What is 10DLC?

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10DLC is a 10-digit long code that wireless carriers have approved for sending business texts from a local number. When you see 10DLC, think of a local number with an area code that matches the business or organization’s location (for example: 404-206-6179 for a business in Atlanta).

It’s sometimes referred to as “A2P 10DLC messaging” because carriers have approved A2P (application-to-person) messaging on 10DLC.

Before 10DLC, 10-digit numbers were only sanctioned for P2P (person-to-person) messaging. Now, businesses can access a much higher throughput rate.

In other words, more messages per minute can be sent on local numbers than on traditional 10-digit numbers. This makes a local number an attractive option for businesses that want to engage in SMS marketing.

Why should you use 10DLC?

Faster, more reliable, and trusted by customers. Local numbers are the next generation of text messaging.

Recognizable area code

Ever received a call from an unfamiliar area code? You probably ignored it. Your customers do the same thing! Even with texts. Reach them more effectively with a local number.

Reliable, fast delivery

With a local number, your messages are sent from a number sanctioned for A2P messaging. This means you can count on them to be delivered quickly.

Affordable pricing

Want the security and reliability of a dedicated short code, without the high cost? A local number is a more cost-effective alternative.

All about local number registration

Mobile carriers require local numbers to be registered to cut down on spam texts from businesses. This is an important and exciting change to the whole SMS industry, as it will make texting one of the most trustworthy communication channels available.

Registering your 10DLC number means that you can send texts without the risk that they’ll be flagged or blocked, and that your customers can trust the texts they get from you.

Local numbers are also the best option if you want to get up and running quickly. We’re faster than most alternate providers, and we can generally get you set up with a local number in a day. We’ve worked to keep the registration process smooth and fast, too—you’ll just need to provide basic details about your business and the type of texts you’ll be sending.

How to Get Started with 10DLC

It takes a few steps to register your local number. When you partner with us, our team guides you through the whole process.

Obtain your trust score

We’ll help you submit information about your brand and use case to receive a trust score from an independent rating agency. Carriers use this to determine your throughput per second (TPS).

This step is optional but recommended
Trust scores range from 1-100
A higher score could lead to higher TPS

Learn More

Text-enable your number or get a new one

Select the number you’d like to send your messages from. This number is all yours. You don’t share it with any other brands.

Text-enable your existing virtual or landline number
Your voice service will continue as normal
Select an area code and get a new number

Send and receive messages

Built for more than just bulk texts, our platform lets you hold one-on-one conversations with your customers using your local number, too.

Use MMS to send photos and rich media
Leverage advanced features like automated texts
Add teammates to help manage replies

A2P local numbers vs. alternatives

See how local number SMS stacks up to messaging on other phone number types, like dedicated short codes and toll-free numbers:

Name	Dedicated Short Codes	Toll-Free Numbers	Local Numbers
Approved for A2P Messaging	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supports Voice Calls	No	Yes	Yes
Local Area Code	No	No	Yes
Number of Msgs Per Second	High	Medium	High

Frequently asked questions about local number SMS

What’s the purpose of 10DLC?

As texting becomes an increasingly popular channel for businesses, carriers want to prevent spam from going out on their networks—while still making it easy for businesses to text. 10DLC is designed to do just that.

Who is impacted by 10DLC?

Any business that wants to use a local number for texting will need to register it, but 10DLC isn’t your only option. We offer toll-free numbers that are excellent for texting large groups or individuals, or we can help you register a dedicated short code.

What is the message limit for 10DLC?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) is an independent wireless industry organization that decides your message limit for 10DLC — also known as throughput. They base their decision on factors like which brand is sending the messages, your use case, and your industry.

TCR assigns each brand a Trust Score from one to 100, and brands with higher trust scores receive higher messaging limits.

How much does 10DLC cost?

Your 10DLC fees will depend on which SMS service provider you choose, your messaging volume, and which wireless carriers your contacts use.

For instance, SimpleTexting customers pay a one-time $4 registration fee, a $10 monthly subscription fee, and wireless carrier fees (at no markup).

If you need to send a higher volume of messages than what you received after registration, you can go through a vetting process for $40. The vetting process’ purpose is to see if you qualify for a higher message throughput, and our team will walk you through the easy process.

Can existing numbers be used for local A2P messaging?

Yes! We can set up a local number on your current business number, even if it’s a landline.

How are trust scores determined?

In short, carriers want to be sure that their customers will not receive unwanted, dangerous, and spam-like text messages. Therefore, they ask for detailed information about your company and it’s SMS use case. An independent agency then assigns you trust scores based on whether your use case is low or high risk. A “low-risk” use case may be something like two-factor authentication. A high-risk use case may be sending messages about debt relief.

What’s the difference between A2P and P2P messaging?

Application-to-Person (A2P) messages are typically generated via a software application. This is sometimes referred to as an “autodialer.” Person-to-Person (P2P) messaging refers to a conversation or dialogue between two individuals, P2P has low volumes and lower throughput compared to A2P.

How do you collect phone numbers for group texting?

There are four popular ways to build your list. Use a text-to-join keyword. Add a web form to your site that lets people sign up online. Import an existing list. Create a mobile-sign up widget.

Is MMS messaging affected by 10DLC?

With 10DLC, you can send MMS messages from a local number. However, if you want to send a lot of MMS, a short code is the best option.

How long does it take for a number/registration to be approved?

If your business registration and use case is accepted and doesn’t need additional information, it generally takes only minutes for our team to submit your case to TCR and have your number activated.

Registration approval will be delayed if your business information and use case don’t match. Our team will reach out to you to work out any issues before submitting the case to TCR.

Not every SMS service provider has quick 10DLC registration processes like ours, so check reviews before upgrading. For instance, customers of platforms like Twilio report slow 10DLC application processing times.