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Messaging 20 min read

How to set up your own Twilio account for SMS & WhatsApp

Twilio is the service that sends text messages and WhatsApp messages on behalf of your church. By connecting your own Twilio account (available on Kingdom and Enterprise plans), you pay Twilio directly and completely remove any platform messaging limits.

Why would you want your own Twilio account?

Using ChurchLinker's sender (default)

  • ✅ Works immediately: no setup
  • ✅ Included in your plan allowance
  • ⚠️ Monthly cap (500 to 10,000 messages)
  • ⚠️ You can buy extra credits if you need more

Your own Twilio account (BYOT)

  • ✅ No platform cap; send as many as you need
  • ✅ Your own UK phone number (consistent sender)
  • ✅ Pay Twilio directly (very low cost per message)
  • ✅ Your own WhatsApp Business profile
How much does Twilio cost? As of May 2026, Twilio charges approximately: SMS to UK numbers: ~£0.04 per message. WhatsApp: ~£0.04 per conversation (24-hour window). A church sending 1,000 SMS per month pays roughly £40/month directly to Twilio.

Part 1: Create your Twilio account

1

Sign up at twilio.com

Go to twilio.com and click Sign up for free.

Enter your name and email address, then create a password. Verify your email address by clicking the link Twilio sends you.

Twilio will ask what you are building. Select:

  • Product: SMS
  • Use case: Send notifications and updates
  • Build with: No code / low code
Start with the free trial account. Twilio gives you £10 to £15 of free credit to test with. You will need to upgrade to a paid account before sending to real members (free accounts can only send to verified phone numbers).
2

Upgrade to a paid account

In the Twilio Console (console.twilio.com), click Upgrade your account in the red banner at the top.

Enter your billing information (credit or debit card). Twilio only charges you for messages you actually send. There is no monthly fee just for having an account.

Add at least £20 of credit to start. You can add more at any time.

Part 2: Get a UK phone number

3

Buy a Twilio phone number

In the Twilio Console, go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Buy a number.

Search for a UK number:

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Capabilities: tick SMS
  • Number type: Local

Choose a number you like from the list and click Buy. UK local numbers cost approximately £1/month.

UK numbers and regulations: Twilio UK numbers use "long codes" (standard 11-digit numbers starting with 07 or a similar format). These are fine for sending messages to individual members. For bulk campaigns to many contacts at once, some carriers may filter messages; this is a UK regulatory thing, not a Twilio issue. For high volumes, consider a Twilio Messaging Service (Twilio can advise on this).
4

Write down your phone number in E.164 format

E.164 format is the international format that ChurchLinker requires. It looks like this:

  • UK number 07700 900000 becomes +447700900000
  • Always starts with a + sign
  • Then the country code (44 for UK)
  • Then the number without the leading 0

Write this down, as you'll need it when entering the number in ChurchLinker.

Part 3: Find your Twilio credentials

5

Find your Account SID and Auth Token

Go to console.twilio.com. On the home page (the Dashboard), you will see a box at the top with your credentials:

  • Account SID: starts with AC and is about 34 characters long. Example: ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Auth Token: a 32-character secret. Click the eye icon to reveal it.
Keep the Auth Token secret! It's like a password. Anyone who has it can send messages from your Twilio account. ChurchLinker encrypts it securely before saving, but do not share it in an email or chat message.

Part 4: Set up WhatsApp (optional, for WhatsApp messaging)

WhatsApp requires approval from Meta (Facebook). The process takes 2 to 5 business days and involves verifying your business. Skip this section if you only need SMS.

6

Apply for a WhatsApp Business API sender via Twilio

In the Twilio Console, go to Messaging → Senders → WhatsApp Senders.

Click Request Access. Twilio will guide you through connecting to Meta Business Manager.

You will need:

  • A Facebook/Meta Business Manager account (create one at business.facebook.com)
  • Your church's legal name and registered address
  • A phone number to use as your WhatsApp Business number (can be the same UK number you bought in Step 3)
  • A display name for your WhatsApp profile (e.g., "King's Christian Centre")
When Meta asks you to classify your business type, select Organisation or Non-profit. When asked about use case, select Customer notifications or Community engagement. Do NOT select ISV (Independent Software Vendor). That is for software companies building products for other businesses.
7

Wait for approval and note your WhatsApp number

Meta typically approves accounts within 2 to 5 business days. You'll get an email from Twilio when it's ready.

Once approved, your WhatsApp sender number will appear in Twilio Console → WhatsApp Senders. Note it in E.164 format (same as Step 4).

8

Configure webhook URLs in the WhatsApp sender

ChurchLinker needs to receive inbound WhatsApp messages and delivery receipts from Twilio. In the Twilio Console, go to Messaging → Senders → WhatsApp Senders, click your approved sender, and fill in these three fields:

Webhook URL for incoming messages

https://app.churchlinker.com/api/webhooks/twilio/whatsapp

Fallback URL for incoming messages

https://app.churchlinker.com/api/webhooks/twilio/whatsapp

Status callback URL

https://app.churchlinker.com/api/webhooks/twilio/status

Set the HTTP method to HTTP POST for all three. Click Save.

The same status callback URL (…/api/webhooks/twilio/status) is used for both SMS and WhatsApp delivery receipts. You can also configure it on your SMS Messaging Service in Twilio Console → Messaging → Services.

Part 5: Connect to ChurchLinker

9

Enter your credentials in ChurchLinker

In ChurchLinker, go to Settings → Messaging (you must be on the Kingdom or Enterprise plan).

Scroll down to Bring Your Own Twilio (BYOT) and fill in:

  • Account SID: paste from Twilio Console (starts with AC)
  • Auth Token: paste from Twilio Console (click eye icon to reveal first)
  • Phone number: your UK number in E.164 format (e.g. +447700900000)
  • WhatsApp number: optional, only if you completed Part 4

Click Connect Twilio. ChurchLinker will immediately encrypt and save your credentials.

10

Test by sending a message

Go to Communications → New message and send a test SMS to yourself (you can search for your own member record).

You should receive the text within a few seconds. If you don't, check that:

  • Your Twilio account has credit (top up if needed)
  • Your phone number is in E.164 format
  • The Auth Token you entered is correct (it's easy to copy extra spaces by accident)

Quick checklist

  • Twilio account created at twilio.com
  • Upgraded to a paid account (billing info entered)
  • UK phone number purchased (costs ~£1/month)
  • Phone number written down in E.164 format (+44…)
  • Account SID copied from Twilio Console dashboard
  • Auth Token copied from Twilio Console dashboard
  • (Optional) WhatsApp Business sender approved through Meta
  • (Optional) WhatsApp webhook URLs entered in Twilio Console → WhatsApp Senders
  • (Optional) Status callback URL entered for your SMS Messaging Service
  • Credentials entered in ChurchLinker Settings → Messaging
  • Test message sent and received successfully

Example monthly cost (Twilio direct)

Phone number rental~£1/month
1,000 SMS to UK numbers~£40
500 WhatsApp conversations~£20
Total example~£61/month

Prices are approximate and may change. Check twilio.com/pricing for current rates. No monthly fee; you only pay for what you send.

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