How to Text Someone First by Email (No App, No API)
Direct answer: email messages@petitext.comfrom the address on your Petitext account, put the recipient’s phone number — with country code, e.g. +1 604 330 2816 — in the subject line, and write your message in the body. The body is delivered as a normal SMS from your Petitext number.
That’s the whole mechanic. There is no app to install, no dashboard to log into, and no API to wire up. If you can send an email, you can start a text conversation — and when the other person replies, their reply lands right back in your inbox as an email you can answer.
Step by step
- 1. Compose a new email to messages@petitext.com.Use the email address you signed up to Petitext with — that’s how the system knows which number is yours.
- 2. Put the recipient’s phone number in the subject line, with country code.Other text can share the subject line (“Bike question +1 604 330 2816” works) — just keep the number in one piece. The subject line is only used for addressing and is never sent to the recipient.
- 3. Write the text in the email body and hit send. The body becomes the SMS. Delivery typically takes under 3 seconds.
How to format the phone number
The number must include the country code, and it must stay in one contiguous piece — spaces and dashes inside the number are fine, and other text may appear around it in the subject line.
| Subject line | Works? | Why |
|---|---|---|
+16043302816 | ✅ Yes | Full number with country code |
+1 604 330 2816 | ✅ Yes | Spaces are fine |
Bike question +1 604 330 2816 | ✅ Yes | Other text is fine — the number stays in one piece |
604 330 2816 | ❌ No | Missing the country code (+1) |
+1 604 bike 330 2816 | ❌ No | The number is broken apart by other text |
A worked example
Say you want to ask a seller about a bike listed with the number +1 604 330 2816. Your email:
To: messages@petitext.com
Subject: +1 604 330 2816
Body: Hi! Is the blue bike from your listing still available? I could pick it up this weekend.
The seller receives one ordinary text from your Petitext number: “Hi! Is the blue bike from your listing still available? I could pick it up this weekend.” They text back, and their reply shows up in your email inbox. From there it’s a normal back-and-forth conversation — you keep replying by email, they keep texting.
What the recipient sees (and doesn’t see)
- They see a standard SMS from your dedicated US or Canada Petitext number.
- They never see your email address or your real phone number.
- The whole conversation stays saved and searchable in your email.
The honest limits
- One person per email. There is no bulk send, no lists, no scheduling, no API. Petitext is for person-to-person conversations only; bulk and marketing messaging are prohibited and lead to account termination.
- Not for verification codes. Petitext numbers are VoIP-classified, and many services block virtual numbers from receiving one-time passcodes.
- Plan limits apply. Passes include up to 50, 200, or 500 outgoing messages for the Day ($1.99), 3-Day ($3.99), and Week ($8.99) passes respectively.
Frequently asked questions
What email address do I send the text to?
Send it to messages@petitext.com, from the email address on your Petitext account. That's how the system knows which Petitext number to send your text from.
Does the recipient see my email address?
No. The recipient sees an ordinary SMS from your Petitext phone number — never your email address, and never your real phone number.
Is the subject line sent as part of the text?
No. The subject line is only used to address the message — it is never sent. Only the email body is delivered as the SMS.
Can I text international numbers?
Yes. Your Petitext number is a US or Canada number, but you can text contacts internationally — just include their country's code in the subject line.
Can I send the same text to many people at once?
No. One email starts one conversation with one person. Petitext is for person-to-person conversations only — bulk, broadcast, and marketing messages are prohibited.
Can I use this to send verification codes or automate SMS?
No. There is no API and no automation — every message is a human writing an email. Petitext numbers are VoIP-classified and are not reliable for receiving one-time verification codes either.
Ready to try it? Passes start at $1.99 for a day — see plans and pricing, or compare Petitext with Google Voice, Hushed, and Burner on our comparison page.
Last updated: July 16, 2026