Text message pricing
A single, 160-character text message costs 2.4 pence (plus VAT).
You only have to pay for text messages if you exceed your free text message allowance.
A text message may cost more, or use more of your free allowance, if it’s:
- is longer than 160 characters
- is written in a language other than English
- sent to an international phone number
We’ll tell you how many text messages your template may count as before you send it.
It does not cost you anything to receive text messages.
Long text messages
If a text message is longer than 160 characters (including spaces), it counts as more than one message.
| Message length | Charge |
|---|---|
|
Up to 160 characters
|
1 text message
|
|
Up to 306 characters
|
2 text messages
|
|
Up to 459 characters
|
3 text messages
|
|
Up to 612 characters
|
4 text messages
|
|
Up to 765 characters
|
5 text messages
|
|
Up to 918 characters
|
6 text messages
|
Text messages in a language other than English
Most English language text messages use a set of standard letters and symbols.
Languages such as Welsh, Arabic and Mandarin use non-standard characters.
Including a non-standard character in a text message changes the way we have to charge for it.
Anything longer than 70 characters (including spaces) counts as more than one message.
| Message length | Charge |
|---|---|
|
Up to 70 characters
|
1 text message
|
|
Up to 134 characters
|
2 text messages
|
|
Up to 201 characters
|
3 text messages
|
|
Up to 268 characters
|
4 text messages
|
|
Up to 335 characters
|
5 text messages
|
|
Up to 402 characters
|
6 text messages
|
|
Up to 469 characters
|
7 text messages
|
|
Up to 536 characters
|
8 text messages
|
|
Up to 603 characters
|
9 text messages
|
|
Up to 670 characters
|
10 text messages
|
|
Up to 737 characters
|
11 text messages
|
|
Up to 804 characters
|
12 text messages
|
|
Up to 871 characters
|
13 text messages
|
|
Up to 938 characters
|
14 text messages
|
Standard letters and symbols
Characters that do not affect the cost of a text message include:
- uppercase letters A to Z
- lowercase letters a to z
- Ä, É, Ö, Ü, à, ä, é, è, ì, ò, ö, ù, ü
- numbers 0 to 9
- common punctuation, for example . , ! ?
- single and double quotation marks
- dashes
The following are standard letters and symbols but count as 2 characters each:
[]{}^\|~€
Sending text messages to international numbers
It might cost more to send text messages to international numbers than UK ones, depending on the country.
International text message rates
| Country code | Country | Cost multiplier |
|---|---|---|
|
+1
|
Canada
United States |
1 ×
|
|
+1242
|
Bahamas
|
3 ×
|
|
+1246
|
Barbados
|
7 ×
|
|
+1264
|
Anguilla
|
6 ×
|
|
+1268
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
5 ×
|
|
+1284
|
Virgin Islands, British
|
5 ×
|
|
+1345
|
Cayman Islands
|
6 ×
|
|
+1441
|
Bermuda
|
7 ×
|
|
+1473
|
Grenada
|
6 ×
|
|
+1649
|
Turks and Caicos Islands
|
6 ×
|
|
+1664
|
Montserrat
|
6 ×
|
|
+1684
|
American Samoa
|
2 ×
|
|
+1721
|
Sint Maarten
|
2 ×
|
|
+1758
|
Saint Lucia
|
7 ×
|
|
+1767
|
Dominica, Commonwealth of
|
7 ×
|
|
+1784
|
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
|
7 ×
|
|
+1809
|
Dominican Republic
|
3 ×
|
|
+1829
|
Dominican Republic
|
3 ×
|
|
+1849
|
Dominican Republic
|
3 ×
|
|
+1868
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
7 ×
|
|
+1869
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
6 ×
|
|
+1876
|
Jamaica
|
7 ×
|
|
+20
|
Egypt
|
7 ×
|
|
+211
|
South Sudan
|
8 ×
|
|
+212
|
Morocco
|
6 ×
|
|
+213
|
Algeria
|
6 ×
|
|
+216
|
Tunisia
|
