# How Fast is Setup?

Learn about WhatSnap SMS setup time and how it compares to traditional SMS providers like Twilio.

## Is WhatSnap SMS easy to set up?

**Yes!** Setup is very easy. You can be up and running in **15-20 minutes**.

### Quick Setup Overview

**Total Time: 15-20 minutes**

Breaking it down:

* **5 minutes**: Install WhatSnap in GoHighLevel
* **5 minutes**: Install and configure Android app
* **5 minutes**: Configure device settings and connect to dashboard
* **2 minutes**: Send test messages to verify

{% hint style="success" %}
**Compare to Twilio A2P**: Setting up a Twilio A2P account can take 2-6 weeks due to registration, brand verification, and carrier approval processes. WhatSnap gets you messaging the same day.
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***

## WhatSnap SMS vs. Twilio Setup Time

### Time Comparison

| Setup Stage               | WhatSnap P2P SMS | Twilio A2P SMS       |
| ------------------------- | ---------------- | -------------------- |
| **Account Creation**      | 2 minutes        | 5 minutes            |
| **Phone Number**          | Already have it  | 5 minutes (purchase) |
| **Brand Registration**    | Not required     | 1-2 weeks            |
| **Campaign Registration** | Not required     | 1-3 weeks            |
| **Carrier Approval**      | Not required     | 1-4 weeks            |
| **Device Setup**          | 15 minutes       | Not required         |
| **Ready to Send**         | ✅ **Same day**   | ❌ **2-6 weeks**      |

### Cost Comparison

**WhatSnap SMS Setup:**

* WhatSnap subscription: Free trial (then $30-50/month)
* SIM plan: $10-30/month
* Android device: $80-150 (one-time, optional if you have one)
* **Total initial: $0-180** (depending on if you need device)

**Twilio Setup:**

* Account setup: Free
* Phone number: $1-2/month
* A2P registration: $15-50 (one-time)
* Ongoing per-message fees: $0.0075-0.01 per SMS
* **Total initial: $15-52** (but ongoing per-message costs add up)

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**Cost Reality**: While Twilio has lower initial costs, WhatSnap becomes more cost-effective once you're sending 1,000+ messages per month due to Twilio's per-message fees.
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***

## Four Simple Steps to Get Started

### Step 1: Create Your WhatSnap Account

**Time: 2 minutes**

1. Visit [WhatSnap Installation Page](https://gl.whatsnap.io/oauth/authorize)
2. Authorize WhatSnap to access your GoHighLevel account
3. Select sub-account where you want to enable SMS
4. Choose integration method (SMS override or custom channel)
5. Complete installation

See: [Quick Start Guide](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/quick-start)

***

### Step 2: Connect Your Sub-Account(s) to WhatSnap Dashboard

**Time: 2 minutes**

1. In WhatSnap dashboard, navigate to **Connected Accounts** or **Devices**
2. Click **"Add Account"**
3. Select **"SMS/iMessage (P2P)"**
4. Choose **"Android"** as device type
5. Select integration method (SMS Channel Override recommended)
6. Note the QR code/authentication token displayed

See: [SMS Installation Guide - Part 1](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup#part-1-integrating-whatsnap-with-gohighlevel)

***

### Step 3: Download and Install WhatSnap Gateway App

**Time: 5-8 minutes**

1. On your Android device, disable Google Play Protect
2. Turn off RCS (unless using eSIM internationally)
3. Download the WhatSnap Gateway APK from provided link
4. Install the app (allow installation from unknown sources)
5. Grant required permissions (SMS, Phone, Camera, Notifications)
6. Choose whether to make WhatSnap default SMS app (optional for SMS, required for MMS)

See: [SMS Installation Guide - Part 2](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup#part-2-setting-up-your-android-device)

***

### Step 4: Sign In and Connect the Phone

**Time: 3-5 minutes**

1. Open WhatSnap Gateway app
2. Select "Sign in using QR code"
3. Scan the QR code from your WhatSnap dashboard
4. Tap the play button (▶️) to start the gateway service
5. Return to WhatSnap dashboard and refresh
6. Name your device (e.g., "Android-Main-SMS")
7. Configure dual-SIM settings if applicable
8. Assign device to sub-account(s)
9. Send test message to verify

See: [SMS Installation Guide - Part 3 & 4](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup#part-3-configure-whatsnap-settings)

