SMS Text Alerts
When you miss a check-in, the app can send a short text message to your emergency contacts — in addition to an email and (if they have the app) a push notification. Texts grab attention faster than email, which matters when something might be wrong.
The short version
- SMS only fires when you miss a check-in. Never on a normal check-in day.
- Available on Family ($29.99/yr or $3.99/mo) and Family Plus ($39.99/yr or $5.99/mo). Free and Lifetime plans send email instead.
- No extra cost to you — SMS is included in the subscription.
- Your contact is asked first. Before their first text, they get a one-time email asking permission — a compliance requirement. Until they agree, they still receive email alerts.
- Your contact can opt out by replying STOP. They'll keep receiving email.
Contact verification: a one-time permission email
Before we ever text one of your emergency contacts, they receive a one-time email asking their permission. This is a compliance requirement — mobile carriers and regulators (the TCPA in the US, and equivalents in the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere) require the person receiving automated safety texts to opt in first. Because your contact is a third party, only they can give that consent — you can't give it on their behalf.
You add an emergency contact (on Family or Family Plus). Before any text is ever sent, we email them a short, friendly note that names who added them and asks: may we text you only if they miss a daily check-in?
They tap the link and choose Yes, I consent or No thanks. (There's a plain-language explainer at imalive.co/sms-consent.)
Only contacts who agree receive SMS. They can still reply STOP at any time to opt back out.
Your contact is never left uncovered. Whether or not they consent to SMS, they still receive every alert by email — the safety net never depends on the text.
When does an SMS go out?
Only when you miss a check-in long enough that the app moves to Stage 3 of its alert flow. The app waits patiently first — you might just be busy or asleep.
Stages 1 & 2 — gentle reminders to you
Only you hear from the app. A push notification on your phone: "Time to check in." No texts to anyone else. (On the Free plan, your contact is alerted by a single email at this stage instead — Free doesn't escalate further.)
Stage 3 (2 hours past your check-in time) — contacts notified
Your emergency contacts receive an email and an SMS if you're on Family or Family Plus. The text says you haven't checked in and includes a link they can tap to acknowledge or escalate.
Stage 4 (6 hours past) — urgent text
A second SMS goes out marked URGENT, in case the Stage 3 message was missed. Family Plus also triggers the AI voice agent to call you directly.
Once you check in, no further alert stages are sent for that day's check-in. Your contacts can confirm you're okay anytime via the status link in their alert — it updates the moment you check in.
Which plans include SMS?
| Plan | What contacts receive at Stage 3+ |
|---|---|
| Free | Email only — sent at Stage 1 (Free doesn't escalate to Stages 3–4) |
| Lifetime ($4.99 one-time) | Push + Email (no SMS) |
| Family ($29.99/yr or $3.99/mo) | Push + Email + SMS |
| Family Plus ($39.99/yr or $5.99/mo) | Push + Email + SMS + AI voice agent + emergency location |
Per-contact: SMS follows the notification setting you chose
You can set each contact's notification preference individually (see Per-Contact Notifications). SMS follows the same rule:
Daily push + email confirmations. SMS only at Stage 3+ if you miss.
No daily messages. SMS only at Stage 3+ if you miss.
No messages of any kind. No SMS, even in an emergency.
In short: SMS never goes out daily — only when you miss. The per-contact setting just controls who is on the "will text me if something is wrong" list.
If a contact doesn't want texts
Two ways to handle this:
- 1.The contact replies STOP to any text from the app. Their phone number stops receiving SMS from this app from then on. They'll still get the email version of the alert. This is the legally required opt-out (US, UK, Canada, India, and most other regions).
- 2.You set them to "Paused" in Contacts. This stops ALL messages to them (email, SMS, push). Use this if they're away or you're sorting things out — but remember a paused contact won't be alerted in a real emergency.
Want them back on SMS later? The contact texts START or UNSTOP to the same number. SMS resumes from the next alert.
What does the text look like?
A short, calm message with a link your contact can tap. Two examples:
Tap to confirm: imalive.co/c/abc123...
You were added as Sachin's safety contact. Reply STOP to opt out.
Tap to confirm: imalive.co/c/abc123...
Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.
Tapping the link opens a secure page where your contact can acknowledge ("I've reached them, all good") or escalate ("Calling 911 / their care team"). No app install needed.
International texts
We send SMS through a service that handles global routing. For most countries your contact receives the text on their normal phone — no setup needed on their side.
Some countries require senders to complete a local registration (for example India's DLT system) before texts can be delivered. We handle those registrations on our side, and while one is still in progress, contacts in that country receive the email version of every alert instead — the safety net never depends on SMS. If a contact reports they aren't receiving texts, let us know via support with their country and the time the alert fired.
Common Questions
Why did my contact get an email asking permission to text them?
That's the one-time consent step required for compliance — carriers and regulators require the person receiving automated safety texts to opt in first. Your contact taps 'Yes, I consent' to enable SMS (or declines). Until they agree, they still receive every alert by email, so they're never left out. See imalive.co/sms-consent for the explainer.
Will my contact get an SMS every day I check in?
No. SMS only fires when you MISS a check-in long enough to reach Stage 3 (2 hours past your scheduled time). On normal days, your contact's phone stays quiet.
Do I pay for the SMS my contact receives?
No. SMS is included in your Family or Family Plus subscription. Your contact pays nothing — receiving SMS is free on every major carrier.
What if my contact's phone doesn't support SMS?
Every cell phone supports SMS, even older flip phones. If your contact's phone is offline or out of service area, the SMS may be delayed but will arrive when the phone reconnects. The email version goes out at the same time as a backup.
Can my Free / Lifetime contacts still receive SMS?
No. SMS is a Family / Family Plus feature. On Free or Lifetime, contacts receive only email alerts at Stage 3+. If SMS matters to you, upgrade to Family.
Why does my contact's text show a US number?
We send from a managed US number. In some countries it may appear as a generic 'Notify' sender or short code — that's normal. The content of the message is the same.
If my contact replied STOP by mistake, how do they undo it?
They text START or UNSTOP to the same number that sent them the original message. SMS resumes from the next alert. (Their reply must come from the same phone number that was originally registered.)