Overview
What Twilio is
Twilio is the most widely used programmable communications platform, best known for its SMS API: phone numbers, Messaging Services, and a global carrier network.
Courier sits in front of it as one API, so you keep Twilio for SMS and add push, an in-app inbox, design, and journeys on top.
You need a Courier account and your own Twilio account (Account SID, Auth Token, and Messaging Service SID).
Why Courier
What you get with Twilio + Courier
Add push in the same send
Reach mobile and web with push alongside SMS from one notification, no new integration in your code.
Add an in-app inbox for web and mobile
Give your app an in-product notification center (SDKs for web, React, iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native), so users see more than just texts.
Automate multi-step flows
Trigger reminders, verification, and lifecycle sequences with delays and branching, all delivered through Twilio.
Write once, edit without code
Compose and localize SMS copy in Courier's editor. Product and support change messaging without a deploy.
Send to lists and audiences
Broadcast a one-off or recurring text to an entire list through Twilio, alongside your transactional messages.
Localize a message in seconds
Pick a language and let Courier translate your message with AI, then tweak any string.
Use cases
What teams build with it
Setup
Connect it in minutes
An admin adds Twilio once on the Integrations page in Courier. Once connected, anyone on your team can send SMS through Twilio and add push or an in-app inbox whenever they need them.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Twilio with Courier?
Yes. Courier connects to Twilio as an SMS provider, so you send text messages through your own Twilio number using Courier's Send API instead of calling Twilio directly.
Do I still need my own Twilio account?
Yes. Twilio stays your SMS carrier, so you keep your own Twilio account and the SMS-capable phone number you purchased there. Courier does not resell messaging; it sends through your number and Twilio bills you for delivery.
What do I need to connect Twilio to Courier?
Three values: your Account SID and Auth Token from the Twilio Console Dashboard, plus a Messaging Service SID from your Messaging Service configuration page. Enter them on Courier's Twilio integration page, with your phone number added to that Messaging Service first.
How do I format recipient phone numbers for Twilio in Courier?
Set each recipient's phone_number profile field in E.164 format with the correct country code, for example +12025550156. Missing or malformed numbers trigger Twilio Error 21211 and the send fails validation.
How does Courier handle SMS opt-outs with Twilio?
Twilio enforces SMS opt-outs, not Courier. If a recipient replied STOP, Twilio blocks further messages to that number until they text START to resubscribe, so sends to unsubscribed numbers will not deliver.
Can I override my Twilio credentials per message?
You can, but keep credentials at the account level for tracking. Courier polls Twilio for delivery status, and using per-message credential overrides disables that polling, so you lose delivery status for those messages.
Is Courier a replacement for Twilio?
No. Courier sits in front of Twilio, which still delivers the SMS. Courier adds a unified Send API, Design Studio, and Journeys, plus other channels like push and Courier Inbox.
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