Version date August 4, 2021
How to Use Twilio in REDCap
Twilio is a third-party web service that integrates with REDCap, allowing users to send survey invitations
and alerts/notifications to participants as SMS text messages or voice calls. It acts as a conduit between
participants’ mobile devices and your REDCap project. For example, a project that requires participants
to take daily surveys could send automated survey invitations either by text message or email,
depending on a participant’s preference.
Twilio Account Fees
Before requesting Twilio to be enabled on your project, you must have an active Twilio account with a
payment method set up. There is a fee to buy a phone number, starting at $1 per month, and additional
fees for each text message or voice call sent and received, starting at $0.0075 per message or minute.
Costs vary depending on the type of phone number used (e.g., local, toll), frequency of messages, length
of calls exchanged, and the recipients’ carrier (e.g., AT&T, Verizon). Twilio also offers volume and
committed-use discounts. For more detailed information on pricing or billing visit Twilio Pricing and
Twilio Billing. Please contact your departmental financial administrator with any questions about paying
for Twilio.
Basic instructions on getting an account are listed below. For additional help setting up an account visit
Twilio’s Help Center.
Note: The Illinois REDCap team is not responsible for managing Twilio accounts or the costs associated
with them.
Setting up a Twilio Account
1. Go to Twilio to create an account. You must upgrade to a full account. Free, trial accounts will
not work.
2. Set up your payment method (i.e., credit card). Contact your departmental financial
administrator with any questions on setting up payment.
a. You will need the following information:
i. Service address (the location where you will use Twilio services, typically your
office’s address)
ii. Billing address associated with the p-card/credit card
iii. P-card/credit card information
iv. University business tax ID (available through OBFS)
b. Once payment is added, you will be prompted to add funds to your Twilio account. The
minimum amount is $20.
3. Purchase a phone number. Numbers may be local or toll-free numbers. Fees start at $1 per
month for each number purchased.
a. There can only be one phone number per REDCap project. If multiple REDCap projects
need Twilio, you must have a unique phone number for each project. Old numbers can
only be re-used if the REDCap project previously using it has been deleted.