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 two ways:
From Contacts: click Contacts in the sidebar and click Chat next to the person you want to message
From a phone line: in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar, click the line you want to text from to open its Messages tab, then pick an existing conversation or start a new one
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
Tap + in the top-right corner of the screen
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
Tap + in the top-right corner of the screen
Tap the 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
Tap the 📞 Phone tab at the bottom left to view your recent calls
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.
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, click Chat next to a contact in Contacts, or click your line in the Phone Numbers section of the sidebar to open the Messages tab. 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