Twilio integration without code: SMS, WhatsApp and automated calls

The Twilio integration in nana800 is one Twilio block: it sends SMS and WhatsApp messages, calls a phone and reads a text aloud, or runs your own call script. You only need the Account SID and Auth Token of your Twilio account, with no code. A block run costs $0.002, and Twilio charges SMS, WhatsApp messages and calls to your Twilio balance.

Build it in the builder
  • Block run: $0.002
  • Free every month: $3.50
  • No card needed

What you can do

  • Send SMS from your Twilio number, or from a letter sender name in countries that allow it
  • Message customers on WhatsApp: free text within 24 hours of their last message, or an approved template
  • Attach up to 10 images or files: images, PDF, audio and video on WhatsApp, MMS for SMS (mostly US and Canada numbers)
  • Call a customer and have a female or male voice read a text in one of 12 languages
  • Start a call with your own TwiML script: play a recording or forward to another number
  • Receive delivery and call completion reports from Twilio at your own address

Blocks in the builder

  • Twilio (SMS, WhatsApp, calls)

    Action · $0.002 per run

    Four actions: send_sms, send_whatsapp, make_call_with_text and make_call_with_twiml_url. Returns success, the message or call sid in Twilio, its status, and the Twilio error code and text if Twilio refused.

How to set it up

  1. 1

    Copy your keys from Twilio Console

    Sign in to Twilio Console and find Account Info on the home page. Copy the Account SID (it starts with AC), then click Show and copy the Auth Token. The token gives access to the money on your account, so keep it secret.

  2. 2

    Prepare a sender number

    SMS and calls need a number bought in your Twilio account, and a verified number also works for calls. To test WhatsApp without buying a number, open the WhatsApp Sandbox: the recipient sends the join phrase from Twilio to the sandbox number once.

  3. 3

    Add the Twilio block to a scheme

    Create a scheme, add a trigger such as a webhook for website requests or the button trigger for a test, and add the Twilio block. Pick the action, paste the Account SID and Auth Token, and fill in To as +14155550123 and From.

  4. 4

    Write the message or the call text

    For SMS and WhatsApp write up to 1600 characters and insert data from the trigger. For a call write what the voice will say (up to 3000 characters) and pick the language and voice. For a scripted call paste a TwiML link, the easiest way is a TwiML Bin.

  5. 5

    Turn the scheme on and test it

    Turn the scheme on, press the button and open the block result: success is true if Twilio accepted the message or call. If not, error_message holds the Twilio error code and text. When it works, keep the scheme on. It costs $0.0042 per hour while on.

Frequently asked questions

A block run costs $0.002 and is charged only if Twilio accepted the request. Twilio bills SMS, WhatsApp messages and calls to your Twilio balance, and a long SMS is billed per part. An enabled scheme costs $0.0042 per hour. Your nana800 balance is topped up to $3.50 for free every month. A scheme kept on around the clock for a month spends most of that on scheme hours.

A trial account can only message and call numbers verified in Twilio Console (Verified Caller IDs), and Twilio adds a trial notice to the start of each SMS. Error 21608 means the recipient number is not verified. The limits go away once you top up your Twilio balance.

WhatsApp allows you to write first, or later than 24 hours after the last message of the person, only with an approved template. Create it in Content Template Builder in Twilio Console, paste its Content SID (it starts with HX) into the block and fill in the template values by number: 1, 2, 3. Without a template Twilio returns error 63016.

Yes. Choose make_call_with_text, write the text, for example Your order is ready for pickup today until 8 pm, and pick a language such as en-US. For each language the block picks a female or male voice, and you can set an exact Twilio voice name instead. Write codes that must be read digit by digit with spaces: 1 2 3 4.

That Twilio accepted the message or call. It is not delivery yet: the queued status means the message is waiting in line. Twilio sends the final delivery result to the status callback address if you filled it in.

20003: wrong Account SID or Auth Token. 21211: invalid recipient number, check the plus and the country code. 21606: the From number does not belong to the account or cannot send messages. 21408: sending to this country is off in Messaging, Settings, Geo permissions. 21610: the recipient replied STOP and unsubscribed.

Build your first scheme for free

Sign-up is free and needs no card. Every month the balance is topped up to $3.50 for free, enough for about 3,500 runs of basic blocks.

Build it in the builder