SMS Arc allows you to receive SMS by email enabling you to use your favorite email client for handling text message replies to your virtual numbers, or any SMS you send on our platform. Connect with customers and fans using SMS without the distractions of traditional SMS sent directly to your mobile phone.
When you forward SMS to email, you will receive an email containing the message contents to whenever someone sends a reply text message to one of your SMS Arc virtual phone numbers, we will automatically forward the SMS to your email instantly upon receiving the message. This lets you read and sort the messages that you receive at your own pace within your email, and keeps your personal mobile phone number private.
Here is how forwarding SMS to Email works:
Choose Your Number
In order to receive SMS you need to have an active number on the SMS Arc platform. We make it easy for you to Search for activate a number anywhere in the world for as low as $2.00 USD. You will continue to be billed monthly for each active number until you release them or your account balance becomes insufficient to renew the number. Here are some other benefits that come with each number:
- Activate new numbers instantly.
- Forward SMS and Calls
- Optional Caller ID
- Pay Per Use Billing
Below is the interface we provide to help you search for and activate a number of your choosing.
Note that Toll-Free numbers are only able to support SMS messages to Email and are unable to forward MMS attachments to your email.
How to Forward SMS to Email
If you are ready to start forwarding all of the SMS you receive to your email address, you can proceed to manage your SMS Arc phone number.
Once you have activated a number with SMS Arc, you can control what happens when the number receives a text message. By default, receiving SMS will be set to disabled.
To begin forwarding SMS to your email, you will need to select the Receive SMS in Your Email option under the number's SMS Receiving Capability area.
Once selected, you will be asked to provide the email to send all of the SMS and MMS messages received by your new number. Take a look at the screenshot found below:
SMS Forwarding Made for Everyone
After your monthly activation fee for each number, you will only be charged for your actual usage.
When you use SMS Arc to handle SMS Forwarding and Toll-Free forwarding, you only pay for what you use.
Are you a high volume user? We offer automatic pricing discounts!
With SMS to Email, you will only be billed for the SMS being received. There are no costs associated to the email forwarding.
- As low as $0.0005 per forwarded SMS.
- Starting at $0.0265 / minute of Call Forwarding.
- Full pricing details here
- 1 Costs are subject to additional carrier fees calculated upon transmission.
- 2 Text messages are charged per 160 character segment.
SMS Forwarding FAQ
If you have questions about setting up SMS forwarding with SMS Arc, we are ready to help. Contact support or take a look at our frequently asked questions about forwarding SMS.
What is SMS to Email forwarding for?
Forwarding SMS to your Email can have a variety of purposes. It can be used to helping you verify your mobile phone number during online registrations and receve security codes, or work to keeping your personal number private while allowing you to make your SMS Arc public.
Some users prefer to use an email client for high volume SMS activity, which allows them to filter and search in a familiar interface.
You can also share your new number on social media and allow you to receive SMS while protecting the privacy of your own personal number.
Remember that you will be charged for all usage, which means that publically sharing your number has a cost.
You can use SMS Forwarding for a variety of purposes including customer management, protecting your privacy, or for your own projects.
There are many possible uses for text message forwarding. Let us know what you are using it for!
How long does it take to activate a number?
All phone numbers are activated instantly. You can configure and begin receiving forwarding SMS within moments of creating your free account.
How much does SMS Forwarding cost?
You will only be charged for your actual usage, meaning that each SMS forwarded will have a starting cost of $0.0005 per segment before carrier fees. Messages over 160 characters will be split up automatically and count as multiple segments.
To avoid further charges associated to SMS Forwarding, you can disable SMS capabilities within the number configuration page. When you set the SMS settings of the number to Disable SMS or Sending Only all incoming SMS will be blocked and no further charges will be incurred. If you are receiving unsolicited SMS, you can release the number and activate a new number.
How many numbers can I activate?
You can activate as many numbers as you require for your project. Each number can be configured independently, allowing you to setup numbers for a different purposes or in different geographical areas.