IN THE FIELD GUIDE

textbee

textbee.dev

Textbee is an open-source SMS gateway that uses your own Android phone to send and receive SMS messages via a REST API, dashboard, and integrations like n8n and Zapier. It offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional SMS gateways with no per-message fees and supports features like bulk messaging, message scheduling, and multi-device support.

THE PRODUCT, BEYOND THE PITCH

Editorially reviewed · Sources checked Sep 12, 2026

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A good fit for

Developers, startups, and small businesses needing a cost-effective SMS gateway without per-message fees.

Know the limitations

Not suitable for very high-volume SMS needs requiring carrier-grade throughput like millions of 2FA codes per day.

What you can do

Send time-sensitive OTP and 2FA verification codes to secure logins and accounts.
Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery alerts that customers actually read.
Send appointment reminders to reduce no-shows for clinics, salons, and services.
Push critical system, weather, and on-call alerts immediately when they happen.
Run opt-in marketing promotions, offers, and bulk campaigns from your own number.

Features

Send SMS from any app with a single REST call without SDKs or vendor lock-in.
Receive inbound SMS via webhooks or API for OTP verification, support inboxes, and two-way messaging.
Bulk messaging to reach many recipients in a single API call for campaigns, alerts, and broadcasts.
Reusable SMS templates with dynamic variables to send consistent messages faster.
Advanced analytics showing delivery, volume, and performance with detailed reports.

Integrations

Not confirmed yet.

Platforms & data export

Android phones running the free, open-source textbee app act as SMS gateways.

THE COST FOR YOUR TEAM

Go beyond the starting price.

Published plan prices for your team size and usage. Results update as you type. Taxes, currency conversion and unlisted add-ons are excluded, and anything the source did not state is called out rather than guessed.

PeopleBillingCurrencyPrices are shown as published. No exchange rates are applied.Monthly usage per toolApplies to each tool’s own unit. Leave at 0 for subscription cost only.

Known monthly subtotal

$0.00/month

1 of 1 tools could not be priced with these inputs, so this is not the full cost.

Plan costs based on your requirements
Tool / plan	Monthly	Per year	What this assumes
textbee Custom Flat subscription	By quote	—	Priced by quote — ask the provider for a figure. Contact the provider for a quote.

A practical workflow

Install the free, open-source Android app to turn your phone into an SMS gateway.
Generate a secure API key from the dashboard with unlimited keys per account.
Scan the QR code in the app or paste the key to enable the gateway.
Start sending SMS immediately from the dashboard or API once setup is complete.

Based on the sources below. Editorial review does not imply hands-on product testing.

Alternatives to explore

Filter alternatives →

Candidates based on category and primary feature. Check feature and pricing differences before switching.

Notilify

✓ Reviewed

Notilify is a transactional SMS API service designed for sending OTPs, account alerts, and security notifications with high delivery reliability and real-time tracking. It offers intelligent routing, automatic failover, retries, and delivery status webhooks to ensure messages reach users promptly and reliably.

Email & communication

Plan a switch from textbee →

What changed

No changes recorded yet

Changes to the facts recorded here, not a live scan of every vendor update. Save this tool to follow updates in your account.