smsportal.app vs SMS Gate: free open-source app or managed gateway?

Prices and features checked: 28 October 2026

Should you use SMS Gate or smsportal.app?

Use SMS Gate if you want a free, open-source app with a local API on the phone, end-to-end encryption, MMS and full control, and you are comfortable wiring it up yourself. Use smsportal.app if you want a managed service with a web dashboard, CSV bulk sending, a message history for your team, an MCP server for AI agents, invoices and support, for a flat plan from $0.

SMS Gate and smsportal.app side by side

As of 28 October 2026, from sms-gate.app, docs.sms-gate.app, the capcom6/android-sms-gateway repository and the live smsportal.app service.

SMS Gate and smsportal.app side by side
	smsportal.app	SMS Gate
Price	Free (300 SMS/month), Pro $9.99, Unlimited $24.99	Free (local and cloud); donations welcome
Open source	MCP server only (MIT)	Yes, Apache-2.0 (5,900+ stars)
Modes	Hosted service	Local API on the phone, public cloud, or your own server
Web dashboard for your team	Yes: messages, replies, devices, bulk, billing	API-first; no hosted team dashboard
Bulk sending from CSV	Yes, in the dashboard	Via API or client tools
Webhooks	Yes, HMAC-signed	Yes
End-to-end encryption	No (TLS in transit)	Yes, optional
MMS and data SMS	No, SMS only	Yes
MCP server for AI agents	Yes, official	No; an agent skill file is provided
Scheduling	Yes	Yes
Android version	7.0+	5.0+
Support and invoices	Email support, Stripe invoices	Community (GitHub)

Which to choose

When SMS Gate is the better choice

You want a completely free gateway with no plan limits.
You need the API to work on the local network without internet or a cloud account.
You need end-to-end encryption, MMS or data SMS.
You want to run your own server from open source and audit the code.
You have an older phone (Android 5 or 6).

When smsportal.app is the better choice

People who do not code need to send, read replies and upload CSV files in a browser.
You want an AI agent (Claude, Cursor, Codex) to send and read SMS through an MCP server.
You want a managed service with invoices, support and someone else keeping the server running.
You want one-click integrations (Convs, BooksyAudit) or a Polish-language dashboard.

How to move from SMS Gate to smsportal.app

Both send a list of numbers and a text. smsportal.app uses an `x-api-key` header instead of Basic or JWT auth, and a flat `message` field instead of `textMessage.text`.

Create an smsportal.app account, install the app and pair the phone with the QR code.
Create an API key in the dashboard.
Map phoneNumbers to recipients and textMessage.text to message; scheduleAt becomes scheduledAt.
Re-create your webhooks in the dashboard and verify the X-Signature HMAC.

SMS Gate (cloud)

curl -X POST "https://api.sms-gate.app/3rdparty/v1/messages" \
  -u "$SMSGATE_USER:$SMSGATE_PASS" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"phoneNumbers": ["+12025550123"], "textMessage": {"text": "Server is down"}}'

smsportal.app

curl -X POST "https://smsportal.app/api/v1/gateway/send-sms" \
  -H "x-api-key: $SMSPORTAL_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"recipients": ["+12025550123"], "message": "Server is down"}'

Frequently asked questions

Is SMS Gate really free?

Yes. Its documentation lists the local and cloud modes as completely free, with limits only if one user affects others. The project accepts donations and says new cloud features may cost money in the future (docs.sms-gate.app/pricing, 28 October 2026).

Is SMS Gate the same as capcom6 android-sms-gateway?

Yes. SMS Gate (sms-gate.app) is the name of the capcom6/android-sms-gateway project by Aleksandr Soloshenko, released under Apache-2.0.

Why pay for smsportal.app if SMS Gate is free?

You pay for the hosted part: a team dashboard, message history, CSV sending, an MCP server, billing and support. If you only need an API and can run it yourself, SMS Gate is a strong free choice.

Is either app on Google Play?

Both are installed from an APK: SMS Gate from GitHub releases, smsportal.app from smsportal.app/downloads. smsportal.app updates itself from inside the app.

Sources

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