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BulkGate Zapier integrationAutomate BulkGate with Zapier.

The BulkGate Zapier integration gives you 19 actions, and no trigger or search of its own. BulkGate never starts a Zap: another app does, and BulkGate sends the SMS, the Viber message or the one-time code. It works on the free plan.

See the 19 operations

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Overview

What the BulkGate Zapier integration is for

It turns events in your other tools into text messages. Your store, booking tool or form app starts the Zap, and BulkGate handles the messaging part: notification or marketing SMS, Viber messages, one-time passwords, plus the address book, blacklist and short links that go with them.

Three results people set up first. Order texts that go out on their own: a new order in your store feeds SMS - Send a Notification SMS Message, and the buyer gets a confirmation without anyone typing it. A login code by text: OTP - Send an OTP and OTP - Verify an OTP handle the one-time password for a sign-up flow built elsewhere. A clean contact list: Address Book - Add a Contact files each new lead, and Black List - Is Number Blacklisted checks a number before a campaign.

What it does not do matters just as much. BulkGate has no trigger on Zapier, so an incoming SMS, a delivery confirmation or a reply cannot start a Zap. To know whether a message arrived, you call Get Delivery Report yourself, in a later step. There is no search step either: Address Book - Get a Contact and the blacklist check are plain actions, and each successful run counts as a task like any other.

If you are still choosing a platform, the same app has its own BulkGate Make integration page, and Make vs Zapier sets both side by side.

Vocabulary

Zapier words you will meet here

Seven terms, one line each. They come back all along the page.

Zap
The automation you build on Zapier: one trigger, then one or more actions that run every time the trigger event happens.
Trigger
The event that starts a Zap, like a new order in your store. BulkGate has none, so the trigger always comes from another app.
Action
What the Zap does once started: the step that sends, adds or checks something for you. All 19 BulkGate operations are actions.
Task
The unit Zapier bills: one action your Zap finished successfully. Your plan allowance is counted in tasks.
Polling vs instant
Polling: Zapier checks the trigger app on a timer. Instant: the app reports the event the moment it happens. It depends on your trigger app.
Filter
A step that lets the Zap go on only if what arrived meets your condition, for example only orders with a phone number.
Multi-step Zap
Any Zap beyond one trigger and one action. A second action or a filter makes one, and it then needs a paid plan.
Cost

What a BulkGate Zap costs on Zapier

BulkGate is not a premium app, so the free plan can use it. The limits come from the plan itself.

  • Premium appNo, available on the free plan
  • Each successful action1 task
  • Failed actionNot counted
  • Trigger (from another app)Never costs a task
  • Free plan100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps

The free plan gives you 100 tasks a month and Zaps of two steps: one trigger, one BulkGate action. Each action that succeeds counts as one task, so 100 confirmation texts use the whole month. A failed action is not counted, and the trigger is never billed. Add a filter, a second action such as a short link before the SMS, or a delivery check after it, and the Zap becomes multi-step, which needs a paid plan. On a paid plan, each extra action is one more task per run.

Connect

Connect BulkGate to Zapier

  1. 01

    Start from Apps

    Open the Apps page of your Zapier account and click + Add connection. You need a BulkGate account you can sign in to, with access to the address book and lists the Zap will touch.

  2. 02

    Find BulkGate

    Type BulkGate in the dialog, select it, then click Add connection. A new browser tab then opens on the BulkGate side, and that is where you identify yourself with your usual login.

  3. 03

    Sign in and allow access

    Log in to BulkGate in that tab and grant Zapier access to the account. The connection is then saved and offered to every Zap and every step that sends through BulkGate.

First Zap

Your first Zap: an order confirmation by SMS

GoalEach new order with a phone number sends the buyer a short confirmation text.

  1. 01

    Build: choose the trigger

    Create a Zap and pick your store app with its new order event. BulkGate cannot start a Zap, so this first step always belongs to another tool.

  2. 02

    Test the trigger

    Run the test. Zapier brings back the three most recent orders of the connected account, so you map the next steps on a real order rather than a guess.

  3. 03

    Add a filter

    From the plus icon, choose Filter, then in Configure & test pick the field that carries the buyer's phone, if your store app sends one, then the rule and the value. On the free plan, skip this step to stay at two steps.

  4. 04

    Add the BulkGate action

    Pick BulkGate and SMS - Send a Notification SMS Message. Map the buyer's phone to the recipient, write the text, and keep it under 612 characters, or 268 with accents.

  5. 05

    Test and publish

    Test the step on your own phone number first, read what came back, then click Publish. Orders placed before that moment get no text.

Actions

The 19 BulkGate actions, grouped by job

BulkGate gives you 19 actions. For each one: what it does for you, when to reach for it, and what to watch out for.

1

Address Book - Add a Contact

Action

In Zapier“Adds contact to BulkGate address book”

Adds a contact to your BulkGate address book, ready for later campaigns.

