Reply by text
Text back the 4-character reply code followed by your message. For example: B3K9 Sounds good, thanks!
If you skip the code, your reply goes to the most recent email in your thread.
Help center
How txtmail works
Everything you need to know about receiving email as text, replying, and managing your account.
Getting started
Your txtmail address
When you sign up with your phone number, you get an email address based on that number — for example, 5558675309@txtmail.co. Share this address anywhere you'd normally give out an email.
When someone sends a message to your txtmail address, you'll get a text instead of an email. No app to install, no inbox to check.
Receiving email
What happens when someone emails you
Each inbound email is summarized and sent as a text message. The text includes the sender's name, the subject, a short preview of the message, and two things:
- A private thread link — opens the full email in your browser
- A reply code — a 4-character code you can text back with to reply to that specific email
Reading your email
The private thread view
Tap the link in the text to open the full email in your browser. You'll see the complete message, any attachments, and the full conversation history if there are multiple replies.
Each link is private — it only works for one conversation and doesn't require logging in.
Replying
Two ways to reply
Reply from the web
Open the thread link and tap "Write a reply" at the bottom. Type your message and hit Send. The sender receives a normal email reply.
Replies do not count against your monthly email limit — only inbound emails use credits.
Plans & limits
How credits work
Each inbound email that gets forwarded as a text uses one credit. Replies (both SMS and web) are free and unlimited.
| Plan | Price | Emails / month |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 20 |
| Starter | $9/mo | 100 |
| Pro | $29/mo | 500 |
What happens when you hit the limit?
New emails stop being forwarded as texts until your credits reset at the start of the next billing cycle (or you upgrade to a higher plan). You'll receive a one-time text letting you know you've reached the limit. Emails sent while you're over the limit are not stored.
Attachments & images
Files and remote images
Attachments
File attachments (PDFs, documents, etc.) appear in the thread view below the email body. You can download them directly from the thread.
Remote images
For your privacy, remote images in emails are blocked by default. If an email contains images, you'll see a "Show images" button at the top of the message. Tap it to load them. This prevents email tracking pixels from firing automatically.
SMS controls
Managing text messages
You can control SMS notifications at any time by texting these keywords to the txtmail.co number:
| Text | What it does |
|---|---|
STOP | Opt out of all text messages from txtmail |
START | Opt back in to text messages |
HELP | Get support info and a link to this page |
You can also toggle SMS notifications on or off from the Settings page without affecting your account or credits.
Settings
What you can manage
- Profile — set a display name and signature that appear on your replies, and upload an avatar
- SMS notifications — turn text messages on or off
- Appearance — switch between light, dark, or system theme
- Plan & usage — see your current plan, credits remaining, and manage billing
- Billing — update payment method, view invoices, or change plans
Pro features
Custom aliases and linked numbers
The Pro plan ($29/mo, 500 emails/month) includes two additional features:
- Custom email aliases — claim a human-readable address like
sarah-m@txtmail.cothat forwards to your phone number. You can create and remove aliases from Settings. - Linked delivery numbers — add extra phone numbers to receive txtmail texts on. Each linked number gets its own email address. Useful if you have a work phone and a personal phone.
FAQ
Common questions
What happens when someone emails my txtmail address?
The email is summarized and sent to your phone as a text message. The text includes the sender, subject, a preview, a private link to the full thread, and a reply code.
Do I need to install an app?
No. txtmail works entirely through SMS and your web browser. There is no app to download.
Do replies count against my monthly limit?
No. Only inbound emails use credits. You can reply as many times as you want by SMS or from the web — replies are always free.
What if I don't include the reply code when I text back?
Your reply is sent to the most recent email in your thread. The reply code is only needed if you want to reply to a specific older email.
Can the sender tell I'm using txtmail?
Replies come from your txtmail address (e.g. 5558675309@txtmail.co), so the sender sees a normal email. They won't know it was sent via text unless you tell them.
What happens to emails when I'm over my limit?
They are not forwarded or stored. You'll receive a one-time text letting you know you've hit the limit. Once your credits reset at the start of the next billing cycle (or you upgrade), new emails will start forwarding again.
Why are images blocked in the thread view?
Remote images are blocked by default to protect your privacy. Many emails include tracking pixels that notify the sender when you open a message. Tap "Show images" to load them when you're ready.
How do I stop receiving texts?
Text STOP to the txtmail number, or turn off SMS notifications in Settings. Your account stays active either way — you can turn texts back on anytime with START or from Settings.
Can I change my txtmail email address?
Your primary address is based on your phone number and can't be changed. On the Pro plan, you can create custom aliases (like myname@txtmail.co) that forward to your number.
Is there a way to see old emails?
txtmail doesn't have a web inbox or message archive. Each email thread has its own private link that's included in the text you receive. Thread links expire after 30 days.
Still have questions?
Reach out to support@txtmail.co and we'll get back to you.