***

## Setup Benefits Compared to Twilio

### Speed Advantages

**No Registration Delays:**

* ❌ Twilio: Wait for brand verification, campaign approval, carrier review
* ✅ WhatSnap: No registration needed, start immediately

**No Bureaucracy:**

* ❌ Twilio: Submit documents, business details, use case descriptions
* ✅ WhatSnap: Just connect your device and start messaging

**No Waiting for Approval:**

* ❌ Twilio: Carriers can reject registration, requiring resubmission
* ✅ WhatSnap: Your SIM is already approved (it's your personal number)

### Other Advantages

**No Recycled Numbers:**

* ❌ Twilio: Often assigns numbers previously used by other businesses
* ❌ These numbers may be marked as spam from previous use
* ✅ WhatSnap: Use your own fresh number with clean reputation

**Predictable Costs:**

* ❌ Twilio: Per-message billing can lead to unexpected costs
* ❌ "Bill shock" from high-volume campaigns
* ✅ WhatSnap: Fixed monthly cost regardless of volume (within carrier limits)

**Natural Conversation Flow:**

* ❌ Twilio: Must cram information into single messages (costly per message)
* ❌ Messages look automated and marketing-heavy
* ✅ WhatSnap: Send multiple short messages like real conversations
* ✅ Natural back-and-forth messaging without per-message costs

***

## What You'll Need Before Starting

**Required:**

* [ ] Active GoHighLevel account
* [ ] Android device (Android 9.0+, 2 GB RAM minimum)
* [ ] Active SIM card with SMS capability
* [ ] Internet connection (WiFi or mobile data)
* [ ] 15-20 minutes of time

**Optional but Recommended:**

* [ ] Dedicated Android device (not daily-use phone)
* [ ] Unlimited SMS plan with carrier
* [ ] Device charger (keep plugged in 24/7)
* [ ] Testing phone number for verification

See: [SMS Prerequisites](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup#prerequisites-checklist)

***

## After Setup: Immediate Next Steps

**Don't start sending high volume immediately!**

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Critical**: Even though setup is fast, you must warm up new SIM cards gradually before sending high volumes. Skipping this step will get your number blocked.
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### Week 1: SIM Warm-Up

* **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: Scale Up

* **Days 8-14**: 75-150 messages/day, 1 msg every 1-2 minutes

### Ongoing: Full Capacity

* **Week 3+**: 100-250 messages/day per device, 1 msg/minute max

See: [Database Reactivations - SIM Warm-Up](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/broken-reference)

***

## Common Setup Issues

### Setup Takes Longer Than Expected

**Most common causes:**

* ⏱️ Google Play Protect keeps blocking installation
* ⏱️ Permissions not granted properly
* ⏱️ QR code expired before scanning
* ⏱️ Device doesn't meet specifications

**Solutions**: See [Installation Troubleshooting](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup#troubleshooting-installation-issues)

### First Test Message Fails

**Check these first:**

1. ✅ Gateway app shows "Connected" status
2. ✅ Device appears in WhatSnap dashboard as "Online"
3. ✅ Contact has correct device tag assigned
4. ✅ Can send SMS directly from phone's Messages app
5. ✅ Battery optimization disabled for WhatSnap app

See: [Basic Troubleshooting](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/troubleshooting)

***

## Summary: Setup Speed Comparison

| Metric                    | WhatSnap SMS              | Twilio A2P SMS             |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| **Setup Time**            | 15-20 minutes             | 2-6 weeks                  |
| **Technical Difficulty**  | Easy                      | Moderate                   |
| **Registration Required** | No                        | Yes (A2P)                  |
| **Document Submission**   | No                        | Yes                        |
| **Carrier Approval Wait** | No                        | Yes                        |
| **Ready to Send**         | Same day                  | 2-6 weeks                  |
| **Warm-Up Required**      | Yes (2 weeks recommended) | No (but limited initially) |

{% hint style="success" %}
**Winner for Speed**: WhatSnap SMS gets you messaging the **same day**, while Twilio A2P takes **2-6 weeks** before you can send your first message.
{% endhint %}

***

## Detailed Setup Guide

For comprehensive step-by-step instructions with screenshots:

[**Complete SMS Installation & Setup Guide →**](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup)

***

**Questions about setup?** Contact support at <support@whatsnap.ai> for assistance with installation.
