Cell phone text messages typically use the SMS (Short Message Service) protocol.

Most cellular service providers charge fees to send and receive text messages.

There are numerous ways to send text messages for free, but they vary among cell service providers.

Send Free Text Messages by Purchasing the Right Service Plan

Some cell service plans include free text messaging. That is the simplest solution.

Send Text Messages for Free via the Web

Many websites allow visitors to send text messages to cell phones at no cost.

We provide such a service on our Free SMS page.

Send Text Messages for Free via Instant Messenger

AOL Instant Messenger sends text messages to cell phones.

To send a text message via AIM, simply message the telephone number. Include a plus sign and the country code. For example, to text message a friend at (303)555-1212, send an IM to +13035551212.

Send Text Messages for Free via E-mail

Quite a few cell service companies provide free e-mail to SMS gateways where users can send text messages for free via e-mail.

Here is a list of e-mail to SMS gateways where users can send free text messages.

United States

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
3 River Wireless xxxxxxxxx@sms.3rivers.net
ACS Wireless xxxxxxxxx@paging.acswireless.com
Advantage Communications xxxxxxxxx@advantagepaging.com
Airtel Wireless (Montana, USA) xxxxxxxxx@sms.airtelmontana.com
AirVoice xxxxxxxxx@mmode.com
Airtouch Pagers xxxxxxxxx@airtouch.net
Airtouch Pagers xxxxxxxxx@airtouchpaging.com
Airtouch Pagers xxxxxxxxx@alphapage.airtouch.com
Airtouch Pagers xxxxxxxxx@myairmail.com
Alaska Communications Systems xxxxxxxxx@msg.acsalaska.com
AllTel xxxxxxxxx@message.alltel.com
Alltel PCS xxxxxxxxx@message.alltel.com
Alltel xxxxxxxxx@alltelmessage.com
AlphNow xxxxxxxxx@alphanow.net
American Messaging (SBC/Ameritech) xxxxxxxxx@page.americanmessaging.net
Ameritech Clearpath xxxxxxxxx@clearpath.acswireless.com
Ameritech Paging xxxxxxxxx@pageapi.com
Aql xxxxxxxxx@text.aql.com
Arch Pagers (PageNet) xxxxxxxxx@archwireless.net
Arch Pagers (PageNet) xxxxxxxxx@epage.arch.com
AT&T xxxxxxxxx@txt.att.net
AT&T Free2Go xxxxxxxxx@mmode.com
AT&T PCS xxxxxxxxxx@mobile.att.net
AT&T Pocketnet PCS xxxxxxxxxx@dpcs.mobile.att.net
Beepwear xxxxxxxxxx@beepwear.net
Bell Atlantic xxxxxxxxxx@message.bam.com
Bell South (Blackberry) xxxxxxxxx@bellsouthtips.com
Bell South Mobility xxxxxxxxx@blsdcs.net
Bell South xxxxxxxxx@blsdcs.net
Bell South xxxxxxxxx@sms.bellsouth.com
Bell South xxxxxxxxx@wireless.bellsouth.com
Bluegrass Cellular xxxxxxxxx@sms.bluecell.com
Boost Mobile xxxxxxxxx@myboostmobile.com
Boost xxxxxxxxx@myboostmobile.com
CallPlus xxxxxxxxx@mmode.com
Carolina Mobile Communications xxxxxxxxx@cmcpaging.com
Carolina West Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@cwwsms.com
Cellular One MMS xxxxxxxxxx@mms.uscc.net
