Send text messages from website with Android
FlixySMS guide
Send text messages from website with Android: direct answer
Sending text messages from a website means triggering SMS from a web form, app, store, or backend service through an API.
Key facts
- FlixySMS exposes REST endpoints for single-message sends and bulk sends.
- Developers can include a device_id when the send must use a specific Android phone.
- Common website triggers include lead forms, order updates, appointment reminders, and account alerts.
- The API response includes message identifiers that can be used for delivery-status checks.
- This guide was published on May 21, 2026 and has an estimated 3-minute reading time.
Process
- 1Create an API key in the dashboard.
- 2Call the send endpoint from the website backend after the user action occurs.
- 3Store the returned message_id with the website event.
- 4Call the status endpoint when the site needs confirmation or troubleshooting data.
Send text messages from website using an Android phone as the gateway. FlixySMS replaces expensive per-message APIs with flat-fee subscriptions and direct carrier routing for Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom webhooks.
TL;DR
FlixySMS turns any Android phone into a self-hosted SMS gateway. Connect your website through Shopify, WooCommerce, Google Sheets, or webhooks and send messages over your existing carrier plan. Costs stay far below Twilio-style per-message pricing while supporting two-way replies and scheduled campaigns.
Why send text messages from your website
FlixySMS converts an Android phone into a self-hosted SMS gateway. You connect your site through webhooks or plugins and route outgoing messages over your existing carrier plan instead of paying per-message fees to Twilio or Plivo.
A typical handset handles 30 to 100 SMS per minute. Multi-device setups let you parallelize across phones for higher volume. Messages longer than 160 characters are split automatically with concatenation headers.
Cost differences from traditional SMS APIs
Carrier-based services charge between $0.0075 and $0.05 per message. FlixySMS uses your phone's plan, so the marginal cost per message drops to whatever fraction of your monthly bill the platform subscription represents.
Consider a store sending 12,000 order notifications monthly. At $0.01 each that totals $120. With FlixySMS on a Pro plan the same volume costs only the flat subscription plus your normal carrier rate.
| Provider | Per-message rate | Monthly cost (12k msgs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio | $0.0075 | $90 | Plus carrier fees |
| Plivo | $0.0085 | $102 | Volume discounts apply |
| FlixySMS | Carrier rate | $29–$99 | Flat platform fee only |
See current limits on the pricing page.
Setting up the Android gateway
Install the FlixySMS app on any Android handset with an active SIM. Grant SMS permissions and link the device to your account at dashboard. The phone now acts as the outbound gateway.
Next, create an API key in the app settings. Use that key when calling the REST endpoint documented at /api-docs.
Connecting your website
Shopify stores add the FlixySMS app from the marketplace. Order confirmations and abandoned-cart reminders are sent automatically.
WooCommerce users install the official plugin and map order events to SMS templates. Google Sheets imports let you load contact lists in CSV format for one-off blasts.
Custom platforms post JSON payloads to the webhook URL you configure in the dashboard. The payload contains phone number, message body, and optional schedule time.
For two-way conversations, inbound replies trigger auto-responders. Common keywords include STOP for opt-out and HELP for support information.
Managing contacts and campaigns
Create groups inside the app and tag contacts by source. Scheduled sends respect time-zone offsets you set per group.
Delivery reports show status codes returned by the carrier: delivered, failed, or queued. You can retry failed messages manually or via the API.
Multi-segment messages are tracked as a single logical unit even when split across several SMS packets.
API example
POST /v1/send
{
"to": "+15551234567",
"body": "Your order #4821 has shipped.",
"from": "MyStore"
}
Response includes message ID and segment count for billing reconciliation.
Limitations and trade-offs
Throughput depends on the handset and carrier. You cannot exceed the plan's daily quota listed on pricing. Enterprise users add more phones for redundancy.
The Android device must remain powered on and connected to the internet. Power outages or SIM issues pause sends until resolved.
Next steps
Start with the free tier to test webhook calls. Once volume justifies it, move to Pro or Business plans. Full setup instructions appear on the how it works page. Sign up at dashboard to create your first gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send text messages from my website?+
Install FlixySMS on an Android phone, generate an API key, and call the REST endpoint or use one of the Shopify, WooCommerce, or webhook integrations. Messages route through your phone's carrier connection.
What does it cost to send SMS from a website?+
You pay a flat monthly subscription instead of per-message fees. Your actual cost equals the platform plan divided by total messages sent over your normal carrier rate.
Can I receive replies to website text messages?+
Yes. Inbound SMS trigger auto-responders for keywords such as STOP or HELP. Two-way conversations are stored in the contact timeline inside the dashboard.
Does FlixySMS support bulk SMS campaigns?+
Yes. Import lists from Google Sheets, create groups, and schedule sends. The system splits long messages and tracks delivery across all segments.
