How to Set Up SMS Reminders (Text Message Notifications)

SMS Reminders - Send Text Message Notifications

TidyCal's SMS Reminders feature allows you to automatically send text message reminders to your attendees before their scheduled bookings. SMS reminders help reduce no-shows and keep your attendees informed via their preferred communication channel.

⚠️ Important: SMS Reminders are currently available for U.S. and Canadian phone numbers only.

Plan Required: ✅ Pro or Agency Plan

How SMS Reminders Work

When you enable SMS reminders on a booking type:

1. Attendees enter their phone number in a Phone number question on the booking form (the form has no other phone field, so the booking type needs one)
2. TidyCal schedules SMS reminders based on your timing preferences
3. Reminders are automatically sent before the appointment
4. Attendees receive a text message with booking details

Supported Countries: United States and Canada

SMS Provider: TidyCal uses Vonage for reliable SMS delivery

How to Enable SMS Reminders

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Go to Booking types
2. Click on the booking type you want to add SMS reminders to (or create a new one)
3. In the editor drawer sidebar, expand Advanced, then click Questions. Turn on Enable questions to attendees (or click Add another question if questions are already on), write a question such as "Mobile number", set Answer type to Phone number, and tick Required. SMS reminders are sent to the number attendees enter here
4. Still under Advanced, click Notifications
5. Toggle Enable SMS reminders on. One reminder is added for you, set to 1 hour before
6. Choose when the SMS is sent from the Send SMS reminders dropdown (e.g., "1 hour before", "1 day before")
7. To add a second reminder, click Add SMS reminder. You can add up to two SMS reminders at different times
8. Click Save

Customize Your SMS Message Template

You can customize the text message content that your attendees receive. TidyCal provides a default template, but you can personalize it for your brand.

Default SMS Template

Hi {{contact.name}}, friendly reminder that your booking with {{host.name}} is in {{booking.time_until}}. See you then!

How to Customize the SMS Template

1. In your Booking Type editor, expand Advanced, then click Notifications. Locate the SMS Reminders section
2. Find the SMS Message field
3. Edit the message text to match your brand voice
4. Use template variables (see below) to personalize messages
5. Keep messages concise: the SMS Message field is limited to 160 characters, and a counter below it shows how many you have used
6. Click Save

Available Template Variables for SMS

You can use the same template variables in SMS messages as you use in email templates:

📚 Full List: See our complete Email Template Variables Reference - all variables work in SMS too!

Example SMS Templates

For consultations:

Hi {{contact.name}}! Your {{booking_type.title}} with {{host.name}} is tomorrow at {{booking.time}}. Meeting link: {{booking.meeting_url}}

For fitness classes:

Reminder: {{booking_type.title}} starts in {{booking.time_until}}! See you at {{booking.time}}. - {{host.name}}

For medical appointments:

{{contact.name}}, your appointment with Dr. {{host.name}} is on {{booking.date}} at {{booking.time}}. Please arrive 10 minutes early.

SMS Reminder Timing Options

You can configure when SMS reminders are sent before the appointment. There are six options:

Common Timing Options

• 15 minutes before - Last-minute reminder (good for virtual meetings)
• 30 minutes before - Short-notice reminder
• 1 hour before - Standard reminder for same-day appointments
• 2 hours before - Good for appointments requiring travel
• 4 hours before - Good for appointments requiring preparation
• 1 day before - Most popular option (advance notice)

Setting Multiple SMS Reminders

You can add up to two SMS reminders at different times. Common combinations:

• Professional Services: 24 hours + 1 hour before
• Medical/Dental: 1 day + 2 hours before
• Fitness Classes: 24 hours + 30 minutes before
• Consultations: 24 hours before only

How to add multiple reminders:

1. Turn on Enable SMS reminders (one reminder is added for you)
2. Set timing for first reminder
3. Click Add SMS reminder for a second reminder
4. Set different timing for second reminder

Phone Number Requirements

Supported Countries:

• 🇺🇸 United States
• 🇨🇦 Canada

Phone Number Format:

• Must be a valid U.S. or Canadian phone number
• Mobile numbers only (landlines cannot receive SMS)
• Format: (555) 123-4567, 555-123-4567, or 5551234567. The phone field has a country selector that starts on the country detected from the attendee's location, so make sure it shows United States or Canada
• TidyCal automatically formats phone numbers

SMS Costs and Limits

Pricing: SMS reminders are included in your Pro or Agency Plan at no additional cost per message.

Monthly allowance: Pro includes unlimited SMS segments. Agency Lifetime purchased on or after September 1, 2026 includes 10 segments per month; Agency Lifetime purchased before that date includes 20 segments per month. Long messages are split into multiple segments and each segment counts against the allowance. Once the allowance is used up, further SMS reminders are skipped for the rest of the calendar month — the matching email reminder is still sent.

