Let us be honest up front: there is no production SMS chatbot that is entirely free. Phone numbers cost money. Carriers charge for every message segment. AI replies consume tokens. 10DLC registration has fees. Anyone promising a completely free SMS chatbot at real volume is selling something else.
But “free” still means useful things in this category. It can mean a permanent free plan with real limits, a time-boxed trial with real message credit, a developer trial for testing APIs, or free software where you pay only for hosting and carrier transport. This list covers all four, clearly labeled, so you know exactly what you are getting. Everything was checked on September 28, 2026.
The four kinds of “free”
Before the list, learn the vocabulary. It will save you from surprise bills.
Free plan. A permanent account with limits. Textedly’s free account and BotPenguin’s free tier work like this. You can run a small real workload indefinitely.
Free trial. Full or near-full features for a set period or credit amount. EZ Texting (30 days, 120 credits) and SimpleTexting (14 days, 50 messages) work like this. Great for evaluation, then it ends.
Developer trial credit. API platforms give you a small balance to test with. Twilio and Plivo work like this. Meant for building and testing, not for customers.
Free software, paid transport. The code costs nothing; the messages do not. Open-source frameworks fall here. You will still pay for a phone number, carrier fees, hosting, and any AI API usage.
The short version
| Platform | Free type | What you get | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textedly | Free plan | 50 messages, 1 keyword | Tiny volume |
| BotPenguin | Free plan | ~1,000 messages/mo | SMS via your Twilio number |
| ManyChat | Free plan | 25 contacts, 2 channels | No SMS on free tier |
| EZ Texting | Free trial | 30 days, 120 credits | Ends after 30 days |
| SimpleTexting | Free trial | 14 days, 50 messages | Ends after 14 days |
| Twilio | Dev trial | ~$15 credit, no card | Verified numbers only |
| Plivo | Dev trial | $0.10 credit, no card | Tiny credit |
| Gupshup | Free tier | Build and test bots | Limits unpublished |
Genuinely free plans
1. Textedly: the simplest free SMS automation
Textedly’s free account is the real deal for testing: 50 messages and one custom keyword, no credit card required, and no time limit according to the vendor’s own pages. You can set up a keyword (text JOIN to the number), attach an automated sequence, and see how SMS automation feels with zero financial commitment.
The limits are obvious: 50 messages runs out fast, and one keyword means one automation. Paid plans start at $29 a month when you are ready. But as a free way to prove the concept to yourself or a client, it is the easiest start on this list.
2. BotPenguin: the most generous free chatbot plan
BotPenguin’s free-forever plan offers around 1,000 messages a month on its current pages, with AI included. That is an order of magnitude more breathing room than Textedly, and you get the drag-and-drop builder, live chat, and integrations.
The catch for SMS specifically: BotPenguin connects through your own Twilio number. The builder is free, but the messages travel over Twilio’s network at Twilio’s rates, and Twilio’s own trial credit only goes so far. For web chat the free plan is genuinely free. For SMS, think of it as a free builder with pay-as-you-go transport.
3. ManyChat: free to learn, paid for SMS
ManyChat’s free tier gives you 25 active contacts across 2 channels with the full visual flow builder. It is an excellent way to learn the platform and prototype conversations.
But note the limitation clearly: SMS unlocks at the Pro tier ($39 a month or $29 annually). The free plan covers Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp style channels depending on configuration, not texting. Include it here because it is the best free way to learn chatbot building, not because it gives you free SMS.
Free trials worth using
4. EZ Texting: the best trial for evaluation
Thirty days, 120 credits, no credit card required. That is enough volume to run a real small campaign, test keyword automations, try the workflow builder on the trial, and see actual delivery reports. If your goal is “evaluate properly before spending,” this is the trial to take.
When it ends, the Launch plan is $25 a month ($20 annually) for 500 credits. Set a calendar reminder before day 30 so the decision is deliberate rather than automatic.
5. SimpleTexting: the best trial for the core playbook
Fourteen days with 50 test messages, enough to set up keyword opt-ins, an auto-reply, and a drip campaign, then watch them work. SimpleTexting’s trial is shorter than EZ Texting’s but the platform is simpler, so you need less time.
