Beside lets you send text messages directly from the app. You can start a new conversation from your contacts, the dial pad, or your recent call history - whichever is easiest for you.
Texting works on the Beside mobile app, on the web at app.beside.com, and on Beside for macOS.
Send a text from the web app
Go to app.beside.com and sign in. You can start a new conversation in three ways:
From Contacts: click Contacts in the sidebar and click Chat next to the person you want to message
From an existing conversation: in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar, click the line you want to text from, open the Chats tab, and pick the conversation you want to continue
From scratch: in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar, click the line you want to text from, open the Chats tab, then click the compose icon (✏️) at the top right. In the New Conversation modal, pick a contact from Contacts (left pane) or enter a number in Phone Number (right pane). The line you were viewing is pre-selected at the bottom - switch lines if needed, then click Chat or press ↵ to send.
Type your message in the composer at the bottom of the conversation and press Enter or click the send button.
📌 Business plan with multiple lines: click the line you want to text from in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar before starting a conversation.
Send a text from the mobile app
From the contact list
Open the Beside mobile app
Start a new message:
On iPhone: tap the + button (bottom right), then New Chat
On Android: tap the + button (bottom right), then New Chat
Select the contact you want to message (scroll or use the search bar)
Tap the chat bubble icon next to their name
Type your message
Tap Send
From the dial pad
Open the Beside mobile app
Open the dial pad:
On iPhone: tap the + button (bottom right), then Dial
On Android: tap the + button (bottom right), then Dial Pad
Enter the phone number you want to message
Tap 💬 Text under the keypad
Type your message and tap Send
From your call history
Open the Beside mobile app
Open your recent calls by tapping the Calls tab
Find the contact or number you interacted with
Tap the "i" (information) icon
Type your message and tap Send
Which number do your texts come from?
When you send a text from Beside, the recipient sees your Beside number as the sender - not your personal carrier number.
Your setup | Number shown to recipients |
Beside number (default) | Your Beside number |
Call forwarding + Caller ID enabled | Your Beside number (Caller ID only applies to calls, not texts) |
Ported number | Your ported number (which is now your Beside number) |
📌 Note:
Caller ID does not apply to texts. Even if you've set up Caller ID to show your existing number on outgoing calls, your texts will still come from your Beside number. This is a carrier limitation - SMS Caller ID is not supported.
If you want your texts to come from your existing number, you need to port that number to Beside. 📖 Port your number vs set up call forwarding
Use Draft Text to write messages faster
Draft Text is a built-in AI helper inside every conversation in the Beside mobile app. It can generate a clear, professional draft based on the instructions you give it.
How to use Draft Text
Open any conversation in the Beside mobile app
Tap Draft Text
Tell the AI what you want:
"Write a polite reminder about the appointment today at 3 PM."
"Rephrase my message to sound more professional."
"Create a friendly follow-up asking if they received my estimate."
Review the draft
Tap Insert to copy it into the message box
Edit if needed, then Send
📌 Note: Draft Text does not automatically rewrite the message you already typed. It creates a new draft based on your instructions. If you want a rephrasing, add "Rephrase:" before your message.
Create a calendar event from a chat
In any conversation in the Beside mobile app, you can save a date and time to your phone's calendar in a couple of taps. The event is saved to your iPhone or Android calendar app, and the card stays private - only visible to you in the chat.
📌 Mobile only: Create Event is available in the Beside mobile app (iPhone and Android) only. It's not available on Beside on the web or Beside for macOS.
Automatic: when Beside detects a date and time
When you type (or receive) a message that includes a date and time - for example "Coffee 9am tomorrow" - Beside generates a Calendar Event card right below the message, with the title, date, and time pre-filled.
Tap Add to Calendar on the card
Grant calendar permission the first time you use the feature
Your phone's native calendar opens with the event pre-filled - adjust if needed, then save
Manual: from the + menu or the chat bar
Open any conversation in the Beside mobile app
Tap the + icon to the left of the message composer
Tap Create Event
Your phone's native calendar opens - fill in the event details and save
💡 Different from AI-booked appointments: Create Event is a personal shortcut for saving an event from a chat to your own calendar. It's separate from the AI Receptionist's automatic appointment booking, which handles client appointments on your behalf during AI-handled calls and texts and requires a connected Google or Outlook calendar.
Tips for successful texting
Check permissions - on mobile, make sure Beside has access to your contacts for a smoother experience.
Check your network - a stable internet connection is required for sending messages.
Blocked content - if a message fails to send because of restricted words (e.g., profanity, sensitive topics), try rephrasing it. 📖 Forbidden content on Beside
FAQ
Can I text from the web app?
Can I text from the web app?
Yes. Go to app.beside.com, then either click Chat next to a contact under Contacts, or click your line in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar to open the Chats tab. From Chats, click the compose icon (✏️) at the top right to open the New Conversation modal - search a contact or enter a number, then click Chat. Your conversations sync across mobile, web, and Beside for macOS.
Which number do my contacts see when I text them?
Which number do my contacts see when I text them?
Your contacts always see your Beside number as the sender. If you set up call forwarding with Caller ID, that only applies to outgoing calls - not texts. The only way to have texts come from your existing number is to port it to Beside.
📖 Port your number vs set up call forwarding
Can I send pictures, videos, or GIFs via Beside?
Can I send pictures, videos, or GIFs via Beside?
You can send JPG or PNG images up to 5MB. Videos and GIFs may not always work reliably, even under 5MB.
Can I send bulk messages or mass texts using Beside?
Can I send bulk messages or mass texts using Beside?
No. Bulk or mass messaging is not allowed on Beside.
📖 Forbidden content on Beside
Why did my message fail to send?
Why did my message fail to send?
Messages can fail for several reasons: blocked content (profanity, sensitive topics, shortened URLs), weak internet connection, or exceeding SMS character limits (160 characters standard, 70 with emojis).
📖 Fix undelivered text messages
Why can't I send texts during my trial?
Why can't I send texts during my trial?
Trial accounts can send up to 15 messages total. Once you reach that limit, outgoing texts are blocked until your trial ends - you can still receive messages normally. Your account upgrades at the end of the trial and full texting is restored.
📖 Fix undelivered text messages
Can I text from Beside for macOS?
Can I text from Beside for macOS?
Yes. You can send and receive texts from 📖 Beside for macOS using the same phone line as your mobile app. You need to set up your line on mobile first.
📖 Send texts and make calls on macOS