Help

How it works, for members and for organizers.

Ask a question, or open a guide. Members: everything works by text. Organizers: everything is at bunchtext.com/app.

Answers come from BunchText's own list of what it does, kept current with every change. Not sure? Email support@bunchtext.com.

For membersJoining, texting the group, when a text waits, missions, leaving, and the chat on a smartphone.
Loading…
For organizersSigning in, making a group, the balance, adding people, messages, settings, missions, web chat, money.
Loading…
The app on your phonePutting a group's chat on an iPhone or Android home screen, with notifications.
Loading…

Click a guide to read it. The download button is inside.

Quick answers · for members

How do I join a group?Reply YES to the invitation text from the group's number. If the group allows it, you can also text the number yourself, or fill in its web form at bunchtext.com/join/group; either sends the invite text (plus one reminder three days later if you don't answer), and YES finishes it.
Can I sign in with my email instead of a number?Yes, if the organizer added your email address: on the group's chat link, type your email and a 6-digit code (or a one-tap link) comes by email. No password, no Google needed. Members added by mobile number sign in with the number.
How do I leave, or come back?Reply STOP to leave; you get one confirmation and nothing more. Text YES to the same number to rejoin.
Who sees what I text?In an open-chat group, everyone, with your name in front. In an announcements group, only the organizers, and a reply tells you so.
How do I set my name?Reply NAME and your name, like NAME Miriam. The group then sees it on your texts.
Why did my text wait?Quiet hours, if the group turned them on (usually 10 PM to 7 AM), Shabbos and Yom Tov if the group pauses for them, or the group's daily limit. It goes out afterwards and you get a one-line note.
How long can a text be?One text: 160 characters in English, 70 with Hebrew or emoji. The group name and your name at the front count. If the organizer turned on Long texts, a message may run to 4 texts (about 600 characters, 270 with Hebrew). Longer is not sent: you get a one-line note back saying how many characters over, and nothing goes out cut. In the app, Send offers to split it into two texts.
Can I send a picture?Only if the organizer turned pictures on for the group. Otherwise it is dropped and you're told "only text".
Is there an app?Not in an app store. If the group turned on web chat, open its link, like bunchtext.com/c/yourgroup, and add it to your home screen. bunchtext.com/c lists all your groups.
Does it cost me anything?No. Only your carrier's normal text rate, if you have one. The group's organizer pays for the group.

Quick answers · for organizers

Can I get an icon on my phone?Yes. Open bunchtext.com/app on your phone and My groups shows the steps for your phone. iPhone: tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen", then Add. Android: the three dots, then "Add to Home screen" or Install. The BunchText icon then opens your groups like an app.
How do I sign in?bunchtext.com/app with your mobile number, your email, or Google. A 6-digit code comes by text or by email. No password. Phone, email and Google land in the same account when the email matches.
Can I add someone by email instead of a number?Yes. Members → Add takes an email address (the roster upload reads an Email column too). Up to 3 people per group by email are free without web chat; more than that needs web chat on ($10 a month). They're in at once, get every message in the chat app with notifications, never get a text, and cost the group nothing. Good for members abroad: texts go to US numbers only. Only an organizer can add them; nobody joins by email on their own.
Can I send a longer message?Turn on Long texts in the group's Settings. A message may then run to 4 texts (about 600 characters, 270 with Hebrew), and each text is charged at the group's rate: a 3-text message costs three texts per member. The page counts characters as you type, and past one text Send asks: send as 2 texts, split it in two, or turn on Long texts. Nothing goes out cut.
Did everyone get my text?Under each post the app says "Delivered to 38 of 40" as the carriers confirm it, and ✓ when everyone has it. Tap "⚠ 2 not delivered" to see who did not get it and why: not a working number, a landline, a phone that can't take texts, or a carrier that never confirmed. Nothing is retried on its own; fix the number, or send again.
Is there a guide I can keep?Yes. The moment you name your first group, an email with the organizers guide attached (PDF) and your next steps goes to your sign-in email, or to the receipts address once you set it in Balance. The same guide is on this page.
What does it cost?1.5¢ per text sent, 1¢ after 5,000 in a month. One message to 400 people is 400 texts. Web chat $10 a month, pictures 4¢ each. Members pay nothing. Work it out for your group.
How do I add people?Members → Add people: type numbers, paste a list, or upload a CSV, Excel or text file. Each gets the "Reply YES" invite; unanswered invites go out once more, three days later.
Can people join from a flyer?Yes. Settings → Who can join → anyone who texts the number. The Flyer tab prints the number, the link and your logo on one page. There is also a web form at bunchtext.com/join/yourgroup: name, number, consent box, then the invite text.
Can I text just some of the members?Lists. Put members on a list (drivers, the board, one class) and send to that list from the Messages tab.
How do I delete a group?The group's Settings → Delete, and type the group's name. Its number goes back to the pool, the chat link stops working, members are not texted, and the messages and member list are gone for good. Money left on the balance is not refunded; write to support first.
Can I schedule a message for later?No. A message goes now, or is held by quiet hours, Shabbos or the daily limit and sent after.
Can I pick the number, or bring my own?No. The group gets the next number from our pool (929 area) the moment the balance is loaded. Numbers can't be ported in.
Moving from GroupMe?The step-by-step guide. GroupMe's export gives names only, so you'll collect phone numbers once.
Stuck? Members: ask the person who runs your group; they see everything. Organizers: email support@bunchtext.com and say which group.

