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SMS short code texting service

Get more messaging power and brand recognition by sending SMS and MMS from a memorable five or six-digit phone number.

  • Generate more opt-ins with a number your customers recognize and trust.
  • Access more message volume at high speeds.
  • Make the provisioning process easy with an experienced team.
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SimpleTexting is the SMS short code service trusted by top brands

What is an SMS short code?

A short code is a five- or six-digit phone number that is typically used for mass text messaging, SMS marketing, and automated texts. Short codes are easier to remember than traditional numbers and can send more messages per minute.

Your audience can text a word or phrase (known as a keyword) to your SMS short code to opt into your text message marketing program. Then you’re ready to start sending text campaigns at scale.🚀

SMS short codes are now synonymous with dedicated short codes. A dedicated short code is a five- to six-digit number for a single organization — thus, a short code dedicated to only one brand. Until early 2022, several brands could share the same short code and manage their contacts by opt-in text-to-join keywords, but now carriers only allow dedicated short codes to cut down on spam.

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“If you’re considering SimpleTexting, I highly recommend it. As a marketer, and someone who consults with multiple different types of businesses, the support that you get is wonderful. And I find the design of the platform allows you to move and experiment very quickly.”

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Jackelyn Dacanay Marketing Director, Bella Santé

The benefits of a dedicated short code

You might wonder why short codes are the best choice for you and your business, or what text marketing has to offer. Let’s cover a few highlights.

Professional branding

A dedicated short code communicates to your audience that you’re a well-established organization with defined branding. This helps subscribers trust you and pay attention to your messages.

High-speed messaging

Dedicated short codes give you access to higher volumes of messages (and more messages per minute) than other number types so you’re never limited in what or how much you can send.

Potential for fast growth

With a short, easy-to-remember number (which draws more subscribers) and superior messaging volume and speed, you can easily scale your text marketing program to meet your larger goals.

“Honestly, we’re connecting with people. Information is getting in front of those who need it, in a way that other communication strategies couldn’t do. If they’re contacted via text message there’s a guarantee that they’ll be reached.”

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Mike Billeter Communication Director, Central Church

How to make the most of your short code

Short codes’ speed, volume, and ease of texting make them especially useful for situations like:

Short codes simplify text-to-join, text-to-vote, and text-to-win campaigns by giving participants an easier-to-remember number to text. For example, Welstand Boutique uses a short code for a 10% off text-to-join promotion.

Short codes let businesses send automated two-factor authentication texts faster and in larger volumes, making a better experience for users. And SimpleTexting has an API for you to integrate into your website or app.

Get alerts out quickly with a short code. For instance, the Greater Easton Development Partnership sent texts to keep event attendees informed in the moment.
When your best route of communication is for someone to text you, short codes can help you share downloadable content. Take In-telligent’s app and Gifyyy’s photobooth photos as examples of resources you can share with a short code text.
Did you know that according to our data, appointment and reservation reminders are the top reason consumers sign up for texts from businesses? Use our scheduled texts and integrations to send reminders from your short code.
On top of the uses above, short codes work well for any message you want to send to a massive number of people. Life Is Beautiful increased the delivery rate for its 200,000-person list from 21% to 98% simply by switching to a short code.
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How to get a dedicated short code for business texting

With SimpleTexting, you get expert help every step of the way. We’ll work directly with you and the wireless carriers to get your SMS short code up and running.

Choose your number

Decide whether you’ll lease a random or vanity code based on your budget and goals for your organization. Get in touch with our team to get started.

Complete your service approval form

We’ll work together to provide a few key details about your organization, how you intend to use your short code, and what type of messages you’ll send.

Provision and test your number

We’ll connect with an aggregator and submit a joint form with your help. You’ll have to outline how you plan to stay compliant.
They’ll issue their final approval or give you feedback so we can re-submit.

Launch your marketing campaign

You’re ready to start using your new dedicated short code! Our easy-to-use platform gives you all the features you need to run a successful text marketing campaign.

“Since I’ve implemented SimpleTexting text campaigns into my daily tasks, we’ve had increased appointments with agents in our area so that we can help them grow — and we can help our company grow to an even larger scale.”

