When you integrate bulk SMS into your systems, you’ll hear about two options: an HTTP API and SMPP. Both send messages; they suit very different situations.
HTTP API
Your system sends an HTTPS request for each message (or batch) and gets a JSON response. It works from any language and any server, including shared hosting.
- Simple: a few lines of code — see PHP, Python and Node.js tutorials.
- Firewall-friendly: uses standard HTTPS.
- Stateless: no connection to keep alive.
- Delivery reports are pulled via the API or pushed to a callback URL.
SMPP
Short Message Peer-to-Peer is a telecom protocol. Your system opens a persistent connection (a “bind”) to the provider and streams messages over it.
- High throughput: designed for large, continuous volumes.
- Complex: needs an SMPP library, connection management, reconnection logic and window handling.
- Network setup: often requires fixed IPs, firewall rules or a VPN.
- Delivery reports arrive as messages over the same connection.
Side by side
| HTTP API | SMPP | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes | Days to weeks |
| Skills needed | Any web developer | Telecom/protocol experience |
| Best for | Apps, websites, ERPs, most businesses | Aggregators and very high, constant volumes |
| Hosting | Anywhere | Server with stable, allow-listed connectivity |
Which should you choose?
For almost every business — e-commerce, schools, SACCOs, fintechs, logistics — the HTTP API is the right choice. Consider SMPP only if you send very large volumes continuously and have the engineering capacity to run it. If you think you might be in that category, talk to us about your volumes.
Start with the HTTP API docs or read about SMS gateways.
Get started
Create a Connect Media account — SMS from KES 1.0, no minimum top-up, credit that never expires, and one account for Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Call +254 707 339 945 or email info@connectmedia.co.ke.
