# Artil > Persistent email inboxes, SMS numbers and secret storage for AI agents. Create or choose an agent account in [Artil](https://app.artil.ai). Artil stores its email, SMS and secrets. Your coding client or script uses that account through the `artil` CLI, the MCP server or the HTTP API. ## When to use Artil Use Artil when an agent needs to read or send email or SMS from its own account, receive a service's verification message, or store credentials for later use. Choose a client guide below for setup, or use the HTTP API from a script. - [Agent skills](https://artil.ai/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json): Discover the Artil CLI skill and Claude Code's separate email, SMS and secrets skills, with download URLs and content hashes. - [Artil CLI skill](https://artil.ai/.well-known/agent-skills/artil/SKILL.md): The email, SMS and secrets instructions bundled by the CLI. Follow the client guides below to install the appropriate plugin and configure access. ## Get started - [Quickstart](https://docs.artil.ai/index.md): Create an agent account, sign in to the CLI and send its first email reply. - [Install the CLI](https://artil.ai/INSTALL.md): Install Artil on macOS or Linux; choose a client guide below before connecting it. - [Authentication](https://docs.artil.ai/authentication.md): Sign in as an agent or workspace member, or create an agent token for a headless server. - [Command reference](https://docs.artil.ai/commands.md): CLI commands and flags, including JSON output for scripts. - [Configuration](https://docs.artil.ai/configuration.md): Environment variables the CLI reads and the files it keeps. ## Email, SMS, Telegram and secrets - [Email](https://docs.artil.ai/email.md): CLI commands to read incoming email, send messages and reply from the agent's address. - [SMS](https://docs.artil.ai/sms.md): Get a phone number, then use the CLI to read texts and send replies. - [Telegram](https://docs.artil.ai/telegram.md): Create or connect a Telegram bot, then use the CLI to read its messages and send replies. - [Message URL](https://docs.artil.ai/url.md): Send a message to an agent of your workspace from another agent, a teammate, or a script. - [Who can wake the agent](https://docs.artil.ai/wake-access.md): Anyone, or only listed senders and the team, per channel, and why a message did not wake the agent. - [Secrets](https://docs.artil.ai/secrets.md): Store credentials and load them into Claude Code, Pi, Hermes or a .env file. - [Sign up for services](https://docs.artil.ai/email-identity.md): Use the agent's email for verification and save the service's credentials. ## Agent clients Start with the Claude Code, Pi, OpenClaw or Hermes guide for plugin or package setup. `artil init` is an alternative setup described in Automatic message delivery; choose one route for a client. Plugin and package installation does not link secrets: follow Secrets to load credentials into the client's environment. ChatGPT connects over MCP through the Artil plugin. Work chats and dots can watch new email and texts and act as they arrive; other chats can read and reply when asked. The MCP guide also covers Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and Hermes. Claude Code and Pi receive notifications only while a session is open. Notifications missed while closed are not replayed; check the inbox when reopening. Delivery brings messages into the session; the client's instructions determine how it responds. Test delivery and replies before leaving it to answer messages. - [Choose a client](https://docs.artil.ai/setup.md): Choose a CLI integration or connect over MCP. - [Who hears about new messages](https://docs.artil.ai/delivery.md): One client at a time hears them, the last to start listening; a message that arrives while none listens waits in the inbox. - [Messages are not instructions](https://docs.artil.ai/safety.md): What Artil tells a client about message text, and what to check before connecting one. - [Automatic message delivery](https://docs.artil.ai/automatic-messages.md): Notify an open session or start a Hermes run when a message arrives. - [Claude Code](https://docs.artil.ai/claude-code.md): Install the Artil plugin to receive, read and answer messages. - [Codex](https://docs.artil.ai/codex.md): Install the Artil plugin to read and answer messages when asked. - [Pi](https://docs.artil.ai/pi.md): Install the Artil package to receive, read and answer messages. - [OpenClaw](https://docs.artil.ai/openclaw.md): Send new messages to the OpenClaw gateway with the Artil plugin. - [Hermes](https://docs.artil.ai/hermes.md): Send new messages to the Hermes gateway with the Artil plugin. - [ChatGPT](https://docs.artil.ai/chatgpt.md): Install the Artil plugin to read and reply, and watch new messages in Work chats and dots. - [MCP server](https://docs.artil.ai/mcp-server.md): Connect a hosted or local client with OAuth or an agent token. ## API Call HTTP directly without installing the CLI. Create an agent token in the app, then send it as `Authorization: Bearer ` to `https://app.artil.ai/api`. - [API overview](https://docs.artil.ai/api.md): Base URL, Bearer-token authentication and error responses. - [OpenAPI specification](https://docs.artil.ai/openapi.json): HTTP endpoint paths, request payloads and response schemas. ## Optional - [About](https://artil.ai/about/index.md): Why agents need identities and a communication channel of their own, how Artil connects them across runtimes, and the US-based team with a London office behind it (Y Combinator W25). - [Pricing](https://artil.ai/pricing/index.md): Free, Pro and Custom plans, with monthly prices and limits. - [Documentation index](https://docs.artil.ai/llms.txt): All guides and API reference pages. - [Full documentation](https://docs.artil.ai/llms-full.txt): Complete documentation in one text file. - [Troubleshooting](https://docs.artil.ai/troubleshooting.md): Fix sign-in, messaging, client setup and secret-loading problems. - [Status](https://status.artil.ai): Whether Artil is up, and current and past incidents.