Textbelt
Textbelt is an SMS API for developers who want software to send text messages.
What Textbelt is
Textbelt is an SMS API for developers who want software to send text messages. The public API key “textbelt” allows one free text per day, and a free, open-source self-hosted server is also available; it relies on email gateways. Examples on the homepage cover Curl, Python, Ruby, Node.js, JavaScript, PHP, C#, Java, PowerShell, and Go. The API can report statuses such as SENT, DELIVERED, SENDING, FAILED, and UNKNOWN, while noting that carrier delivery statuses are not standardized. Replies are supported for U.S. phone numbers through a webhook endpoint configured by the customer. The OTP API sends a one-time verification code and checks the code submitted by a user. A separate chart API renders supplied data and sends it by MMS: one chart per day is free, but chart MMS is limited to U.S. or Canadian numbers and costs two credits plus credits for the text content. Paid SMS credits are one-time purchases; prices depend on destination. The site says there is no recurring billing or minimum spend. Textbelt was founded in 2012.
Good
- One free text per day through the public API key
- Examples cover ten programming languages
- OTP API sends and checks verification codes
- One-time credit purchases, with no minimum spend
Watch out
- Free API use is limited to one text per day
- Inbound replies are supported for U.S. numbers
- Chart MMS is limited to U.S. and Canadian numbers
- URL messages require additional permissions
Who it suits
Textbelt may suit developers integrating SMS sending or OTP verification through an API. Its self-hosted option may interest those who want an open-source server that relies on email gateways.
Verdict
Textbelt offers API-based SMS sending, OTP checks, and limited inbound-reply support, plus a self-hosted option. Review destination-dependent credit costs and the country limits on replies and chart MMS.
Plans and prices
From Textbelt's own pricing page, checked 24 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 1 text per day |
| Pay as you go | Priced on request | Usage-based SMS API |
| Pay as you go | — | Usage-based SMS API |
| Paid SMS credits | — | SMS credits; custom packages available through sales · One-time charge; price depends on destination |
The facts
Each one read from Textbelt's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Money
- Billing
- Purchases are one-time charges, and the site says it has no recurring billing or minimum spend.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Daily free use
- The public API key "textbelt" can send one free text per day.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
- Toll-free numbers
- Nochecked 24 Sep 2026
What it does
- Chart MMS
- The chart API renders supplied data as a chart and delivers it by MMS; one free chart can be sent per day.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Chart MMS limits
- Chart MMS can only be sent to U.S. or Canadian phone numbers and costs two credits plus credits for the text content.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Delivery status
- The API can report statuses including DELIVERED, SENT, SENDING, FAILED, and UNKNOWN, and notes that carrier delivery statuses are not standardized.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Inbound replies
- Replies are supported for U.S. phone numbers through a webhook endpoint configured by the customer.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Inbound webhooks
- Nochecked 24 Sep 2026
- Languages
- The homepage provides examples for Curl, Python, Ruby, Node.js, JavaScript, PHP, C#, Java, PowerShell, and Go.checked 7 Oct 2026
- MMS support
- Nochecked 24 Sep 2026
- OTP verification
- The OTP API generates and sends a one-time verification code, then checks the code submitted by the user.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Payment handling
- The purchase page says Stripe processes credit cards and that card details are not stored on Textbelt's servers.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy and retention
- The privacy policy says API request IP addresses, phone numbers, and message text when applicable are retained for up to 60 days.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Refund policy
- Textbelt offers a 30-day guarantee and refunds unused text messages if requested within 30 days of purchase.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Self-hosted option
- Textbelt offers a free, self-hosted open-source server that relies on email gateways.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Short code support
- Nochecked 24 Sep 2026
- Support
- Textbelt directs customers to [email protected] and says its team supports both the free and paid versions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Two-way SMS
- Nochecked 24 Sep 2026
- URL messages
- SMS messages containing URLs require additional permissions granted through a form.checked 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Textbelt is an SMS API for developers to send and receive text messages.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2012checked 28 Sep 2026
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