Runtime environment used to execute the MCP server
Programming language used to implement the MCP server
46elks MCP Server
MCP server for 46elks SMS API - Send SMS messages through Swedish telecommunications infrastructure.
Enable Claude Desktop, VS Code Copilot, and other MCP-compatible tools to send SMS messages through Sweden's leading SMS provider with native 46elks integration and built-in anti-spoofing protection.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This is an unofficial community project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by 46elks AB.
Getting Started
Prerequisites: You'll need Node.js 20+ (LTS recommended) and one of these MCP clients: Claude Desktop, VS Code with Copilot, or Cursor.
Step 1: Get 46elks Credentials
Before installing the MCP server, you'll need 46elks credentials:
1.1 Create Account & Add Funds
Sign up at 46elks.com
Complete verification process
Add funds to your account wallet - SMS sending requires account balance
Go to the 46elks dashboard
💰 Important: You need money in your 46elks wallet to send real SMS messages. Each SMS has a cost (typically ~0.50-1.00 SEK per message depending on destination).
1.2 Get API Credentials (NOT your account login)
In your 46elks dashboard, go to the Account tab
Look for the API section
Copy your API username (starts with
u
)Copy your API password (starts with
p
)
⚠️ Important: Use your API credentials (found under Account → API), NOT your 46elks account login credentials. The API credentials are specifically for integrations like this MCP server.
1.3 Get Phone Number
In your dashboard, go to Phone Numbers
Purchase or note your existing phone number
Use the full international format (e.g.,
+46701234567
)
Step 2: Install MCP Server
Step 3: Configure Your MCP Client
Choose your preferred MCP client:
Option A: Claude Desktop
Add this to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Important: Replace /path/to/46elks-mcp-server
with the actual path where you cloned the repository.
Option B: VS Code Copilot
Add this to your VS Code MCP configuration file:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/mcp.json
Windows: %APPDATA%/Code/User/mcp.json
For detailed VS Code setup instructions, see: VS Code MCP Documentation
Available Tools
Note: This MCP server supports sending SMS and checking message history. You can send SMS and check for incoming replies using the
get_sms_messages
tool. Real-time SMS receiving (webhooks) is not implemented - use message history checking instead.
send_sms
Send SMS messages with validation and cost estimation.
Parameters:
to
(required): Recipient phone number in international formatmessage
(required): SMS message textfrom
(optional): Custom sender ID or phone number (see security notes below)flashsms
(optional): Set to "yes" for flash SMS (see Flash SMS limitations below)dryRun
(optional): Override environment DRY_RUN setting
FROM Parameter Security:
Default: Uses your configured
ELKS_PHONE_NUMBER
(recommended for replies)Custom Sender ID: Max 11 alphanumeric characters, must start with letter
Phone Number: Any valid international number (⚠️ ensure you have permission)
Validation: Blocks impersonation attempts (BANK, POLICE, etc.)
Best Practice: Use your own business name or verified phone number
Examples:
⚠️ Flash SMS Note: Flash SMS may not display correctly on iPhone/iPad devices. See Flash SMS section below for device compatibility details.
🔒 Dry Run Safety: By default,
DRY_RUN=true
simulates SMS sending without actual delivery or charges. Set tofalse
only when ready to send real messages.
get_sms_messages
Retrieve SMS message history with filtering options.
Parameters:
direction
(optional): "inbound", "outbound", or "both" (default: "both")limit
(optional): Number of messages to retrieve (1-100, default: 10)
Examples:
💡 Checking Responses: Use this tool to check if someone has replied to your SMS! While not instant like a chat, you can easily see incoming messages to your 46elks phone number. Perfect for checking customer responses or confirmations.
check_sms_status
Check delivery status and details of sent messages.
Parameters:
messageId
(required): The message ID returned from send_sms
Example:
estimate_sms_cost
Get cost estimates without sending SMS.
