If you are looking to resell the platform in the US market for SMS review requests you will need to setup a 10DLC or Toll-Free number. This guide will help you understand the differences between the two and help you choose the right SMS provider for your business.
Please note that this guide is specific to the United States market. Any messages being sent to the US will need to comply with US carrier regulations.
TL;DR
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10DLC: Ideal for local presence, trust-building, and low to moderate messaging volumes. Requires brand registration and compliance with carrier guidelines.
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Toll-Free: Suitable for higher messaging volumes, nationwide presence, and simpler compliance. Registration is optional but recommended for better performance.
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Choosing Between the Two: For faster setup toll-free is recommended, use the Telnyx or TextGrid provider for the best results. For optimal results register your toll-free number via Telnyx.
Which SMS provider should I choose?
We recommend using Telnyx or TextGrid for your SMS provider. Telnyx offers both 10DLC and Toll-Free numbers. They have a simple setup process and competitive pricing. The verification is faster than other providers and they have a great support team. EmbedMyReviews has a direct integration with Telnyx, making it easy to get started.
10DLC
10DLC stands for 10 Digit Long Code. It is a standard for sending A2P (Application-to-Person) messages in the US. 10DLC is a cost-effective way to send SMS messages at scale. It is a shared short code that is registered with the carriers and is used by multiple businesses.
Pros:
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Local Presence: 10DLC numbers have the advantage of appearing local, which can boost trust and response rates for customers receiving messages.
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Compliance: 10DLC is designed to support higher throughput (message volume) while maintaining carrier compliance.
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Higher Throughput (than before): While initially 10DLC had lower throughput, recent improvements have allowed businesses to send more messages per second, making it suitable for businesses with larger volumes.
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Cost-Effective: 10DLC is typically cheaper than short codes, especially if you don’t need the high throughput that short codes offer.
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Brand Registration: By registering your brand and campaign, you can get better delivery rates and transparency with carriers, as they are prioritizing verified senders.
Cons:
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Carrier Fees: There are setup and ongoing fees associated with registering for 10DLC, as well as potential per-message carrier surcharges.
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Strict Regulations: You must register your campaigns, and failure to comply with messaging guidelines can result in blocked messages or fines.
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Lower Throughput than Toll-Free: While better than before, 10DLC still has lower throughput compared to toll-free or short codes, which might be a limitation if your platform grows quickly and sends large volumes of messages.
Toll-Free
Toll-Free numbers are numbers that start with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833. These numbers are free to call for the caller and are typically used for customer service lines. Toll-Free numbers can also be used for sending SMS messages.
Pros:
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Higher Throughput: Toll-free numbers offer a higher message throughput than 10DLC, making it ideal if you plan on sending larger volumes of messages in a shorter period.
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Easier Compliance: Toll-free numbers require less stringent compliance compared to 10DLC. Registration is optional, though recommended for better performance.
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Recognizable Number: Toll-free numbers are often trusted and can be used across the U.S. and Canada, making them familiar to consumers and easily recognizable.
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Carrier Fees: Toll-free numbers often have lower carrier surcharges compared to 10DLC, making them more cost-efficient for high volumes of messaging.
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Two-Way Messaging: Just like 10DLC, toll-free numbers support two-way messaging, which can enhance customer interaction.
Cons:
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Less Localized: Toll-free numbers do not give off a local presence, which might lower engagement in certain regions where customers prefer local business interactions.
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Potentially Higher Costs for Small Volumes: Depending on your provider, toll-free numbers might be more expensive for lower volumes of messaging, particularly if you don’t utilize the higher throughput.
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Message Filtering: Although toll-free numbers don’t require mandatory registration, unregistered numbers might face stricter carrier filtering, which can affect deliverability rates.
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Branding: A toll-free number can sometimes appear less personalized or trustworthy, especially in industries or areas where customers expect a local touch.
Choosing Between the Two
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10DLC might be better if you want to present a local presence, build trust, and have a more straightforward path for low to moderate messaging volumes.
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Toll-Free SMS is ideal if you expect higher messaging volumes, need nationwide presence, and want a simpler compliance process without the need for campaign registration.
Learn More
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Click here (video) to learn more about the differences between 10DLC and Toll-Free.
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Click here to understand the differences between 10DLC and Toll-Free.