2,000 texts a month to India
| Twilio | DroidSender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of the texts | $166.40 ($0.0832 each) | $11.99/month (Starter) + your mobile plan |
| Phone number | Twilio doesn't rent Indian numbers for SMS; international numbers start at $1.15 a month | The number you already have |
| Registration | See the rules below | None |
| Replies | Depend on the sender | In your inbox, same conversation |
What it takes to send business SMS in India
- DLT registration (TRAI rules). To send business SMS through an Indian gateway you must register your business, your sender header and every message template on a DLT portal. Providers ask for a business PAN, GST certificate, certificate of incorporation and the signatory's ID, and mention an entity fee of around ₹5,900 including GST.
- It takes days. First-time DLT registration takes about 5–10 business days, then each template needs approval (SpringEdge).
- Through Twilio's international route, no DLT is needed, but any numeric sender is replaced by a random short number (5NNNN…), so customers don't see your number. The domestic route needs DLT plus about 10 business days.
Sending from your own SIM in India
The main prepaid plans, Jio ₹349 and Airtel ₹349 (28 days), include 100 SMS a day, so one phone can send about 2,800 texts a month. For bigger lists, connect more phones (the Pro plan allows 3).
- Characters: English fits in 160 characters. Hindi and other Indian scripts always use Unicode, so one SMS holds 70 characters.
- Number format: Indian mobile numbers have 10 digits, written +91 in international format.
- How it works: install the DroidSender app on an Android phone, upload your list from Excel or use the API, and the phone sends each text from your number. Replies arrive in one inbox on your computer.
See the price in every country on the Twilio SMS pricing by country page.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an SMS cost in India on Twilio?
- Twilio's base price is $0.0832 per SMS segment to Indian mobiles (October 2026), so 2,000 texts cost $166.40.
- Do I need DLT registration to send SMS from my own phone?
- DLT applies to business SMS sent through gateways and platforms. With DroidSender the texts go out from your own SIM, like any other text from your phone.
- How many SMS can I send a day from my phone in India?
- It depends on your plan. The main Jio and Airtel prepaid plans include 100 SMS a day, so check yours and connect more phones for bigger lists.
Sources: Twilio prices from twilio.com (SMS pricing and country guidelines), local providers from their own websites, mobile plans from the operators' websites. Checked 13–14 October 2026. Prices change, so check before you decide. Twilio is a trademark of Twilio Inc.; DroidSender is not affiliated with Twilio or the providers named here.