Send every appointment time from your own number, and see the replies right on each stop. This guide takes you through it one step at a time.
httpSMS (Android phones) · Twilio (any phone, including iPhone) · about 10 to 15 minutes, once
routewren.com
All four ways work with every RouteWren plan. You can switch any time in Settings › Texting and email.
| Manual | httpSMS | Twilio | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone | Any | Android | Any, incl. iPhone | None needed |
| Texts come from | Your number | Your number | A number you rent | Your name, by email |
| Sending | You tap Send for each one | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Replies | You log them | Appear on the stop | Appear on the stop | Go to your inbox; the confirm link updates the stop |
| Cost | Free | Free for about 200 texts a month; about US$10/month above that | Per text plus a monthly number fee (roughly 8 cents a stop in Canada) | Free |
| Setup | None | About 10 minutes | About 15 minutes, plus US registration if texting US numbers | None |
The free httpSMS app turns your Android phone into the sender. Your texts go out from your own number, and replies show up right on each stop in RouteWren.
On your phone or computer, go to httpsms.com and tap Get Started. Sign in with Google (easiest) or email.
You’ll know it worked when: you see the httpSMS dashboard.
The app is downloaded from httpSMS’s official GitHub page: github.com/NdoleStudio/httpsms/releases/latest. Tap the file ending in .apk under “Assets”.
You’ll know it worked when: the httpSMS icon is on your phone.
Open httpSMS and sign in with the same account as step 1. Allow the SMS and phone permissions it asks for: it needs them to send and receive texts.
If it asks for a phone key: on httpsms.com open the menu › Phone API Keys, create one, and scan its QR code with the app.
You’ll know it worked when: the app shows your phone number as connected.
Android puts apps to sleep to save battery, which makes texts go out late. Go to Android Settings › Apps › httpSMS › Battery and choose Unrestricted (on some phones: “Don’t optimize”).
You’ll know it worked when: httpSMS shows “Unrestricted” battery use.
On httpsms.com: menu (⋮) › Settings › API Key › Copy. Use this account key, not a key that starts with “pk_”.
In RouteWren, open Settings › Texting and email, choose Automatic from your Android phone (httpSMS), paste it into httpSMS API key, and check the Gateway phone number is your phone’s number. Tap Save.
You’ll know it worked when: RouteWren shows “Saved (ends in …)” under the key box.
Still in RouteWren’s texting settings, find the httpSMS webhook box. It has a Callback URL and a Signing key, each with a Copy button.
On httpsms.com: Settings › Webhooks › Add webhook. Paste the Callback URL and the Signing key, tick these five events, and save:
You’ll know it worked when: the webhook is listed on httpsms.com.
In RouteWren, tap Send me a test text. It goes to your own cell. Then tap Test texting.
The webhook line turns green after the first text is sent or received. To speed it up, text your phone from another phone, then tap Test texting again.
You’ll know it worked when: it says “✅ Ready” and “✅ Webhook working”.
Twilio is a texting service. You rent a phone number from them, and RouteWren sends your texts through it. Replies come back to RouteWren automatically.
Sign up at twilio.com/try-twilio and verify your email and phone.
You’ll know it worked when: you can open the Twilio Console.
In the Twilio Console: Phone Numbers › Manage › Buy a number. Pick your country, tick SMS, and choose a local number with your area code.
You’ll know it worked when: the number is listed under Active Numbers.
On the Twilio Console home page, under Account Info, copy the Account SID (starts with AC) and the Auth Token (click to reveal).
In RouteWren: Settings › Texting and email, choose Automatic through Twilio, paste both, enter your Twilio number in Twilio phone number, and tap Save.
You’ll know it worked when: RouteWren shows “Saved (ends in …)” under the Auth Token box.
Copy the Incoming message URL from RouteWren’s Twilio webhook box.
In Twilio: Phone Numbers › Manage › Active numbers › your number › Messaging configuration. Set A message comes in to Webhook, method HTTP POST, paste the URL, and save. Delivery updates are set up automatically.
You’ll know it worked when: the URL shows in your number’s messaging settings.
In RouteWren, tap Send me a test text, then Test texting. Text your Twilio number from your own phone and tap Test texting again to see the webhook turn green.
You’ll know it worked when: it says “✅ Ready” and “✅ Webhook working”.
Most problems are one of these. Tap Test texting in RouteWren first: its message usually says exactly what to fix.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Texts go out late, or only when you open the phone (httpSMS) | Set httpSMS battery use to Unrestricted (step A4). Some phones also have a “sleeping apps” list in battery settings: take httpSMS off it. |
| “Not ready” or a key error | Paste the key again. httpSMS needs the account API key (not one starting with pk_). Twilio needs both the Account SID and the Auth Token. Tap Save after pasting. |
| Replies don’t show on the stop | The webhook isn’t set up or doesn’t match. Copy the Callback URL and Signing key (httpSMS) or the Incoming message URL (Twilio) from RouteWren again and paste them exactly. |
| “Webhook reached RouteWren but its signing key is wrong” | The Signing key on httpsms.com doesn’t match RouteWren’s. Copy it again from RouteWren into httpsms.com › Webhooks. |
| Texts start with “Sent from your Twilio trial account” | Upgrade your Twilio account and add funds (Twilio step 1). |
| US numbers don’t receive texts (Twilio) | Finish the US carrier registration in Twilio (Twilio step 2). Until it’s approved, carriers block the texts. |
| A message saying automatic texts are paused overnight | That’s on purpose, to protect the people you text and your number. Send in the morning, or send that one yourself. |
| Someone replied STOP | RouteWren won’t text them again unless they reply START. You can still call them or email. |
Text people who expect to hear from you: claimants, borrowers, customers who asked for a quote. Never purchased lists or promotions.
Start with your name and company. People answer texts they recognise, and it’s required by the carriers.
Automatic texts pause overnight, and sensible daily limits keep your number from looking like a spammer’s to the carriers.
STOP replies are honoured automatically, and the confirm link has a “stop messages” option too.
RouteWren is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by httpSMS or Twilio. Their names are used only to describe how to connect your own account. Steps and prices were checked when this guide was written and can change; the services’ own help pages have the latest details.