# Android SMS gateway apps compared: which one really works? > SMSGate, httpSMS, textbee and Unlimited Messaging compared: open source, self-hosting, pricing, MMS, dual SIM, webhooks, encryption and MCP for AI. Source: https://unlimitedmessaging.app/articles/android-sms-gateway-comparison Comparison # What is the best Android SMS gateway? _The 2026 comparison._ Four apps turn an Android phone into an SMS gateway you drive over HTTP: SMSGate, httpSMS, textbee and Unlimited Messaging. What each one does today, where the open source projects are ahead, and when a multi-channel API fits better. [Get the Android app](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/channels/sms)[View pricing](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/pricing) The basics ## What is an Android SMS gateway app? An Android SMS gateway app turns a phone with a SIM card into an SMS sender you control from code: your server calls an API, the phone sends the text over the carrier network, and replies come back as webhooks. [SMS Gateway for Android](https://github.com/capcom6/android-sms-gateway), httpSMS and textbee made the idea popular as open source projects; Unlimited Messaging added it in November 2026 as a third channel next to WhatsApp and email. The appeal is cost and identity. The SMS leave from your own number, on your own plan, so recipients recognize you and no SMS provider bills you per message. The trade-off is volume: a phone is not a carrier-grade route, and Android itself asks the user to confirm when an app sends more than 30 SMS in 30 minutes. None of these four apps is on Google Play, for the same reason: Play only grants SMS permissions to the phone's default SMS app, so each one ships an APK to install by hand. All of them run a background service and need the phone powered, online and with signal. This comparison only uses what each project documents publicly, checked on 7 November 2026 in their READMEs, docs and pricing pages. Open source projects move fast: follow the links before deciding. Related: [let Claude or ChatGPT send SMS from your phone](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/articles/ai-agent-send-sms), and [email and WhatsApp in one API request](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/articles/email-whatsapp-single-api-request). ![Illustration: a comparison table where one column has every check, with the headline “Android SMS gateway apps, compared”.](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Farticles%2Fcovers%2Fandroid-sms-gateway-comparison-en.png&w=3840&q=75) Definition Android SMS gateway An Android app that sends the SMS queued through an API from the phone's own SIM card, and forwards the SMS the phone receives to a server or a webhook. Also called an SMS gateway app, phone-as-a-gateway or HTTP to SMS bridge. [Source: SMS Gateway for Android documentation↗](https://docs.sms-gate.app/) The table ## SMSGate vs httpSMS vs textbee vs Unlimited Messaging All four send from your own SIM. They differ on hosting, media, privacy and what sits around the SMS. __SMSGate vs httpSMS vs textbee vs Unlimited Messaging__ | [SMSGate](https://sms-gate.app)SMS Gateway for Android | [httpSMS](https://httpsms.com)NdoleStudio | [textbee](https://textbee.dev)vernu | Unlimited MessagingSMS + WhatsApp + email | | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | Open source | Yes, Apache-2.0 (app and server) | Yes, AGPL-3.0 | Yes, AGPL-3.0 | Android app only (MIT) | | Self-hosting | Private server, or a local server on the phone itself | Yes, Docker | Yes, Docker Compose plus your own Firebase project | No, hosted service (EU) | | Hosted plan | Free public cloud, limits not published | Free tier with a monthly cap, paid Pro plan | Free: 50 SMS/day, 300/month. Pro $14.99/mo: 5,000/month | Free plan, no per-SMS fee | | Receive SMS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, in one inbox with WhatsApp and email | | Webhooks | Received, sent, delivered, failed, MMS, data SMS | Yes | Yes, HMAC-signed | message.received and status events | | Dual SIM | Yes | Yes (SIM1 / SIM2) | Yes, SIM chosen per message | Yes, one account per SIM | | MMS | Send and receive | Send (attachments) | Not documented | No, text only (1,530 characters) | | End-to-end encryption | Optional | Optional, AES-256, key stays on the phone | Not documented | No (TLS in transit only) | | How the phone gets messages | Firebase push, SSE fallback without Play Services | Firebase push | Firebase push | Long polling, no Firebase or Play Services | | Other channels | SMS only (email-to-SMS and Telegram bridges) | SMS only | SMS only | WhatsApp + email + SMS in one request | | MCP server for AI assistants | Not documented (agent integration guide) | Not documented | Yes, npm package and hosted endpoint | Yes, hosted with OAuth, SMS + WhatsApp + email | | SDKs and no-code | Go, JS/TS, PHP, Python, Rust clients | Go and JS/TS clients | REST API | Python and TypeScript SDKs, n8n node | | Minimum Android | 5.0 | 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | | Track record | About 6,000 GitHub stars, since 2022 | About 6,300 GitHub stars, since 2022 | About 3,300 GitHub stars | SMS channel launched November 2026 | Checked on 7 November 2026 in each project's README, documentation and pricing page (links in the sources). httpSMS does not publish its tier limits in a crawlable form, so check its site for current numbers. In brief ## The four apps at a glance * ### SMSGate (SMS Gateway for Android) The most complete feature set: SMS, MMS and binary data SMS in both directions, multi-SIM, optional end-to-end encryption, and three modes (a local server on the phone, a free public cloud, or your own private server). Apache-2.0, client libraries in five languages. [sms-gate.app↗](https://sms-gate.app) * ### httpSMS A simple HTTP API to send and receive SMS through your phone, with webhooks for incoming messages, optional AES-256 end-to-end encryption, MMS attachments and scheduled sends up to 20 days ahead. AGPL-3.0, self-hostable with Docker, or hosted with a free tier. [httpsms.com↗](https://httpsms.com) * ### textbee A hosted SMS gateway with a dashboard, CSV bulk sends paced to carrier limits, signed webhooks, several devices per account and an MCP server for Claude and Cursor. Free plan at 50 SMS a day, Pro at $14.99 a month. AGPL-3.0 and self-hostable. [textbee.dev↗](https://textbee.dev) * ### Unlimited Messaging A messaging API where SMS is one channel among three: the same POST /message sends SMS, WhatsApp or email, up to three channels at once. Hosted MCP server for AI assistants, unified inbox, webhooks, Python and TypeScript SDKs, n8n node. The Android app is MIT and needs no Google services. Fair play ## When another gateway may suit you better Each tool has its strengths. If one of these points is a hard requirement, one of the other three may be the better fit. 1. 01 ### Self-hosting SMSGate, httpSMS and textbee can run on your own servers, and SMSGate even offers a local mode on your network. Unlimited Messaging is a hosted service: nothing to install or maintain. 2. 02 ### MMS SMSGate sends and receives MMS, and httpSMS sends MMS attachments. Unlimited Messaging focuses on text SMS up to 1,530 characters and sends images and files through WhatsApp or email in the same request. 3. 03 ### End-to-end encryption SMSGate and httpSMS can encrypt message content end to end. Unlimited Messaging encrypts traffic in transit and processes the text on its servers, which is what powers the shared inbox and your webhooks. Where we fit ## What Unlimited Messaging adds around the SMS The gateway part is comparable. The difference is everything that sits next to it. ### SMS, WhatsApp and email in one API One POST /message, one API key, one status model. Pick SMS, WhatsApp or email per message, or send on up to three channels in the same request. ### An MCP server for AI assistants Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor connect over OAuth and get one connector for all three channels: they can text from your phone, send a WhatsApp or an email, and read the replies. 1. 01 ### One inbox for the replies SMS received after you sign in to the app land next to your WhatsApp chats and emails, and fire the same message.received webhook. 2. 02 ### No Google services on the phone No Firebase, no Play Services, no analytics. The app keeps one long-polling connection open and signs in through the website's own login page. 3. 03 ### Your number, your plan Recipients see your number. Unlimited Messaging charges nothing per SMS; your carrier plan applies. Free plan messages end with a short signature. 4. 