When to use it
filing every new newsletter subscriber who left a phone number.
Watch out
the phone number is what the edit, get and remove actions use to find the contact later, so map it carefully.
2

Address Book - Edit a Contact

Action

In Zapier“Modifies contact by phone number”

Updates a contact already in your address book. The contact is found by its phone number, which is the only required field.

When to use it
keeping a contact current after its details change in your CRM.
Watch out
the contact is found by the number stored in BulkGate, so map that one, not a new number.
3

Address Book - Get a Contact

Action

In Zapier“Returns contact for provided phone number from BulkGate address book.”

Reads the contact stored under a phone number and hands it to the next steps. It behaves like a lookup but runs as an action.

When to use it
checking who a number belongs to before sending a personal message.
Watch out
a successful read counts as a task, like any action.
4

Address Book - Remove a Contact

Action

In Zapier“Removes contact from address book.”

Takes a contact out of your address book, identified by phone number.

When to use it
removing customers who closed their account in another tool.
Watch out
blocking future messages is a different job, done with Black List - Blacklist a Number.
5

Black List - Blacklist a Number

Action

In Zapier“Adds number to black list.”

Adds one or more numbers to your blacklist so they are kept out of your sends.

When to use it
honoring an opt-out request that came in through a form or support ticket.
Watch out
the Numbers field takes a list, so map several numbers at once if your source provides them.
6

Black List - Is Number Blacklisted

Action

In Zapier“Checks numbers inclusion in blacklist.”

Checks whether numbers are on your blacklist. They must be in international format with the country prefix.

When to use it
a final check before a promotional send that pulls numbers from another app.
Watch out
a number missing its prefix will not be checked as you expect.
7

Black List - Remove a Blacklisted Number

Action

In Zapier“Removes number from black list.”

Takes a single number off your blacklist so it can receive messages again.

When to use it
a customer who opts back in after unsubscribing.
Watch out
it removes one number per run, unlike the add action which accepts several.
8

Check Credit Balance

Action

In Zapier“Checks credit balance of your BulkGate account.”

Reads the credit balance of your BulkGate account and hands it to the next steps.

When to use it
adding a balance check to a Zap your team runs, so nobody is surprised mid-campaign.
Watch out
each successful check costs a task, so do not add it to every send.
9

Get Delivery Report

Action

In Zapier“Checks whether particular SMS has been delivered.”

Tells you whether a specific SMS was delivered, using the Message ID created when the message went out.

When to use it
logging the delivery status of appointment reminders.
Watch out
BulkGate has no trigger, so this report never arrives on its own; you must call it in a step.
10

OTP - Resend an OTP

Action

In Zapier“Allows you to resend One Time Password (OTP)”

Sends the same one-time password request again, identified by its Id. It saves you from starting a new code from scratch.

When to use it
a user who says the first code never arrived.
Watch out
it only works with the Id of a code already sent through OTP - Send an OTP.
11

OTP - Send an OTP

Action

In Zapier“Allows you to send out One Time Passwords (OTP)”

Sends a one-time password to a phone number. Besides the recipient, it asks for a request quota identification, and BulkGate advises an IP address for it.

When to use it
confirming a phone number when someone signs up through a form.
Watch out
Resend and Verify both ask for the Id of this request, so plan where it comes from.
12

OTP - Verify an OTP

Action

In Zapier“Verifies received One Time Password (OTP)”

Checks whether the code a person typed matches the one-time password that was sent. Both the Id and the Code are required.

When to use it
unlocking an account step once the visitor enters the code from the text.
Watch out
this is an action, so each check counts as a task when it succeeds.
13

SMS - Send a Marketing (Bulk) SMS Message

Action

In Zapier“Sends a short text messages to one or more recipients.”

Sends a promotional text to one or more recipients in a single step. Options cover Unicode for diacritics and a duplicates check.

When to use it
a gym announcing a new class schedule to the members a previous step collected.
Watch out
turning on Unicode lowers the length limit to 268 characters, so test the final wording.
14

SMS - Send a Notification SMS Message

Action

In Zapier“Sends Notification (Transactional) SMS to specified phone number.”

Sends one transactional text to one phone number: an order confirmation, a reminder, a pickup notice. You give the recipient and the message, and can turn on a duplicates check.

When to use it
a garage texting customers that their car is ready.
Watch out
the text is capped at 612 characters, or 268 if it uses Unicode characters such as accents.
15

Url Shortener - Edit Shortened Url

Action

In Zapier“Modifies shortened url.”

Points an existing short link to a new target. You provide the short URL and the new destination.

When to use it
redirecting a link already sent when the landing page moves.
Watch out
people who already clicked saw the old page; only future clicks change.
16

Url Shortener - Remove a Shortened Url

Action

In Zapier“Removes shortened url.”

Deletes a short link you created through BulkGate. The only thing it asks for is the short URL itself, so map it from wherever you stored it.

