SMS Device Specifications
Android device requirements, recommended phone models, and SIM plan selection guide for connecting SMS to WhatSnap with optimal performance.
This guide covers the hardware and carrier requirements for connecting Android devices to WhatSnap for SMS messaging through GoHighLevel.
Android Phone Requirements
Minimum Specifications
WhatSnap should work on any Android phone meeting these specifications:
Operating System
Android 9.0 or higher
Older versions not supported
RAM
2 GB minimum
4 GB recommended for optimal performance
Camera
Working camera required
Needed for QR code authentication
Storage
100 MB free space
For app installation and operation
Network
WiFi or Mobile Data
Stable connection required
Performance Note: WhatSnap works on lower-spec devices (2 GB RAM), but you may experience degraded performance, slower message processing, or occasional app restarts. For reliable 24/7 operation, we strongly recommend 4 GB RAM or higher.
Compatibility Notes
✅ Compatible Devices:
Most Android smartphones from 2018 or newer
Budget phones with minimum specs listed above
Mid-range and flagship Android devices
Devices with stock Android or light manufacturer skins
❌ Known Issues:
Very cheap phones (under $50-75 USD) may enter aggressive sleep modes after 12-24 hours, stopping background apps
Samsung phones in some countries (e.g., Serbia) may block APK downloads outside Google Play Store
Heavily customized Android skins (some Chinese manufacturers) may kill background processes aggressively
Recommended Devices
These phones have been tested by users with confirmed reliable performance:
Budget-Friendly Options ($80-150 USD)
Nokia Series
Nokia C31 - Great value, reliable background performance
Nokia C12 - Budget option, works well
Nokia C02 - Entry-level, minimum viable option
Other Brands
OPPO A16s - Good performance for the price
Realme C21 - Budget-friendly, reliable
Motorola XT2227-3 / Moto e32 - Solid performance
Honor X5 Plus - Budget option with good specs
Recommended Mid-Range ($150-300 USD)
Google Pixel Series
Google Pixel 3a (refurbished) - Excellent reliability, stock Android
Google Pixel 4a - Great performance, no bloatware
Google Pixel 5a - Recommended for multi-SIM setups
Advantages of Pixel:
Stock Android (no manufacturer apps killing background processes)
Regular security updates
Available refurbished at excellent prices
Great resale value
Best Value Strategy: Many users purchase refurbished Google Pixel phones for SMS gateway use. They offer excellent reliability, stock Android, and can be found for $100-200 USD.
Devices to Avoid
❌ Not Recommended:
Blade 51 - Goes into sleep mode after 12-24 hours, stops apps from running
Extremely cheap phones (under $50) - Aggressive power management
Samsung phones in Serbia - May block APK installation
Phones with heavy manufacturer skins - May kill background processes
SIM Plan Selection
What to Look For
When selecting a SIM plan for SMS with WhatSnap:
Essential Features:
✅ Unlimited SMS (or very high SMS allowance)
✅ Fair use policy that allows business/CRM use
✅ Stable carrier (direct carriers preferred over resellers)
✅ Reasonable monthly cost (typically $10-30/month)
Not Important:
❌ Data allowance (minimal data needed - app uses ~50-100MB/month)
❌ Call minutes (not needed for SMS-only use)
❌ International calling (use WhatsApp for international)
Fair Use Policies
Critical: Always check the carrier's fair use policy before purchasing.
What to Look For:
Stated SMS limits (e.g., "3,000 SMS per month", "10,000 SMS per month")
Business use allowances
Spam and automation policies
International SMS restrictions (if needed)
Red Flags:
Vague "unlimited but no spam" policies
Resellers with strict automated messaging restrictions
Plans that explicitly prohibit CRM or business automation use
SIM Plan Recommendations by Country
Disclaimer: This information is crowdsourced from WhatSnap users and provided for reference only. Carrier policies may change at any time. Always verify current terms before purchasing.