Cellular One East Coast xxxxxxxxx@phone.cellone.net
Cellular One PCS xxxxxxxxx@paging.cellone-sf.com
Cellular One South West xxxxxxxxx@swmsg.com
Cellular One West xxxxxxxxx@mycellone.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxxx@cellularone.txtmsg.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxxx@cellularone.textmsg.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxxx@cell1.textmsg.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxx@message.cellone-sf.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxx@mobile.celloneusa.com
Cellular One xxxxxxxxx@sbcemail.com
Cellular South xxxxxxxxx@csouth1.com
Centennial Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@cwemail.com
Central Vermont Communications xxxxxxxxx@cvcpaging.com
CenturyTel xxxxxxxxx@messaging.centurytel.net
Cincinnati Bell Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@gocbw.com
Cingular xxxxxxxxxx@mycingular.com
Cingular xxxxxxxxxx@mycingular.net
Cingular xxxxxxxxxx@mms.cingularme.com
Cingular xxxxxxxxxx@page.cingular.com
Cingular xxxxxxxxx@cingularme.com
Cingular (GSM) xxxxxxxxx@cingularme.com
Cingular (TDMA) xxxxxxxxx@mmode.com
Cingular Wireless xxxxxxxxx@mobile.mycingular.net
Cingular Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@mycingular.textmsg.com
Cingular Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@mobile.mycingular.com
Comcast xxxxxxxxxx@comcastpcs.textmsg.com
Communication Specialists xxxxxxxxxx@pager.comspeco.com
Communication Specialists xxxxxxx@pageme.comspeco.net
Cook Paging xxxxxxxxx@cookmail.com
Corr Wireless Communications xxxxxxxxx@corrwireless.net
Cricket xxxxxxxxxx@sms.mycricket.com
Digi-Page / Page Kansas xxxxxxxxxx@page.hit.net
Dobson Communications Corporation xxxxxxxxx@mobile.dobson.net
Dobson-Alex Wireless / Dobson-Cellular One xxxxxxxxx@mobile.cellularone.com
Edge Wireless xxxxxxxxx@sms.edgewireless.com
Gabriel Wireless xxxxxxxxxx@epage.gabrielwireless.com
Galaxy Corporation xxxxxxxxx@sendabeep.net
GCS Paging xxxxxxxxx@webpager.us
General Communications Inc. (Alaska) xxxxxxxxxx@msg.gci.net
Globalstar (satellite) xxxxxxxxxx@msg.globalstarusa.com
GrayLink / Porta-Phone xxxxxxxxx@epage.porta-phone.com
GTE xxxxxxxxx@gte.pagegate.net
GTE xxxxxxxxx@messagealert.com
GTE xxxxxxxxxx@airmessage.net
Helio xxxxxxxxxx@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Houston Cellular xxxxxxxxx@text.houstoncellular.net
Illinois Valley Cellular xxxxxxxxxx@ivctext.com
Infopage Systems xxxxxxxxxx@page.infopagesystems.com
Inland Cellular Telephone xxxxxxxxx@inlandlink.com
Iridium (satellite) xxxxxxxxxx@msg.iridium.com
i wireless xxxxxxxxxx.iws@iwspcs.net
JSM Tele-Page xxxxxxxxx@jsmtel.com
Lauttamus Communication xxxxxxxxx@e-page.net
MCI Phone xxxxxxxxx@mci.com
MCI xxxxxxxxx@pagemci.com
Metro PCS xxxxxxxxx@metropcs.sms.us
Metro PCS xxxxxxxxx@mymetropcs.com
MetroPCS xxxxxxxxx@mymetropcs.com
Metrocall 2-way xxxxxxxxx@my2way.com
