textbee vs ClickSend: pricing, own number, self-hosting (2026)
Published and updated
ClickSend 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 ClickSend when you want one dashboard for SMS, email, and physical post. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClickSend | Prepaid bundles | Free trial credit on signup | No, cloud only | No, virtual numbers only | REST and webhooks | 190+ countries |
| textbee | Flat monthly plan, messages included, no per message fee | 300 messages a month on the Free plan; Pro includes 5,000 for $9.99 | Yes, MIT licensed | Yes, your own SIM | REST and webhooks | Any country where your Android phone has a SIM |
Monthly cost at 1K, 5K and 25K messages
ClickSend publishes its per message rates through its own pricing page, so check the destination country there. textbee plans and their message allowances are listed on pricing.
Inbound: The US pricing page states that inbound messaging and replies are free.
Number rental: The US pricing page leaves the dedicated number fees blank, so the monthly cost has to be confirmed in the ClickSend dashboard.
When to choose ClickSend
- You want one dashboard for SMS, email, and physical post.
- You prefer topping up prepaid credit over a monthly invoice.
- You buy enough credit at once to reach the discounted tiers.
When to choose textbee
- You own the number and the SIM, so the recipient sees a number they can reply to.
- A flat monthly plan covers the messages, with no per message fee on top.
- You can self-host the gateway or use the hosted app, on the same MIT licensed code.
The limits are worth stating plainly. One phone sends roughly 10 to 15 messages a minute, so a large blast takes time to drain. Carriers can filter bulk patterns on consumer SIMs, which makes textbee a poor fit for campaign traffic. Marketing messages still need consent from the recipient, whichever gateway sends them.
Migrating from ClickSend
curl -X POST https://rest.clicksend.com/v3/sms/send \
-u "$CLICKSEND_USERNAME:$CLICKSEND_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"messages": [{"source": "curl", "from": "+15550101", "to": "+15550100", "body": "Hello from ClickSend"}]}'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 ClickSend charge per SMS?
The US pricing page shows an interactive calculator rather than a plain rate, so the price per message depends on the top-up amount you pick. Check the calculator on the pricing page for your own volume.
Does ClickSend charge for replies?
No. The pricing page states that inbound messaging and replies are free, though a dedicated number still carries its own fee.
Can ClickSend send from my own SIM?
No. ClickSend sends from shared or dedicated numbers and sender IDs provisioned inside your account.
Sources
- ClickSend SMS pricing, checked on September 4, 2026