RocketMVPRocketMVP
Nice to have

SMS Integration for MVPs

Text message notifications for OTP verification, alerts, and time-sensitive communications.

1-3 days
Typical Timeline
$500 - $1,500
Typical Cost

When to Include

  • Phone verification required
  • Time-critical notifications
  • Users may not check email quickly
  • Two-factor authentication

When to Skip

  • Email is sufficient for communications
  • International users (SMS costs vary)
  • Non-time-sensitive notifications

Technology Options

TechnologyProsCons
Twilio
Industry-leading communications platform
  • Reliable
  • Global reach
  • Great API
  • Many features
  • Complex pricing
  • Costs add up
  • Requires verification
MessageBird
European communications platform
  • Good EU coverage
  • Multiple channels
  • Competitive pricing
  • Smaller than Twilio
  • Less documentation
AWS SNS
Amazon Simple Notification Service
  • AWS integration
  • Low cost
  • Scalable
  • Basic features
  • Regional setup
  • Less control
Vonage
Communications API platform
  • Good documentation
  • Multiple channels
  • WhatsApp support
  • Pricing complexity
  • Less known

Implementation Steps

1
Register with SMS provider
2
Obtain phone number(s)
3
Implement phone verification flow
4
Build SMS sending logic
5
Handle delivery status callbacks
6
Implement opt-out/unsubscribe
7
Add rate limiting
8
Monitor costs and delivery rates

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not handling delivery failures
  • Missing opt-out functionality (legal requirement)
  • Over-messaging users
  • Not verifying phone numbers
  • Ignoring international formatting
  • Not monitoring costs

Frequently Asked Questions

SMS vs. push notifications?

SMS reaches users without your app installed and feels more urgent. Push is free and good for in-app users. Use SMS for critical alerts and verification.

How much does SMS cost?

Twilio: ~$0.0075/message US, varies internationally. Budget for verification codes (2-3 per user) plus any alerts. Costs can surprise at scale.

Do I need a short code or long code?

Long codes (regular phone numbers) are fine for MVPs. Short codes for high-volume marketing. 10DLC for business messaging in US.

Need Help Implementing SMS Notifications?

We'll build it right the first time. SMS Notifications is included in our $3,999 MVP package.

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