Metrocall xxxxxxxxx@page.metrocall.com
Midwest Wireless xxxxxxxxx@clearlydigital.com
Mobilecom PA xxxxxxxxx@page.mobilcom.net
Mobilfone xxxxxxxxx@page.mobilfone.com
MobiPCS (Hawaii only) xxxxxxxxxx@mobipcs.net
Motient @isp.com
Morris Wireless xxxxxxxxx@beepone.net
Northeast Paging xxxxxxxxxx@pager.ucom.com
Nextel xxxxxxxxx@messaging.nextel.com
Nextel xxxxxxxxx@page.nextel.com
NPI Wireless xxxxxxxxx@npiwireless.com
Ntelos xxxxxxxxx@pcs.ntelos.com
O2 xxxxxxxxxx@mobile.celloneusa.com
Omnipoint xxxxxxxxx@omnipoint.com
Omnipoint xxxxxxxxx@omnipointpcs.com
OnlineBeep xxxxxxxxx@onlinebeep.net
PCS One xxxxxxxxx@pcsone.net
Pacific Bell xxxxxxxxx@pacbellpcs.net
PageMart Advanced /2way xxxxxxxxxx@airmessage.net
PageMart xxxxxxxxx@pagemart.net
PageOne NorthWest xxxxxxxxx@page1nw.com
Pioneer / Enid Cellular xxxxxxxxx@msg.pioneerenidcellular.com
Price Communications xxxxxxxxx@mobilecell1se.com
Primeco xxxxxxxxxx@email.uscc.net
ProPage xxxxxxxxx@page.propage.net
Public Service Cellular xxxxxxxxx@sms.pscel.com
Qualcomm name@pager.qualcomm.com
Qwest xxxxxxxxx@qwestmp.com
RAM Page xxxxxxxxx@ram-page.com
SBC Ameritech Paging (see also American Messaging) xxxxxxxxxx@paging.acswireless.com
ST Paging pin@page.stpaging.com
Safaricom xxxxxxxxx@safaricomsms.com
Satelindo GSM xxxxxxxxx@satelindogsm.com
Satellink xxxxxxxxx.pageme@satellink.net
Simple Freedom xxxxxxxxx@text.simplefreedom.net
Skytel Pagers xxxxxxxxx@email.skytel.com
Skytel Pagers xxxxxxxxx@skytel.com
Smart Telecom xxxxxxxxx@mysmart.mymobile.ph
Southern LINC xxxxxxxxx@page.southernlinc.com
Southwestern Bell xxxxxxxxx@email.swbw.com
Sprint PCS xxxxxxxxx@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Sprint xxxxxxxxx@sprintpaging.com
SunCom xxxxxxxxx@tms.suncom.com
SunCom xxxxxxxxxx@suncom1.com
Surewest Communications xxxxxxxxx@mobile.surewest.com
T-Mobile xxxxxxxxx@tmomail.net
T-Mobile xxxxxxxxxx@voicestream.net
TIM xxxxxxxxx@timnet.com
TSR Wireless xxxxxxxxx@alphame.com
TSR Wireless xxxxxxxxx@beep.com
Teleflip xxxxxxxxxx@teleflip.com
Teletouch xxxxxxxxx@pageme.teletouch.com
Telus xxxxxxxxx@msg.telus.com
The Indiana Paging Co xxxx@pager.tdspager.com
Thumb Cellular xxxxxxxxxx@sms.thumbcellular.com
Tracfone xxxxxxxxxx@txt.att.net
Triton xxxxxxxxx@tms.suncom.com
UCOM xxxxxxxxxx@pager.ucom.com
US Cellular xxxxxxxxxx@smtp.uscc.net
US Cellular xxxxxxxxxx@uscc.textmsg.com
US West xxxxxxxxxx@uswestdatamail.com
US Cellular xxxxxxxxx@email.uscc.net
USA Mobility xxxxxxxxx@mobilecomm.net
Unicel xxxxxxxxx@utext.com
Verizon PCS xxxxxxxxx@myvzw.com
Verizon Pagers xxxxxxxxx@myairmail.com
Verizon xxxxxxxxx@vtext.com
Virgin Mobile xxxxxxxxx@vmobl.com
Virgin Mobile xxxxxxxxx@vxtras.com
WebLink Wiereless xxxxxxxxxx@airmessage.net
WebLink Wireless xxxxxxxxx@pagemart.net
West Central Wireless xxxxxxxxx@sms.wcc.net
Western Wireless xxxxxxxxx@cellularonewest.com
Wyndtell xxxxxxxxx@wyndtell.com

