Choosing Phone Numbers for SMS: Online Virtual SMS Numbers, 10DLC, Toll-Free, & Short Codes
Need an SMS phone number? Maybe you’re looking to get a free SMS number.
There are some things to consider before choosing the right SMS number for you.
In this article, I cover:
- What an SMS number is
- The 4 types of online SMS phone numbers you can use for texting
- 10DLC vs. toll-free numbers vs. virtual numbers vs. short codes
- How to get an SMS phone number for texting
- Answers to frequently asked SMS phone number questions
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge you need to start texting.
Read on for more.
What is an SMS Number?
An SMS number is a text-enabled 5,6, or 10-digit phone number with a set of digits or characters used to address a text message. Types of SMS numbers include 10-digit local phone numbers (10DLC), toll-free numbers, online virtual text numbers (VoIP), and short codes.
4 Types of SMS Phone Numbers
You’ll want to consider the pros and cons of each number type when choosing an SMS phone number. Below, I define and explain the pros and cons of each number type.
10 Digit Long Code Numbers (10DLC)
In North America, a 10DLC number, or 10-digit long code, is a ten-digit phone number with a local area code. Consumers and businesses use these phone numbers for sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. These numbers can now support high-volume mass text messaging after getting approved by carriers.
Example 10DLC Number: (775) 313-9465
10DLC number pros
10DLC SMS numbers work especially well for local businesses and smaller organizations. They’re great for conversational two-way text messaging.
Many businesses and organizations use 10DLC SMS numbers to:
- Start text conversations from a website
- Advertise and promote services and products
- Send sales follow-ups
- Schedule and send appointment reminders
- Provide customer service and customer support
- Collect feedback from surveys and polls
- Get more online reviews
Pro: People are most familiar with 10DLC
10DLC numbers are the most popular and recognizable type of SMS phone number. They look like any other personal phone number. For this reason, people are more likely to trust sending and receiving text messages from these types of SMS numbers.
Pro: 10DLC numbers are great for two-way text messaging
Texting from a 10-digit long code makes your contacts feel like they’re texting conversationally. Conversational messaging can lead to more positive and personalized messaging experiences.
Pro: 10DLC numbers yield higher text message open, click, and engagement rates
Text messages have up to a 98% open rate when they’re sent from a familiar 10-digit phone number.
10DLC cons
10DLC SMS phone numbers sometimes aren’t as suitable for larger organizations. Especially those that need to send incredibly high volumes of text messages.
If your volume exceeds a specific limit on a 10DLC number, carriers might mark your messages as spam. This is why your SMS messages may not get delivered.
Con: 10DLC doesn’t have throughputs like short codes or toll-free SMS numbers
Carriers do allow businesses and organizations to send a high volume of messages using 10DLC numbers. But this throughput is still not as high as with a short code or toll-free SMS number.
Con: 10DLC numbers require carrier registration
To send bulk SMS, texting services require identification or proof of who you are through A2P 10DLC carrier registration. Carrier registration protects against spam. The approval process can take up to several weeks. More on this below.
Text-Enabled Toll-Free SMS Numbers (TETFs or TFNs)
Toll-free texting and toll-free SMS numbers make it possible to send and receive SMS and MMS messages using toll-free numbers (TETFs or TFNs). Toll-free SMS numbers are ten digits long and start with specific prefixes, beginning with the number 8, including:
- 800
- 833
- 844
- 855
- 866
- 877
- 888
Example: 1-800-265-4321
Text-enabled toll-free SMS number pros
Toll-free numbers are best suited for larger businesses and organizations. Toll-free numbers are the way to go if you need to send text message broadcasts and text blasts. They work especially well for promotional and transactional text messages, mobile text alerts, and verification codes.
Pro: Toll-free number texting comes with a higher throughput
Toll-free texting numbers are the carrier-preferred way for larger businesses and organizations to text. They come with fewer restrictions and higher messaging throughput than a normal 10DLC number.
Pro: You can text and call using an 800 number
Just like a 10DLC number, you can text and call conversationally with contacts and customers using a toll-free number.
Pro: Toll-free SMS numbers are cheaper
Setting up a toll-free SMS number costs about half as much as a 10DLC number with a local area code.
Text-enabled toll-free SMS number cons
Con: Not as personalized as 10DLC SMS numbers
Toll-free numbers don’t use local area codes. This is often important for small businesses and organizations that operate locally.
Online Virtual Numbers for SMS (VoIP)
Online text numbers are virtual phone numbers for texting SMS and MMS messages. Virtual text numbers are also known as VoIP phone numbers (voice over IP). The difference between a virtual number and any other 10-digit number is that you can send and receive SMS and MMS online. 10DLC, toll-free, and short code numbers can all function as online virtual text numbers.
