Several factors influence SMS costs, including the per-segment SMS cost, whether the message is inbound or outbound, the inclusion of images (MMS), the use of emojis, carrier fees, and more. We recommend reviewing the SMS pricing details and exploring the full breakdown of factors impacting SMS costs in the "Understanding the Factors Impacting SMS Costs" section below.
Steps to Estimate Outbound SMS Costs
An SMS consists of segments, each containing 160 characters. If your message exceeds this limit, it will be split into multiple segments, increasing the overall cost.
If an internal error occurs within the CRM Phone system before the message is passed to the phone provider, you will not be charged. However, once a delivery attempt is made, charges apply, even if the message is not successfully delivered. This applies to messages sent from toll-free numbers, A2P numbers, or those that can't be delivered due to country restrictions or other limitations. We encourage users to review their messages carefully before sending, as refunds will not be provided for undelivered SMS.
What is an SMS Segment?
An SMS segment is a unit used to calculate SMS charges. Each segment consists of 160 characters when using GSM-7 encoding. If the message exceeds this limit, it will be divided into multiple segments, increasing the cost.
Example:
A message with 160 characters = 1 segment.
A message with 161 characters = 2 segments.
The more segments your message contains, the higher the cost.
Four Steps to Estimate the Cost of an Outbound SMS
Find the number of segments in your message.
Look up the per-segment cost.
Look up carrier fees (≈$0.005).
Calculate the total cost.
Here’s the equation for estimating the cost of an outbound SMS:
Outbound SMS Cost Equation:
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [(Number of Segments)(Per-Segment Cost)] + [(Number of Segments)(Carrier Fees)]
Please note: This estimation is for a single outbound SMS sent from a local number to another local number. Many factors can affect the final cost of an SMS. For more details, see the section "Understanding the Factors Impacting SMS Costs."
Step 1: Find the Number of Segments in Your Message
After composing the message, copy the text and paste it into a messaging segment calculator. This will show you the number of segments used by your message. Keep this information handy as we proceed.
Step 2: Lookup Per-Segment Cost
Open the SMS Pricing page and select the country in which you’re sending outbound messages.
Scroll down to the "SMS/MMS Pricing" section and find the per-segment cost. For this example, we are sending an outbound SMS from a standard number, so we will use a per-segment cost of $0.0079.
Outbound SMS Cost Equation:
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [(Number of Segments)(Per-Segment Cost)] + [(Number of Segments)(Carrier Fees)]
Step 3: Lookup Carrier Fees (≈$0.005)
Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon in the US charge for inbound messages. These fees vary by carrier and may change over time. To check the carrier fees, visit the SMS Pricing page and scroll to the "Carrier Fees" section.
Carrier fees can differ depending on the type of number (long code, toll-free, or shortcode). Since carrier fees are unique to each number, we can estimate them. For this exercise, use approximately $0.005, which is currently the highest carrier charge as of the last update. Always check the SMS pricing page for the most accurate and up-to-date carrier fees.
Outbound SMS Cost Equation:
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [(Number of Segments)(Per-Segment Cost)] + [(Number of Segments)(Carrier Fees)]
Step 4: Calculate the Total Cost
Now that we have the necessary information, let’s calculate the estimated cost of the text message. We’ll use the following example:
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [(5)($0.0079)] + [(5)($0.005)]
First, multiply the number of segments (5) by the per-segment cost ($0.0079):
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [$0.0395] + [(5)($0.005)]
Next, multiply the number of segments (5) by the estimated carrier fees ($0.005):
Estimated Cost of Outbound SMS = [$0.0395] + [$0.025]
Finally, add the two amounts together:
[$0.0395] + [$0.025] = $0.0595 or 5.95 cents
Thus, the estimated cost of sending a 5-segment message is $0.0595.
SMS Cost Estimator Sheet
To quickly calculate SMS costs, use our SMS Cost Estimator Sheet. Make a copy, enter the details of your message, and let the sheet calculate the costs for you.
SMS Cost Estimator Sheet - Make a Copy
Understanding the Factors Impacting SMS Costs
Several factors affect the cost of sending an SMS, such as the direction (inbound or outbound), the number of segments, carrier fees, number validation, adding an image, hidden characters, and more. Let’s explore some of the most common factors below:
Per-Segment Cost
SMS messages are divided into 160-character segments. Longer messages split into multiple segments, increasing costs. Emojis, images, and hidden characters can further impact pricing. To find the per-segment cost, refer to the section "Lookup Per-Segment Cost" above.
Number of Segments
The cost of SMS is based on the number of segments. A message with more segments costs more. For example, a 5-segment message costs approximately five times more than a single-segment SMS. For a detailed breakdown, refer to "Steps to Estimate Outbound SMS Costs."
Adding an Image (MMS)
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages include media like images. MMS is priced differently from SMS, and adding an image increases the cost. For example:
Estimated Cost of MMS Text = [(Number of Segments)(Per-Segment MMS Cost)] + [(Number of Segments)(MMS Carrier Fees)]
Using Emojis
Emojis can enhance engagement but may increase SMS costs by using Unicode encoding, which reduces the character limit per segment to 70 instead of 160. Be mindful of the number of emojis used in a message to avoid extra segments and higher costs.
Hidden Characters
When copying and pasting text, hidden characters may be included that are not visible but still count toward the segment length. These hidden characters can increase the number of segments and thus the cost of the message. To avoid this, use the "Paste as Plain Text" option when pasting text into your system.
Carrier Fees
Carrier fees are charged by networks like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T for messages sent to their users. These fees are charged by segment, so the more segments a message has, the higher the carrier fees.
FAQs
Am I charged for unsent SMS?
No, if there is an internal error before the message is handed off to the phone provider, you will not be charged. However, once the delivery attempt is made, you will incur charges, even if the message is not delivered successfully. No refunds are provided for undelivered messages.
Why are my SMS costs so high?
The most common reason for high SMS costs is sending a message with multiple segments. Each segment increases the cost, so it’s best to minimize segments to reduce expenses.
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