What is Twilio — and Why Do I Need It?
Blueprint Softphone is the front-end. Twilio is the phone network behind it. This page explains exactly what Twilio is, what it costs, and how the two work together.
Twilio is a Cloud Phone Carrier — Completely Separate from Us
Twilio (twilio.com) is an independent, publicly traded communications company — not affiliated with Blueprint Softphone. Think of them as a cloud-based phone carrier: they provide phone numbers and handle the actual call routing, just like AT&T or Verizon do for cell phones.
What makes Twilio different from traditional carriers is that you buy their services directly through their API — no contracts, no salespeople, no bundles you didn't ask for. You pay only for what you use, at published rates with no markup.
Blueprint Softphone is the app that sits on top of your Twilio account. We provide the interface — the dialpad, contacts, voicemail, call history, SMS. Twilio provides the phone numbers and the network.
Blueprint Softphone
The app you use. Dialpad, contacts, voicemail, call history, SMS, click-to-dial. Available on Chrome, Web, and Mobile.
Free · $4.99/mo Pro
Your Twilio Account
The phone network. Your numbers live here. Calls route through here. You pay Twilio directly — we never touch your call costs.
$1.15/number/mo · Pay per minute
What You'll Need to Get Started
Setting up Twilio takes about 10 minutes. Here's exactly what to do.
Create a free Twilio account
Go to twilio.com and sign up. The account itself is free. Twilio gives you a small trial credit to test with, so you can explore before adding a payment method.
twilio.com — free to sign up
Add a credit card to activate
Trial accounts have restrictions (limited countries, required disclaimers on calls). Add a payment method to unlock a full account. The Twilio account itself has no monthly base fee — your only recurring cost is $1.15/month per phone number you hold, plus per-minute usage for calls and texts.
No account fee. $1.15/number/mo + usage.
Buy at least one phone number
Purchase a US local number from Twilio's number marketplace. A standard US local number costs $1.15/month. This is the number your contacts will call and text. You can buy multiple numbers for different purposes — business line, marketing tracking, real estate deals, etc.
$1.15/month per US local number
Install Blueprint Softphone and connect
Install the Chrome extension (or open the web app). Our 60-second setup wizard will ask for your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token — it automatically creates scoped API keys, deploys your backend, and configures your phone numbers. You'll be making calls in under a minute.
~60 seconds to connect
Can I Keep My Existing Business Number?
Yes — you can port an existing phone number to Twilio. This means transferring your current number away from its existing carrier (a landline provider, VoIP service, or sometimes a cell carrier) and bringing it into Twilio. Once ported, that number lives in your Twilio account and works with Blueprint Softphone.
Porting typically takes 5–15 business days. During that time, your number continues to work on your current carrier. Once the port completes, the number moves to Twilio and your old service for that number ends.
Porting is best for dedicated business lines, marketing tracking numbers, or VoIP numbers you've published widely. It's not typically used for personal cell numbers — see the section below for why.
Important: Twilio Is NOT a Replacement for Your Cell Carrier
This is the most common misconception, so we want to be completely clear: Twilio provides VoIP (internet-based) phone numbers. These numbers work great for business calling and texting over the internet — but they are not a substitute for your cell carrier.
Here is the key point: you only need ONE cell phone number from your carrier — the one in your pocket right now. That relationship stays exactly as it is. You still need that carrier plan for:
- Cell service and mobile data when you're away from Wi-Fi
- Your personal mobile number (the one friends and family call)
- Emergency 911 calling from your mobile device
- Text messages tied to your carrier number (2FA codes, etc.)
Beyond that one carrier number, Blueprint Softphone + Twilio lets you add as many additional business phone numbers as you want — at $1.15/month each — without touching your carrier plan at all.
The Right Mental Model
Keep your ONE carrier number for cell service. Then add as many affordable Twilio numbers as you need on top — for business lines, marketing numbers, real estate deals, or anything else.
Those Twilio numbers work on any device with an internet connection: your PC or laptop (Chrome or our Web App today), and your cell phone (iOS and Android mobile app coming soon — join the waitlist below).
Your Cell Carrier — Keep As-Is
- ONE personal mobile number
- Cell service & mobile data
- Emergency 911
- ~$30–$80/month
Blueprint Softphone + Twilio — Add on Top
- Unlimited additional numbers
- Business, marketing, or deal lines
- Works on PC, laptop, or cell phone
- $1.15/number/mo + usage
Works on any device with an internet connection
Chrome extension · Web app (any browser) · iOS & Android mobile app (coming soon — uses your cell data plan or Wi-Fi)
What Will It Cost, Total?
Here's a full breakdown so there are no surprises.
| Item | Who charges it | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Twilio account | Twilio | Free to create |
| US local phone number | Twilio | $1.15 / number / month |
| Outbound calls (US) | Twilio | $0.014 / minute |
| Inbound calls (US) | Twilio | $0.0085 / minute |
| SMS (outbound) | Twilio | $0.0079 / message |
| Blueprint Softphone (Free) | Blueprint Softphone | Free — up to 2 numbers |
| Blueprint Softphone (Pro) | Blueprint Softphone | $4.99 / month — unlimited numbers |
Twilio rates shown are standard US rates as of 2026. Blueprint Softphone never adds markup to your Twilio usage costs.
Ready to Connect Your Twilio Account?
Once your Twilio account is set up and you have at least one number, Blueprint Softphone takes 60 seconds to connect. Free tier supports 2 numbers — no credit card needed from us.