Email is the king of detail, but SMS is the king of urgency. In 2026, relying on a single channel for critical alerts (like 2FA or fraud warnings) is a single point of failure.
The Fallback Pattern
The most robust notification systems use a "waterfall" approach. You try the cheapest/richest channel first (Email), and if it fails or is ignored, you escalate to the most urgent channel (SMS).
async function sendSecurityAlert(user) {
// 1. Try Email First (Cost: $0.0005)
const emailResult = await getMailer.send({
to: user.email,
subject: "New Login Detected",
react: <SecurityAlert />
});
// 2. If bounced or not opened in 5 min (Webhooks required), escalate
if (emailResult.error) {
// 3. Fallback to SMS (Cost: $0.01)
await getMailer.sms.send({
to: user.phone,
text: "Security Alert: New login detected. Reply STOP to block."
});
}
}The Elephant in the Room: A2P 10DLC
If you have tried sending SMS recently, you know the pain of A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code) compliance. Carriers now block unregistered traffic instantly.
At GetMailer, we abstracted this nightmare away. When you purchase a number, we automatically submit your Brand and Campaign registry information to The Campaign Registry (TCR). We handle the vetting fees and the "opt-in" keyword management (STOP, START, HELP) so you don't get fined $10,000 by T-Mobile.
Cost vs. Value
SMS is 20x more expensive than email. You should not use it for newsletters. Use it for:
- 2FA Codes (High value)
- Appointment Reminders (High loss if missed)
- Delivery Updates (High anxiety)