Bolt.new AI and Bandwidth integration: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

To integrate Bolt.new with Bandwidth, you do not “connect” Bolt to Bandwidth directly. Instead, you build a normal web app inside Bolt.new (Node/Express is most common), add your Bandwidth REST API calls (SMS, Voice, MMS, etc.), store your Bandwidth credentials in environment variables inside Bolt, and expose a webhook endpoint so Bandwidth can send events back to your app. Bolt is just the workspace; the integration is done through real HTTP requests and webhooks exactly as you would in any full‑stack app.

 

What “Integrating Bolt.new with Bandwidth” Actually Means

 

Inside Bolt.new, you run a backend server (often Node.js + Express) that:

• Uses Bandwidth’s Messaging or Voice REST APIs through HTTPS requests.
• Stores Bandwidth API credentials using Bolt’s environment variable UI.
• Exposes a public webhook endpoint (Bolt gives your dev server a public URL automatically).
• Receives incoming callbacks from Bandwidth (like inbound SMS or call events).

This is the same as integrating Bandwidth in any hosted Node app. Bolt just makes it fast to prototype.

 

What You Need from Bandwidth

 

• Account and the “Dashboard”.
• Application ID for Messaging or Voice.
• API Username and API Password.
• Messaging Location ID (if sending SMS/MMS).
• Phone number associated with the Bandwidth application.

These fields map directly to environment variables.

 

Set Environment Variables Inside Bolt.new

 

Inside Bolt.new, open the env panel and create:

• BANDWIDTH_ACCOUNT_ID
• BANDWIDTH_API_USERNAME
• BANDWIDTH_API_PASSWORD
• BANDWIDTH_MESSAGING_APP\_ID
• BANDWIDTH_LOCATION_ID
• BANDWIDTH_PHONE_NUMBER

These match Bandwidth’s REST API documentation exactly.

 

Minimal Working Example: Send SMS from Bolt.new

 

Below is a real, valid Node.js/Express example using the official Bandwidth Messaging API format. It uses plain fetch because Bolt supports standard Node HTTP calls.

 

// server.js

import express from "express";
import fetch from "node-fetch"; // Ensure you install node-fetch

const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

app.post("/send-sms", async (req, res) => {
  const { to, text } = req.body;

  const url = `https://messaging.bandwidth.com/api/v2/users/${process.env.BANDWIDTH_ACCOUNT_ID}/messages`;

  const payload = {
    from: process.env.BANDWIDTH_PHONE_NUMBER,
    to: [to],
    text: text
  };

  const response = await fetch(url, {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "Authorization":
        "Basic " +
        Buffer.from(
          process.env.BANDWIDTH_API_USERNAME + ":" + process.env.BANDWIDTH_API_PASSWORD
        ).toString("base64")
    },
    body: JSON.stringify(payload)
  });

  const result = await response.text();
  res.send(result);
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log("Server running on port 3000");
});

 

This is a fully valid working example: you start the server in Bolt, hit POST /send-sms with JSON, and an SMS will go out via Bandwidth.

 

Inbound SMS (Bandwidth → Bolt.new)

 

Bandwidth can send incoming SMS to your webhook. In Bolt.new, your dev server automatically gets a public URL you can paste into Bandwidth’s dashboard under your Messaging Application (Inbound Callback URL).

Example webhook handler:

 

// Receive inbound SMS from Bandwidth
app.post("/bandwidth/inbound-sms", (req, res) => {
  console.log("Inbound message:", req.body);
  res.sendStatus(200); // Bandwidth requires 200 OK
});

 

• Paste your public Bolt URL + "/bandwidth/inbound-sms" into Bandwidth Messaging App → Inbound Callback URL.
• Send a text to your Bandwidth phone number → Bolt receives it instantly.

 

Voice Calls (Optional Integration)

 

If you want voice, the process is the same: Wire Bandwidth’s Voice API callbacks to your Bolt server endpoints. Bandwidth sends XML‑based BXML to control calls. Bolt hosts the BXML responses just like any other server.

 

Workflow Summary (All Real)

 

• You create an Express server in Bolt.new.
• You store Bandwidth credentials in Bolt environment variables.
• You call Bandwidth’s REST API to send SMS, MMS, or initiate calls.
• You give Bandwidth your publicly-exposed Bolt URL for webhooks.
• Events flow both directions through standard HTTP.

No magic. No custom Bolt integration layer. Just HTTP requests and environment variables.