instance. - [Troubleshooting](https://textbee.dev/docs/troubleshooting): Find the fix for common textbee problems: messages stuck in pending, failed sends, offline phones, missing incoming SMS, API errors and webhooks. - [Messages not sending](https://textbee.dev/docs/troubleshooting/messages-not-sending): Diagnose an SMS that textbee does not send: API errors, offline devices, permissions, messages stuck in pending, failure codes and carrier delivery. - [Keep the phone online](https://textbee.dev/docs/troubleshooting/keep-the-phone-online): Stop Android from pausing the textbee app: the Device health screen, battery settings for each phone maker, physical setup and the device heartbeat. - [Pricing](https://textbee.dev/docs/pricing): Learn about textbee.dev pricing plans, features, and message limits for Free, Pro, Scale, and Custom plans. - [FAQ](https://textbee.dev/docs/faq): Answers to common questions about textbee.dev: setup, sending and receiving SMS, devices, webhooks, plans and limits, self-hosting and troubleshooting. ## Product - [MCP server for AI agents](https://textbee.dev/mcp): give Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client the ability to send and read SMS through your own phone. Hosted connector at https://mcp.textbee.dev/mcp for claude.ai and the Claude apps, or npx @textbee/mcp. - [Build with AI](https://textbee.dev/build-with-ai): add SMS to an app built with Lovable, Bolt, v0, Replit, Base44 or Cursor with one prompt. The API key stays in the builder's secrets and only server code calls textbee. - [Twilio alternative for SMS](https://textbee.dev/twilio-alternative): what moving text messages off Twilio costs and changes, with monthly cost at 1K, 5K and 25K messages and the code side by side. - [Pricing](https://textbee.dev/pricing): free tier plus paid plans with higher limits. - [Download the Android app](https://textbee.dev/download): the app that turns the phone into the gateway. - [SMS API playground](https://textbee.dev/playground): try the API from the browser. - [Free tools](https://textbee.dev/tools): SMS utilities like a segment calculator and cost calculator. - [GitHub repository](https://github.com/textbee/textbee): source code, MIT licensed. - [@textbee/sdk on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@textbee/sdk): the official JavaScript SDK. ## Topics - [Comparisons](https://textbee.dev/compare): textbee against each cloud SMS provider on price, sender control, and hosting. - [SMS gateway by country](https://textbee.dev/sms-gateway): Running an SMS gateway in one country: SIM plans, sender IDs, and local rules. - [SMS API by language](https://textbee.dev/sms-api): Sending and receiving SMS from one language or framework, with runnable samples. - [Use cases](https://textbee.dev/use-cases): One job SMS does well, with the steps and the code to ship it. - [Forward SMS](https://textbee.dev/forward-sms): Relays that send every text your phone receives to email, chat apps, a sheet, another number or your API. - [Integrations](https://textbee.dev/integrations): Sending and receiving SMS from one tool, using its own HTTP and webhook features and the textbee API. - [Glossary](https://textbee.dev/glossary): Plain definitions of the SMS and telecom terms that show up in the docs. ## Optional - [Blog](https://textbee.dev/blog): guides and product updates. - [Home Assistant SMS Notifications via textbee: Setup Guide for Homelab and Personal Infrastructure](https://textbee.dev/blog/home-assistant-sms-notifications-personal-infrastructure): Send SMS alerts from Home Assistant through an Android phone. Working rest_command YAML, automations, shell_command and Node-RED alternatives. - [textbee vs Bird (MessageBird) SMS API in 2026: Price, Setup and When Each Fits](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-vs-bird): textbee vs Bird (formerly MessageBird) for SMS in 2026: Bird's $0.0035 long-code rate with carrier fees, number charges and 10DLC added back, against a flat textbee plan, at 500, 5,000 and 25,000 messages a month. - [Small Business SMS from Your Own Phone Number: Why Caller ID Is Your Best Marketing Tool](https://textbee.dev/blog/small-business-sms-appointment-reminders-your-phone): Send appointment reminders and customer texts from the phone number your customers already have saved. How to use your existing Android as an SMS gateway without renting a number, with booking-tool integrations, templates and a 2026 cost comparison. - [Cheapest SMS API and Gateway Options in 2026 (Real Monthly Totals)](https://textbee.dev/blog/cheapest-sms-api): The cheapest SMS API and SMS gateway options in 2026, priced honestly: per-message rate plus carrier fees plus number rental, totalled at 1,000, 5,000 and 25,000 messages a month for Telnyx, Bird, Plivo, Twilio, Vonage, Sinch, AWS, ClickSend and textbee. - [Indie Hackers: Ship OTP and Notifications Without a Twilio Bill Eating Your MRR](https://textbee.dev/blog/indie-hackers-sms-otp-without-twilio-mrr): Per-message SMS pricing