🇺🇸 United States
Highly Recommended:
Verizon Business Plans
Fair Use: High volume support on business plans
Notes: Users on business plans report sending 1,000+ messages at once with no issues
Cost: $30-50/month (business tier)
Link: verizon.com
Lycamobile
Fair Use: Users report sending 5,000 messages/day successfully
Notes: Budget-friendly option, good for high volume
Cost: ~$15-25/month
Link: lycamobile.us
TracFone
Fair Use: Users report 50,000+ SMS/month across 7 phones
Notes: Very affordable, requires slow warm-up strategy
Strategy: Start 1 msg every 5-7 min, reduce to 1 msg/min over 7 days
Cost: $15/month plans available
Link: tracfone.com
Good Options:
Google Fi
Fair Use: Reasonable limits for personal/business use
Notes: Recommended by users, flexible plans
Cost: $20-30/month
Link: fi.google.com
Boost Mobile
Fair Use: Acceptable use policy - follow best practices
Notes: Highlights avoiding spam and mass automation - use drip mode
Cost: $15-25/month
Link: boostmobile.com
Speed Talk Mobile
Fair Use: Maximum 2,500 SMS per month
Notes: Very cheap ($74/year), good for low-volume workflows but not database reactivations
Best for: General workflows and customer service
Link: speedtalkmobile.com
Use with Caution:
Tello ⚠️
Fair Use: Stated 10,000 SMS/month, but blocks common even at low usage
Notes: Can be registered outside US, but very unreliable
Only recommended: If you're outside the US and need a US number (no better options)
Warm-up required: Start at 1 SMS every 10 minutes, increase very slowly
Max volume: Most users achieve 100-150 msgs/day, some reach 250/day
Known issues: SMS with links sometimes don't send; accounts randomly stop working
Link: Use only as last resort
Not Recommended:
T-Mobile / Metro by T-Mobile: Reports of blocks and restrictions for automated messaging
🇦🇺 Australia
Highly Recommended:
Aussie Broadband Business Plans
Fair Use: Official CIS PDF
Notes: Customer service confirmed business plan supports CRM use with 10,000+ msgs/month and 1 msg/minute
Cost: Business pricing (contact carrier)
Link: aussiebroadband.com.au
Good Options:
Telstra
Fair Use: Standard business terms
Notes: Reliable carrier, good support
Link: telstra.com.au
Amaysim
Fair Use: No specific number, just "don't impede network resources"
Notes: $60/year long-expiry plan available (hidden plan - sign up monthly first, then switch)
Tip: Watch for Amaysim Facebook ads for first-month deals
Link: amaysim.com.au
Vodafone Australia
Fair Use: Standard terms
Link: vodafone.com.au
Budget Option:
More Mobile
Fair Use: Policy link
Notes: Used by users overseas for WiFi SMS via eSIM to communicate back to Australia
Link: more.com.au
Experimental (User Reports):
Coles Mobile
Notes: One user reports sending 500-800 SMS in bulk 1 hour before webinars with no blocks (surprising - use with caution)
Link: colesmobile.com.au
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Recommended:
Smarty
Fair Use: Claims "truly unlimited" - Blog post
Cost: Plans from £6/month
Link: smarty.co.uk
Giffgaff
Fair Use: Fair usage policy
Cost: Plans from £6/month
Link: giffgaff.com
ASDA Mobile
Fair Use: States unlimited on sign-up page
Link: mobile.asda.com
Vodafone UK
Fair Use: Terms state max 3,000 SMS/month
Notes: Recommended by UK users despite stated limit
Link: vodafone.co.uk
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Recommended:
Warehouse Mobile
Fair Use: Good for moderate use
Cost: $4 NZD unlimited SMS per month (excellent value)
Link: warehousemobile.co.nz
One NZ (formerly Vodafone NZ)
Notes: Recommended by NZ users
Link: one.nz
Rocket Mobile
Notes: Recommended by NZ users
Link: rocketmobile.co.nz
Skinny
Link: skinny.co.nz
Use with Caution:
2degrees
Notes: Allows call forwarding on prepaid plans
Issue: Reports of SMS length being cut to 5-6 words maximum
Link: 2degrees.nz
🇨🇦 Canada
Recommended:
Chatr Wireless
Notes: Recommended by Canadian users
Link: chatrwireless.com
🇿🇦 South Africa
Recommended:
Melon Mobile
Fair Use: Maximum 3,000 SMS per month (may need to call to increase to this limit)
Notes: Recommended by SA users
Link: melonmobile.co.za
🇦🇪 UAE (United Arab Emirates)
Virgin Mobile UAE
Fair Use: Maximum 500 SMS per day
Notes: Must be UAE resident with Emirates ID, personal account only (not business)
Setup: Build your own plan (voice and SMS bundled: 1 min voice = 1 SMS)
Cost: AED 112.60/month (annual payment) or AED 225.20/month (monthly payment)
Link: virginmobile.ae
🇫🇷 France
Free Mobile
Cost: €2/month
Link: mobile.free.fr
Physical SIM vs. eSIM
Physical SIM Cards
Advantages:
