On the free plan, texts go from your own phone, not from a business number. Everywhere the paid plan would send a text for you, the free plan writes it and puts it in your phone's Messages app. You check it and tap Send. The CRM counts it as sent and shows it in the customer's conversation.
That means the customer sees your own cell number, and their reply comes back to your phone, not to the CRM.
Texts you send yourself
These work the same as on the paid plan. The only difference is the last tap happens in Messages.
- Conversations, the phone screen and the dialer. Type your message and tap Send. Messages opens to that customer with your text in the box.
- Estimates, invoices, receipts, photos and documents. Pick Text when you send one. Messages opens with the message and the link.
- Quick replies fill the box like they do on a paid plan.
- Subcontractor invites. Adding a subcontractor, Resend link and Resend invite all open Messages with the W-9 link or their login.
Texts the CRM writes for you
When something else triggers a text and you're on the screen, Messages opens right away:
- On my way. Move a job to On my way and Messages opens with the on-my-way text. With the OMW page set to follow your phone or a truck, the live map link is in it, and your phone shares its location once you send.
- Receipts. After a payment, the receipt card offers Text and Both.
When nobody is on the screen, the text waits for you instead:
- Automations, missed-call text back, the instant reply to a website lead, and reminders all write their text into the customer's conversation, marked Ready to send.
- Your phone gets a Text ready to send notification. Tap it and Messages opens with the text filled in.
- In the conversation, the message has a Send from my phone button that does the same.
The switches under Settings › Notifications › Texts to customers cover On my way and Receipts.
Texts the CRM can't hand you
- Team Schedule updates go by push and email.
- Alerts to yourself, like a missed call or a new lead, go by push and email.
On a computer
A desktop browser can't open Messages. The text comes up in a card with a Copy text button. Copy it, send it from your phone, and the CRM counts it as sent.