You can send text messages directly from your email without any special software. Every major mobile carrier provides an email-to-SMS gateway—a special email address format that converts your email into a text message delivered to the recipient’s phone.
This guide shows you exactly how to do it, with a complete list of carrier gateways.
How Email-to-SMS Works
Your Email Client → Email Server → Carrier Gateway → SMS Network → Recipient's Phone
│
(Converts email to SMS)When you send an email to a carrier’s SMS gateway address, the carrier’s system:
- Receives your email
- Extracts the message body
- Converts it to SMS format
- Delivers it to the phone number
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Find the Recipient’s Carrier
You need to know which mobile carrier the recipient uses. If you’re unsure, you can:
- Ask them directly
- Use a carrier lookup service
- Check the first 6 digits of their number (NPA-NXX lookup)
Step 2: Format the Email Address
The email address format is:
[10-digit-phone-number]@[carrier-gateway]Example: For a Verizon customer with number (555) 123-4567:
5551234567@vtext.comStep 3: Compose Your Email
| Field | What to Enter |
|---|---|
| To | 5551234567@vtext.com |
| Subject | Keep it short or leave blank |
| Body | Your message (160 chars recommended) |
Important: The subject line may be included in the SMS. For cleaner messages, leave it blank or keep it very short.
Step 4: Send
Click send. The recipient receives your message as a text from an email address.
Step 5: Receive Replies
When the recipient replies to your SMS, their response arrives in your email inbox.
Complete List of Carrier Gateways
Major US Carriers
| Carrier | SMS Gateway | MMS Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | number@txt.att.net | number@mms.att.net |
| Verizon | number@vtext.com | number@vzwpix.com |
| T-Mobile | number@tmomail.net | number@tmomail.net |
| Sprint (now T-Mobile) | number@messaging.sprintpcs.com | number@pm.sprint.com |
| US Cellular | number@email.uscc.net | number@mms.uscc.net |
| Boost Mobile | number@sms.myboostmobile.com | number@myboostmobile.com |
| Cricket | number@sms.cricketwireless.net | number@mms.cricketwireless.net |
| Metro by T-Mobile | number@mymetropcs.com | number@mymetropcs.com |
| Google Fi | number@msg.fi.google.com | number@msg.fi.google.com |
| Mint Mobile | Uses T-Mobile gateway | Uses T-Mobile gateway |
| Visible | Uses Verizon gateway | Uses Verizon gateway |
Regional US Carriers
| Carrier | SMS Gateway |
|---|---|
| Alltel | number@sms.alltelwireless.com |
| C Spire | number@cspire1.com |
| Consumer Cellular | number@mailmymobile.net |
| Straight Talk | number@vtext.com (Verizon) |
| Tracfone | number@mmst5.tracfone.com |
| Xfinity Mobile | number@vtext.com (uses Verizon) |
Canadian Carriers
| Carrier | SMS Gateway |
|---|---|
| Bell | number@txt.bell.ca |
| Rogers | number@pcs.rogers.com |
| Telus | number@msg.telus.com |
| Fido | number@fido.ca |
| Koodo | number@msg.koodomobile.com |
| Virgin Mobile CA | number@vmobile.ca |
| Freedom Mobile | number@txt.freedommobile.ca |
UK Carriers
| Carrier | SMS Gateway |
|---|---|
| O2 | number@o2.co.uk |
| Vodafone UK | number@vodafone.net |
| EE | Not publicly available |
| Three | Not publicly available |
International Carriers
| Carrier | Country | SMS Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Australia | number@sms.tim.telstra.com |
| Optus | Australia | number@optusmobile.com.au |
| Vodafone AU | Australia | number@pxt.vodafone.net.au |
| Telecom NZ | New Zealand | number@etxt.co.nz |
Note: Many international carriers don’t offer public email-to-SMS gateways. Use an SMS API provider for reliable international messaging.
Examples by Carrier
AT&T Example
To: 5551234567@txt.att.net
Subject: (leave blank)
Body: Hey! Can you pick up milk on the way home?Verizon Example
To: 5551234567@vtext.com
Subject: (leave blank)
Body: Meeting moved to 3pm. See you there!T-Mobile Example
To: 5551234567@tmomail.net
Subject: (leave blank)
Body: Your order is ready for pickup at Store #42.Sending to Multiple Recipients
You can include multiple phone numbers in the To or CC fields:
To: 5551234567@vtext.com, 5559876543@txt.att.net
Subject: (leave blank)
Body: Team meeting at 2pm today.Caveat: Each recipient must be on their correct carrier gateway.