Online virtual text number pros
With a virtual number for SMS, you can send texts from any device (laptops, tablets, and PCs) without a physical phone. These numbers are also easy to port or host with a new provider or service because everything is digital.
Pro: It’s easy to host or port a virtual phone number
Virtual phone numbers are easy to activate, deactivate, and transfer across different text messaging and voice providers.
Pro: Online numbers are easy to access and connect to other services
Virtual online phone numbers allow you to text and call from any device. These numbers are tied to software. This makes them versatile and easy to access (especially as a team).
Pro: Virtual numbers work with any type of phone number
10DLC, toll-free and short codes can all be used as virtual online phone numbers.
Pro: Online numbers can get approved through carrier registration for high-volume text messaging
Just like 10DLC and toll-free numbers, online phone numbers can support high volumes of text messages.
Online virtual text number cons
There are no limitations when using online phone numbers for texting compared to traditional business landlines. The only drawback is that it can take a while to get a virtual number.
Con: Online text phone numbers require business texting and/or VoIP software
You’ll need to contact an online text message phone number provider to provision a virtual number.
Con: Online numbers for texting can take a while to access and provision
Getting a virtual number and getting approved for high-volume messaging can take some time.
SMS Short Codes
A short code (SMS code) is a 5 or 6-digit short phone number like “222333”. Businesses and organizations use SMS short codes for one-way mass text messaging. Short codes were first popularized by American Idol in 2003 with “text-to-vote” campaigns. Short codes are now used for various “text-to” campaigns and text blasts. Texting with these numbers typically starts with an opt-in message. Once a user opts in they can text one-word replies for more information.
Example: 222-333
Short code SMS number pros
Short code SMS numbers are best for sending SMS messages in high volumes. Short codes only work for one-way communication. This includes mobile text alerts, polls, event notifications, and promotional message blasts.
Pro: Short codes have the highest messaging throughput
Short codes work best for sending mass text messages to thousands of people. They’re great when you need to send messages in high volumes.
Pro: People are more likely to remember a shortcode
Short codes are inherently short. This makes it easy for people to remember them.
Pro: Short codes work well with autoresponders
You can set up a short code with autoresponders to trigger automatic text responses. When someone texts a keyword like SUBSCRIBE to a short code number, they automatically receive a text message.
Short code SMS number cons
Short codes support high-volume SMS and MMS messaging, but they’re expensive. Getting a dedicated short code can cost you roughly $1500, and rental charges vary between $500 and $1000 per month.
Provisioning and setting up a short code can take six to twelve weeks. If you’re just looking to text from a business phone number, then this number type isn’t the best fit.
Con: Short codes don’t use local area codes
Receiving a text from a 5 or 6-digit number feels impersonal. When it comes to 10DLC vs. short codes, there’s no area code.
Con: Short codes don’t support two-way texting
Short codes aren’t conversational. They limit how people respond. You can’t respond to texts with a short code as you would with a 10DLC or toll-free number.
Con: Short codes are expensive and availability is limited
Texting from a short code can be expensive. The process also takes time, plus carriers are beginning to deprecate the use and availability of short codes. Short codes aren’t a cost-effective solution for most businesses.
Shared short code numbers vs. dedicated short code numbers
You can also choose a vanity or dedicated short code to reinforce your brand identity. For example, 7-Eleven uses the vanity short code “711711” to text their customers.
However, authorizing and enabling a dedicated shortcode is expensive and not accessible for most small businesses and organizations.
As a result, some businesses started leasing shared short codes to keep costs low. These shared short codes normally require a one-time setup fee.
10DLC vs. Toll-Free Numbers vs. Online Virtual Numbers vs. Short Codes
How to Get an SMS Phone Number
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1. Choose an SMS phone number provider
The first step to getting an SMS phone number is choosing a number provider.
There are many great texting services out there (especially for business), including MessageDesk. These platforms often support both 10DLC numbers and toll-free numbers. Some providers like SimpleTexting still support short codes too.
2. Configure your business texting number
Your second step is configuring your phone number. You have three options for this.
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Option 1: Get a new business text number
Is your business or organization just getting started? Don’t already have a business phone number? Most business text messaging providers can provide you with a text-enabled SMS phone number for business.
Additionally, providers like MessageDesk can get you a local 10-digit phone number with any area code of your choosing. We can even provide you with a toll-free 800 number for texting.
Option 2: Text-enable an existing business landline or VoIP number
Already have a business phone line? No problem. Most providers (including MessageDesk) can text-enable your existing landline or VoIP service phone number. This is all without disrupting your existing phone calling functionality or service.
To text-enable an existing number, you’ll need to submit a number hosting request. A number hosting request gives a new platform access to the texting capability of your number.
This process also requires you to submit a formal letter to your current phone number carrier.
At MessageDesk, we make this process easy. Just submit a form and we’ll automatically generate the letter for you and then submit it to carriers.