Argentina

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
CTI xxxxxxxxx@sms.ctimovil.com.ar
Movicom xxxxxxxxx@sms.movistar.net.ar
Nextel xxxxxxxxx@nextel.net.ar
Personal xxxxxxxxx@alertas.personal.com.ar

Aruba

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Setar Mobile xxxxxxxxx@mas.aw

Austria

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
MaxMobil xxxxxxxxxx@max.mail.at
One Connect xxxxxxxxx@onemail.at
T-Mobile xxxxxxxxx@sms.t-mobile.at

Australia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Blue Sky Frog xxxxxxxxx@blueskyfrog.com
Optus Mobile xxxxxxxxx@optusmobile.com.au
Powertel xxxxxxxxx@voicestream.net
SL Interactive xxxxxxxxx@slinteractive.com.au

Belgium

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobistar xxxxxxxxx@mobistar.be

Bermuda

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobility xxxxxxxxx@ml.bm

Brazil

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Nextel xxxxxxxxx@nextel.com.br
Claro xxxxxxxxx@clarotorpedo.com.br

Bulgaria

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Globul xxxxxxxxx@sms.globul.bg
Mtel xxxxxxxxx@sms.mtel.net

Canada

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Bell Canada xxxxxxxxx@txt.bell.ca
Bell Mobility xxxxxxxxx@txt.bellmobility.ca
Bell Mobility xxxxxxxxx@bellmobility.ca
Clearnet xxxxxxxxx@msg.clearnet.com
Fido xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Koodo Mobile xxxxxxxxx@msg.koodomobile.com
Microcell xxxxxxxxx@fido.ca
Manitoba Telecom Systems xxxxxxxxx@text.mtsmobility.com
NBTel xxxxxxxxx@wirefree.informe.ca
PageMart xxxxxxxxx@pmcl.net
PageNet xxxxxxxxx@pagegate.pagenet.ca
PageNet Canada xxxxxxxxx@e.pagenet.ca
President’s Choice xxxxxxxxx@mobiletxt.ca
Rogers xxxxxxxxx@pcs.rogers.com
Sasktel Mobility xxxxxxxxx@pcs.sasktelmobility.com
Telus xxxxxxxxx@msg.telus.com
Virgin Mobile Canada xxxxxxxxx@vmobile.ca

Chile

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Bell South xxxxxxxxx@bellsouth.cl

Colombia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Comcel xxxxxxxxx@comcel.com.co
Movistar xxxxxxxxx@movistar.com.co

Czech Republic

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Eurotel +ccaaxxxxxxx@sms.eurotel.cz
Oskar xxxxxxxxx@mujoskar.cz

Denmark

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Sonofon xxxxxxxx@note.sonofon.dk
Tele Danmark Mobil xxxxxxxx@sms.tdk.dk
Telia Denmark xxxxxxxxx@gsm1800.telia.dk

Estonia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
EMT xxxxxxxxx@sms.emt.ee

France

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
SFR xxxxxxxxx@sfr.fr

Germany

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
E-Plus 0177xxxxxxx.sms@eplus.de
Mannesmann Mobilefunk xxxxxxx@d2-message.de
O2 xxxxxxxxx@o2online.de
T-Mobile +49xxxxxxx@t-d1-sms.de
T-Mobile +49xxxxxxx@t-mobile-sms.de
Vodafone xxxxxxxxx@vodafone-sms.de
VoiceStream xxxxxxxxx@voicestream.net

Hungary

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
PGSM 3620xxxxxxx@sms.pgsm.hu

Iceland

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
OgVodafone xxxxxxxxx@sms.is
Siminn xxxxxxxxx@box.is

India

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Andhra Pradesh Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelap.com
BPL mobile xxxxxxxxx@bplmobile.com
Chennai RPG Cellular xxxxxxxxx@rpgmail.net
Chennai Skycell / Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelchennai.com
Delhi Aritel xxxxxxxxx@airtelmail.com
Delhi Hutch xxxxxxxxx@delhi.hutch.co.in
Escotel xxxxxxxxx@escotelmobile.com
Gujarat Celforce xxxxxxxxx@celforce.com
Idea Cellular xxxxxxxxx@ideacellular.net
Karnataka Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelkk.com
Kerala Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelkerala.com
Kolkata Airtel xxxxxxxxx@airtelkol.com
Orange xxxxxxxxx@orangemail.co.in
Tamil Nadu Aircel xxxxxxxxx@airsms.com

Ireland

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Meteor xxxxxxxxx@mymeteor.ie
Meteor xxxxxxxxx@sms.mymeteor.ie
Meteor MMS xxxxxxxxx@mms.mymeteor.ie

Italy

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
TIM xxxxxxxxx@timnet.com
Telecom Italia Mobile 33xxxxxxxx@posta.tim.it
Vodafone Omnitel 34xxxxxxxx@vizzavi.it
Vodafone xxxxxxxxx@sms.vodafone.it

Japan

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
au by KDDI xxxxxxxxx@ezweb.ne.jp
NTT Docomo xxxxxxxxx@docomo.ne.jp
Vodafone Chuugoku/Western xxxxxxxxx@n.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Hokkaido xxxxxxxxx@d.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Hokuriko/Central North xxxxxxxxx@r.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Kansai/West (including Osaka) xxxxxxxxx@k.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Kyuushu/Okinawa xxxxxxxxx@q.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Shikoku xxxxxxxxx@s.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@c.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@h.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan xxxxxxxxx@t.vodafone.ne.jp
Willcom xxxxxxxxx@pdx.ne.jp
Willcom di xxxxxxxxx@di.pdx.ne.jp
Willcom dk xxxxxxxxx@dk.pdx.ne.jp

