Two-Way SMS Gateway — Receive, Reply & Automate SMS Conversations (India & Global)
Give every text a reply path. Get a dedicated long code or shared keyword, receive inbound messages for free, and route replies straight to a unified inbox, email or webhook — with auto-responders, opt-in/opt-out handling and 90-day history. Live in India and 190+ countries.
What is two-way SMS?
Two-way SMS — also called conversational SMS — lets customers reply to your text messages and lets you respond back, turning a one-directional alert into a real conversation. Instead of blasting a message and hoping it lands, you give recipients a number or keyword they can text, and every inbound reply is captured, routed and answered.
One-way SMS flows in a single direction: you send an OTP, alert or offer and the customer cannot reply meaningfully. Two-way SMS opens the return path — replies route to a unified inbox, your email or a webhook/API in real time, so you can automate answers, capture leads, run surveys and manage opt-ins. Incoming messages are free, and you keep a rolling 90-day history of the whole thread.
How two-way SMS works
Get a number
Choose a long code (dedicated or shared) or a keyword on a short code.
Publish or send out
Advertise your keyword, or send outbound SMS that invites a reply.
Customer replies
The recipient texts your number or keyword — incoming is free.
Reply routes in
The message lands in your unified inbox, email or webhook instantly.
Auto-responder
Match the keyword and fire an automatic reply, or hand off to an agent.
Number types for two-way SMS
Long codes and short codes both support two-way conversations — the right choice depends on your volume, memorability needs and how fast you need to launch.
| Dimension | Long Code | Short Code |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Standard 10-digit number | Short 5–6 digit number |
| Throughput | Lower — best for conversations | High — built for volume |
| Best for | Support, lead capture, 1:1 chats | Campaigns, voting, mass keyword opt-ins |
| Memorability | Moderate | High — easy to advertise |
| Two-way | Yes, fully bidirectional | Yes, keyword-driven |
| Keywords | Supported (dedicated codes) | Multiple keywords & sub-keywords |
| Setup time | Shared ~1 working day; dedicated a few days | Typically a few weeks |
| Cost | Lower entry cost | Higher — premium number |
Not sure which fits? See number-type pricing or talk to us about shared vs dedicated options.
Key features of our two-way SMS gateway
Keywords & sub-keywords
Trigger different flows from one number — e.g. JOIN, HELP or PLAN GOLD.
Auto-responders
Instant keyword-matched replies, 24×7, with no agent needed.
Unified inbox
See every inbound reply in one thread-based inbox and respond in a click.
Webhook / API forwarding
Push inbound messages to your CRM, helpdesk or app in real time.
Free incoming SMS
Never pay to receive — all inbound replies are free on your number.
Opt-in / opt-out (STOP/START)
Automatic subscribe and unsubscribe handling keeps lists consented.
90-day message history
Every inbound and outbound message stored and searchable for 90 days.
CRM integration
Sync conversations and contacts with your CRM via API or webhooks.
Two-way SMS API & webhooks
When a customer replies, we POST a JSON payload to your webhook URL in real time — originator, message, destination, timestamp, network and a unique message ID. Match a keyword and fire an automatic reply, or hand the thread to an agent.
Inbound webhook payload
Keyword-match auto-reply
Full REST endpoints, delivery reports and inbound forwarding are documented for your team — request API access.
Two-way SMS use cases
Surveys & feedback
Ask a question, collect replies and score responses automatically.
Customer support
Let customers text for help and route each thread to an agent inbox.
Alerts with replies
Send an alert and let recipients acknowledge, snooze or escalate by text.
Appointment confirmations
Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule — updates sync back to you.
Lead capture
Advertise a keyword; every inbound text becomes a captured lead.
Opt-in subscriptions
Grow lists with keyword opt-ins and automatic STOP unsubscribes.
Voting & polls
Run live SMS votes and tally keyword replies in real time.
Compliance — DLT/TRAI (India) & opt-out (global)
Inbound replies to your own number don’t need DLT, but any outbound A2P SMS you send in India — the message that invites a reply, plus auto-responses — must run over DLT-registered routes under TRAI’s TCCCPR rules.
1. DLT for outbound
Register your entity, sender header and templates for the outbound leg. We assist end to end.
2. Consent & opt-in
Capture opt-in via keyword (e.g. JOIN) and log it as proof of consent.
3. STOP / opt-out
Honour STOP globally — auto-unsubscribe removes the contact from future sends.
4. Local rules abroad
DLT doesn’t apply overseas, but follow each country’s opt-in and anti-spam laws.
We handle the India side for you — see DLT registration & support.
A two-way SMS partner built for real conversations
Trusted by 5,000+ businesses across India and 190+ countries, with 15+ years in messaging — direct routes, free incoming SMS and the tools to automate every reply.
Free incoming SMS
Receive unlimited replies at no cost, with 90-day searchable history.
Direct operator routes
Direct binds with Airtel, Jio and Vi plus 190+ countries for reliable delivery.
API & webhooks
Real-time inbound forwarding, auto-responders and CRM integration.
24×7 support + DLT help
99.9% uptime, human support any time and free DLT/TRAI onboarding.
Two-way SMS pricing
Two-way pricing is number-type based: pick a shared long code/keyword, a dedicated long code or a short code, and pay per outbound message you send. Incoming SMS is always free. Shared long codes and keywords activate in about one working day.
See current number-type rates and outbound slabs on our pricing page, or contact us for a dedicated code quote.