Sending MMS (Pictures) via Email
To send images or multimedia:
- Use the MMS gateway address (not SMS)
- Attach your image to the email
- Keep file size under 1MB
Example:
To: 5551234567@vzwpix.com
Subject: Check this out
Body: Photo from the event
Attachment: photo.jpgLimitations of Email-to-SMS
Character Limits
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| SMS limit | 160 characters (longer messages may be split or truncated) |
| Subject line | Often included in message, using up characters |
| Encoding | Non-ASCII characters may cause issues |
Reliability Concerns
| Limitation | Impact |
|---|---|
| Carrier filtering | Messages may be flagged as spam |
| Delivery delays | Not instant like direct SMS |
| No delivery confirmation | Can’t verify message was received |
| Gateway changes | Carriers may update addresses |
| Rate limiting | Carriers limit messages per hour/day |
Privacy Issues
| Concern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sender email visible | Recipient sees your email address |
| Replies go to email | May confuse recipients |
| No encryption | Messages travel through multiple systems |
Not Suitable For
| Use Case | Why Not |
|---|---|
| Business/bulk messaging | Use proper SMS API instead |
| Time-sensitive alerts | Delivery not guaranteed |
| Two-factor authentication | Too unreliable |
| Marketing campaigns | Likely to be blocked |
Email-to-SMS vs SMS API Providers
| Feature | Email-to-SMS | SMS API (Twilio, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Per-message fee |
| Reliability | Low-Medium | High (99%+) |
| Delivery confirmation | No | Yes |
| Throughput | Very limited | High |
| Carrier lookup | Manual | Automatic |
| Compliance tools | None | Built-in |
| Two-way messaging | Basic | Full support |
| Best for | Personal, occasional | Business, reliable |
When to Use Email-to-SMS
Good Use Cases
- Sending occasional texts from your computer
- Quick personal messages when your phone isn’t available
- One-off notifications to yourself
- Testing SMS flows
Bad Use Cases
- Business communications (use proper SMS APIs)
- Marketing campaigns (will be blocked)
- Automated systems (unreliable)
- Time-critical alerts (no delivery guarantee)
- High volume (rate limited)
Troubleshooting
Message Not Delivered
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Wrong carrier | Verify recipient’s carrier |
| Typo in gateway | Double-check the domain |
| Spam filtered | Simplify message content |
| Rate limited | Wait and try again later |
| Carrier discontinued gateway | Check for updated address |
Message Truncated
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Over 160 characters | Shorten your message |
| Subject line included | Leave subject blank |
| Signature added | Disable email signature |
Replies Not Received
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Spam folder | Check spam/junk |
| Email blocked | Carrier may block replies |
| Recipient replied to wrong address | Provide your email in message |
Automation Options
Email Client Rules
Most email clients can automate email-to-SMS:
Gmail:
- Create a filter for specific triggers
- Forward matching emails to SMS gateway
- Use with caution (rate limits apply)
Outlook:
- Create a rule based on conditions
- Forward to SMS gateway address
- Monitor for delivery issues
IFTTT / Zapier
| Service | How It Works |
|---|---|
| IFTTT | ”If new email from X, send SMS to gateway” |
| Zapier | Connect apps to trigger email-to-SMS |
| Make | Visual automation workflows |
Warning: Automated email-to-SMS often hits carrier rate limits. For reliable automation, use a proper SMS API.
Better Alternatives for Business
If you need reliable SMS sending beyond personal use:
| Solution | Best For |
|---|---|
| Twilio | Developers, API-first |
| ClickSend | Simple web interface |
| TextMagic | Small business |
| EZTexting | Marketing campaigns |
These services provide:
- Delivery confirmation
- Higher throughput
- Compliance tools
- Professional sender IDs
- Analytics
Learn more about business SMS options.
Quick Reference Card
Most Common US Gateways
| Carrier | Gateway |
|---|---|
| AT&T | @txt.att.net |
| Verizon | @vtext.com |
| T-Mobile | @tmomail.net |
| Sprint | @messaging.sprintpcs.com |
Format
[10-digit-number]@[gateway]
Example: 5551234567@vtext.comConclusion
Email-to-SMS gateways provide a quick, free way to send text messages from your computer. While useful for personal, occasional use, they have significant limitations for anything beyond basic messaging.
Key takeaways:
- Format: phonenumber@carriergateway.com
- Keep messages short: 160 characters max
- Leave subject blank: It may be included in the SMS
- Know the carrier: You must use the correct gateway
- For business use: Use a proper SMS API instead
Need to optimize your message before sending? Check your character count with our free SMS Character Counter.
Related Articles
WhatIsSMS.com
SMS Technology Guide