Getting Started with PulseSMS
Learn how to create your free account, connect your Android device as an SMS gateway, and send your first campaign from your own number in under 10 minutes.
PulseSMS turns your Android phone into a personal SMS gateway. Messages go out from your own number — no shared short codes, no expensive carrier plans. This guide walks you through everything from sign-up to your first sent message.
What you'll need
- An Android phone running Android 6.0 or later
- A SIM card with SMS capability
- A PulseSMS account (free tier covers 100 messages/month)
Step 1: Create your account
Head to pulse-sms.com and click Get Started. Fill in your name, email, and a password.
After sign-up, PulseSMS automatically creates:
- A default Organization (your workspace)
- A default API key (used later if you want programmatic access)
You'll land on the dashboard. Everything you do — campaigns, contacts, devices — lives inside your organization.
Step 2: Download the Android app
Go to pulse-sms.com/download and tap Download APK. Once the file downloads, open it to install.
Note: Android will ask you to allow installation from unknown sources. This is expected for apps distributed outside the Play Store. Tap Install anyway.
After installing, open the PulseSMS Gateway app on your phone.
Step 3: Connect your device
The app needs to know which PulseSMS account it belongs to. This is done with a QR code.
In the web dashboard:
- Go to Devices in the left sidebar.
- Click Connect device.
- A QR code appears — keep this screen open.
In the Android app:
- Tap Scan QR Code.
- Point your camera at the QR code on your screen.
- The app connects and registers itself as a gateway device.
Once connected, you'll see your device listed on the Devices page with a Connected badge and your phone's SIM number pre-filled.
Multiple SIMs
If your phone has two SIM cards, the app shows a chip selector at the top. Tap the SIM you want to use for outgoing messages — the number autofills automatically.
Step 4: Verify your device is active
Back in the dashboard, check the Devices page. Your device should show:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Connected |
| Phone number | Your SIM number (E.164 format) |
| Carrier | Detected automatically |
| Last seen | A few seconds ago |
The device sends a heartbeat every 30 seconds, so Last seen stays fresh as long as the app is open on your phone.
Step 5: Send your first message
Now let's send a quick test message.
- Go to Campaigns → New campaign.
- Give it a name like
Test message. - Under Recipients, enter a phone number manually (your own number works great for a test).
- Type your message body. You can use variables like
{{name}}if you're sending to a contact list. - Click Send now.
Within a few seconds, the message routes through your Android device and you'll receive the text on your phone.
What's next?
Now that your device is connected and you've sent a test message, here's what to explore:
- Contact lists — Import a CSV of contacts to personalize campaigns at scale.
- Campaigns — Schedule bulk sends to hundreds of recipients.
- Webhooks — Get notified when messages are delivered or fail.
- API — Integrate PulseSMS into your own app or automation workflow.
Check out the other guides in this blog, or dive straight into the API documentation.