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Emily Gannon Recruiter and Global Sales Coordinator, Weichert Realtors

Short code texting vs. long code texting

What’s the difference between texting with a short code and texting with a local or toll-free number? We’ve set up an easy table to show you the key points of each.

Types of texting numbers

Dedicated short codes (DSC)Local numbers/10-digit long codes (10DLC)Toll-free numbers
Format5 to 6 digits10 digits10 digits
Example32632 (vanity short code DANCE)701-555-1234 (local for North Dakota)888-555-1234
Call forwarding (voice enablement)N/AYesYes
Registration requiredYesYesVerification strongly recommended
Setup cost$2,500 one-time setup, $1,000 (random) or $1,500 (vanity) monthly$4 one-time registration, $10 monthly, $40 annual vetting for greater throughput$0
Activation timeline~6-8 weeksSame-day activation~4-8 weeks
TypesRandom and vanityNew and text-enable existing business numberNew and text-enable existing business number
ThroughputHighHighMedium
Best use casesMass marketing, text-to-vote, customer support, emergency alerts, automated textsLocal sales and marketing, customer service, employee and stakeholder relationsCustomer service, mass marketing, sales

Why choose SimpleTexting?

We know there are plenty of text marketing platforms out there that offer short codes, so why should we be your pick?

Experts who’ve done this a few thousand times

The short code provisioning process is complex. You’re going to want a co-pilot who’s navigated the process plenty of times before. We’ve helped thousands of business owners lease their short codes.

Help with registration every step of the way

You don’t have to figure out how to provision your short code alone. Just contact our team, and we’ll walk you through the process.

Best-in-class customer support seven days a week

Our support team is made up of real people who are rooting for your success, and we’re around every day to make it happen.

Ease of use

We pride ourselves on being user-friendly for both SMS marketing beginners and veterans. We also offer demo videos for our most popular features and plenty of resources to help you get started.

Fast speed to value

You can get up and running ASAP with SimpleTexting. No unnecessary waiting or long processes, just SMS success.

Proven partnership

Our data tells us that 67% of businesses plan to increase their text marketing budget in 2025. If that includes you, partnering with us ensures faster success.

“It’s very reasonably priced and easy to use. We were able to get up and running quickly.”

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Todd Spangler Parts Manager, Nissan of Columbus

Types of dedicated short codes

Random Short Codes

As the name suggests, random short codes are randomly assigned five- or six-digit numbers. Businesses frequently use random codes for short code texting because they are the cheapest of the two options starting at $1,000 per month.

Vanity short codes

A dedicated vanity short code makes your number extra memorable because it can be customized to your brand. For example, a dance studio could use the short code 32623 to spell out the word DANCE.
Some businesses prefer using vanity numbers because they are easier to remember and simplify tools like text-to-join. Vanity short codes start at $1,500 per month.

Frequently asked questions about short code texting

Still have a question about texting with short codes or our short code service? Here are some of the most common questions we hear from customers and our answers.

Using a short code involves upfront costs and ongoing costs. Let’s break down what both look like for SimpleTexting users.

First, you’ll need to pay a one-time setup fee of $2,500. This covers number registration and provisioning.

From there, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee starting at $1,000 for a random short code and $1,500 for a vanity short code. On top of that, Canadian users will need to pay a carrier fee for each inbound and outbound text.

Don’t forget the cost of your texting service – at SimpleTexting, our plans start at $29 per month.

Short codes are pricier than other number types, but their speed and ease of texting make them worth it for many businesses.
You can text from a short code number using a texting service like SimpleTexting after you register for the number. Short codes require a texting service instead of a regular texting app because there needs to be a clear link between the number and its associated organization.
Short codes have five to six digits, while long codes like toll-free and local numbers have 10. Also, short codes tend to have much higher registration and upkeep fees than other number types in exchange for faster delivery speeds and higher message volumes.
As long as you register your short code number, it’s 100% legal to text with one. In fact, the registration process helps you stay compliant and keeps you out of carrier spam filtering, making it more compliant than texting from an unregistered local number.