Enable SMS reminders

Automatic SMS reminders require an active Pro subscription (not available during the 30-day free trial).

Before enabling reminders, confirm in Settings that the organization timezone matches the city where shifts happen. If it is wrong (for example Eastern when you serve on Pacific time), SMS may go out hours early or late even though the shift still shows 8:00 AM on the schedule.

Under Organization → Settings, turn on “Automatic SMS reminders”, choose how many hours before the shift (12, 24, or 48), and save.

Volunteers must opt in to SMS on the public portal when booking. The consent text is fixed and meets messaging provider requirements.

Pro includes 120 SMS per month (no rollover). One reminder = one SMS to one volunteer before one shift. When SMS credits are exhausted, only email is sent when the volunteer provided an address.

You can buy prepaid packs (+150, +500, +1500) from Settings. They expire after 12 months.

In Operations → Bookings use “Send reminder now” for one shift, or let the scheduler send automatically based on your hours setting.

Usage examples with 120 SMS/month: small church with 12 ushers one Sunday per month (~12 SMS); weekly pantry with ~20 volunteers every Saturday (~80 SMS); center with Tue & Thu shifts (~120 SMS). Buy a prepaid pack if you need more.