# Setup back in stock SMS message alert

SMS alerts let customers sign up for a restock notification with their phone number instead of (or in addition to) email, and receive a text message automatically when the product comes back in stock. SMS requires a paid plan and carries a per-message cost that varies by country.

<Hint type="info">
  SMS is prepaid. You only pay for the messages you send, at each country's rate. No monthly SMS fee.

  SMS carries an additional per-message cost, billed on top of your plan and varying by country.
</Hint>

***

## Before you begin

To send back-in-stock SMS alerts, make sure you have completed these three requirements:

1. **Set up an active SMS sender ID.** This is the name or phone number customers see when they receive your SMS. Each sender ID works only for its assigned country. [*Learn how to set up SMS sender IDs*](https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/setup-sms-sender-ids).
2. **Add funds to your SMS balance.** SMS is prepaid, so you need sufficient balance to cover the cost of each message. [*Learn how to add funds to your SMS balance.*](https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/sms-rates-and-add-funds-to-sms-balance)
3. **Enable SMS sending in your workflow.** Add a Send SMS action to your back-in-stock workflow and make sure sending is turned on. [*Learn how to set up the Send SMS action.*](https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/use-the-send-sms-action-in-a-workflow)

<Hint type="warning">
  If any of these requirements is missing, XFlow skips SMS delivery for the affected customer and continues to the next workflow step. Your workflow does not stop, and email notifications continue working as usual.
</Hint>

## Choose your setup: Email vs. SMS notifications

Back in stock alerts can notify customers by email, SMS, or both. Use this comparison to decide whether to add SMS alongside email:

<Table widths="30%">
  |                    | Email                                                  | SMS                                                                                                                                  |
  | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
  | **Cost**           | Unlimited, and not charged based on the number sending | Per-message charge, prepaid, mean you must have enough balance, if you are running out, SMS also stops                               |
  | **Setup**          | No carrier registration required                       | Require toll-free number registration (for US + Canada) and Alpha sender ID, then carrier verification before sending starts         |
  | **Message length** | Effectively unlimited                                  | Messages are billed in segments; longer messages, emojis, accented characters, and non-Latin scripts use more segments and cost more |
  | **Unsubscribe**    | Customers use an unsubscribe link                      | Customer replies to the text or click unsubscribe link; handled automatically                                                        |
</Table>

## Supported countries

SMS is sent only to countries you add. Messages to phone numbers in any other country are blocked automatically.

* 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany
* 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇰 Denmark
* 🇸🇪 Sweden
* 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada

[*Learn more: How to set up SMS sender IDs by country*](https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/setup-sms-sender-ids#how-to-set-up-sms-sender-ids-by-country)

## Stay compliant

Only text customers who opted in to SMS, for example through the phone field in your Notify me form.&#x20;

You're responsible for collecting consent under local law, such as TCPA in the US. XFlow adds the required opt-out text, and customers can reply STOP to unsubscribe.

## Check out more SMS guides

Explore these helpful guides to set up and manage SMS alerts with XFlow.

<Cards>
  <Card title="Setup SMS sender IDs" description="Learn how to manage SMS sender IDs and enable SMS alerts for customers in different countries." href="https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/setup-sms-sender-ids" />

  <Card title="SMS rates & Add funds to SMS balance" description="Check SMS sending costs and add funds to keep your alerts running." href="https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/sms-rates-and-add-funds-to-sms-balance" />

  <Card title="How SMS segments work for SMS alerts" description="Understand how message length affects SMS segments and sending costs." href="https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/how-sms-segments-work-for-sms-alerts" />

  <Card title="Use the Send SMS action in a workflow" description="Learn how to send SMS alerts automatically using XFlow workflows." href="https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/use-the-send-sms-action-in-a-workflow" />

  <Card title="Register a toll-free number for SMS in the US and Canada" description="Set up a registered toll-free number to send SMS alerts to US and Canadian customers." href="https://docs.foxecom.com/xflow-app/sms-settings/register-a-toll-free-number-for-sms-in-the-us-and-canada" />
</Cards>