When to use it
closing a promo link once the offer ends.
Watch out
remove it only once no message still in circulation needs it.
17

Url Shortener - Shorten an Url

Action

In Zapier“Shortens target url”

Turns a long link into a short one you can drop into a text, which saves precious characters.

When to use it
shortening a tracking or booking link before the SMS step.
Watch out
it adds a step, which makes the Zap multi-step and needs a paid plan.
18

Viber - Send a Viber Marketing (Bulk) Message

Action

In Zapier“Sends a Viber message to one, or more recipients.”

The bulk version for Viber: one promotional message to one or several recipients, with an optional duplicates check.

When to use it
a restaurant chain pushing a seasonal menu to its Viber audience.
Watch out
numbers still need their international format, exactly as for SMS.
19

Viber - Send a Notification Viber Message

Action

In Zapier“Sends Notification (Transactional) message to specified phone number.”

Delivers a transactional message through Viber instead of SMS, to the numbers you set. A Viber sender is required on top of the recipients.

When to use it
a travel agency sending booking confirmations to clients who use Viber.
Watch out
without a Sender (Viber) value, the step cannot run.
When it breaks

When a BulkGate Zap goes wrong

Zapier links no help article to BulkGate, so the cases below are the ones every Zap shares, read through an SMS lens.

Since BulkGate only acts, most surprises come from the trigger app upstream. For a Zap already misbehaving, the Zapier troubleshooting page covers the method step by step.

  • No texts for past events

    A Zap only reacts to what happens after you publish it. Orders or sign-ups from before get no SMS, and catching up on them is a separate job.

  • Bulk imports and flood protection

    If the trigger app suddenly returns a huge batch, after an import or a migration, Zapier's flood protection can hold it back instead of texting everyone.

  • The same item will not fire twice

    On a polling trigger, Zapier remembers what it has seen. The same order does not start the Zap twice, so its SMS goes out once.

  • Two steps only on the free plan

    A filter, a short link before the SMS or a delivery report after it turns the Zap multi-step. That needs a paid plan.
Need help

Need help automating BulkGate with Zapier?

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FAQ

BulkGate Zapier integration: common questions

01Is the BulkGate Zapier integration free?
On the Zapier side, yes, within the free plan limits. BulkGate is not a premium app, so it works without a paid plan. The free plan gives you 100 tasks a month and Zaps of two steps, meaning one trigger from another app and one BulkGate action. As soon as you add a filter, a second action or a delivery check, the Zap becomes multi-step and needs a paid Zapier plan. Within those limits, the cost is counted the same way for every BulkGate action.
02How many tasks does a BulkGate Zap use?
One task per BulkGate action that succeeds. A Zap that sends one confirmation SMS per order uses one task per order, so 100 orders use the full free plan for the month. Add Url Shortener - Shorten an Url before the SMS and each order now costs two tasks. Actions that only read, like Address Book - Get a Contact or Get Delivery Report, count too. The trigger from your other app costs nothing, and an action that fails is not counted.
03Does BulkGate send texts in real time?
It sends when the Zap reaches its step, and the timing depends on the trigger app, since BulkGate has no trigger of its own. If that app has an instant trigger, the text goes out right after the event. If it uses a polling trigger, Zapier checks it at your plan interval: 15 minutes on Free, 2 on Professional, 1 on Team and Enterprise. Check the trigger in the editor: an instant one shows a lightning bolt.
04What does it take to connect BulkGate to Zapier?
A BulkGate account you can sign in to, with access to the address book and lists you plan to use. Then go to the Apps page, click + Add connection, select BulkGate, click Add connection, sign in on the tab that opens and grant access. The connection is saved once and reused by every BulkGate step. No paid plan is required for this part, since BulkGate is not a premium app.
05Why did a BulkGate SMS go to the wrong country or run too long?
Usually the number format or the length. Recipient numbers are expected in international format; when the country prefix is missing, BulkGate adds the prefix of the country set in the step, which may not be the right one. On length, the message text is capped at 612 characters, or 268 if Unicode characters such as accents are used. Test with your own number, read what came back, and fix the mapping before publishing.
06What if the BulkGate operation you need is not there?
Start by combining what exists. Many needs are covered by chaining actions, for example Address Book - Get a Contact followed by Address Book - Edit a Contact, or an SMS followed by Get Delivery Report. What the 19 actions cannot do is start a Zap: there is no trigger for incoming messages or delivery events. If your workflow depends on that, Zapier alone will not cover it with this app, and it is worth checking how other platforms handle BulkGate.
07Zapier, Make or n8n for BulkGate?
Decide on criteria, not on reputation. On Zapier, BulkGate means 19 actions, no trigger, no premium restriction, and one task per successful action. So ask each platform the same things: can it start from the tool that holds your orders or bookings, does it cover the BulkGate actions you need, how does it count a run that sends hundreds of texts, and who on your team will maintain it. Compare the answers against your real sending volume.
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