Android SMS Gateway vs playSMS
Android SMS Gateway
sms-gateway.app
playSMS
playsms.orgSide by side
| Figure | Android SMS Gateway | playSMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.17/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Spec score · SMS Gateway Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Documentation | The maker publishes a Developer Center, API tutorials, user guides, and language examples. | Official documentation is mainly a how-to category and installation articles, with a warning that some articles describe old vulnerable versions. |
| Integrations | The API uses HTTPS and JSON and includes examples for PHP, Python, Node.js, Java, and C#. | It lists support for Gammu, Kannel, SMS Server Tools, Jasmin, Playnet, Uplink, and several SMS service providers. |
| Routing | Multi-device plans can route traffic across Android phones and SIMs and provide failover when a device drops. | Outgoing traffic can be routed by destination prefix or user, while multiple SMSCs can be active and routable. |
| Support | Free, Starter, and Developer plans list email support with a 24–48-hour response target; Business adds phone support. | The project directs users to its forum for discussion and GitHub for source, issues and security reporting. |
| System requirements | The Google Play listing requires an SMS Gateway account, an active SIM, and an internet connection. | The installation guide lists Apache, nginx or lighttpd, MySQL 5.x or newer, PHP 5.5 or newer, PHP MySQL, CLI, gettext, mbstring and GD extensions, SMTP access and Composer. |
| What it does | The service connects a cloud dashboard and API to Android phones so messages leave through the phone's SIM and carrier. | playSMS is a web interface for managing SMS gateways and bulk SMS services. |
Plans
Android SMS Gateway
- FreeFree
- Starter$19 a month
- Professional$39 a month
- Developer$50 a year
- Business$77 a month
- White-label$2,000, paid once
In their own words
Android SMS Gateway
Android SMS Gateway connects a cloud panel and REST API to an Android phone and SIM so software can send and receive SMS through the mobile operator. Messages use the connected SIM’s real mobile number, and replies can return to that SIM’s inbox. Features include two-way SMS, scheduled sends, auto-replies, bulk campaigns from Excel or CSV with column-based personalization, and delivery reports when supported by the device and carrier path. MMS and USSD are available where the handset and operator support them. The HTTPS REST/JSON API has webhooks for delivery reports, inbound messages, and system events, with examples in several programming languages. Multi-device plans can route traffic among Android phones and SIMs, with failover if a device drops. The free plan includes one device, 300 SMS for the account lifetime, and 300 contacts; paid plans start at $19 a month. Customers supply the Android device, SIM, operator SMS credit, power, and internet, and carrier costs apply separately. The app requires Android 5.0 or newer; USSD and some other features require Android 8.0 or newer.
playSMS
playSMS is free, open-source SMS management software with a web interface for gateways and bulk SMS services. It sends individual or bulk text, flash, and Unicode messages, and receives private SMS that can be forwarded to email or mobile phones or routed to users and URLs. Built-in tools include automatic replies, polls, quizzes, subscriptions, SMS-to-email, and email-to-SMS through mailbox polling. It connects with Gammu, Kannel, SMS Server Tools, Jasmin, Playnet, Uplink, and several SMS providers. Web services support sending, delivery reports, credit checks, and other operations. Plugins can add features, themes, tools, and gateway modules. Routing can use prefixes or users, with destination-based rating and per-user credits. The project reports one user tested 200,000 SMS per day. playSMS itself cannot send or receive messages without a separate gateway application or service. It is available for Android, Linux, self-hosting, web, and API use under GPLv3 or later, without warranty.