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: 80 to 95% of US messages get blocked at the carrier.
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: Deploy Hub > SMS > Connect.
- Paste credentials.
- Verify connection. Should succeed within 30 seconds.
Send a test SMS to the number; AskVault receives within 5 seconds.
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
- Numbers per workspace. No hard cap; Twilio account limit applies.
- Concurrent purchases. 5 per minute (Twilio API rate limit).
- Porting timeline. 2 to 4 weeks.
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.