If you're a member

TEXT THISWHAT HAPPENS
anythingYour message goes to the group (or to the owners, if the group is announce-only).
YESJoins the group after an invitation, or rejoins after STOP.
STOPLeaves the group. You get one confirmation and no more texts from it.
HELPSends you this address and our email.
NAME MiriamSets the name the group sees on your messages.
Each group has its own number. Save it in your phone under the group's name so you know who's texting.

BunchText is a group text-messaging program run by BunchText LLC. Nobody receives a group's texts without agreeing first. There are three ways in, and each one sends one invitation text (and one reminder three days later if there was no reply):

  1. Text the group's number. The organizer shares it in person, by email or on the group's printed flyer. The flyer says: Recurring texts from this group through BunchText. Msg freq varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Privacy: bunchtext.com/privacy · Terms: bunchtext.com/terms
  2. Fill in the group's web form, with a consent box you tick yourself. The box is optional: send the form without it and nothing is texted. Every group has one; this is a live example: bunchtext.com/join/bunchtext-group.
  3. The organizer enters your number because you asked to be on the list, for example a sign-up sheet or a volunteer roster. Before anything is sent the organizer must tick: Everyone listed asked to get this group's texts at this number and was told: recurring texts through BunchText, msg freq varies, msg & data rates may apply, reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help, privacy policy at bunchtext.com/privacy. BunchText keeps who ticked it and when.

The invitation reads: BunchText: Reply YES to join the group 'Group name'. You'll get texts from other members of this group. Msg freq varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

After you reply YES you get one confirmation: BunchText/Group name: You're in. Text this number to reach the group. Msg freq varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

STOP gets one reply and then nothing more: BunchText: You have left Group name and will receive no further messages from it. Reply YES to rejoin. HELP gets: BunchText: Group texting service. Help: support@bunchtext.com or bunchtext.com/help. Msg freq varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.

Apart from that one reminder, nothing else is sent until you reply YES. Message frequency varies by group. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to leave (one confirmation, then no more texts); reply HELP for help or email support@bunchtext.com. We never share your mobile number or any mobile information with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Privacy Policy · Terms.

Have a smartphone?

If your group turned on web chat, open the group's link (it's on the flyer, like bunchtext.com/c/cohen), sign in with your mobile number and a code, and read the group in an app instead of by text — with names, pictures and a buzz when something comes in. It costs the group nothing per member who uses it. See how the app works, screen by screen.

What it costs, in 90 seconds

Who pays (the group owner; members never pay), what one message costs, invitations, what is always free, pictures, long texts and web chat. Captions are on, so it works with the sound off. Work out your own month on the cost calculator.

If you run a group

Sign in at bunchtext.com/app to see members, messages and usage; add a member (they still have to reply YES); switch between open chat and announce-only; set a daily cap so a busy day can't run up your bill. Coming from GroupMe? The step-by-step guide.

Costs

Members pay nothing to BunchText; standard message and data rates from their carrier may apply. Group owners pay for the texts their group sends. See what it costs for a group your size.

Contact

Email support@bunchtext.com. Reply STOP to any group text to leave that group.