Getting Started with Messaging
CommCare allows you to schedule SMS messages, emails, or IVR (voice calls) to cases and mobile workers registered in the system.
Common SMS Use Cases
Here are some example usage cases of SMS that can be used in a CommCare App -
Sending a reminder to a health worker when one of their beneficiaries is due for a delivery.
Sending counseling messages to beneficiaries (for example, reminding them to take their iron pills).
Sending a short survey to a beneficiary (for example, asking if they've attended a clinic)
Have a patient request information from the system. For example, if they are enrolled in a smoking cessation study, they may request support messages from the system.
Messaging allows you to set up -
Keywords (so users can send messages and data to the system on their own),
Reminders (scheduled conditional messages to a specific phone number), and
Broadcasts (mass messages or surveys to a group of numbers).
CommCare Messaging Vocabulary
SMS Medium & Pricing
SMS Types & Connectivity
When setting up your CommCare project, it’s important to determine the type of messaging you'll use and select the appropriate SMS connectivity option.
Setting Up Your Project for Messaging - When setting up your project, it's essential to determine the type of messaging you'll use and select the appropriate SMS connectivity.
Type of Messaging: Decide whether your project will use outgoing-only messaging or two-way messaging based on your communication needs:
Outgoing-Only Messaging
Users can only receive messages and cannot respond or send data to the system.
Available on the Standard Plan.
Two-Way Messaging
Users can send data back to the system by responding to surveys or sending keywords.
Available on the Advanced Plan.
For more details, refer to the CommCare Messaging Vocabulary section.
Choosing a Phone Number (SMS Connectivity)
CommCare requires a phone number, also known as a gateway, to send and receive messages. The choice depends on the project’s country, scale, and messaging requirements. Options include:
Dimagi-Owned Gateways
These are high-scale phone numbers or shortcodes that are only available in certain countries. Per-message fees are lower and some countries support toll-free incoming messages for users.
Telerivet Android Phone
You can use an Android phone with the Telerivet app to send and receive messages for your project. The phone connects to CommCareHQ and handles all messaging.
This option is ideal for smaller-scale projects or pilots. The project will have to directly pay costs for the phone and messages to and from the phone.
More details on SMS options are available here: Gateway Options for SMS Projects. Once you've chosen a gateway option, use Setup SMS Connection for your project.