When it comes to quick delivery for activation, authentication or transactional SMS messages, we recommend sending your SMS messages via a Toll Free Number (TFN).

For marketing or promotional messages, we recommend a dedicated long number (10DLC). When you send your SMS messages using a dedicated long number, this automatically becomes your Sender ID.

Apply for your Incoming Number here

Look at the table below for use-cases and costs involved for each number:

Features Dedicated Toll Free long Number (TFN) Dedicated 10 Digit Long Number (10DLC)
Canadian use Yes Yes
Daily maximum volume High Volume (500k + messages per month) Low to Medium Volume (200K messages or less per day)
Recommended max rate 30 per second 30 per second
Replies possible Yes Yes
Use Cases Activation, authentication or transactional SMS (Marketing not allowed) P2P, marketing / promotional (Marketing is allowed)
Use Case Additions One-time password (OTP) or verification codes.
Account-related alerts or notifications.
Customer care messaging that includes some automated messaging (including satisfaction surveys).
Forbidden Use Gambling eg. casino apps, sites
High-risk financial services eg. loans
Lead Generation eg. companies who buy/sell/share consumer info
Debt Collection
“Get rich quick” schemes
Illegal substances eg. narcotics, prescription drugs
"S.H.A.F.T." use cases (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco)
Gambling eg. casino apps, sites
High-risk financial services eg. loans
Lead Generation eg. companies who buy/sell/share consumer info
Debt Collection
“Get rich quick” schemes
Illegal substances eg. narcotics, prescription drugs
"S.H.A.F.T." use cases (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco)
Best Practices Clear opt-in received easy opt-outs made possible. Do not use shortened URL's. Do not share the TFN for other uses. Use case registered should be adhered to. Clear opt-in received easy opt-outs made possible. Do not use shortened URL's. Do not share the 10DLC for other uses. Use case registered should be adhered to.
Costs to receive replies Free to reply sender. Costs dependant on incoming message volume. Standard costs for sender of reply.
Status reports On most carriers. No
Unicode support Yes Yes
Regulatory notes CTIA and TCPA guidelines. Immediate code shutdown for marketing messages. Subject to carrier filtering. CTIA and TCPA guidelines. Subject to carrier filtering.
Cost $3.50 to $4.00 per month $60 setup
$20 for brand registration
$5 per month.
Additional Registration Information You will need to register your brand and campaign with the networks in order to get approval for sending. You will need to register a brand and campaign with the networks in order to get approval for sending messages. Official company information, Company contact details, Use case, approximate daily message volumes is required.
Other info Customers can only send messages with the same use case that have been registered with their campaign.
Set-up time Customer owned. 7 business days. Customer owned. 14 business days.

If you are unsure about which incoming number to apply for, fill in the application form, and we will guide you.

Join BulkSMS Today

Keep on Connecting

Sign up today! View our Pricing