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SMS - Github Student Pack

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Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:10

I have a project on Appwrite Github Student Pack but unable to send any message as I get error: "Phone authentication limit for your organization has exceeded. Please upgrade to a higher plan or update your budget cap." I am ready to pay for sms rates please help

TL;DR
Developers are unable to send SMS OTPs with the Github Student Pack due to limits on phone authentication. They can upgrade to a higher plan or self-host an Appwrite instance to overcome this issue. Connecting external providers like Twilio requires upgrading to the pro plan.
Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:18

I believe you'd have to upgrade your account to pro instead of the student pack at that point

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:19

Can I not connect any external provider like twillio? because just for sms paying $25/month does not make sense

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:22

afaik, rn in cloud there is not a way to add an sms provider for OTP codes.

I think you get like 10 free codes, then they're billed based on the country you're sending to.

https://appwrite.io/docs/advanced/platform/phone-otp#rates

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:23

I am not able to send a single OTP codes, I just keep getting this error message : Phone authentication limit for your organization has exceeded. Please upgrade to a higher plan or update your budget cap. I have also tried mock phone auth, dev keys but nothing is working

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:24

Free plans have 0 allowance for sms OTP codes. I meant the pro plan.

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:25

just for sms can i deploy a self hosted appwrite instance and somehow sync the appwrite users

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:26

You can self host an Appwrite instance and migrate your project from cloud to the self hosted version and just use that

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:27

but I want to use the limits of appwrite github student plan, for those limits I need to setup a powerful server if I self host it I build my complete app using appwrite and now I am unable to send OTPs 🥲

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:28

Are SMS OTPs vital? There are a ton of other auth methods?

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:28

SMS use to be free until people abused it :P

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:29

yes actually I completed my app and the auth flow is using SMS flow 🥲 I understand about the abuse but I think it should be availble in Github student plan, you may safe guard it using payment methods. Like OTPs will be sent only after setting up payment methods

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:32

How did you built the whole auth flow without sending an otp?

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:34

I meant I coded the whole auth flow using OTP flow, and using appwrite service throughout the codebase. The codebase is moderately large. I didn't tested sending otp until I build the complete app, as I didn't found any reference like you need to be in a pro plan to send sms. Now as I completed the app, I wanted to test it before deployment and now unable to send message 🥲 So I am even unable to test my own app. Also I am on a tight deadline to deploy it...

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:37

@Steven Can github education orgs send sms otps?

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:40

Ig that would be right here

Free access to Appwrite's Education plan (10 projects with equivalent resource limits as Appwrite Pro

Kenny
2 Apr, 2026, 21:41

As far as changing that limit, there is nothing I can do. I've tagged steven, he may be able to help you out.

Bishal Das
2 Apr, 2026, 21:44

Thank You

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