Deploy Anywhere 🌍

Gateway services like Twilio and Nexmo are the cheapest and most reliable way to deploy RapidPro in most countries. They provide SMS, voice and MMS-enabled virtual phone numbers and short codes that send and receive messages on behalf of your RapidPro account. Additionally, they generally work across all carriers in the country which means less for you to worry about. The process is simple and quick: create an account with a gateway service, rent one or more numbers for just dollars per month, then plug your API token into RapidPro. You’ll be sending messages in minutes.

Choosing a Gateway

Once you’ve opened a RapidPro account, navigate to the channels page. There we’ll recommend your local gateway and list the global gateway services we support. For example, if you’re located in the UK, USA or Canada we recommend Twilio. If you’re located in Kenya we recommend Africa's Talking. If we don't already recommend a local gateway service for your country, let us know and we'll see if we can't locate one for you.

You might also want to visit each global gateway service’s pricing page where you can view pricing information as well as its product offerings for your country. We recommend starting with Twilio, Nexmo and Clickatell in that order. If you aren’t able to find virtual numbers for your country, let us know. We’d be happy to help you identify the best channel for your use case.

Adding more Gateways

We're always extending our network of local gateways. If you don't see an option for your country, let us know. We'd be happy to help source a local gateway that we can integrate with RapidPro for your country.

Gateways and Short Codes

If you need to send more than a few thousand messages per hour, we recommend acquiring a short code. If a local gateway service provides them, it's best to go that route. Short codes can take a few months to acquire due to the application process but gateway services will facilitate the process.

SMS Gateway Best Practices

RapidPro encourages users to review proposed use cases with qualified legal counsel to make sure they comply with applicable laws. The following are general best practices:

• Your SMS campaigns should support HELP/STOP messages in your contacts' local languages.
• Only send messages or make calls during your contacts' daytime hours unless you have their approval.
• Get opt-in consent from your contacts before sending them marketing or other non-essential messages.
• Don't send messages to contacts on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

SMS works differently in every country, so Twilio and Nexmo provide guidelines that include information on everything from message routing to best practices. Twilio's country-specific guidelines can be found here, while Nexmo's can be found here.

Non-Profit Discount

Twilio provides a 25% discount on messaging and voice fees for qualified non-profits through its counterpart twilio.org. They'll even grant you a $500 credit to get started. These non-profit Twilio accounts are easy to connect to RapidPro, and we'd be happy to help you get started with this great program.

RapidPro's Android channel enables you to send and receive messages anywhere you can acquire a local SIM card. Simply download the RapidPro Android application on your phone and follow the instructions to connect it to your account. When the app is active, anytime your RapidPro account sends a message it will notify your Android phone. The phone will then send the message from your local number on your behalf. If somebody responds to that message, the phone will relay it back to your RapidPro account. You can add as many Android channels as you like, and even enable IVR (voice) functionalilty.

Buy an Android Phone

We recommend using inexpensive Samsung phones which are available in many local markets around the world. In East Africa these devices can be had locally for around $90.

We recommend that the phone you use for RapidPro be dedicated to that purpose only. The good news is that Android phones are among the most inexpensive and capable phones available today.

Get a Local SIM Card

If you already have a local SIM just pop it in your android phone. Otherwise, you'll want to aquire a SIM card from your local carrier of choice. Not sure which to pick? OpenSignal provides detailed coverage maps for each carrier in your country. We recommend acquiring a data-enabled SIM, though you're welcome to rely on Wi-Fi instead. You can set up a post-paid plan–so you don't have to top it up-or a prepaid plan which you can top up on a custom schedule using our airtime-transfer functionality.

Install the RapidPro App

You can download the free Android app from Google Play. Once the app is installed it will give you a 6 digit claim code that you then enter on the website. And that's all there is to it. From then on, that phone will handle sending all the messages for your RapidPro account.

Give the phone a good home

Android phones are great because they can be used in even the most challenging environments. Simply store it in a place in the country where it will have a reliable power source and a strong signal. You will need either a Wi-Fi or GSM data connection, but if you can get both, even better. The phone will be smart about which network to use if one connection isn't working well.

For projects that need to send more than a few thousand messages an hour and are deploying in a country where a gateway service provide short codes or even exist, it may be worth looking into a direct connection with the local carriers. When your project is ready for it, your RapidPro account can be coverted over to an SMPP connection. This is the most expensive option, but certainly worth the money and effort for high volume projects.