punishes early-stage products. How an Android SMS gateway keeps OTP and alerts flat-cost while you look for product-market fit. - [Send SMS in the US Without 10DLC Registration: What the Rules Cover and Where the Line Is](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-us-without-10dlc): What 10DLC registration is, what Twilio and Plivo charge for it (brand, vetting, monthly campaign and per-message carrier fees), who it applies to, and when a US business can send transactional SMS from its own phone number without registering anything. - [SMS vs WhatsApp Business API in 2026: Which Should You Build On?](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-vs-whatsapp-business-api): SMS or the WhatsApp Business Platform? Compare reach, pricing model, setup time, template rules, and when to use each or both. - [Migrate from Twilio to an Android SMS Gateway: Step by Step (2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/migrate-from-twilio-to-android-sms-gateway): How to migrate SMS from Twilio to an Android phone running textbee: map every Twilio concept to its replacement, swap the send call, rewrite the status and inbound webhooks, run both side by side, then cut over. Node.js and Python code, before and after. - [How to Integrate an SMS Gateway into Your App (Step by Step, 2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/how-to-integrate-sms-gateway): SMS gateway integration in six steps: pick a gateway, get an API key, send from your backend, receive replies by webhook, track delivery status, and go to production. Code in curl, Node.js and Python. - [WooCommerce SMS Notifications Without an SMS Plugin: One Code Snippet and Your Own Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/woocommerce-sms-notifications): Send order confirmed, shipped and on-hold texts from WooCommerce with one PHP snippet in the Code Snippets plugin and your own Android phone. Copy-paste code, replies included. - [Send SMS from Shopify with Shopify Flow: Order and Shipping Texts From Your Own Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/shopify-flow-send-sms): Text customers when a Shopify order is placed or shipped, from your own number, with one Shopify Flow workflow and the Send HTTP request action. Liquid body included. - [How to Text Multiple People Without a Group Message (iPhone, Android and Computer)](https://textbee.dev/blog/text-multiple-people-without-group-message): Send one text to many people so each gets a private message and replies come back only to you. Steps for iPhone, Android and a computer with a spreadsheet. - [30 Church Text Message Templates for Services, Events and Volunteers](https://textbee.dev/blog/church-text-message-templates): Copy-and-paste church text message templates for Sunday services, visitors, events, volunteers, youth and cancellations. Each one fits a single SMS. - [Follow-Up Text After No Response: 25 Templates for Small Businesses](https://textbee.dev/blog/follow-up-text-after-no-response): 25 follow-up text templates for leads who went quiet, after an estimate, a site visit or a viewing, each one SMS segment, plus a schedule for when to send. - [9 Best SMS APIs for Developers in 2026 (Compared, With Real Prices)](https://textbee.dev/blog/best-sms-apis-for-developers): The best SMS APIs for developers in 2026: Twilio, Telnyx, Plivo, Vonage, Sinch, Bird, AWS, ClickSend, and textbee compared on price, auth, webhooks, SDKs, and free tiers. - [Build an AI SMS Autoresponder with n8n and OpenAI](https://textbee.dev/blog/build-an-ai-sms-autoresponder-n8n-openai): Wire inbound SMS from your Android phone into n8n, pass it to an LLM, and text the reply back. Node settings, guardrails, and a Code node snippet. - [Bulk SMS for Developers: Send Personalized Mass SMS Free with textbee](https://textbee.dev/blog/bulk-sms-free-developer-guide): Send bulk SMS with textbee: the recipients array, CSV lists, personalized templates, per-recipient delivery status, and honest throughput limits. - [Open Source SMS Gateway: Self-Host Your Own with an Android Phone (2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/open-source-sms-gateway-self-hosted): textbee is an MIT-licensed, self-hostable SMS gateway. What open source means here, self-hosted vs managed, how to run it with Docker Compose, and how it compares with Gammu and other Android gateways. - [textbee vs Plivo SMS API in 2026: Full Comparison](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-vs-plivo): textbee vs Plivo for SMS in 2026: real pricing math at 500 and 5,000 messages a month, setup time, 10DLC, webhooks, self-hosting, and which one fits your use case. - [textbee vs Vonage (Nexmo) SMS API in 2026: Full Comparison](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-vs-vonage): Detailed comparison of textbee and Vonage (formerly Nexmo) for SMS in 2026: pricing, setup, global reach, Verify API, inbound SMS, WhatsApp, and when to use each. - [How to Send SMS from Claude with MCP (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and