Purchase a Twilio phone number for SMS
Pick the right number type
Three options:
- Local long code. Standard 10-digit number. About $1 per month in the US.
- Toll-free. 1-800 numbers. About $2 per month plus higher per-message rates.
- Short code. 5-6 digit (e.g., 12345). Premium, about $500 to $1,000 per month. Used for high-volume SMS at scale.
For most teams: local long code.
Purchase walkthrough
About 5 minutes:
- Twilio Console > Phone Numbers > Buy a number.
- Pick country (US, IN, UK, etc.).
- Capabilities required: SMS and MMS.
- Optionally: include voice if running voice channel too.
- Pick a specific number or search by area code.
- Click Buy. Charged about $1.
Number assigned to your Twilio account immediately.
US-specific: A2P 10DLC registration
Required for all US SMS senders since 2023. See A2P 10DLC registration for the full registration flow.
Without it, Twilio blocks messages to US numbers from that 10DLC number (error 30034).
India-specific: TRAI registration
India numbers require TRAI registration:
- TM/PE registration for sending entity.
- Template registration for each message format.
- DLT registration with the relevant telecom operator.
Setup adds 1 to 2 weeks. Required for sending any commercial SMS in India.
Country-specific costs
Sample per-number monthly fees:
| Country | Long code | Per-message (utility) |
|---|---|---|
| US | $1.00 | $0.0075 |
| Canada | $1.00 | $0.0075 |
| UK | $1.00 | $0.04 |
| India | $0.85 | $0.005 |
| Australia | $6.50 | $0.05 |
| Germany | $1.00 | $0.075 |
Check Twilio's current pricing for your country. Pricing fluctuates.
Connect to AskVault
After purchase:
- Twilio: copy Account SID, Auth Token, phone number.
- AskVault: Channels > SMS > Connect.
- Paste credentials.
- Verify connection. Should succeed within 30 seconds.
Send a test SMS to the number and check that it appears in AskVault.
Port your existing number
For brand continuity:
- Get a Letter of Authorization from your current carrier.
- Twilio: Phone Numbers > Port-in.
- Submit LoA.
- Wait 2 to 4 weeks for porting.
- Number transfers with no SMS interruption.
Useful when you've published your number widely. Avoid otherwise.
Number capability matrix
What each number type supports:
| Capability | Local | Toll-free | Short code |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes (US/CA) | Yes (US) | Yes (US) |
| Voice | Yes (US/CA) | Yes (US) | No |
| Yes | No | No | |
| International receive | Yes | Limited | No |
For SMS plus WhatsApp on the same number, buy a local long code with SMS plus WhatsApp capabilities.
Limits
- Active phone numbers per account. 1 on Starter, 3 on Growth and 10 on Business, across all channels; Enterprise is set by contract. SMS itself needs Growth or above.
- Porting a number. Handled by Twilio; timing depends on your current carrier.
Common pitfalls
Number can't receive SMS. Bought a voice-only number. Verify capabilities before purchase.
Messages blocked despite purchase. US: missing A2P 10DLC registration. India: missing TRAI.
Wrong area code. Twilio shows available numbers in real time; pick carefully.
Refund difficult. Twilio numbers aren't refundable after purchase. Release if unused; you keep paying until released.
FAQ
How many numbers do I need?
Most teams use 1 per region. Multi-region needs separate numbers per country.
Can I send international SMS from a US number?
Yes but at higher rates. Buy a local number per region for better economics.
Does the bot work the same on all number types?
Yes. AskVault routes through Twilio's API; the number type is mostly billing.