textbee - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

textbee is an open-source Android SMS gateway that converts any Android device running Android 7.0 or higher into a programmable SMS sending and receiving hub. Designed for developers, startups, and small-to-medium businesses, textbee exposes a REST API that allows external applications to trigger SMS messages directly through a connected Android device, eliminating the need for third-party SMS service providers and their associated per-message costs.

The platform consists of two components: an Android app installed on the gateway device and a web dashboard for managing devices, monitoring message activity, and generating API keys. The REST API supports sending individual and bulk SMS messages, receiving inbound SMS, and querying delivery status. Self-hosting is supported, giving teams full control over infrastructure and data residency. A cloud-hosted option is also available for teams that prefer a managed setup without server administration overhead.

Core use cases include two-factor authentication delivery, transactional notifications, internal alerting systems, and CRM integrations where SMS communication is routed through existing Android hardware. Because the solution is open-source, development teams can audit the codebase, contribute to the project, and customize deployments to fit specific operational requirements.