What this enables
Some of your contacts won't have WhatsApp installed. Without a fallback, your messages just don't get delivered to them. With this feature enabled, WAGHL detects non-WhatsApp numbers and automatically sends SMS instead — so every contact gets the message.
Prerequisites
You need an SMS provider integration. Two options:
- SMSFORCRM — our recommended SMS provider, integrated with WAGHL out of the box
- Twilio — popular choice. You'll need your Account SID, Auth Token, and a Twilio phone number.
Due to a limitation on the GoHighLevel side, LC (LeadConnector) phone numbers do NOT provide a SID and Auth Token. As a result, you cannot use LC numbers to send SMS. You must use Twilio or SMSFORCRM for the SMS portion.
Five messaging modes
Once the integration is configured, choose how messages should be sent:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp (default) | Messages send via WhatsApp only. |
| Only SMS | Messages send via SMS only — WhatsApp is bypassed entirely. |
| WhatsApp & SMS | Messages send via both channels simultaneously. Maximum reach, double the delivery cost. |
| WhatsApp or SMS | WhatsApp first; if the number isn't on WhatsApp, automatically falls back to SMS. Recommended for most setups. |
| Tag-based: "only sms" | Tag specific contacts with only sms. Tagged contacts get SMS only; everyone else gets WhatsApp. |
WhatsApp or SMS is the smart default — it tries WhatsApp first (cheaper, richer features) and only falls back to SMS when needed. You only pay for SMS on contacts who actually need it.
The tag-based mode is great when specific customers explicitly prefer SMS — common with older demographics or business contacts on landlines that have SMS.
Configuration
Setup happens in your WAGHL admin panel. The video walkthrough above covers the full config, but here's the high-level flow:
Get your SMS provider credentials
If using Twilio: from your Twilio dashboard, copy your Account SID, Auth Token, and your Twilio phone number.
If using SMSFORCRM: log in and copy your API credentials.
Add credentials in WAGHL admin
Open WAGHL admin → navigate to your location's settings → enter SMS provider credentials.
Choose your messaging mode
Pick one of the five modes (table above). For most users, WhatsApp or SMS is the right choice.
(Optional) Tag specific contacts
If using tag-based mode, apply the only sms tag to the relevant contacts in GHL.
Test it
Send a test message to a known non-WhatsApp number — verify SMS delivers correctly. Then test a known WhatsApp number to confirm it routes correctly.
What's next?
- Android phone as SMS gateway (SMSFORCRM) — alternative SMS provider that uses your phone instead of cloud Twilio
- WhatsApp as a separate channel — alternative approach: keep SMS & WhatsApp on separate tabs
- Connect unlimited WhatsApp numbers — scale across multiple numbers
- Spintax messaging — vary message wording to improve SMS deliverability