Latvia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Kyivstar xxxxxxxxx@smsmail.lmt.lv
LMT 9xxxxxx@smsmail.lmt.lv
Tele2 xxxxxxxxx@sms.tele2.lv

Lebanon

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Cellis / LibanCell 9613xxxxxx@ens.jinny.com.lb

Luxembourg

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
P&T Luxembourg xxxxxxxxx@sms.luxgsm.lu
Tigo xxxxxxxxx@sms.tigo.com.co

Malaysia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Celcom 019xxxxxxx@sms.celcom.com.my

Mauritius

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Emtel xxxxxxxxx@emtelworld.net

Mexico

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Iusacell xxxxxxxxx@rek2.com.mx

Nepal

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mero Mobile xxxxxxxxx@sms.spicenepal.com

Netherland

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Dutchtone / Orange-NL xxxxxxxxx@sms.orange.nl
T-Mobile xxxxxxxxx@gin.nl

Nicaragua

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Claro xxxxxxxxx@ideasclaro-ca.com

Norway

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Netcom xxxxxxxxx@sms.netcom.no
Telenor xxxxxxxxx@mobilpost.no

Panama

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Cable and Wireless xxxxxxxxx@cwmovil.com

Poland

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Orange Polska xxxxxxxxx@orange.pl
Plus GSM +4860xxxxxxx@text.plusgsm.pl

Portugal

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Telcel 91xxxxxxx@sms.telecel.pt
Optimus 93xxxxxxx@sms.optimus.pt
TMN 96xxxxxxx@mail.tmn.pt

Russia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
BeeLine GSM xxxxxxxxx@sms.beemail.ru
MTS 7xxxxxxxxxx@sms.mts.ru
Personal Communication sms@pcom.ru (number in subject line)
Primtel xxxxxxxxx@sms.primtel.ru
SCS-900 xxxxxxxxx@scs-900.ru
Uraltel xxxxxxxxx@sms.uraltel.ru
Vessotel xxxxxxxxx@pager.irkutsk.ru
YCC xxxxxxxxx@sms.ycc.ru

Serbia and Montenegro (Yugoslavia)

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobtel Srbija xxxxxxxxx@mobtel.co.yu

Singapore

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
MiWorld xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg
Mobileone xxxxxxxxx@m1.com.sg

Slovenia

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobitel xxxxxx@linux.mobitel.si
Si Mobil xxxxxx@simobil.net

South Africa

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
MTN xxxxxxxxx@sms.co.za
Vodacom xxxxxxxxx@voda.co.za

Spain

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Movistar xxxxxxxxx@correo.movistar.net
Telefonica Movistar xxxxxxxxx@movistar.net
Vodafone xxxxxxxxx@vodafone.es

Sri Lanka

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobitel xxxxxxxxx@sms.mobitel.lk

Sweden

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Comviq GSM 467xxxxxxxx@sms.comviq.se
Europolitan 4670xxxxxxx@europolitan.se
Tele2 xxxxxxxxx@sms.tele2.se

Switzerland

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Sunrise Mobile xxxxxxxxx@freesurf.ch
Sunrise Mobile xxxxxxxxx@mysunrise.ch
Swisscom xxxxxxxxx@bluewin.ch

Tanzania

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Mobitel xxxxxxxxx@sms.co.tz

Ukraine

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
Golden Telecom xxxxxxxxx@sms.goldentele.com
Kyivstar xxxxxxxxxx@2sms.kyivstar.net
UMC xxxxxxxxx@sms.umc.com.ua

United Kingdom

Provider E-mail to SMS address format
BigRedGiant Mobile Solutions xxxxxxxxx@tachyonsms.co.uk
Orange 0973xxxxxx@omail.net
Orange xxxxxxxxx@orange.net
O2 name@o2.co.uk
O2 xxxxxxxxx@o2imail.co.uk
O2 (M-mail) xxxxxxxxx@mmail.co.uk
T-Mobile UK xxxxxxxxx@t-mobile.uk.net
Vodafone UK xxxxxxxxx@vodafone.net