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Pro: $9.99/mo or $99.99/yrView Plans
Documentation

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about textbee.dev SMS gateway, setup, usage, and troubleshooting.

General Questions

What is textbee.dev?

textbee.dev is an SMS gateway service that turns your Android device into a powerful messaging platform. Instead of using expensive SMS API services, you can use your existing Android phone and mobile plan to send and receive text messages through a simple REST API.

How does textbee.dev work?

  1. Install the textbee.dev Android app on your device
  2. Register your device with your textbee.dev account
  3. Use the REST API to send SMS messages through your device
  4. Receive SMS messages sent to your device's phone number

Is textbee.dev free?

Yes! We offer a free plan with generous limits:

  • 1 active device
  • 50 messages per day
  • 300 messages per month
  • Basic features

What devices are supported?

textbee.dev works with Android devices running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or higher.

Do I need a special mobile plan?

No, you can use your existing mobile plan. textbee.dev uses your plan's SMS allowance, so there are no additional per-message fees from third-party providers.

Setup & Installation

How do I get started?

  1. Create an account at textbee.dev
  2. Download and install the Android app
  3. Register your device
  4. Start sending SMS via the API

See our getting started guide for detailed instructions.

How do I register my device?

You can register your device using:

  • QR Code (recommended): Scan a QR code from your dashboard
  • API Key: Enter an API key manually in the app

See our device registration guide for details.

Can I use multiple devices?

Yes! The number of devices depends on your plan:

  • Free: 1 device
  • Pro: Up to 5 devices
  • Custom: Unlimited devices

What permissions does the app need?

The app requires:

  • SMS permissions: To send and receive SMS messages
  • Phone permissions: To read your phone number
  • Internet permissions: To communicate with textbee.dev servers

Usage & Features

How do I send SMS messages?

Use the REST API to send SMS messages. See our sending SMS guide for code examples.

Can I send bulk SMS?

Yes! You can send messages to multiple recipients at once. See our bulk SMS guide for details.

Limits:

  • Free: Up to 50 recipients per request
  • Pro/Custom: Unlimited recipients

How do I receive SMS messages?

  1. Enable SMS receiving in the app settings
  2. Retrieve messages via API or set up webhooks for real-time notifications

See our receiving SMS guide for details.

What are webhooks?

Webhooks allow you to receive real-time notifications when SMS events occur (message sent, delivered, received, etc.). See our webhooks guide for setup instructions.

Can I schedule messages?

Yes, scheduled messages are available on Pro and Custom plans.

Do you support message templates?

Yes, Pro and Custom plans support message templates with variables.

Pricing & Limits

What are the message limits?

Free Plan:

  • 50 messages per day
  • 300 messages per month

Pro Plan:

  • Unlimited daily messages
  • 5,000 messages per month

Custom Plan:

  • Custom limits based on your needs

What happens if I exceed my limits?

You'll receive notifications when approaching or exceeding limits. Messages may be queued or rejected depending on the limit type. You can upgrade your plan to increase limits.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes, you can change your plan at any time from your dashboard.

Do unused messages roll over?

No, message limits reset at the start of each billing cycle.

Is there a free trial?

Yes! The Free plan is always free with no credit card required.

What's your refund policy?

We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee for new Pro plan subscriptions.

Technical Questions

What programming languages are supported?

textbee.dev works with any programming language that can make HTTP requests. We provide examples for:

  • JavaScript/Node.js
  • Python
  • PHP
  • cURL
  • And more

What's the API rate limit?

  • Free Plan: 60 requests per hour
  • Pro Plan: 600 requests per hour
  • Custom Plan: Custom limits

Do you have an API documentation?

Yes! Visit api.textbee.dev for complete API documentation.

How do I handle errors?

The API returns standard HTTP status codes:

  • 200: Success
  • 400: Bad Request (invalid parameters)
  • 401: Unauthorized (invalid API key)
  • 404: Not Found (device not found)
  • 429: Too Many Requests (rate limit exceeded)
  • 500: Internal Server Error

See our sending SMS guide for error handling examples.

Can I test the API?

Yes! Use the Free plan to test the API with up to 300 messages per month.

Troubleshooting

My device shows as disconnected

Try these steps:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Restart the textbee.dev app
  3. Re-register your device
  4. Check app permissions

See our reconnecting device guide for detailed steps.

Messages aren't sending

  1. Check that your device is connected and active
  2. Verify your API key is correct
  3. Check that you haven't exceeded your message limits
  4. Verify phone numbers are in E.164 format (+1234567890)
  5. Check the API response for error messages

I'm not receiving SMS messages

  1. Make sure SMS receiving is enabled in the app
  2. Check that your device is connected
  3. Verify the phone number is correct
  4. Check your mobile plan's SMS capabilities

The app won't install

  1. Make sure you've enabled installation from unknown sources
  2. Check that you have enough storage space
  3. Try downloading the APK again
  4. Ensure your device is running Android 6.0 or higher

API requests are failing

  1. Verify your API key is correct
  2. Check that your Device ID is correct
  3. Ensure you're using the correct API endpoint
  4. Check rate limits - you may have exceeded them
  5. Verify request format (JSON, headers, etc.)

Security & Privacy

Is my data secure?

Yes! All API communications are encrypted using HTTPS/TLS. Your messages are sent directly through your Android device - no third-party SMS gateway involved.

Where are my messages stored?

Messages are temporarily stored on textbee.dev servers for delivery and retrieval. You can configure data retention settings in your dashboard.

Can I revoke API keys?

Yes, you can revoke API keys at any time from your dashboard.

Is textbee.dev open source?

Yes! The textbee.dev code is available on GitHub.

Support

How do I get help?

  • Check our documentation
  • Visit our FAQ (you're here!)
  • Contact support at support@textbee.dev
  • Check our status page for service updates

What's your response time?

  • Free Plan: Basic support (best effort)
  • Pro Plan: Priority support (faster response)
  • Custom Plan: Dedicated account manager

Do you offer custom integrations?

Yes! Custom integrations are available for Custom plan customers. Contact sales@textbee.dev to discuss your needs.

Still Have Questions?

If you can't find the answer you're looking for:

We're here to help!

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