Outside Agent

Overview

Outside Agent is a runtime platform for building AI agents that talk to real customers over SMS. It provides the phone number, conversation memory, database state, action layer, and human handoff system so you can focus on business logic instead of messaging backend. Connect any coding tool you already use, like Claude Code, Cursor, or VS Code, through a single URL and start building. It's aimed at developers and small businesses who want text-based agents for lead follow-up, quoting, RSVPs, and customer concierge tasks.

Key Features

SMS Infrastructure Included: Phone numbers, message delivery, and conversation state are handled for you, so you skip Twilio setup and backend plumbing.
Persistent Conversation Memory: Agents remember prior messages and context across sessions, giving customers continuity in long-running conversations.
Database State Layer: Built-in state management stores customer details, orders, and workflow progress without extra setup.
Human Handoff System: Escalate edge cases or sensitive requests to a real person with clean context summaries for staff.
Editor-Agnostic Connection: One URL from your console connects Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, or any other coding agent you prefer.
Action Layer for Real Tasks: Agents can perform actions like collecting RSVPs, drafting quotes, following up on leads, and preparing review packets.
Live Demo Runtime: Try Maya, a working lead follow-up agent for a gymnastics gym, to see how agents behave in production.
Accessibility Focus: Reach customers who don't use smartphones, apps, or web chat by meeting them on standard SMS.

Pros

No SDK Wrangling: Skip keys, dashboards, and vendor SDKs by connecting your existing coding agent through one URL.
SMS-First Design: Purpose-built for text messaging rather than treating SMS as an afterthought to voice or chat.
Fast Setup: Infrastructure like phone numbers, memory, and state is ready out of the box, so you start on business logic right away.
Editor Flexibility: Works with Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and other tools instead of locking you into a proprietary IDE.
Practical Use Cases: Templates and examples cover real small-business needs like florist proposals, bakery orders, and enrollment follow-ups.

Cons

SMS-Only Channel: If you need voice, web chat, or multi-channel support, this isn't the right fit on its own.
Developer-Oriented: You still need coding skills or a coding agent to build the agent logic, so it's not a no-code tool.

Use Cases

Event RSVP Management: An agent texts non-responding guests, collects RSVP details, enforces invitation rules, and escalates edge cases to the event planner for a final decision.
Florist and Bakery Quoting: An agent gathers event details, budget, and visual inspiration from a customer, then prepares a proposal-ready packet or estimate range for the shop owner to review and approve.
Education Lead Follow-up: An agent follows up with parent leads over SMS, routes them by marketing campaign, handles common objections, and hands staff a clean enrollment summary.
Event Concierge: An agent answers pre-approved logistics questions for guests and packages special requests so event planners only step in when needed.
SMS Coaching Programs: Turn content like public-domain Stoic texts into a short daily coaching experience with memory, accountability check-ins, and safety boundaries.
Accessibility Assistant: Offer everyday help through plain SMS for customers who don't use smartphones, apps, or web chat interfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Outside Agent?

Outside Agent is a runtime platform for building AI agents that communicate with customers over SMS. It provides the phone number, memory, state, actions, and human handoff layer so you can focus on your agent's business logic.

Who is Outside Agent for?

It's built for developers and small businesses that want to deploy text-based AI agents for tasks like lead follow-up, quoting, RSVPs, and customer concierge work without building the SMS backend from scratch.

Which coding tools does it work with?

You can connect Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, and other coding agents using a single URL from your console. There are no SDKs or API keys to manage.

Does it support channels other than SMS?

Outside Agent is focused on SMS as the primary interaction channel. If you need voice or web chat as core channels, you'd need to pair it with another tool or platform.

How much does Outside Agent cost?

Outside Agent offers a Free plan, Starter plan at $15/month, Pro plan at $50/month, and custom Enterprise pricing. Paid plans include monthly credits, with additional usage costs based on messages, calls, and workflows.

Do I need to know how to code?

You'll need coding skills or a coding agent to build agent logic. Outside Agent handles the infrastructure, but you define what your agent does and how it responds.