Character Limits:

• Standard SMS: 160 characters per segment
• Unicode/Emoji SMS: 70 characters per segment
• Messages longer than the limit are split into multiple segments
• The editor shows a character count (up to 160) as you type

Troubleshooting SMS Reminders

Attendees Not Receiving SMS

Q: My attendees aren't receiving SMS reminders. What should I check?

A: Common solutions:

1. Verify SMS is enabled: Check booking type settings → SMS Reminders → Toggle is ON
2. Check phone number: Ensure U.S. or Canadian number was provided
3. Verify mobile number: Landlines cannot receive SMS
4. Check spam/blocked numbers: Ask attendee to check blocked messages
5. Verify timing: Reminder is scheduled for future (not past)
6. Check carrier: Some carriers have SMS filtering

Chinese/Unicode Characters Showing as Question Marks

Q: My SMS messages show question marks (?) instead of Chinese characters or emojis.

A: TidyCal supports Unicode characters in SMS (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, emojis). If question marks appear:

1. Verify the phone carrier supports Unicode SMS
2. Note: Unicode messages fit 70 characters per segment (vs 160 for standard), so they split into more segments
3. Some older phones may not display Unicode correctly

Note: A November 2025 fix improved Chinese character support in SMS reminders.

Template Variables Showing Blank

Q: Variables like {{booking.hours_until}} are showing as blank or "0".

A: This was a known issue that has been fixed. If you still see this:

1. Check that the booking has a valid date/time
2. Use {{booking.time_until}} for a readable time such as "30 minutes" or "1 day" that works for any reminder time, or {{booking.minutes_until}}     instead

SMS Reminders Not Sending at All

Q: SMS reminders are enabled but not sending.

A: Check these items:

1. Plan verification: Ensure you're on Pro or Agency Plan
2. Booking status: SMS only sends for confirmed bookings (not cancelled)
3. Phone number question required: The booking type needs a Phone number question (Advanced → Questions), and the attendee must answer it with a U.S. or Canadian number
4. Timing: Reminder must be scheduled in the future
5. Contact support: If all else fails, reach out to TidyCal support with booking details

SMS Reminders vs Email Reminders

💡 Best Practice: Use BOTH SMS and email reminders together for maximum effectiveness. Send detailed information via email and quick reminders via SMS.

Common Use Cases for SMS Reminders

Medical & Dental Practices

• Reduce no-shows for expensive appointment slots
• Send 1-day and 2-hour reminders

Fitness & Wellness

• Remind class attendees 1-2 hours before start
• Reduce last-minute cancellations
• Send motivational messages

Professional Services

• Consultation reminders for lawyers, accountants, coaches
• Send meeting links 1 hour before virtual meetings
• Professional, concise communication

Education & Tutoring

• Remind students of tutoring sessions
• Send lesson materials links via SMS
• Reduce missed classes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do attendees need to opt-in to receive SMS?

A: By providing their phone number during booking, attendees consent to receive booking-related SMS notifications.

Q: Can attendees reply to SMS reminders?

A: SMS reminders are sent from a one-way number. For two-way communication, include your contact number in the message template.

Q: Can I send SMS to international numbers?

A: Currently, SMS reminders are limited to U.S. and Canadian phone numbers only.

Q: How many SMS reminders can I send per booking?

A: Up to two SMS reminders per booking type (e.g., 1 day and 1 hour before).

Q: What happens if the booking is rescheduled?

A: SMS reminders are automatically recalculated based on the new booking time. Old reminders are cancelled.

Q: What happens if the booking is cancelled?

A: All scheduled SMS reminders are automatically cancelled when a booking is cancelled.

Q: Can I test SMS reminders before going live?

A: Yes! Create a test booking and enter your own U.S. or Canadian number in the Phone number question. Book a time far enough ahead that the reminder time is still in the future when you book.

Q: Do SMS reminders work with package bookings?

A: Yes! Each date in a package booking receives separate SMS reminders based on its scheduled time.

Getting Started with SMS Reminders

Ready to reduce no-shows? Follow these steps:

1. Upgrade to Pro ($12/month or $99/year) or Agency Plan ($79) (if not already)
2. Edit your booking type and enable SMS Reminders
3. Add a Phone number question under Advanced → Questions so attendees can enter their number
4. Set reminder timing (recommended: 24 hours before)
5. Customize your message with your brand voice
6. Test with your own phone to see it in action
7. Monitor results and adjust timing as needed

Need help? Contact TidyCal support if you have questions about SMS reminders.