Receive SMS Online API Integration: Reliable OTP Flow

HeroSMS CC supports API-style automation for eligible, compliant use cases. This guide focuses on reliability patterns (timeouts, polling, backoff) and the order lifecycle—without providing instructions intended to bypass platform rules.

If you’re looking for the fastest manual workflow, see: Services and Pricing.

When API integration makes sense

Common legitimate scenarios:

• QA/testing registration flows across regions
• Validating SMS delivery performance for a product
• Team workflows that need repeatable, auditable verification steps

Not acceptable:

• Any activity that violates laws or a platform’s terms
• High-frequency abuse, harassment, or fraud attempts

A reliable OTP automation flow (conceptual)

At a high level, robust OTP flows follow this pattern:

1. Create an order for a specific service + country/region
2. Receive a virtual phone number
3. Trigger OTP on the target platform
4. Poll order status until SMS arrives or the order expires
5. Extract OTP and complete verification
6. Finalize the order and store minimal logs needed for support/audit

Polling, timeouts, and backoff (avoid “hammering”)

To reduce failures and wasted credits:

• Polling interval: start with a modest interval (e.g., 2–5s) and increase if needed
• Timeout: set a clear “give up” window per attempt (e.g., 90–180s), then switch number/region
• Backoff: if multiple attempts fail, slow down and change the combination instead of retrying rapidly

This approach usually improves success rate because it avoids triggering throttling mechanisms on upstream networks and target platforms.

Handling common edge cases

• SMS arrives late: treat “no SMS yet” as normal; wait for the timeout window.
• Multiple OTPs: some platforms re-verify on login/device changes; design the flow for more than one code.
• Wrong service mapping: make sure your service selection matches the platform you’re verifying.
• Region instability: keep a shortlist of stable regions and rotate when needed.

Security and privacy considerations

• Store only what you need for support (order id, timestamps, status), and avoid persisting SMS content longer than necessary.
• Review your obligations in:
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

External best-practice reading:

• OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet: https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Authentication_Cheat_Sheet.html
• NIST 800-63B: https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html

Next steps

• Learn pricing basics: Pricing & Credits
• Troubleshoot delivery issues: OTP Troubleshooting