Parameters:
to
(required): Recipient phone numbermessage
(required): SMS message text
check_account_balance
Verify 46elks account balance and information.
Example:
get_delivery_statistics
Analyze SMS delivery success rates and statistics.
Configuration Options
Environment Variables
Variable | Required | Description | Example |
| Yes | Your 46elks API username |
|
| Yes | Your 46elks API password |
|
| Yes | Your 46elks phone number |
|
| No | Enable dry run mode (default: true) |
or
|
Dry Run Mode (Cost Protection)
Enabled (
DRY_RUN=true
):SMS messages are simulated with realistic cost estimates
No actual messages sent or charges incurred
Perfect for testing and development
Default setting for safety
Disabled (
DRY_RUN=false
):SMS messages are actually sent through 46elks
Real charges apply to your account wallet
Only use when ready for production
⚠️ Cost Protection: We default to DRY_RUN=true
to prevent accidental SMS sending and unexpected charges. This protects you from:
Accidentally sending test messages to real numbers
Incurring costs during development and testing
Sending messages with wrong content or recipients
Recommended: Always test thoroughly with DRY_RUN=true
before switching to false
for production use.
SMS Costs & Limits
Message Costs
Typical Cost: ~0.50-1.00 SEK per SMS (varies by destination)
Multi-part Messages: Charged per SMS part (160 chars = 1 part, 320 chars = 2 parts)
International: Higher rates for non-Swedish numbers
Real-time Estimates: Use
estimate_sms_cost
tool for exact pricing
Message Limits
Character Limits:
160 characters (standard GSM characters)
70 characters (with emojis/special characters)
Rate Limits: 100 SMS per minute per account (enforced by 46elks API)
Multi-part: Long messages automatically split and reassembled
Rate Limiting Behavior
Enforcement: Rate limits are enforced by 46elks at the API level, not by our MCP server
What Happens: If you exceed 100 SMS per minute, 46elks will return rate limit errors
Bulk Operations: For large batches (CSV files, etc.), you'll need to pace your requests
Recommendation: For bulk sending, send SMS in batches of 90-95 per minute with 1-minute pauses
Error Handling: Rate limit errors are returned clearly with instructions to retry after waiting
Flash SMS
Use Case: Urgent notifications that display immediately
Behavior: Shows on screen instantly, not stored in inbox
Cost: Same as regular SMS
Device Compatibility:
✅ Android: Displays as popup overlay (supported)
❌ iPhone/iPad: Shows as regular SMS (not supported by iOS)
✅ Feature Phones: Usually supported
⚠️ Carrier-dependent: Some networks may not support Flash SMS
Important: Flash SMS is not supported by iPhone/iPad devices. iOS ignores the flash flag and displays Flash SMS messages as regular SMS messages in the Messages app.
Learn More:
46elks Flash SMS Tutorial - Complete guide to Flash SMS
46elks SMS API Documentation - Technical implementation details
Usage Examples
Basic SMS Sending
Check Message History
Cost Estimation
Account Management
Bulk SMS Operations
⚠️ Important: For large-scale SMS sending (100+ messages), we strongly recommend using 46elks' dedicated bulk SMS service instead of this MCP server.
