---
"@context": https://schema.org
"@type": TechArticle
"@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/glossary/what-are-sms-notifications#article
headline: What are SMS Notifications?
description: SMS Notifications are out-of-band text messages sent in response to events or transactions which occur somewhere else. While often used as a marketing tool to increase the percentage of returning visitors, SMS notifications are very useful for organization and public safety purposes as well.
url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/glossary/what-are-sms-notifications
inLanguage: en
dateModified: 2026-07-20T14:57:59.000Z
author:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio Developer Education Team
publisher:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio
---

# What are SMS Notifications?

SMS Notifications are out-of-band text messages sent in response to events or transactions which occur somewhere else. While often used as a marketing tool to increase the percentage of returning visitors, SMS notifications are very useful for organization and public safety purposes as well.

## Using SMS Notifications for business, logistics, or safety

Because of the enviable open and interaction rates of text messages, using SMS as a delivery channel for notifications is a compelling option. Since SMSes work as a *push* to devices, you won't have to rely on people checking in on a site, app, dashboard or other channels to keep apprised of events, [ETA updates](/docs/glossary/what-are-eta-alerts-estimated-time-of-arrival), or changes to plans. Additionally, the out-of-band aspect of SMSes is essential for public safety purposes (e.g., police activity, fires, or natural disasters), as well as maintaining a backup channel in case primary means of communications fail.

In marketing, SMS notifications increase the stickiness and interaction of your site for opted-in customers (local laws vary, check with your legal team about your local opt-in regulations). Whether notifying people of sales and providing coupons, keeping the conversation going on social networks, or directing people to a retail store, SMS notifications are the secret weapon for your business's engagement.

SMS Notifications also have a pivotal role in logistics. Whether sending event updates, keeping people apprised of schedule (or even providing support) at live events, or for notifying the proper teams when bad things occur, SMS is a great channel to tie everything together. Use SMS Notifications to keep things running smoothly on the day of the show, fight exceptions, and avoid those logistical nightmares you're dreading.

## SMS Notifications with Twilio

Twilio has several products that provide SMS Notifications for events or transactions. [Twilio's Notify product](/docs/notify) has the SMS channel built in, and can also push notifications to smartphones, browsers, and messaging apps. [Learn more about Notify](/docs/notify).

Alternatively, [Programmable SMS](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/messaging/channels/sms) lets you build your own notifications using SMS as the delivery channel. The [Twilio tutorials](/docs) show how to use it for server exception notifications, ETA Notifications, and marketing notifications.

![Diagram showing SMS sent from app to phone via Twilio API with HTTP request and response.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/36e61eb8840fc0d112b7c00333e6efedba7f6a690f0dbe637e469548a08295b6.png)

See how to send your first SMS Notification with Twilio through the [SMS API](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/messaging/channels/sms).

### Related content on SMS Notifications

* [Notify Product](/docs/notify)
* [Programmable SMS](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/messaging/channels/sms)
* [Twilio Tutorials](/docs)
* [Build Customer SMS Notification with Twilio](/en-us/use-cases/alerts-and-notifications)
* [Talk to Sales](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/help/sales)