Free Texting API Using Your Android Phone
Run a free texting api on your own Android phone. FlixySMS converts the handset into a self-hosted gateway for bulk SMS, auto-replies, and Shopify or WooCommerce integrations without per-message carrier fees.
TL;DR
FlixySMS installs on Android and exposes a REST API so you can send SMS through your existing carrier plan instead of paying per-message fees to Twilio or similar services. A single handset manages 30-100 messages per minute. Integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Google Sheets, and custom webhooks are included. Two-way auto-responders handle STOP and HELP keywords automatically.
What is a Free Texting API
A free texting api lets developers send and receive SMS through existing phone hardware instead of paying carrier rates on every message. FlixySMS installs on any Android device and uses your current carrier plan, so costs stay limited to the monthly subscription.
Typical carrier APIs charge between $0.0075 and $0.05 per outbound message. With FlixySMS the per-message cost drops to your plan's rate spread across the subscription tier. A standard Android handset handles 30 to 100 SMS per minute before carrier throttling appears.
How Android Hardware Becomes the Gateway
FlixySMS runs as an app that exposes a local REST endpoint. The phone itself manages the radio connection, PDU encoding, and concatenation headers for messages longer than 160 characters. Multi-segment SMS are split automatically and reassembled on the receiving handset.
See the How it Works page for the exact install steps and required Android permissions. You can scale beyond a single device by adding more phones that share the same account and load-balance outbound traffic.
Integrations That Trigger SMS Automatically
Connect FlixySMS to common platforms so order events fire texts without custom code. Shopify order confirmations and abandoned-cart reminders are supported out of the box. WooCommerce users map the same order status webhooks in a few clicks.
Bulk lists import directly from Google Sheets. One column holds the phone numbers, another holds the message template, and a third stores custom variables. After import the campaign queues for scheduled delivery.
Custom webhooks cover any other system. Post a JSON payload to the endpoint and FlixySMS forwards it as an SMS within seconds.
REST API Examples
The API accepts simple POST requests for single messages and batched sends. Here is a minimal curl example that sends a two-way capable message:
curl -X POST https://your-android-ip:8443/api/send \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
-d '{"to":"+15551234567","message":"Your order #4821 has shipped."}'
Responses include message ID, segment count, and delivery status timestamps. Track those IDs later with a GET request to the status endpoint.
Cost Comparison Table
| Provider | Per-message fee | Monthly platform fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio | $0.0075–$0.05 | $0 | Carrier billed per message |
| MessageBird | $0.01–$0.04 | $0 | Same model |
| FlixySMS Free | Carrier rate | $0 | 500 SMS quota, single device |
| FlixySMS Pro | Carrier rate | $19 | 10 000 SMS quota, 3 devices |
| FlixySMS Business | Carrier rate | $49 | 50 000 SMS quota, API priority |
Check current limits on the Pricing page because quotas are tied to the active plan.
Two-Way Conversations and Auto-Responders
Inbound SMS land in the same dashboard. You can attach keyword rules so a message containing STOP triggers an opt-out confirmation. HELP returns the support phone number. Custom rules let you build simple chatbot flows without external services.
Delivery receipts update every 30 seconds for the first five minutes, then fall back to hourly polling. Failed messages can be retried manually or via the API retry flag.
Multi-Device and Quota Management
When one handset reaches carrier throttling, traffic shifts to the next registered device. The dashboard shows real-time send rates per phone and remaining monthly quota. Enterprise users receive dedicated support for custom rate-limit tuning.
Getting Started
Create an account at the Dashboard to receive your API token. Install the app on an Android phone running 8.0 or newer, grant SMS permissions, and point your first webhook at the exposed IP address. From there you can test a single message, import a Google Sheet, or connect Shopify in under ten minutes.
For deeper configuration details visit the API Documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free texting api?+
FlixySMS offers a free tier that supports up to 500 SMS per month on one device. You still pay your normal carrier SMS charges, but no extra per-message API fees apply.
How many SMS per minute can one Android phone send?+
Real-world tests show 30 to 100 SMS per minute depending on the carrier network and phone model. Adding more devices increases total throughput through parallel sending.
Does FlixySMS support messages longer than 160 characters?+
Yes. Messages over 160 characters are split automatically into multiple segments with proper concatenation headers so the recipient sees them as one message.
Can I connect FlixySMS to Shopify?+
Yes. The Shopify integration sends order confirmations and abandoned-cart reminders directly from your Android gateway using the same credentials you use for other channels.
What happens when I hit my monthly quota?+
Sending stops until the next billing cycle or you upgrade the plan. The dashboard shows remaining quota in real time so you can plan ahead.