{"registry_version":"2026.1025.387","generated_at":"2026-10-25T06:27:00Z","content_sha256":"089d16f627d9365e3d0663cc8069203706d7cb23a76c332226e29686968811a5","signed":true,"signature":{"key_id":"ed25519:74ca19268e364242","algorithm":"ed25519","expires_at":"2026-11-24T06:27:09Z","expired":false,"manifest":"/registry/manifest.json"},"id":"aws/sns-sms-sandbox","name":"Amazon SNS SMS - leave the sandbox and raise the spend limit","vendor":"Amazon Web Services","status":"researched","last_verified":null,"last_researched":"2026-10-25","summary":"New AWS accounts can only text up to 10 verified phone numbers and spend $1 a month on SMS. To text real users you verify and test a number, open a support case to exit the SMS sandbox, raise the monthly spend quota, and register an origination identity where the destination country requires it.","account_model":{"summary":"SMS sandbox status and the monthly SMS spend quota are per AWS account and per Region. Origination identities (phone numbers, sender IDs) are bought and registered in AWS End User Messaging SMS."},"prerequisites":[{"entry":"aws/account-and-iam","note":"An activated AWS account and a user allowed to use SNS and open Support cases."},{"need":"Carrier registration for the destination country where required (e.g. US 10DLC or toll-free)","note":"Done through AWS End User Messaging SMS; see the country table. Compare twilio/a2p-10dlc for what US registration involves."}],"identity_requires":[],"have_ready":[{"kind":"phone_for_2fa","description":"A real mobile phone to add and verify as a sandbox destination number (receives a one-time code).","why":null,"needed_for":["verify-number"],"auto_check":"none","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/sns-sms-sandbox-moving-to-production.html"},{"kind":"live_website","description":"The website or app name that will send the SMS.","why":null,"needed_for":["exit-sandbox","raise-spend"],"auto_check":"website_live","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/sns-sms-sandbox-moving-to-production.html"},{"kind":"other","description":"Message type (one-time password, transactional or promotional), destination countries, a description of how users opt in, and the exact message templates.","why":"Support asks for all of these; fields marked optional are still required in practice.","needed_for":["exit-sandbox","raise-spend"],"auto_check":"none","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/channels-sms-awssupport-spend-threshold.html"}],"steps":[{"id":"choose-region","title":"Pick the Region you will send SMS from","summary":"Sandbox status and spend quota are per Region; use the same Region in every step and in the support case.","route":"guided","gate":"none","human_only":false,"gate_label":null,"depends_on":[],"optional":false,"url":null,"lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"verify-number","title":"Add and verify a sandbox destination number","summary":"In SNS > Text messaging (SMS) > Sandbox destination phone numbers, add your phone and type in the code it receives.","route":"copilot","gate":"2fa","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You enter a 2-step code","depends_on":["choose-region"],"optional":false,"url":"https://console.aws.amazon.com/sns/home","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"test-send","title":"Send a test SMS to the verified number","summary":"Publish a test message and confirm it arrives - AWS asks you to do this before exiting the sandbox.","route":"api","gate":"none","human_only":false,"gate_label":null,"depends_on":["verify-number"],"optional":false,"url":null,"lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"exit-sandbox","title":"Open the Exit SMS sandbox support case","summary":"Choose Exit SMS sandbox; it opens a Service quota increase case for SNS Text Messaging. Fill in website/app, message type, Region, countries, opt-in process and templates; under Requests pick the Region, General Limits and Exit SMS Sandbox. You press Submit yourself.","route":"copilot","gate":"human_submit","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You press submit","depends_on":["test-send"],"optional":false,"url":"https://support.console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/case/create?issueType=service-limit-increase","lead_time":{"official":{"text":"Initial response within 24 hours; longer if Support needs more information.","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/sns-sms-sandbox-moving-to-production.html","source_title":"Moving out of the Amazon SNS SMS sandbox"},"reported":null,"typical_minutes":null},"preflight":["website_live"],"captures":null},{"id":"raise-spend","title":"Request a higher monthly SMS spend quota","summary":"New accounts can spend only $1.00 a month on SMS. Open a quota case (SNS Text Messaging, General Limits, Account Spend Threshold Increase) with the new USD limit and a use-case description; above $10,000 add per-country details.","route":"copilot","gate":"human_submit","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You press submit","depends_on":["choose-region"],"optional":false,"url":"https://support.console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/case/create?issueType=service-limit-increase","lead_time":{"official":{"text":"Initial response within 24 hours.","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/channels-sms-awssupport-spend-threshold.html","source_title":"Requesting increases to your monthly Amazon SNS SMS spending quota"},"reported":null,"typical_minutes":null},"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"apply-spend-limit","title":"Set the new Account spend limit in SNS","summary":"After approval, edit Text messaging preferences and enter the new Account spend limit - otherwise the increase does not take effect.","route":"copilot","gate":"human_submit","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You press submit","depends_on":["raise-spend"],"optional":false,"url":"https://console.aws.amazon.com/sns/home","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"origination-identity","title":"Register an origination identity where required","summary":"Some countries (for example the US) require registering your company and number or sender ID before sending. Check the AWS End User Messaging SMS country table and complete registration there.","route":"guided","gate":"third_party_review","human_only":true,"gate_label":"The provider reviews it","depends_on":["choose-region"],"optional":true,"url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sms-voice/latest/userguide/phone-numbers-sms-by-country.html","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null}],"gates":[{"step":"verify-number","gate":"2fa","label":"You enter a 2-step code"},{"step":"exit-sandbox","gate":"human_submit","label":"You press submit"},{"step":"raise-spend","gate":"human_submit","label":"You press submit"},{"step":"apply-spend-limit","gate":"human_submit","label":"You press submit"},{"step":"origination-identity","gate":"third_party_review","label":"The provider reviews it"}],"lead_times":[{"step":"exit-sandbox","what":"Open the Exit SMS sandbox support case","official":{"text":"Initial response within 24 hours; longer if Support needs more information.","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/sns-sms-sandbox-moving-to-production.html","source_title":"Moving out of the Amazon SNS SMS sandbox"},"reported":null},{"step":"raise-spend","what":"Request a higher monthly SMS spend quota","official":{"text":"Initial response within 24 hours.","source_url":"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sns/latest/dg/channels-sms-awssupport-spend-threshold.html","source_title":"Requesting increases to your monthly Amazon SNS SMS spending quota"},"reported":null}],"outputs":[{"name":"SNS_SMS_REGION","description":"Region whose SNS account is out of the SMS sandbox.","secret":false,"example_format":"us-east-1","environments":null}],"renewals":[],"estimated_minutes":null,"guide_url":"https://verapli.com/guides/aws/sns-sms-sandbox"}