claude.ai)](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-claude-with-mcp): A hands-on guide to sending and reading SMS from Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and claude.ai with the textbee MCP server. Setup, example prompts, delivery checks, reading replies, and guardrails. - [Give Your AI Agent a Phone Number: Send SMS from Claude with MCP](https://textbee.dev/blog/give-your-ai-agent-a-phone-number-mcp): The textbee MCP server lets Claude, Cursor, and any MCP-enabled agent send and read SMS through your own Android phone. Setup in two minutes, open source, no per-message markup. - [SMS for Hotels and Vacation Rentals: Guest Messaging From Booking to Checkout](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-for-hotels-hospitality): How small hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals use SMS for booking confirmations, check-in instructions, guest requests, and review requests, all from their own local number. - [SMS OTP vs Email OTP vs TOTP in 2026: Which 2FA Should You Build?](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-otp-vs-email-otp-vs-totp): Compare SMS OTP, email OTP, TOTP (authenticator apps), and hardware keys for 2FA in 2026: security, UX, cost, and implementation. Includes a textbee OTP code example. - [How to Receive SMS and Process Webhooks with textbee](https://textbee.dev/blog/receive-sms-webhook-android-gateway): Set up inbound SMS webhooks with textbee. Payload structure, signature verification, Node.js and Python handler examples, STOP keyword handling, OTP reply capture, and local testing with ngrok. - [SMS for Real Estate Agents: How to Engage Buyers and Sellers by Text (2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-for-real-estate-agents): How real estate agents use SMS for listing alerts, open house reminders, showing confirmations, and fast lead follow-up from their own number. Templates and compliance included. - [Twilio SMS Pricing 2026: The Real Monthly Cost (With Hidden Fees)](https://textbee.dev/blog/twilio-pricing-real-cost-breakdown): Twilio US SMS pricing, checked October 2026: $0.0083 a segment plus $0.0035 to $0.005 carrier fees, number and 10DLC costs, and real monthly totals. - [Send SMS in Django and Flask: textbee Integration Guide](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-python-django-flask): Send SMS from Django and Flask applications using textbee and your Android phone as the gateway. Service class, Celery async tasks, Django signals, Flask blueprints: zero per-message fees. - [Best Free SMS Gateway in 2026 (No Monthly Fee, No Credit Card Trap)](https://textbee.dev/blog/free-sms-gateway): Honest comparison of free SMS gateway options in 2026: textbee, Twilio trial, Vonage demo mode, AWS SNS, TextBelt, and more. What's actually free vs what's a trial disguised as free. - [SMS Gateway for Raspberry Pi and Linux Servers: Alerts via Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-gateway-raspberry-pi-linux): Send SMS alerts from a Raspberry Pi or Linux server using textbee and an Android phone as the gateway. Python scripts, bash/curl one-liners, systemd services, and Uptime Kuma webhook config. - [n8n SMS Integration with textbee: Automate SMS Without Code](https://textbee.dev/blog/n8n-sms-automation-textbee): Send SMS from n8n workflows using textbee and your Android phone as the gateway. HTTP Request node config, workflow patterns, expressions, and a full open-source self-hosted stack guide. - [Send SMS from Laravel: Gateway, Notifications, and Queued Jobs](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-laravel-php): Send SMS in Laravel using textbee and your Android phone. Covers the Http facade, a service class, a custom notification channel, and queued jobs. - [Send SMS from Java: No Twilio, Just Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-java): Send real SMS from Java using textbee and your Android phone as the gateway. Native HttpClient, OkHttp, and Spring Boot examples, zero per-message fees. - [Send SMS from Go: No Twilio, Just Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-go): Send real SMS from Go using textbee and your Android phone as the gateway. Native net/http, struct marshaling, error handling, and bulk send included. - [Send Text Messages from PHP: SMS Gateway and API Tutorial with Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-php): Send real text messages from PHP using textbee and your Android phone as the SMS gateway. Native cURL, Guzzle, and Laravel Http examples: zero per-message fees. - [Send SMS from Make.com, Zapier, and n8n with textbee](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-make-zapier-n8n): Automate SMS without a dev team: HTTP module config, phone normalization, retry logic, and workflow patterns for Make.com, Zapier, and n8n. No code needed. - [SMS Message Templates: 2FA, Order Updates, and Reminders](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-message-templates-2fa-order-reminder): Ready-to-use SMS templates