---
description: 'Learn how to integrate Twilio SMS with the Medusa backend. Learn how to install the Twilio SMS plugin and test it out.'
addHowToData: true
---

# Twilio SMS

In this document, you’ll learn about the Twilio SMS Plugin, what it does, and how to use it in Medusa.

## Overview

[Twilio’s SMS API](https://www.twilio.com/sms) can be used to send users SMS messages instantly. It has a lot of additional features such as Whatsapp messaging and conversations.

By integrating Twilio SMS into Medusa, you’ll have easy access to Twilio’s SMS API to send SMS messages to your users and customers. You can use it to send Order confirmations, verification codes, reset password messages, and more.

:::note

This plugin only gives you access to the Twilio SMS API but does not implement sending messages at any given point. You’ll have to add this yourself where you need it. You can look at the [example later in this tutorial](#example-usage-of-the-plugin) to check how you can send an SMS for a new order.

:::

---

## Prerequisites

Before going further with this guide make sure you have a Medusa backend set up. You can follow the [Quickstart guide](../../development/backend/install.mdx) if you don’t.

You also must have a [Twilio account created](https://www.twilio.com/sms) so if you don’t already please go ahead and create one.

---

## Retrieve Credentials

For the [Twilio SMS plugin](https://github.com/medusajs/medusa/tree/master/packages/medusa-plugin-twilio-sms), you need three credentials from your Twilio account: Account SID, Auth Token, and a Twilio phone number to send from. You can find these three from your [Twilio Console’s homepage](https://console.twilio.com).

---

## Install Plugin

In the directory of your Medusa backend, run the following command to install [Twilio SMS plugin](https://github.com/medusajs/medusa/tree/master/packages/medusa-plugin-twilio-sms):

```bash npm2yarn
npm install medusa-plugin-twilio-sms
```

Then, you’ll need to add your credentials in `.env`:

```bash
TWILIO_SMS_ACCOUNT_SID=<YOUR_ACCOUNT_SID>
TWILIO_SMS_AUTH_TOKEN=<YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN>
TWILIO_SMS_FROM_NUMBER=<YOUR_TWILIO_NUMBER>
```

Make sure to replace `<YOUR_ACCOUNT_SID>`, `<YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN>`, and `<YOUR_TWILIO_NUMBER>` with the credentials you obtained from your Twilio Console.

Finally, add the plugin and its options in the `medusa-config.js` file to the `plugins` array:

```jsx title=medusa-config.js
const plugins = [
  // ...
  {
    resolve: `medusa-plugin-twilio-sms`,
    options: {
      account_sid: process.env.TWILIO_SMS_ACCOUNT_SID,
      auth_token: process.env.TWILIO_SMS_AUTH_TOKEN,
      from_number: process.env.TWILIO_SMS_FROM_NUMBER,
    },
  },
]
```

---

## Example Usage of the Plugin

This plugin adds the service `twilioSmsService` to your Medusa backend. To send SMS using it, all you have to do is resolve it in your file as explained in the [Services](../../development/services/create-service.mdx#using-your-custom-service) documentation.

In this example, you’ll create a subscriber that listens to the `order.placed` event and sends an SMS to the customer to confirm their order.

:::tip

For this example to work, you'll need to have an event bus module installed and configured, which should be available by default.

:::

Create the file `src/services/sms.js` in your Medusa backend with the following content:

```jsx title=src/services/sms.js
class SmsSubscriber {
  constructor({ 
    twilioSmsService, 
    orderService, 
    eventBusService,
  }) {
    this.twilioSmsService_ = twilioSmsService
    this.orderService = orderService

    eventBusService.subscribe("order.placed", this.sendSMS)
  }

  sendSMS = async (data) => {
    const order = await this.orderService.retrieve(data.id, {
      relations: ["shipping_address"],
    })

    if (order.shipping_address.phone) {
      this.twilioSmsService_.sendSms({
        to: order.shipping_address.phone,
        body: "We have received your order #" + data.id,
      })
    }
  }
}

export default SmsSubscriber
```

In the `constructor`, you resolve the `twilioSmsService` and `orderService` using dependency injection to use it later in the `sendSMS` method.

You also subscribe to the event `order.placed` and sets the event handler to be `sendSMS`.

In `sendSMS`, you first retrieve the order with its relation to `shipping_address` which contains a `phone` field. If the phone is set, you send an SMS to the customer using the method `sendSms` in the `twilioSmsService`.

This method accepts an object of parameters. These parameters are based on Twilio’s SMS APIs. You can check their [API documentation](https://www.twilio.com/docs/sms/api/message-resource#create-a-message-resource) for more fields that you can add.

If you create an order now on your storefront, you should receive a message from Twilio on the phone number you entered in the shipping address.

:::tip

If you don’t have a storefront set up yet, you can install the [Next.js Starter Template](../../starters/nextjs-medusa-starter.mdx).

:::

:::caution

If you’re on a Twilio trial make sure that the phone number you entered on checkout is a [verified Twilio number on your console](https://console.twilio.com/us1/develop/phone-numbers/manage/verified).

:::

![Twilio Dashboard](https://res.cloudinary.com/dza7lstvk/image/upload/v1668001219/Medusa%20Docs/Stripe/MXtQMiL_kb7kxe.png)

---

## See Also

- [Notifications Overview](../../development/notification/overview.mdx).
- Install the [Medusa admin](../../admin/quickstart.mdx) for functionalities like Gift Cards creation, swaps, claims, order return requests, and more.