04 ### SDKs and n8n Official Python and TypeScript SDKs and an n8n node already cover SMS, with the same webhooks and statuses as the other channels. POST /messageShell ``` curl https://api.unlimitedmessaging.app/message \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $UM_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "to": { "phone": "+33612345678" }, "channels": [{ "channel": "SMS" }], "text": "Your appointment is tomorrow at 10:00." }' ``` The same request as for WhatsApp or email, with "channel": "SMS". Add "accountId" to pick a SIM on a dual SIM phone. How to choose ### Pick by what you need around the SMS You want to own the whole stack, or need MMS or end-to-end encryption: SMSGate, or httpSMS. You want a hosted SMS-only service with CSV bulk sends and an MCP server: textbee. You already send WhatsApp or email, want replies in one inbox, or want an AI assistant to text from your number: Unlimited Messaging. FAQ ## Questions about Android SMS gateway apps All four have a free option. SMSGate is free in every mode, including its public cloud. httpSMS and textbee have free hosted tiers (textbee: 50 SMS a day, 300 a month) and can be self-hosted for free. Unlimited Messaging has a free plan and charges nothing per SMS; free plan messages end with "Sent with UnlimitedMessaging.app". Google Play only allows the SMS permissions to the app set as the phone's default SMS handler. A gateway app sits next to your normal messaging app, so all four are installed from an APK (GitHub Releases or their own download page). Android asks for a confirmation when an app sends more than 30 SMS in 30 minutes, and consumer unlimited plans usually forbid bulk automated sending. A phone gateway suits reminders, alerts and conversations, not marketing blasts. Unlimited Messaging spaces SMS out to stay under the Android threshold. No. Only the Android app is open source (MIT). If self-hosting is a requirement, SMSGate, httpSMS and textbee all document a self-hosted setup. SMSGate sends and receives MMS; httpSMS sends MMS attachments. textbee does not document MMS, and Unlimited Messaging is text only, up to 1,530 characters per message. textbee and Unlimited Messaging both run an MCP server that Claude can use. The Unlimited Messaging connector also covers WhatsApp and email and works in ChatGPT where custom connectors are available. With SMSGate or httpSMS you would wire their API into your own agent. Sources ## Sources & references To check the information in this article for yourself: 1. [01SMS Gateway for Android - README (features, modes, license)↗GitHub - capcom6](https://github.com/capcom6/android-sms-gateway) 2. [02SMSGate - public cloud server (Firebase, SSE fallback)↗docs.sms-gate.app](https://docs.sms-gate.app/getting-started/public-cloud-server/) 3. [03SMSGate - client libraries↗docs.sms-gate.app](https://docs.sms-gate.app/integration/client-libraries/) 4. [04httpSMS - README (webhooks, end-to-end encryption, self-hosting)↗GitHub - NdoleStudio](https://github.com/NdoleStudio/httpsms) 5. [05textbee - README (self-hosting, dual SIM, webhooks, bulk)↗GitHub - vernu](https://github.com/vernu/textbee) 6. [06textbee - pricing↗textbee.dev](https://textbee.dev/pricing) 7. [07textbee - MCP server↗textbee.dev](https://textbee.dev/docs/agents/mcp) 8. [08Use of SMS or Call Log permission groups↗Google Play Console Help](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10208820) 9. [09SmsUsageMonitor (30 SMS in 30 minutes threshold)↗Android Open Source Project](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/opt/telephony/+/refs/heads/main/src/java/com/android/internal/telephony/SmsUsageMonitor.java) 10. [10Unlimited Messaging for Android - README↗GitHub - UnlimitedMessaging](https://github.com/UnlimitedMessaging/unlimited-messaging-android) ![Ilian, senior software engineer](https://ilianazz.com/images/iliazz.png) Written by [Ilian](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/authors/ilian) · Senior Software Engineer A senior software engineer, he founds and runs several tech companies. He builds products around messaging APIs, automation and AI integration, and shares here what he learns while building. [View LinkedIn profile↗](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilianAzz/)Updated November 7, 2026 ![](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/assets/logos/whatsapp.svg)![](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/assets/logos/email.svg)![](https://unlimitedmessaging.app/assets/logos/sms.svg) ## Add SMS to the API you already use. Install the free Android app, sign in, and send your first SMS with the same POST /message as WhatsApp and email. 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