How to Use Textbelt SMS Notifications

Textbelt is a simple SMS notification service that you can use to send text messages from your SharpTools rules. Unlike other SMS services, Textbelt requires just a single API key, making it quick and easy to set up.

Setting Up Textbelt

Step 1: Get a Textbelt API Key

Visit Textbelt.com to create an API Key
Choose a plan that fits your needs
Once you've purchased credits, copy your API key from your Textbelt dashboard

Step 2: Add Textbelt to SharpTools

Navigate to your User Page in SharpTools
Click the Manage Connections button
Select Textbelt (SMS) from the list of available platforms
In the dialog that appears:
- Paste your Textbelt API key
- Click Save to store your credentials

You are responsible for configuring your rules and managing your Textbelt account. SharpTools does not add limits to Textbelt usage — every SMS your rules send consumes credits.

Take care to design your rules so they don’t trigger more often than intended. A good practice is to start with email or another placeholder to test your rule before switching to SMS.

Using Textbelt in Rules

Creating a Textbelt Notification Action

Open the Rule Engine and create or edit a rule
In the Flow section, add an Action
Select Notification as the action type
Choose Textbelt (SMS) from the notification type dropdown
Configure your message:
- To: Enter the recipient's phone number
  - US/Canada: 10-digit number (e.g., 5551234567)
  - International: Use E.164 format with country code (e.g., +44207183...)
- Message: Enter your message text (up to 160 characters per Textbelt credit)

Using Variables in Messages

You can make your messages dynamic by including variables:

Tap the +Variable button to pick a variable
Start typing $ in the text input, then keep typing to narrow down or select from the list

Testing Your Configuration

Before saving your rule, you can test your Textbelt setup:

After configuring the notification action, look for the Test button in the action footer
Click Test to send the message
You'll see your remaining SMS quota after the test message is sent

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if I run out of SMS credits?

A: Your rules will still execute, but the SMS notifications will fail. You'll see an error in your Rule Logs indicating insufficient quota.

Q: Can I use different phone numbers for different rules?

A: Yes! Each rule can send to a different phone number. Just configure the recipient number in each rule's notification action.

Q: Are there message length limits?

A: Standard SMS messages are limited to 160 characters. Longer messages may be split into multiple SMS segments and charged by Textbelt accordingly.

Q: What countries are supported?

A: Textbelt supports SMS delivery to most countries worldwide. For a complete list of supported countries and any restrictions, see Supported Countries List. Make sure to use the recommended E.164 format with the leading + and country code per the Textbelt Sending Guidelines.

Troubleshooting

"Invalid API key or no quota remaining" error

Verify your API key is correctly entered
Check your remaining Textbelt quota
The free textbelt key generally will not work, so use a real API key

Messages not received

Verify the phone number format is correct
Check that the recipient's carrier accepts SMS from online services
Review the Textbelt FAQ for carrier-specific issues