---
ref: tool:twilio/send-message
name: Send a message
company: company:twilio
workflows: []
access: [cli]
tags: [capability:send-sms, category:messaging, has:cli]
docs: https://www.twilio.com/docs/messaging/api/message-resource#create-a-message-resource
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Send a message

Sends an SMS, MMS or WhatsApp message from a Twilio sender to one recipient and returns the new Message resource.

Note: A body over 160 GSM-7 characters is split into segments, each charged, and trial accounts can only send to verified numbers.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### CLI (official)

Install the command, then confirm it runs.

```sh
brew tap twilio/brew && brew install twilio
twilio --version
```

Run `twilio api:core:messages:create`.

Set `$TWILIO_API_KEY` in your environment first (get a key: https://www.twilio.com/docs/iam/api-keys/keys-in-console).

Note: Also set `TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID` and `TWILIO_API_SECRET`, with `TWILIO_API_KEY` holding the API key SID, or sign in once with `twilio login`.

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.