2,000 texts a month to the UK
| Twilio | DroidSender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of the texts | $112.00 ($0.056 each) | $11.99/month (Starter) + your mobile plan |
| Phone number | A UK mobile number costs $2.50 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 the UK
- No sender registration for a company name. In the UK you can send with an alphanumeric sender (your brand name) without registering it, except for protected names of banks and big brands.
- A name can't receive replies. To get answers you need a real mobile number or a virtual mobile number. Twilio rents a UK mobile number for $2.50 a month.
- Generic senders get blocked. Twilio warns that generic sender names are being blocked by the UK operators.
Local SMS providers in the UK
Local UK SMS providers charge, for 1,000 texts: The SMS Works £44 (4.4p each), BulkSMS £38.60 (3.86p each, ex VAT) and Voodoo SMS from £54 a month for 500 texts. For 2,000 texts a month that is roughly £77–£143 plus VAT.
With DroidSender, 2,000 texts are included in the Starter plan at $11.99 a month, sent from your own number.
Sending from your own SIM in the UK
Many UK SIM-only plans include unlimited texts, for example EE from £16 a month and O2 Unlimited Classic £23 a month (24-month contracts).
- Characters: English fits in the normal 160-character SMS. Watch out for curly quotes (’ “) and long dashes (–) pasted from a document: they switch the message to 70 characters.
- Number format: UK mobile numbers start with 07, or +44 7 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 the UK on Twilio?
- Twilio's base price is $0.056 per SMS segment to UK mobiles (October 2026). 2,000 texts cost $112, plus $2.50 a month if you want a UK mobile number that can receive replies.
- Do I need to register a sender ID in the UK?
- Not for most names. The UK allows alphanumeric sender IDs without registration; only protected names (banks, big brands) need pre-registration.
- Can customers reply to a bulk SMS in the UK?
- Only if it comes from a real mobile number. A brand name can't receive replies. With DroidSender the texts come from your own mobile number, so replies come back to you.
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.