for 2FA, order confirmation, shipping, appointment reminders, and alerts. Copy, customize, and use with textbee.dev. - [What Is an Android SMS Gateway? How It Works, Pros, Cons & When to Use One (2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/what-is-an-android-sms-gateway): An Android SMS gateway turns a phone you already own into a programmable SMS sender. Learn how it works, when it beats Twilio, real costs, and setup steps. - [Developers in Emerging Markets: Twilio Doesn't Support Your Country? textbee Works Anywhere Android Works](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-gateway-developers-emerging-markets-twilio-unavailable): When CPaaS onboarding, pricing, or coverage blocks you, an Android phone on a SIM is often the fastest path to SMS for developers underserved by Twilio. - [Cost-Effective SMS Solutions: Why textbee Beats Traditional SMS APIs in 2026](https://textbee.dev/blog/cost-effective-sms-solutions-textbee-vs-traditional-apis): Traditional SMS APIs charge per segment, carrier fees, number rental, and 10DLC. An Android SMS gateway like textbee replaces all that with one flat fee. - [textbee vs Twilio: Full Comparison (2026) - Pricing, Features, Which to Pick](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-vs-twilio): A detailed textbee vs Twilio comparison: real 2026 pricing math, feature breakdown, migration notes, and guidance on which SMS solution fits your use case. - [9 Cheaper Twilio Alternatives for SMS, With Real US Prices (2026)](https://textbee.dev/blog/twilio-alternatives): Nine cheaper Twilio alternatives for SMS with real US prices: Telnyx, Plivo, Bird, Bandwidth, Vonage, Sinch, AWS SNS, ClickSend and textbee. - [SMS Appointment Reminders for Small Businesses: Send from Your Own Number (2026 Guide)](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-appointment-reminders-small-business): Send appointment reminders, booking confirmations and reschedule notices by SMS from your own business number, with no 10DLC registration and a flat $14.99 plan. Timing, templates, US costs and TCPA basics for clinics, salons, HVAC and dental. - [Send Text Messages from Node.js: SMS API Tutorial with Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-from-nodejs): Send real SMS messages from Node.js using your Android phone as the gateway. One async function, your own phone number, zero per-message fees. - [Python SMS Gateway: Send and Receive Text Messages from Python with Your Android Phone](https://textbee.dev/blog/send-sms-python-android-phone): Turn your Android phone into a Python SMS gateway. Use a short Python script to send real text messages: no Twilio, no carrier contracts. Just textbee, requests, and a small script. - [textbee Version 2.7.0: Enhanced Device Management, Scheduled SMS, and Improved Reliability](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-version-2-7-0-release): Discover the latest features in textbee version 2.7.0, including custom device names, SIM card selection, scheduled SMS sending, and improved reliability. - [Android 15+ SEND_SMS Permission: How to Enable SMS Permissions on Android 15 & 16](https://textbee.dev/blog/android-15-send-sms-permission-guide): SMS permission greyed out, not allowed, or missing on Android 15 or 16? Enable SEND_SMS and RECEIVE_SMS for sideloaded and restricted apps in under 2 minutes. - [Setting Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) with textbee SMS Gateway](https://textbee.dev/blog/setup-2fa-with-textbee): A practical guide to implementing SMS-based two-factor authentication using textbee.dev. Step-by-step instructions with code examples. - [How to Send Text Messages Programmatically with textbee: SMS API Guide](https://textbee.dev/blog/how-to-send-sms-programmatically-guide): Send text messages from your own code with the textbee SMS API: step-by-step setup and send examples in multiple programming languages, from your own Android phone. - [SMS Compliance Checklist: TCPA, Opt-In, and Best Practices (2026 Update)](https://textbee.dev/blog/sms-compliance-checklist-tcpa-opt-in): A practical SMS compliance checklist for US marketers and developers. TCPA, consent, opt-out, and how to send compliant SMS campaigns. - [textbee.dev Use Cases](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-dev-use-cases): Discover how businesses and developers use textbee.dev SMS Gateway across many applications. Get inspired by these common use cases and implementations. - [textbee.dev SMS Gateway Quickstart](https://textbee.dev/blog/textbee-dev-sms-gateway-quickstart): Get started with textbee.dev SMS Gateway in minutes. Learn to send and receive SMS using your Android phone as a gateway for your own applications. - [Changelog](https://textbee.dev/changelog): release notes. - [About](https://textbee.dev/about): who builds textbee (Nuver Labs, a small software studio) and how the project is run. - [Services](https://textbee.dev/services): custom integration, self-hosted setup, and automation work by the textbee team.