How to send an RCS message with Twilio and Node.js

Time to read: 4 minutes

November 27, 2024
Written by
Marius Obert
Twilion
Reviewed by
Kelley Robinson
Twilion

How to send an RCS message with Twilio and Node.js

Rich Communication Services (RCS) has been growing for many years and we at Twilio believe it will become the premium global messaging channel of the future. Its recent arrival on Apple devices with iOS 18 has amplified interest from developers worldwide. This post provides a hands-on tutorial to help you get started with implementing RCS using Twilio's tools and NodeJS.

Blog post cover images showing the final RCS message on a phone
Do you want to join the public beta and start testing RCS today? No problem, visit Twilio’s RCS Business Messaging page and click Get started. The requests should be approved within a few days.

Comparing RCS to SMS and WhatsApp

RCS is revolutionizing the messaging landscape by combining the simplicity of SMS with the advanced features of modern apps like WhatsApp. With support for multimedia, verified sender profiles, and comprehensive engagement tracking, RCS offers a rich, interactive experience—all without requiring an additional app download. I also wrote a blog post that summarizes everything developers need to know about RCS and how it compares to other channels. 

Implementing RCS with Twilio and NodeJS

Twilio makes it easy to explore and implement RCS using the sandbox environment. In this section, you’ll learn how to set up an RCS sender, create a messaging service, and send your first RCS message using NodeJS. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get started.

Prerequisites

1. A Twilio account (sign up here if you don’t have one) with a phone number (or another SMS-capable sender as fallback)

2. A device capable of receiving RCS messages.

3. Node.js installed on your machine.

Step 1: Create an RCS Sender

1. Log in to the Twilio Console.

2. Navigate to the Explore Products section and click RCS.

A web dashboard showing communication API options including chat, conversations, voice, app, and RCS

3. In the side panel, navigate to the Senders section.

4. Click Create new sender

Web application interface showing the 'Senders' page with a sidebar and a button to create a new sender.

5. Provide a name like “My First RCS Sender” and hit continue

Twilio console showing form to enter a display name for a new sender with an arrow pointing to the Continue button.

Step 2: Add Profile Information

Provide the following required information and click Next when complete:

  • Sender display name: Choose a recognizable name for your sender – usually your brand name.
  • Description: That is visible when users interact with your sender.
  • Border color: Keep in mind the minimum contrast ratio. You can never go wrong with black #000000.
  • Logo: 224x224 pixels, max 50KB, JPEG/JPG/PNG, you can use this one for example: https://corn-lobster-7338.twil.io/assets/twiliodevs-logo-rcs.png
  • Banner: 1440x448 pixels, max 200KB, JPEG/JPG/PNG, you can use this one for example: https://corn-lobster-7338.twil.io/assets/twiliodevs-banner-rcs.png
  • Contact Details - Phone number: A phone number is required and you can optionally also add an email address.
  • Link to privacy policy as well as Link to terms of service. You can enter arbitrary information here since we’ll only explore the sandbox. If you want to move to production, you can always create a new RCS sender with the real information about your business.
Complete profile step

Step 3: Test Your RCS Sender

1. On the optional Test tab, click Add device to test this sender.

Add phone number step

2. Enter the phone number of your RCS-capable device and confirm. You should then receive an opt-in message from Twilio’s RCS agent.

3. Confirm the number on your device, check the dialog box, and send a test message.

Opt in on a phone to receive RCS messages

4. Celebrate—you’ve just sent your first RCS message!

First RCS message received on a phone

5. Since this is just a test sender, click Save as draft and close.

Web interface for creating a sender in Twilio Devs II with options to add a device, visible phone number, and draft save option.

Step 4: Create a Messaging Service

1. Go to the Messaging Services page in the Console.

2. Click Create Messaging Service

Screenshot of Twilio messaging services dashboard with an arrow pointing to the Create Messaging Service button.

3. Give this service a name (e.g., “My RCS Service”) and click Create Messaging Service.

Trello setup screen for creating a new Messaging Service with input fields and step-by-step instructions.

4. Add your RCS sender:

  • Click Add Sender, select RCS Sender
Interface for adding an RCS sender in a messaging platform, with steps and instructions highlighted.
  • Add the RCS sender you just created.

4. Add an SMS fallback sender by repeating the Add Sender process and selecting a phone number or other SMS-capable sender. Then, continue to Step 3: Set up integration

Screenshot of sender pool settings in a messaging app with instructions to add a phone number and continue to integration.

Step 5: (Optional) Set Up Webhook Integration

1. Webhooks allow you to handle incoming messages in the same way as SMS or WhatsApp. Learn more in Twilio's docs about Incoming Message Webhooks.

2. Use the Set Up Integration option to register a webhook. Feel free to reuse an existing one if available.

Twilio console showing steps for integrating messaging services, including adding a webhook for incoming messages.

Step 6: Send Your First RCS Message with NodeJS

1. Finish the wizard flow by clicking the white Skip setup button

Settings menu screen showing Fallback URL and Validity Period options for a messaging service.

2. Copy the Messaging Service SID (like MGe1fdfb207e9aa5b44f398b1094d88a8b) from the Console.

Dashboard showing properties of My Messaging Service with an arrow pointing to the service SID field.

3. Retrieve your Account SID and Auth Token from the Twilio Console.

4. Create a new file named sendRCS.js with the following code: 

const client = require("twilio")("<INSERT_ACCOUNT_SID>", "<INSERT_AUTH_TOKEN>");
client.messages
  .create({
    body: "This RCS message was sent with NodeJS!",
    to: "+<INSERT THE NUMBER USED AS TEST DEVICE>",
    messagingServiceSid: "<INSERT THE SID COPIED ABOVE>",
    mediaUrl: "https://corn-lobster-7338.twil.io/assets/What%20is%20Twilio_.mp4",
  })
  .then((message) => console.log(message.sid))
  .catch((error) => console.error(error));

5. The only thing between us and executing the code is the missing twilio dependence. Let’s install it with npm add twilio

6. Run the script using node sendRCS.js and see the result on your phone

The final result showing a media message
As you transition from sandbox testing to production usage, you’ll need to pass the country-specific verification process we skipped above. This requirement ensures compliance with local regulations and protects users from potential messaging spam. While this might introduce initial friction, it guarantees that messages from reputable sources maintain their integrity, significantly reducing spam and increasing user trust. Twilio and the carriers around the world are committed to fight spam and avoid the problems that were caused by the permissionless nature of SMS.For further guidance, check out Twilio's RCS Documentation.

Explore Advanced RCS Features

Congrats, you sent your first RCS message. Let’s build on that experience, because there are so many additional things you can do with RCS that were not possible with SMS before. Here is a list of things you can explore to make your next steps:

Twilio is continuously enhancing its RCS offering with features like failover for undelivered messages and quick reply buttons. Stay tuned for updates, and start building more engaging customer experiences today!

RCS is transforming how businesses communicate with customers, blending the reliability of SMS with the interactivity of modern messaging apps. With Twilio, you can easily harness the power of RCS to create engaging and rich communication experiences directly from your applications.

We can’t wait to see what you build!

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