SMS Gateway for Android (SMSGate) Alternative With a Hosted Inbox
SMS Gateway for Android (SMSGate) is a free, open-source app that turns your phone into an SMS gateway, with local, cloud and self-hosted modes and a developer-focused feature set. Android Texter does the same core job as a hosted service, and is built for businesses that also need a conversation inbox, contacts, broadcasts, an official Zapier app and an MCP server. If you are a developer who wants free and self-hosted, SMSGate is hard to beat. If your team works with customers in an inbox, Android Texter fits better.
Android Texter vs SMS Gateway for Android
| Android Texter | SMS Gateway for Android | |
|---|---|---|
| How texts are sent | Your Android phone's SIM, your number | Your Android phone's SIM, your number; local, cloud or self-hosted server |
| Price | Free 100 texts a day; Pro $10/month per phone, no message cap from us | Free; donation funded; asks heavy cloud users (over 10,000 a day) to contact support |
| Web inbox | Two-way conversations with folders, archive, spam, contacts, leads pipeline | Dashboard to compose, list messages and manage devices |
| Broadcasts and scheduling | Broadcasts up to 500, scheduled texts, auto-reply | Rate limiting and working-hours scheduling on the device |
| Integrations | Official Zapier app, webhooks, Python and Node SDKs, MCP server | Webhooks, SDKs in four languages, SMPP, email-to-SMS, Telegram bridge |
| MMS | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosting | No, hosted service | Yes, open source (Apache-2.0) |
When SMS Gateway for Android is the better choice
- You are a developer and want a free gateway you can run yourself
- You need SMPP, data SMS or a local-network mode with no internet
- You don't need a shared inbox or business tools
When Android Texter fits better
- Your team replies to customers from a web inbox, not just an API
- You want contacts, broadcasts, scheduling and auto-replies without building them
- You connect through Zapier or want an MCP server for AI assistants
- You'd rather have a hosted service with support than run a server
Switching from SMS Gateway for Android
- Install Android Texter on the same phone and pair it from the dashboard
- Swap your API calls to Android Texter, or use the Python or Node SDK
- Re-point your webhooks, and import past conversations from the phone if you want them in the inbox
Questions
Why pay when SMSGate is free?
If you only need an API and are happy to run it yourself, you may not need to. Android Texter is for teams that want a hosted inbox, contacts, broadcasts, integrations and support on top of the gateway.
Can I run both on one phone?
Only one app can be the phone's default SMS app, which is what receives incoming texts. Pick one for each phone.
Try it on your own phone
Free for 100 texts a day on one phone; Pro is $10/month per phone with no message cap from us.
Get started free