Twilio is the world's leading cloud communications platform, trusted by millions of businesses:
- Global Reach: Send SMS to 180+ countries including Sri Lanka
- Reliable Delivery: 99.95% uptime SLA with carrier-grade infrastructure
- Pay-as-you-go: No monthly fees - only pay for messages sent
- Fast Delivery: Messages delivered in seconds
- Sender ID: Show your business name instead of random numbers
- Delivery Reports: Track message delivery status
Twilio uses pay-as-you-go pricing. Here are typical rates:
Sri Lanka
~Rs. 12-13 per message
USA
Very affordable
India
Ultra low cost
Phone Number
US number rental
Free Trial: New accounts get $15.50 free credit to test!
Before You Start
Twilio Account
Create a free Twilio account at twilio.com. You'll get $15.50 free trial credit to test SMS sending.
Twilio Phone Number
Purchase a Twilio phone number ($1-2/month) or use Alphanumeric Sender ID for your business name.
Account Upgrade
Upgrade from trial to send SMS to any number. Trial only allows sending to verified numbers.
SMS Setup Steps
Create Twilio Account
Sign up for a free Twilio account
- Go to twilio.com/try-twilio
- Click Sign up and enter your details
- Verify your email address
- Verify your phone number (Twilio will send an SMS code)
- Answer a few questions about your use case (select "SMS" and "Notifications")
- You'll receive $15.50 free trial credit!
Trial Limitations
- Trial accounts can only send SMS to verified phone numbers
- Messages include "Sent from Twilio trial account" prefix
- Upgrade to paid account to remove these limitations
Get Your API Credentials
Find your Account SID and Auth Token
Your API credentials are on the Twilio Console dashboard:
- Log in to console.twilio.com
- On the dashboard, you'll see Account Info section
- Copy your Account SID (starts with "AC")
- Click the eye icon to reveal and copy your Auth Token
- Store these securely - you'll need them for NextEvent
Account Dashboard
Account Info
AC1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Upgrade to unlock all features
Keep Your Auth Token Secret!
- Never share your Auth Token publicly
- Don't commit it to version control (GitHub, etc.)
- If compromised, regenerate it immediately from Console
Get a Twilio Phone Number
Purchase or use an existing number for SMS
You need a Twilio phone number to send SMS. Options:
- Go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Buy a Number
- Select your country (US numbers are cheapest at ~$1.15/month)
- Ensure the number has SMS capability (check the SMS column)
- Click Buy to add it to your account
- Your number is ready to use immediately!
Active Phone Numbers
+1 (555) 123-4567
United States • Local Number
+1 (555) 987-6543
United States • Toll-Free
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Some countries (including many in Asia) support Alphanumeric Sender IDs, letting you show your business name (e.g., "NextEvent") instead of a phone number. Check Twilio's country guidelines for availability.
Configure in NextEvent
Enter your Twilio credentials
- Log in to your NextEvent account
- Go to Settings → SMS Configuration
- Select Twilio as your SMS provider
- Enter your credentials:
Twilio SMS Configuration
SMS Configuration - Twilio
You're All Set!
Click "Send Test SMS" to verify your configuration. You can now send automated SMS notifications for quotes, invoices, reminders, and more!
Upgrade Account (Recommended)
Remove trial limitations for production use
To send SMS to any phone number (not just verified ones), upgrade your Twilio account:
- Go to Billing in your Twilio Console
- Click Upgrade
- Add a payment method (credit card or PayPal)
- Add credit to your account (minimum $20 recommended)
- Your trial limitations are removed immediately!
Benefits of Upgrading
- Send SMS to any phone number worldwide
- No more "Sent from Twilio trial" message prefix
- Access to Alphanumeric Sender IDs
- Higher sending limits
- Better deliverability rates
SMS Use Cases in NextEvent
Quote Notifications
"Hi Nuwan, your quote for Wedding Photography (Rs.150,000) is ready! View: link"
Payment Reminders
"Reminder: Balance payment of Rs.75,000 due in 3 days. Pay now: link"
Event Reminders
"Your wedding shoot is tomorrow at 8:00 AM. See you at Grand Hotel!"
Promotions
"Valentine's Special! 20% off couple shoots. Book by Feb 10. Reply YES for details."
Twilio is an official WhatsApp Business API provider, enabling professional WhatsApp messaging:
- Official API: Authorized WhatsApp Business Solution Provider
- Rich Messages: Send images, documents, buttons, and templates
- High Open Rates: 98% open rate vs 20% for email
- Two-Way Chat: Customers can reply to your messages
- Templates: Pre-approved message templates for notifications
- Trust: Green verified badge for your business
WhatsApp uses conversation-based pricing (24-hour windows):
Marketing
Promotions, offers
Utility
Reminders, updates
Service
Customer support
Free Tier
Free conversations
Note: Prices vary by country. First 1,000 service conversations/month are FREE!