✅ Works with any compatible Android phone
✅ Easy to swap between devices
✅ More carrier options
✅ No device compatibility issues
Best For:
Standard SMS setups
Swapping SIMs between devices
Budget phones without eSIM support
eSIM Plans
Advantages:
✅ No physical card needed
✅ Can use international numbers via WiFi
✅ Multiple eSIMs on one device (dual-SIM functionality)
✅ Remote activation
Requirements:
Compatible Android device with eSIM support
Carrier must offer eSIM activation
Usually requires RCS enabled (see RCS Settings)
Best For:
Using overseas numbers via WiFi
Multi-SIM setups on one device
Remote/virtual number needs
Dual-SIM Strategies
Using Dual-SIM Android Phones
Many Android devices support dual-SIM (2 SIM cards in one phone):
Setup:
Install 2 SIM cards in your Android device
Install WhatSnap Gateway app
During setup, select which SIM(s) to use for messaging
Uncheck any SIM not meant for CRM use
Benefits:
Run 2 numbers/campaigns from 1 device
Separate personal and business SMS
Backup SIM if primary has issues
Higher daily volume capacity (2x messages)
Considerations:
Some devices may have performance issues with dual-SIM under heavy load
Ensure adequate RAM (4 GB+ recommended for dual-SIM)
Monitor both SIMs for carrier restrictions
Device Setup Best Practices
Purchase Recommendations
Where to Buy:
Refurbished: Excellent value for Google Pixel, Samsung, Motorola devices
New budget phones: Nokia, Realme, OPPO - good for dedicated SMS use
Marketplace: Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Swappa for refurbished phones
Carrier stores: Sometimes offer free/cheap phones with plan signup
What to Look For:
Clean ESN/IMEI (not blacklisted)
Factory unlocked (works with any carrier)
Good battery health (important for 24/7 operation)
Latest security patch available
Initial Configuration
After purchasing your device:
Factory reset (if used/refurbished)
Update to latest Android version
Install WhatSnap Gateway app first (before other apps)
Configure power settings to prevent sleep
Disable automatic updates (or set to manual)
Remove unnecessary apps to free up resources
Test SIM with regular SMS before connecting to WhatSnap
Carrier Warm-Up Requirements
Critical: New SIM cards must be warmed up gradually regardless of carrier fair use policy. Even carriers with "unlimited" plans will block numbers that suddenly send high volumes.
Warm-Up Schedule
Week 1:
Days 1-3: 10-20 messages/day, 1 msg every 5-10 minutes
Days 4-7: 30-50 messages/day, 1 msg every 2-3 minutes
Week 2:
Days 8-14: 75-150 messages/day, 1 msg every 1-2 minutes
Ongoing:
Maximum: 1 message per minute (sustained)
Daily max: 100-250 messages (varies by carrier)
See: Database Reactivations - SIM Warm-Up for detailed strategies.
Testing Your Setup
Pre-Installation Tests
Before installing WhatSnap Gateway, test your SIM:
Send test SMS from native Android messaging app
Receive test SMS to verify incoming messages
Test signal strength in device location
Verify carrier plan is active and SMS is enabled
Check account balance (for prepaid plans)
Post-Installation Tests
After installing WhatSnap Gateway:
Send test message through GoHighLevel to your personal number
Verify delivery on recipient device
Reply to test message and confirm it syncs to GHL
Check gateway app status (should show "Connected")
Monitor first 10-20 messages for any delivery issues
Cost Analysis
Total Cost of Ownership (Monthly)
Minimum Setup (1 SIM):
Android phone: $80-150 (one-time, amortize over 2 years = $3-6/month)
SIM plan: $10-30/month
Electricity: ~$2-5/month (device running 24/7)
Total: ~$15-40/month
Scaling (5 SIMs for higher volume):
Phones: 5 × $100 = $500 (one-time, amortize = $20/month)
SIM plans: 5 × $20 = $100/month
Electricity: ~$10/month
Total: ~$130/month
Compare to alternatives:
Twilio SMS: $0.0075-0.01 per message (1,000 msgs = $7.50-10, 10,000 msgs = $75-100)
WhatsApp API: Template fees + per-message costs
P2P SMS: Fixed cost regardless of volume (within limits)
Cost Effectiveness: For database reactivations and regular customer messaging (100-1,000+ messages/day), P2P SMS with WhatSnap is significantly more cost-effective than pay-per-message services.
Summary Checklist
Before purchasing your Android device and SIM:
Next Steps
Set up your warm-up strategy
Configure RCS settings (if using eSIM or international)
Questions about device or SIM selection? Contact WhatSnap support at support@whatsnap.ai for personalized recommendations based on your country and use case.
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