Twilio Caution

[Matt_H]

Appsheet community.  I am posting this as a caution to those switching to Twilio for basic SMS messaging services.  I've been a loyal Appsheet user since 2017.  Their sign up process is a confusing mess.  I have attempted and been rejected and have made little progress in over a week.  If you think you'll be signing up, getting a number and switching your Appsheet messages over to Twilio within a few hours I'm passing along you need to START NOW.  You will run into their A2P 10DLC message registration process.  There are precious resources to assist with this and several screens linking to other screens which will not tell you if you need to submit more information.  Additionally, if you don't have opt-in and opt-out key words such as YES or STOP2END programmed then verbal opt-in is all you have.  None of that was required with the old service so how do we program Twilio to work within Appsheet.  Is there Appsheet YouTube video on getting this going?

[PauloExpert · Accepted solution]

Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s incredibly valuable for others considering Twilio with AppSheet. You're absolutely right: Twilio's A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-digit long code) registration process is not straightforward, especially if you’re a small business or just need basic SMS notifications from AppSheet.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s going on and some guidance for you and others facing this:

Why Twilio Setup Is Now So Complicated

In 2023, U.S. carriers enforced stricter rules requiring businesses to register before sending application-based SMS (like from AppSheet) through long code numbers. This includes:

A2P 10DLC registration

Brand and campaign registration

Use-case vetting

SMS compliance requirements (like opt-in/opt-out)

What You’ll Need to Register with Twilio

1. Business information (name, EIN/tax ID, address)

2. Campaign description – explain your SMS use case (e.g., appointment reminders, delivery notices)

3. Sample messages – you must include keywords like STOP, HELP, etc.

4. Opt-in/Opt-out language – must be present in your messages

How to Connect Twilio to AppSheet

Once your number is approved:

1. In AppSheet:

Go to Behavior > Notifications.

Create an SMS Bot or Action.

Under To, use phone number fields.

Under From, use your Twilio number.

Set up your Twilio account and credentials in Account > Integrations > Twilio.

2. Make sure message content includes something like:

Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Helpful Resources:

AppSheet Official Docs on Twilio SMS: https://help.appsheet.com/en/articles/962349-sending-sms-from-your-app

Twilio A2P Registration Walkthrough (Unofficial but super helpful): YouTube: How to Register A2P 10DLC with Twilio

Twilio SMS Console: https://console.twilio.com/

Recommendation:

If you only need simple, low-volume messaging, it may be worth exploring alternatives like:

Email-to-SMS gateways (e.g., sending to 5551234567@txt.att.net)

Third-party services with easier onboading like ClickSend or Plivo (check if AppSheet supports them directly)

[Mauricio_Bick]

Has anyone tried Verizon MMS Gateway?