Recommended for Bulk SMS:
46elks JustSend: justsend.46elks.com
Features: CSV upload, scheduling, delivery reports, bulk pricing
Benefits: No rate limits, optimized for large volumes, professional bulk tools
If Using This MCP Server for Small Batches (<100 SMS):
Small Batch Strategy (Under 100 SMS):
Batch Size: Maximum 90 SMS per minute to stay under limits
Time Required: ~1 minute per 90 messages + brief pauses
Cost Planning: Use
estimate_sms_cost
for accurate pricingSafety First: Always test with
DRY_RUN=true
before sendingMonitoring: Check account balance before starting
Why Use JustSend for Large Volumes:
No Rate Limits: Send thousands of SMS efficiently
CSV Support: Upload contact lists directly
Professional Tools: Scheduling, templates, delivery tracking
Bulk Pricing: Better rates for high volumes
Reliability: Purpose-built for bulk operations
Testing
✅ Successfully tested with:
Claude Desktop (macOS/Windows)
VS Code Copilot (macOS/Windows)
⏳ Expected to work with:
Cursor (not yet verified)
Other MCP-compatible tools
Development
Local Setup
Project Structure
Security
API & Credential Security
API credentials are passed through MCP client configuration (not stored in code)
Dry run mode prevents accidental SMS sending during development
Input validation prevents malicious phone numbers and messages
No sensitive data is logged or stored
Enhanced Security Features
46elks Flexibility: 46elks provides excellent flexibility in sender ID options, allowing custom sender names and phone numbers for various business needs.
Our Additional Security Layer: To help users follow best practices and avoid common pitfalls, we've added responsible validation features:
✅ Smart Defaults: Uses your verified
ELKS_PHONE_NUMBER
as default sender for reliable delivery✅ Best Practice Guidance: Helps avoid sender IDs that might be filtered (BANK, POLICE, etc.)
✅ Format Validation: Ensures sender IDs meet 46elks requirements (max 11 chars, must start with letter)
✅ Professional Recommendations: Encourages use of legitimate business names or owned numbers
✅ Permission Awareness: Alerts when using phone numbers as sender IDs
Benefits: These features help ensure:
Better SMS delivery rates by following carrier best practices
Professional appearance and brand consistency
Compliance with SMS regulations and carrier guidelines
Reduced risk of messages being filtered or blocked
This approach enhances 46elks' powerful API with additional guidance for optimal results.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Error: "Missing required environment variables"
Check your MCP client configuration file
Ensure all required environment variables are set
Verify file paths are absolute paths
Error: "Invalid phone number format"
Use international format:
+46701234567
Don't use spaces or dashes in phone numbers
Messages not sending (DRY_RUN=false)
Verify 46elks account has sufficient balance
Check phone number is valid and not blocked
Ensure 46elks account is in good standing
Rate Limit Errors (429 responses)
You've exceeded 100 SMS per minute - wait 1 minute before retry
For bulk operations: pace requests to 90-95 SMS per minute
Use cost estimation tools to plan large batches before sending
Consider implementing delays between messages for CSV bulk operations
MCP Server Best Practices (Small Batches Only)
Recommended Limit: Use this MCP server for <100 SMS at a time
Large Operations: Use justsend.46elks.com for bulk SMS instead
Rate Limits: Stay under 90 SMS per minute if using MCP server
Testing: Always test with
DRY_RUN=true
before any batch sending
Build errors
Ensure Node.js 20+ LTS is installed (Node.js 18 is End of Life)
Run
npm install
to install dependenciesDelete
node_modules
andpackage-lock.json
, thennpm install
Getting Help
For 46elks API, account, pricing, and service questions:
Visit: 46elks.com/support
Official 46elks documentation: 46elks.com/docs
For bulk SMS sending or CSV upload:
Use 46elks' dedicated service: justsend.46elks.com
For MCP server issues:
Check the Issues page for this project
Check MCP documentation for your client (Claude Desktop, VS Code, etc.)
Contributing
Bug reports and pull requests are welcome on GitHub. This project is intended to be a safe, welcoming space for collaboration, and contributors are expected to adhere to the code of conduct.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This is an unofficial community project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by 46elks AB. 46elks is a registered trademark of 46elks AB.
🇸🇪 Made for the Swedish developer community with ❤️ for AI-powered SMS automation.
This server cannot be installed
remote-capable server
The server can be hosted and run remotely because it primarily relies on remote services or has no dependency on the local environment.
Enables AI assistants and MCP-compatible clients to send and manage SMS messages through the 46elks API, leveraging Swedish telecommunications infrastructure.
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