The trial is also a good compliance shakedown: set up the opt-in flow, test STOP handling, and walk through the 10DLC guidance before you commit. When it ends, plans start at $29 a month for 500 credits.
Developer trial credit
6. Twilio: the standard sandbox for builders
Twilio’s trial gives you free usage credit (around $15 in value) with no credit card, which is plenty for building and testing a bot. The important constraint: trial accounts can only send to verified numbers, meaning phone numbers you personally confirm in the console. You cannot text customers from a trial account.
That makes it perfect for its purpose: prototype your SMS chatbot, test the webhook logic, try Studio’s visual builder, and confirm the conversation works. When you are ready for production, you upgrade, register for 10DLC, and start paying the standard $0.0083 per segment plus carrier fees.
7. Plivo: the no-card micro trial
Plivo’s trial is a $0.10 credit with no credit card required. It is small, enough for a handful of test messages, but it exists and it requires nothing from you. Like Twilio, it is for testing the API and the workflow builder, not for running a business.
If you are comparing Twilio and Plivo as the foundation for a coded bot, take both trials. The APIs are similar enough that an afternoon with each tells you which documentation and dashboard you prefer working in.
Free software, paid transport
8. Gupshup: free tier for building and testing
Gupshup offers a free tier aimed at building and testing bots, with usage-based pricing when you scale. The honest problem: the exact free-tier limits are not published, and the company’s pricing page was returning a 404 as of August 2026. That makes it hard to recommend the free tier with confidence.
Include it as a “check the current terms” option rather than a sure thing. If the free tier terms are clear when you visit, it is a reasonable sandbox for omnichannel bots spanning SMS and WhatsApp.
The open-source path
If you are technical, the cheapest long-term path is open-source software on your own hosting. Frameworks like Rasa and Chatwoot cost nothing for the code; you pay for the server, the Twilio or Plivo account that carries the messages, and any AI API usage. Our full breakdown covers the maintained options and the retired ones to avoid.
What free never covers
Whatever path you take, budget for these. A phone number rents monthly (around $1 to $2 for a US local number on developer platforms, more via bundled platforms). Every message segment carries carrier pass-through fees. US 10DLC registration runs roughly $15 for brand registration plus about $10 per month per campaign. And AI replies consume tokens on metered LLM APIs. A “free” chatbot that sends 1,000 AI-powered conversations a month still has a real bill attached.
The compliance obligations are also never free in the sense that they are never optional. You need express consent before marketing texts, immediate STOP handling, and quiet hour respect regardless of what you pay for software. Read our TCPA consent guide and 10DLC registration guide before your first send. This is general information, not legal advice.
Want this set up for you?
I build SMS chatbots and API integrations for businesses. If you would like what this guide describes, done for you, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free SMS chatbot platform?
No, not for production use. The closest options are Textedly’s free account (50 messages, one keyword) and BotPenguin’s free plan (~1,000 messages a month, SMS via your own Twilio number). Phone numbers, carrier fees, and registration always cost something at real volume.
What is the best free trial for testing an SMS chatbot?
EZ Texting’s 30-day trial with 120 credits and no credit card is the most generous for evaluation. SimpleTexting’s 14-day trial is shorter but the platform is simpler to learn. For developers, Twilio’s trial credit is the standard sandbox.
Can I send texts to customers from a free trial account?
On Twilio’s trial, no: you can only text verified numbers you control. On platform trials like EZ Texting and SimpleTexting, you can generally run real small-scale sends during the trial, but stay within the credit limits and keep consent records clean from day one.
Do free plans handle opt-outs and compliance?
The reputable ones handle STOP keywords automatically even on free tiers. What no free plan does for you is collect proper consent or complete 10DLC registration. Those obligations are yours whatever you pay.
Why do free SMS chatbots still cost money to run?
Because the software is only one layer. Underneath it you are renting a phone number, paying carriers per message segment, paying 10DLC registration fees in the US, and paying for AI tokens on every smart reply. Free plans waive the software fee, not the infrastructure.
When should I switch from free to paid?
Switch when you hit any of these: you run out of monthly messages, you need a second keyword or automation, you want AI replies instead of scripted ones, or you are texting real customers (which deserves paid-tier reliability and support). For most small businesses that moment arrives within the first month of real use.