To send and receive messages through a Twilio channel, you’ll need to create a Twilio account and purchase a virtual number and connect it to your Nyaruka account. We recommend purchasing a toll-free number ($2/month) if you’re deploying in the US or Canada.
NOTE: Trial virtual numbers provided by Twilio are not sufficient for testing- they will not allow for sending or receiving real messages. If you’d like to test your flows prior to committing to a Twilio number, you can begin with an Android or Telegram channel.
Purchasing a Number
To purchase a toll-free virtual number through Twilio, you’ll first need to sign-up for an account or sign-in to an existing Twilio account.
Once inside the Twilio dashboard, click the products menu on the lefthand side:
Select Phone Numbers from the menu:
Once you’ve reached the Manage Numbers page, click the Buy a Number button on the lefthand side:
Once you’ve reached the Buy A Number page, click Advanced Search, select the country in which you’re based. We recommend purchasing a Toll-Free phone number if available, but please note that only standard long phone numbers allow for MMS capabilities.
Connecting your Number to our Platform
Once a number has been purchased, you’ll need to connect your Twilio account to your account on our platform. You can do so by adding a channel, then selecting the Twilio option. Next, you’ll be prompted to enter your Twilio account SID and Token.
These can be found within the Project Info section of your Twilio Dashboard. Simply click the ‘show more’ arrow icon to the right of the screen to see your Account SID and Token:
After you’ve entered your Twilio account credentials, you’ll be directed to a page that contains the Twilio numbers you’ve purchased. Choose the number you’d like to connect, and you’ll immediately be ready to send and receive messages.
