SMS Broadcast Software FAQ

What is SMS broadcast software?

Software that sends text messages to a list of subscribers on your behalf. You write a message, pick an audience, and the system delivers it through an SMS provider, tracks delivery and clicks, and handles opt-outs automatically. The full picture is on the SMS broadcast software overview.

Is SMS Campaign Engine really free?

Yes. It is open source under the MIT license, which means free to download, run, modify, and use commercially, with the source public on GitHub. Your only costs are your hosting, usually a few dollars a month, and your SMS provider's per-message rates.

What do I need to run it?

Almost any hosting with PHP 8.1 or newer, including cheap shared hosting, a small VPS, or Docker. Everything is stored in a single SQLite file, so there is no database server to install. Setup is copying one config file and setting four values, the documentation walks through it.

Which SMS providers does it work with?

Twilio, Telnyx, Vonage, Plivo, Sinch, Bandwidth, ClickSend, MessageBird, TextMagic, ClickBuzz, Volt, and Ahoi, twelve providers through one send API. You bring your own provider account, which keeps you in control of the per-message price. See how to connect an SMS provider.

How is it different from the hosted SMS Broadcast app?

Same engine, different operator. The open source release runs on your hosting, under your control, with your data on your server. The hosted app is the managed version, where the servers, updates, and monitoring are our problem instead of yours. Contact our team if the managed route fits better.

How much does sending bulk SMS cost?

With the engine being free, the real cost is the provider rate: in the US, roughly half a cent to two cents per message. Ten thousand messages costs somewhere between $50 and $200 depending on your provider and volume discounts. Our article on cost per message breaks it down.

Is bulk text messaging legal?

Yes, with consent and registration. US law requires prior express written consent for marketing texts, every message needs opt-out language, and business traffic requires 10DLC registration with the carriers. The engine automates the mechanical parts, STOP handling and suppression, but consent collection and registration are yours to do. Start with the TCPA guide and the 10DLC guide.

What happens when someone texts STOP?

They are unsubscribed immediately and added to a suppression list that survives re-imports. Upload an old contact file a year later and suppressed numbers still will not be messaged. You can also unsubscribe numbers through the API or bulk uploads.

Can it answer incoming texts automatically?

Yes. Point a sending number at an AI chatbot and replies get answered by text automatically, grounded in your own knowledge base. Our open source AbraTabia AI Storyteller speaks the chatbot hook's format out of the box. The AI auto replies guide covers the setup.

Can I send texts from my own software?

Yes. The JSON API covers single sends, contact adds and uploads, drip enrollment, unsubscribes, broadcast scheduling, conversion tracking, and daily stats, all secured with an API key header. The API reference documents every endpoint with examples.

How fast does a broadcast send?

Deliberately spread across the day in hour buckets, with each send shifted to the recipient's local timezone by area code. That protects your delivery rate, keeps you inside carrier volume limits, and paces the replies. A single message through the send endpoint goes out immediately. See how to send bulk SMS.

Does it do drip campaigns?

Yes, autoresponder series are built in: a sequence of messages sent to each subscriber on a daily, weekly, or monthly rhythm from the day they enroll, with quiet hours and skip days handled automatically. The drip campaign setup guide walks through it.