textbee vs AWS End User Messaging (SNS): pricing, own number, self-hosting (2026)
Published and updated
AWS End User Messaging (SNS) charges per message on numbers you rent inside its platform, while textbee is a flat monthly plan that includes 5,000 messages on Pro and sends from the SIM already in your phone. Pick AWS End User Messaging (SNS) when Your stack already runs on AWS and you want SMS on the same bill and IAM policies. Pick textbee when you send moderate volume from a number you own and want the option to self-host the gateway.
Side by side
| Provider | Pricing model | Free tier | Self-host | Own number | API | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS End User Messaging (SNS) | Per message, plus number rental | None specific to SMS, sending is billed on your AWS account | No, cloud only | No, virtual numbers only | REST and webhooks | Worldwide, through the AWS regions you enable for messaging |
| textbee | Flat monthly plan, messages included, no per message fee | 300 messages a month on the Free plan; Pro includes 5,000 for $9.99 | Yes, MIT licensed | Yes, your own SIM | REST and webhooks | Any country where your Android phone has a SIM |
Monthly cost at 1K, 5K and 25K messages
AWS End User Messaging (SNS) publishes its per message rates through its own pricing page, so check the destination country there. textbee plans and their message allowances are listed on pricing.
Inbound: The pricing page quotes US SMS as a combined rate rather than a separate base price, so carrier fees and registration costs have to be read from the same page.
Number rental: A 10DLC number costs $1 a month, a regular 10DLC campaign costs $10 a month, and company registration is a one time $4.50 fee.
When to choose AWS End User Messaging (SNS)
- Your stack already runs on AWS and you want SMS on the same bill and IAM policies.
- You want to fan messages out from SNS topics you already publish to.
- You need SMS delivery logs landing in CloudWatch next to your other telemetry.
When to choose textbee
- You own the number and the SIM, so the recipient sees a number they can reply to.
- A flat monthly plan covers the messages, with no per message fee on top.
- You can self-host the gateway or use the hosted app, on the same MIT licensed code.
The limits are worth stating plainly. One phone sends roughly 10 to 15 messages a minute, so a large blast takes time to drain. Carriers can filter bulk patterns on consumer SIMs, which makes textbee a poor fit for campaign traffic. Marketing messages still need consent from the recipient, whichever gateway sends them.
Migrating from AWS End User Messaging (SNS)
aws sns publish \
--phone-number +15550100 \
--message "Hello from AWS End User Messaging"curl -X POST https://api.textbee.dev/api/v1/gateway/send-sms \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"recipients": ["+12015550123"], "message": "Hello from textbee"}'textbee sends from the SIM in your phone, so the sender is your own number and there is no From number to rent or pass in the request.
Frequently asked questions
What does AWS charge per US SMS?
The pricing page lists US rates as a combined figure rather than a base price separated from the carrier fee, so read the current number on that page before budgeting.
Can AWS send from a SIM I already own?
No. AWS sends from origination identities you provision in the account, such as a 10DLC number, a toll-free number, or a sender ID.
What does it cost before the first message?
A 10DLC number is $1 a month, a regular 10DLC campaign is $10 a month, and company registration is a one time $4.50 fee.
Sources
- AWS End User Messaging (SNS) SMS pricing, checked on September 4, 2026