Zapier is your go-to app for all things automation. But can this automation tool do something as simple as sending a text message? If this is the question on your mind, you have come to the right place.
In this article, you’ll find out if you can use Zapier to send text messages. Stay to find out more.
How to send text messages with Zapier
Zapier has a feature called “SMS by Zapier” to automatically send you SMS text messages based on your preferred triggers. Furthermore, using the function is relatively simple. Here’s how to send a text message using SMS By Zapier:
- Go to your dashboard in Zapier and click “Create Zap.”
- Select the event to trigger an SMS text.
- From the “Activate event” drop-down menu, select an event to receive notifications. Click “Continue” to continue.
- If you are not authenticated, go ahead and finish the authentication process for the app you are trying to integrate with SMS by Zapier.
- In the “Action Event” drop-down menu, type “SMS by Zapier” and select the first result that appears. Choose “Send SMS” to continue.
- In the “Destination Number” field, enter your verified phone number.
- Continue by choosing the method you would like to use to verify your phone number.
- Complete the phone verification process by entering the verification code provided to you.
- Customize the message you want to receive based on the trigger entered. You can also include variables generated from the trigger in the message.
- Click “Test and Review.”
You should now receive a text message if the activator was successfully activated.
If you want to send a text message to someone else using Zapier SMS, you may have to ask for their verification code, making it a daunting task for some in-app SMS users.
Advantages of sending text messages using Zapier SMS
- It costs nothing to send a message.
- It’s automatic.
Disadvantages of texting using Zapier SMS
Sending messages using Zapier is not impossible. But the app has its own drawbacks. Here are some of the main ones:
- The number of text messages you can send is limited to 15 per hour.
- You can only send a text message to a number that Zapier verifies.
- A text message can only be a maximum of 153 characters and any additional characters in the message will be truncated.
- The phone number you want to send a text message to must be registered in the United States or the United Kingdom.
- You can only text yourself.
Twilio: the best alternative to Zapier SMS for sending text messages
Twilio is a great alternative to SMS by Zapier when sending text messages in the app. Although the solution is not free to use, it is incredibly affordable for most.
To use Twilio to send text messages from Zapier, you’ll first need to connect it to Zapier. This can be done using an authentication token, your account SID, and an API key found in your Twilio dashboard. After authentication, you can start using Twilio to send text messages using your Zaps.
Here’s how to use Twilio to send messages within your Zapier app:
- Go to Twilio and purchase a phone number.
- Choose the event you want to be activated to receive by SMS.
- From the “Trigger Event” drop-down menu, select the event you want to be notified of when it occurs. Click “Continue” to continue.
- If you are not authenticated, go ahead and finish the authentication process for the app you are trying to integrate with Twilio.
- In the “Action Event” drop-down menu, type “Twilio” and select the first result of the query.
- Choose “Send SMS” from the drop-down menu to continue
- Fill out the options that appear, including the number you purchased from Twilio, the number you want to send an SMS to, and a media URL.
- Continue to finish setting up Zap.
- You should now receive a text message if the trigger activates successfully.
Advantages of using Twilio to send SMS in Zapier
- There are no limits on the number of text messages you can send.
- You can send an SMS to any number, including those that are not verified by Zapier.
Why you would want to send a text message using Zapier
Although Zapier SMS poses some limitations that cannot be ignored, the feature can be useful in certain scenarios.
For example, if you have a contact form on your website or even a form that you submitted for feedback, you can set up a Zap to receive a text message every time someone fills out that form. That way, you’ll be able to contact senders almost immediately.
You can also send yourself a text message every time you receive a payment from a client. From these few examples, it is clear that SMS By Zapier can be a convenient tool in specific circumstances.
Additional FAQs
Does it cost money to send a text message using Zapier?
If you use Zapier SMS to send the messages, it won’t cost you anything. With Twilio, SMS charges may apply, but many will find it incredibly affordable.
Use Zapier to send your next automated text message
Zapier is a fantastic tool for sending automated messages. However, the popular “SMS by Zapier” poses some messaging limitations that cannot be overlooked. Fortunately, you can turn to other Zapier-compatible messaging apps, like Twilio, which offer much more flexibility and messaging capabilities.
Have you ever tried sending a text message using Zapier? How was the experience of the entire process? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section below.