Before You Start
Twilio Account
A Twilio account with WhatsApp enabled. The sandbox is free for testing; production requires approval.
Facebook Business Account
For production WhatsApp, you need a Facebook Business Manager account with verified business.
Message Templates
Pre-approved message templates for sending notifications (required for business-initiated messages).
Important: This guide is for the official WhatsApp Business API, NOT personal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business App.
- WhatsApp Business API: For automated messages, requires approval, uses templates
- WhatsApp Business App: Manual messaging only, no API access
- Sending automated messages without the official API violates WhatsApp's Terms of Service
WhatsApp Setup Steps
Enable WhatsApp Sandbox
Start testing with Twilio's WhatsApp Sandbox
The WhatsApp Sandbox lets you test WhatsApp messaging before going to production:
- Log in to Twilio Console
- Go to Messaging → Try it out → Send a WhatsApp message
- You'll see a sandbox number and a join code
- From your phone, send the join code to the sandbox number
- Example: Send "join
example-word" to+1 415 523 8886 - You're now connected to the sandbox!
Sandbox Limitations
- Only works with numbers that have "joined" the sandbox
- Uses Twilio's shared sandbox number
- For production, you'll need your own WhatsApp Business number
Get API Credentials
Same credentials as SMS setup
WhatsApp uses the same Twilio credentials as SMS:
- Go to console.twilio.com
- Copy your Account SID
- Copy your Auth Token
- Note your WhatsApp Sandbox Number (or production number)
Twilio WhatsApp Configuration
Configure in NextEvent
Enter your WhatsApp credentials
- Log in to your NextEvent account
- Go to Settings → WhatsApp Configuration
- Select Twilio as your WhatsApp provider
- Enter your Account SID and Auth Token
- Enter your WhatsApp number with the
whatsapp:prefix - Click Save and test!
WhatsApp Configuration - Twilio
Go to Production (Optional)
Set up your own WhatsApp Business number
For production use with your own business number:
- Create a Facebook Business Manager account
- Verify your business in Facebook Business Manager
- In Twilio, go to Messaging → Senders → WhatsApp senders
- Click Add WhatsApp Sender
- Connect your Facebook Business account
- Register your phone number for WhatsApp Business
- Submit message templates for approval
- Once approved, update your number in NextEvent
Production Requirements
- Verified Facebook Business Manager account
- A phone number not already used with WhatsApp
- Approved message templates (takes 24-48 hours)
- Business verification may take 1-3 business days
WhatsApp Use Cases in NextEvent
Send Quotes & Invoices
Send PDF quotes directly via WhatsApp. Clients can view and respond instantly.
Share Event Photos
Send preview images or album links to clients after events.
Payment Confirmations
Instant payment receipts and thank you messages via WhatsApp.
Quick Support
Clients can reply to messages for quick questions and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Twilio cost?
Twilio uses pay-as-you-go pricing with no monthly fees. You only pay for what you use:
- SMS: $0.0079 - $0.05 per message depending on country
- WhatsApp: $0.005 - $0.05 per conversation
- Phone Numbers: $1-2 per month
- Free Trial: $15.50 credit to start
Can I send SMS to Sri Lanka?
Yes! Twilio supports SMS to Sri Lanka and 180+ countries. The rate for Sri Lanka is approximately $0.0425 per SMS (~Rs. 12-13). You can use a US number or apply for a local Sri Lankan number (subject to availability and regulations).
Why can't I send SMS to unverified numbers?
This is a trial account limitation. Trial accounts can only send to phone numbers you've verified in your Twilio console. To send to any number:
- Go to Billing in Twilio Console
- Add a payment method
- Add credit to your account ($20 minimum recommended)
- Your account is automatically upgraded!
Do I need Facebook approval for WhatsApp?
For testing with the Twilio Sandbox, no approval is needed. For production use with your own business number, you need:
- Facebook Business Manager account
- Verified business status
- Approved message templates
The approval process typically takes 1-3 business days.
Can I show my business name instead of a number?
SMS: Alphanumeric Sender IDs (e.g., "NextEvent") are supported in some countries. Check Twilio's country guidelines for availability.
WhatsApp: Your WhatsApp Business profile shows your business name and logo, plus a green verified badge after approval.
Messages aren't being delivered - what's wrong?
Common delivery issues and solutions:
- Trial account: Can only send to verified numbers - upgrade to fix
- Wrong format: Use E.164 format (+94771234567, not 0771234567)
- Insufficient balance: Add more credit to your Twilio account
- Country restrictions: Some countries have specific regulations
- WhatsApp opt-in: Recipients must have initiated conversation first
Ready to Connect with Customers?
Set up Twilio SMS and WhatsApp in NextEvent and start sending automated notifications today!