GoRunner docs
Search or askSearch⌘K

Twilio

Send SMS, MMS and WhatsApp messages and place calls with Twilio, look up phone numbers, and send and check verification codes.

13 actions · 1 trigger · Paste an API token

Connect Twilio

  1. In the sidebar, open Connections and press Add connection.
  2. Type twilio and choose Twilio.
  3. Fill in the fields. Each one says Required or Optional.
  4. Press Test and save. GoRunner checks the connection before it saves anything.

The sheet asks for:

Account SID · Required

Starts with AC (Console › Account info).

Auth Token · Optional

The account’s Auth Token, which Twilio signs its webhooks with. Optional for steps when an API key is entered.

API key SID · Optional

Starts with SK. Leave empty to use the Auth Token.

API key secret · Optional

The secret shown once when the API key was made.

Enter your Account SID with its Auth Token, or with an API key (SID and secret): Twilio Console › Account › API keys & tokens. An API key is better for production. Twilio signs the webhooks it sends with the Auth Token.

Connections says how to sign in again, rename or delete it. In a product that embeds GoRunner, Add connection can be missing: then your provider makes connections for you.

Start a workflow

Add a trigger and choose Twilio. The trigger uses the same connection as the steps.

On Message Received

Starts a run for each SMS, MMS or WhatsApp message sent to the Twilio number. Publishing points the number's incoming messages at this workflow; unpublishing puts back the address it had. Twilio signs every delivery with the account's Auth Token (the connection must have it); an unsigned or wrongly signed request starts nothing, and a message Twilio sends again starts no second run. A number that already sends its messages elsewhere (other than Twilio's demo reply) is refused unless Take Over is on; a number whose messages go to a Messaging Service or a TwiML App is refused (point that at the workflow's address instead). WhatsApp messages arrive here when the WhatsApp sender uses the number's own message address; a sender with its own webhook (Messaging › Senders) sends them there instead.

Phone Number · Required

The Twilio number whose incoming messages start a run.

Take Over · Optional

If the number already sends its messages to another address, point it here anyway (unpublishing puts that address back).

Off by default.

A later step can use its data, such as {{trigger.Body}}, {{trigger.From}}, {{trigger.MessageSid}} and 4 more. See Use data from earlier steps.

Do things in Twilio

Add a Twilio step, choose a Resource, then an Operation. Choose a row to see its fields.

Later steps read a step’s output by its name: see Use data from earlier steps.

Limits

  • A reply from Twilio can be up to 16 MB (a file download can have its own limit). A larger one fails the step; it is never cut short.
  • When Twilio says to slow down (429), the step waits as long as it asks, if the step’s time allows. Otherwise it fails and says when to try again.

Not in your list? See When an app isn’t here.

For developers

In the API, which calls apps pieces, Twilio is pieceId: "twilio" with actionId: "twilio", set by resource and an operation_… field, such as operation_call. Its trigger is twiliotrigger / twilio_message. Get an app returns every field.

It can change something outside the run (writes_external). See How versions and side effects work.

Twilio › Message (SMS, MMS, WhatsApp)

Send

From · Optional

The Twilio number (or WhatsApp sender) it is sent from. Empty when a Messaging Service is set below.

To · Required

The recipient's number in E.164 form, such as +4915112345678 (or whatsapp:+4915112345678).

Send via WhatsApp · Optional

Send it on WhatsApp through Twilio (both numbers get whatsapp: in front, once).

Off by default.

Message · Optional

The text, up to 1,600 characters (an SMS over 160 GSM characters is sent and billed in parts). Optional with media or a content template.

Media URLs · Optional

Up to 10 public addresses of images or files to send (MMS or WhatsApp), one per line.

Messaging Service SID · Optional

Send through a Messaging Service (MG…): it picks the sender, and is needed to schedule a message.

Content Template SID · Optional

A Content Template (HX…) to send instead of the text: WhatsApp requires an approved template outside the 24-hour reply window.

Template Variables · Optional

The template's variables, such as {"1": "Ada", "2": "Friday"}.

Send At · Optional

Schedule the message (15 minutes to 35 days ahead; needs a Messaging Service). Empty: send now.

Status Callback URL · Optional

An address Twilio tells about each status change (sent, delivered, failed).

Give Up After (seconds) · Optional

How long Twilio keeps trying to deliver it (1–36,000 seconds). Empty: 36,000.

Get, Cancel Scheduled and Delete

Message SID · Required

The message's SID (SM… or MM…).

Get Many

To · Optional

Only messages sent to this number.

From · Optional

Only messages sent from this number.

Sent On Or After · Optional

Only messages sent on or after this day (UTC).

Sent On Or Before · Optional

Only messages sent on or before this day (UTC).

Return All · Optional

Read every message, page by page (at most 5000; past that the step fails rather than stop early).

Off by default.

Limit · Optional

How many messages to return (1–5000).

Default: 50.

Shows when Return All is off.

Twilio › Call

Make

From · Required

The Twilio number (or verified caller ID) the call comes from.

To · Required

The number to call in E.164 form, such as +4915112345678 (or client:name, sip:…).

Message Is TwiML · Optional

Off: the message is read out to the person who answers. On: the message is TwiML that runs the call.

Off by default.

Message · Required

What is said, or the TwiML (<Response>…</Response>, at most 4,000 characters).

Voice · Optional

The voice that reads the message, such as Polly.Joanna or Google.de-DE-Standard-A. Empty: Twilio's default.

Shows when Message Is TwiML is off.

Language · Optional

The language it is read in, such as en-US or de-DE.

Shows when Message Is TwiML is off.

Status Callback URL · Optional

An address Twilio tells when the call is answered and ends.

Record · Optional

Record the call.

Off by default.

Ring For (seconds) · Optional

How long it rings before giving up (5–600). Empty: 60.

Detect Voicemail · Optional

Find out whether a person or a machine answered (billed). Empty: off.

Options: Detect a machine, Wait for the voicemail greeting to end.

Get, End and Delete

Call SID · Required

The call's SID (CA…).

Get Many

To · Optional

Only calls to this number.

From · Optional

Only calls from this number.

Status · Optional

Only calls in this state.

Options: queued, ringing, in-progress, canceled, completed, failed, busy, no-answer.

Return All · Optional

Read every call, page by page (at most 5000; past that the step fails rather than stop early).

Off by default.

Limit · Optional

How many calls to return (1–5000).

Default: 50.

Shows when Return All is off.

Twilio › Phone Number Lookup

Look Up

Phone Number · Required

The number, in E.164 form (+4915112345678) or national form with a Country below.

Country · Optional

For a number in national form: its country (ISO code, such as DE). Empty: US.

Data Packages · Optional

Extra data to look up: each is billed by Twilio. Empty: the free check (valid, E.164 and national format, country).

Options: Line type (mobile, landline, VoIP), Caller name (US), SMS pumping risk, SIM swap, Call forwarding, Line status, Reassigned number (US), Identity match, Quality score, Pre-fill, Validation details.

Twilio › Verification Code

Send Code

Verify Service · Required

The Verify Service (VA…) that sends and checks the codes (Twilio Console › Verify › Services).

To · Required

The phone number (E.164) or email address the code goes to.

Channel · Optional

How the code is sent.

Options: SMS, WhatsApp, Voice call, Email (needs an email integration on the service).

Default: SMS.

Language · Optional

The language of the message, such as de or en-GB. Empty: from the number's country.

Check Code

Verify Service · Required

The Verify Service (VA…) that sends and checks the codes (Twilio Console › Verify › Services).

To · Required

The phone number (E.164) or email address the code goes to.

Code · Required

The code the person typed (4–10 characters).