The whole process typically takes 3-5 business days. We’ll then let you know once everything is good to go and you can start texting.
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Option 3: Port your cell phone number to a VoIP provider and then host it with a texting provider
Mobile carriers restrict business texting providers from hosting your cell phone number for texting. This is a technical limitation with the number type and carrier services.
However, you can port your cell phone number to a VoIP provider.
Once you port your cell phone number, your new VoIP provider will become your voice provider as well. I recommend RingCentral for this.
Once you’ve ported your phone number you can then set up hosting for business SMS with any texting service like MessageDesk.
3. Get approved by carriers for text messaging
All telecom carriers in the United States require businesses and organizations that text to complete A2P 10DLC carrier registration.
They do this to prevent phishing scams and SPAM messaging from bad actors.
To register with carriers you have to use a business text messaging service, like MessageDesk. You also have to adhere to various standards like opt-in and TCPA regulations.
But the good news is that most business texting providers come with features that help you manage opt-in, compliance, and registration for you.
Every business texting service has its way of managing opt-in and carrier registration.
But here’s how we do it at MessageDesk:
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Step 1: Submit and validate your organization’s info with carriers through MessageDesk
We start the carrier registration process by validating that your organization is legitimate. We do this simply by submitting a form that collects the following information:
- Business identification: You need to provide proof of your business's existence and legality. This includes your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or other tax identification numbers.
- Business address: The official address registered with your organization.
- Contact Information: A primary contact within the business, including name, phone number, email address, and website.
- Messaging purpose and examples: Explain why and how your business uses SMS messaging. This involves providing message examples.
- Opt-in and opt-out processes: Describe how your contacts opt-in and out of receiving messages. This includes how you collect consent and how you manage and honor opt-out requests.
- Message content and volume: Carriers need to know about the volume and content of the messages you’ll send. This helps carriers understand your messaging patterns. It also ensures that your messages align with anti-spam policies.
Step 2: Publish a carrier-compliant business text messaging policy on your website
You submitted and validated your organization's information. Next, the compliance team at MessageDesk will work with you or your web developer.
Carriers require that you have a website and that you publish a business text messaging privacy policy on it.
Your privacy policy must explain the following:
- The type of contact and personal information your organization collects
- How your organization collects information from contacts
- How your organization uses any information collected
- How your organization protects contact data
- That your organization does not share information
- How contacts can opt out of receiving text messages
Note: having a website with a privacy policy is an absolute must for business text messaging. Without it, carriers will not approve your organization for texting.
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Frequently Asked SMS Phone Number Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding SMS phone numbers.
1. Are SMS numbers free?
Most SMS numbers are not free. Getting and using an SMS number (especially for business purposes) involves costs. This is because SMS numbers come with setup and carrier registration fees, per message fees, and texting provider fees.
2. How can I get a free SMS number?
You can get a free SMS number but it comes with severe limitations and restrictions. Most texting services charge for the use of their SMS services. But several services do offer free, sometimes temporary, phone numbers.
3. Are there any free texting services?
Here’s a list of some of the top free number SMS services:
1. Google Voice
- What It Offers: Free texting and calling within the US and Canada.
- Limitations: Primarily for personal use; requires a Google account.
- How to Use: Sign up on the Google Voice website and choose a free phone number.
2. TextFree by Pinger
- What It Offers: Free texting and calling in the US and Canada, supported by ads.
- Limitations: Ad-supported, may have limits on message volume.
- How to Use: Download the TextFree app from the App Store or Google Play Store and sign up for a free number.
3. TextNow
- What It Offers: Free texting and calling in the US and Canada, supported by ads.
- Limitations: Ad-supported, may require in-app purchases for additional features.
- How to Use: Download the TextNow app and create an account to get a free phone number.
4. WhatsApp
- What It Offers: Free messaging and calling over the internet.
- Limitations: Requires an internet connection; not an SMS service.
- How to Use: Download the WhatsApp app and sign up with your phone number.
5. Facebook Messenger
- What It Offers: Free texting and calling over the internet.
- Limitations: Requires a Facebook account and internet connection; not an SMS service.
- How to Use: Use the Facebook Messenger app or website to send messages.
6. Signal
- What It Offers: Free messaging and calling with end-to-end encryption.
- Limitations: Requires an internet connection; primarily for secure communication.
- How to Use: Download the Signal app and sign up with your phone number.
7. Telegram
- What It Offers: Free messaging with various features like channels and bots.
- Limitations: Requires an internet connection; not an SMS service.
How to Use: Download the Telegram app and sign up with your phone number.
Ready to start texting?
Ready to start texting? Your next step is to meet with a MessageDesk messaging expert.
MessageDesk is here to help you configure your business phone number. We make carrier registration simple, easy, and transparent.
Start sending texts with MessageDesk today!