REST API
A REST API sends a message with a standard HTTPS request and gets a response back — the same pattern used by most modern web APIs. It requires no persistent connection, integrates easily from almost any language or platform, and is the fastest path for most applications to get started.
SMPP
SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) is a binary protocol that keeps a long-running session open between your system and the messaging platform, designed for continuous high-throughput sending. It is more common in telecom-adjacent systems and among senders with very high message volume, where the overhead of individual HTTP requests becomes a bottleneck.
Choosing between them
- Moderate volume, want the simplest integration → REST
- Very high, continuous volume, or an existing telecom stack → SMPP
- Team more comfortable with standard web APIs → REST
- Need for a persistent session with fine-grained throughput control → SMPP
Both approaches support delivery reports, sender IDs, and Unicode messaging — the choice is about integration shape and scale, not features. See our developer and integration hub for the broader integration picture, and the live API documentation for real endpoints and code samples.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMPP faster than REST?
For very high, sustained volume, SMPP's persistent session generally has lower per-message overhead than repeated individual HTTP calls. For moderate volume, the practical difference is usually negligible.
Can I switch from REST to SMPP later if my volume grows?
Most providers, including Digital Connect, support both — so starting with REST for simplicity and moving to SMPP later as volume grows is a common, workable path.
Which one should a typical e-commerce or SaaS app use?
REST, in almost all cases — it is simpler to integrate and sufficient for typical transactional and campaign volumes. SMPP is worth considering only once volume or infrastructure requirements clearly call for it.