Have Astra text callers during a call
AI actions let Astra do things during a phone call. The first action is texting the caller a message you wrote — "Would you like me to text you our booking link?" — and once the caller says yes, the text leaves from your business number and shows up in your Inbox marked ✦ Astra.
Before you start
- You need the web app (actions aren't editable on mobile yet — the texts Astra sends still appear in the mobile inbox).
- Only owners and admins can add or change actions.
- Texting must be live on your workspace: your business text registration is approved, or you use a toll-free number. See Texting during the free trial and Messaging limits and compliance. You can set actions up before that — Astra just won't offer texts until texting is live.
- Each text Astra sends uses AI credits (see What it costs below).
Step-by-step
- Click the AI agent icon in the left sidebar and open the agent you want (if you have several).
- Scroll to What Astra can do, under Jobs.
- Pick a starting point — Send booking link, Send website, Send our address or Send payment link — or click Add a custom action.
- Fill in the three fields:
- Name — a short label you'll recognise in the activity list, like Send booking link.
- When should Astra do this? — plain English. Astra reads this to decide when the action fits: "the caller wants to book an appointment" or "the caller asks for directions or where we are". Be specific.
- Text message — the exact text the caller receives. Put links and details precisely as you want them; Astra never rewrites it. The line under the box shows how many segments it is and what it will cost.
- Leave Ask the caller first on (recommended). Astra offers the text and sends only after a clear yes. Turn it off only for messages every caller should get, like a confirmation.
- Click Add action. Add more if you like — up to 10 per agent, each with its own trigger and message.
- Click Save draft, then Publish in the header. Actions go live on the next call.
What a call sounds like
Caller: Can I book something for next week? Astra: Of course — would you like me to text you our booking link so you can pick a time? Caller: Yes please. Astra: Done — you'll have it in a moment at the number you're calling from.
The text arrives from your business line. In your Inbox, the conversation shows the message with ✦ Astra as the sender, and the call card lists the action that ran.
What it costs
Each text Astra sends uses 30 AI credits per segment, from the same credits as Astra's calls (see Astra credits and usage billing).
| Message | Segments | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A sentence with a link (up to 160 characters, no emoji) | 1 | 30 |
| Two or three sentences (161–306 characters) | 2 | 60 |
| The maximum the editor allows (480 characters) | 4 | 120 |
| Any message containing emoji or curly quotes: 70 characters per segment instead of 160 | 1 per 70 | 30 each |
The editor shows the live count as you type ("2 segments · 60 credits per text"). Astra sends a given text at most once per call, and never more than five texts to the same caller in an hour, so a chatty caller can't run up credits. Each sent text appears in Settings → Usage billing → Activity as Astra texted +1 ••• 1234.
Turning actions on and off
- Each action has its own switch on its card — turn one off to keep it for later without deleting it.
- Astra only takes actions while the agent is Live. If the agent is off, nothing is sent.
- Under Recent activity at the bottom of the section you can see every time Astra used (or skipped) an action, with the reason and the credits used.
Troubleshooting
- "Texting isn't live yet" banner in the section. Your text registration is still pending or none of your numbers can text. Astra tells callers she can't text for now and takes a message instead. Finish setup under Settings → Numbers; as soon as texting goes live your published agents pick the actions up automatically — no republish needed.
- Astra offered the text but it didn't arrive. Check Recent activity for the reason. Common ones: the caller's number was hidden or private (Astra can't text an anonymous caller), the same text had already been sent on that call, or the caller had received several texts in the last hour.
- The text came from a different number than the one the caller dialed. The line they called can't text yet, so Ody used another of your numbers that can. Astra tells callers to expect it from a different number. Enable texting on the main line to avoid this.
- Astra never offers the text. Make the trigger more specific and make sure the agent was published after you added the action. Making the action's name match what callers ask for ("Send directions") helps too.
- Astra said she couldn't send it right now. Your AI credits may be paused — check Settings → Usage billing for a declined recharge or an exhausted balance.
Related articles
Frequently asked questions
Does Astra write the text message itself?
No. Astra sends exactly the message you typed, word for word, including any links. It only decides when the action fits the conversation and asks the caller first.
Which number does the text come from?
From the business number the caller dialed, as long as that line can send texts. If it can't, Ody uses another of your numbers that can, and Astra tells the caller to expect a text from a different number.
What does an AI-sent text cost?
30 AI credits per text segment, taken from the same credits as Astra's calls. A short message with a link is one segment (30 credits); a long one can be two or three. The editor shows the count as you type.
Why does Astra say she can't send texts?
Texting isn't live on your workspace yet — your business text registration is still pending, or none of your numbers can text. Finish texting setup in Settings → Numbers; Astra starts offering texts automatically once it's live.