9 ×
|
|
+218
|
Libya
|
9 ×
|
|
+220
|
Gambia
|
4 ×
|
|
+221
|
Senegal
|
7 ×
|
|
+222
|
Mauritania
|
6 ×
|
|
+223
|
Mali
|
7 ×
|
|
+224
|
Guinea
|
6 ×
|
|
+225
|
Cote d'Ivoire
|
10 ×
|
|
+226
|
Burkina Faso
|
4 ×
|
|
+227
|
Niger
|
8 ×
|
|
+228
|
Togo
|
7 ×
|
|
+229
|
Benin
|
7 ×
|
|
+230
|
Mauritius
|
4 ×
|
|
+231
|
Liberia
|
6 ×
|
|
+232
|
Sierra Leone
|
5 ×
|
|
+233
|
Ghana
|
8 ×
|
|
+234
|
Nigeria
|
8 ×
|
|
+235
|
Chad
|
6 ×
|
|
+236
|
Central African Republic
|
7 ×
|
|
+237
|
Cameroon
|
5 ×
|
|
+238
|
Cape Verde
|
5 ×
|
|
+239
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
1 ×
|
|
+240
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
6 ×
|
|
+241
|
Gabon
|
8 ×
|
|
+242
|
Congo
|
7 ×
|
|
+243
|
Congo, Democratic Republic of
|
5 ×
|
|
+244
|
Angola
|
3 ×
|
|
+245
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
8 ×
|
|
+246
|
British Indian Ocean Territory
|
2 ×
|
|
+248
|
Seychelles
|
4 ×
|
|
+249
|
Sudan
|
8 ×
|
|
+250
|
Rwanda, Republic of
|
8 ×
|
|
+251
|
Ethiopia
|
9 ×
|
|
+252
|
Somalia
|
5 ×
|
|
+253
|
Djibouti, Republic of
|
4 ×
|
|
+254
|
Kenya
|
3 ×
|
|
+255
|
Tanzania
|
7 ×
|
|
+256
|
Uganda
|
7 ×
|
|
+257
|
Burundi
|
8 ×
|
|
+258
|
Mozambique
|
4 ×
|
|
+260
|
Zambia
|
8 ×
|
|
+261
|
Madagascar
|
12 ×
|
|
+262
|
Mayotte
Reunion |
3 ×
|
|
+263
|
Zimbabwe
|
5 ×
|
|
+264
|
Namibia
|
1 ×
|
|
+265
|
Malawi
|
8 ×
|
|
+266
|
Lesotho
|
3 ×
|
|
+267
|
Botswana
|
3 ×
|
|
+268
|
Eswatini
|
7 ×
|
|
+269
|
Comoros
|
7 ×
|
|
+27
|
South Africa
|
3 ×
|
|
+291
|
Eritrea
|
3 ×
|
|
+297
|
Aruba
|
3 ×
|
|
+298
|
Faroe Islands
|
2 ×
|
|
+299
|
Greenland
|
1 ×
|
|
+30
|
Greece
|
2 ×
|
|
+31
|
Netherlands
|
3 ×
|
|
+32
|
Belgium
|
3 ×
|
|
+33
|
France
|
2 ×
|
|
+34
|
Spain
|
2 ×
|
|
+350
|
Gibraltar
|
2 ×
|
|
+351
|
Portugal
|
2 ×
|
|
+352
|
Luxembourg
|
2 ×
|
|
+353
|
Ireland
|
2 ×
|
|
+354
|
Iceland
|
2 ×
|
|
+355
|
Albania
|
3 ×
|
|
+356
|
Malta
|
2 ×
|
|
+357
|
Cyprus
|
2 ×
|
|
+358
|
Finland
|
2 ×
|
|
+359
|
Bulgaria
|
4 ×
|
|
+36
|
Hungary
|
2 ×
|
|
+370
|
Lithuania
|
2 ×
|
|
+371
|
Latvia
|
2 ×
|
|
+372
|
Estonia
|
2 ×
|
|
+373
|
Moldova
|
2 ×
|
|
+374
|
Armenia
|
5 ×
|
|
+375
|
Belarus
|
6 ×
|
|
+376
|
Andorra
|
3 ×
|
|
+377
|
Monaco
|
4 ×
|
|
+378
|
San Marino, Republic of
|
8 ×
|
|
+380
|
Ukraine
|
5 ×
|
|
+381
|
Serbia
|
7 ×
|
|
+382
|
Montenegro
|
4 ×
|
|
+383
|
Kosovo
|
5 ×
|
|
+385
|
Croatia
|
2 ×
|
|
+386
|
Slovenia
|
4 ×
|
|
+387
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
3 ×
|
|
+389
|
Macedonia
|
1 ×
|
|
+39
|
Italy
|
2 ×
|
|
+40
|
Romania
|
2 ×
|
|
+41
|
Switzerland
|
2 ×
|
|
+420
|
Czech Republic
|
2 ×
|
|
+421
|
Slovakia
|
2 ×
|
|
+423
|
Liechtenstein
|
1 ×
|
|
+43
|
Austria
|
2 ×
|
|
+44
|
Guernsey
Isle of Man Jersey |
2 ×
|
|
+45
|
Denmark
|
2 ×
|
|
+46
|
Sweden
|
2 ×
|
|
+47
|
Norway
|
2 ×
|
|
+48
|
Poland
|
1 ×
|
|
+49
|
Germany
|
5 ×
|
|
+500
|
Falkland Islands
|
3 ×
|
|
+501
|
Belize
|
5 ×
|
|
+502
|
Guatemala
|
5 ×
|
|
+503
|
El Salvador
|
2 ×
|
|
+504
|
Honduras
|
5 ×
|
|
+505
|
Nicaragua
|
4 ×
|
|
+506
|
Costa Rica
|
1 ×
|
|
+507
|
Panama
|
4 ×
|
|
+508
|
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
|
4 ×
|
|
+509
|
Haiti
|
8 ×
|
|
+51
|
Peru
|
5 ×
|
|
+52
|
Mexico
|
3 ×
|
|
+53
|
Cuba
|
2 ×
|
|
+54
|
Argentina
|
3 ×
|
|
+55
|
Brazil
|
2 ×
|
|
+56
|
Chile
|
2 ×
|
|
+57
|
Colombia
|
2 ×
|
|
+58
|
Venezuela
|
2 ×
|
|
+590
|
Guadeloupe
|
4 ×
|
|
+591
|
Bolivia
|
4 ×
|
|
+592
|
Guyana
|
6 ×
|
|
+593
|
Ecuador
|
4 ×
|
|
+594
|
French Guiana
|
4 ×
|
|
+595
|
Paraguay
|
3 ×
|
|
+596
|
Martinique
|
4 ×
|
|
+597
|
Suriname
|
6 ×
|
|
+598
|
Uruguay
|
2 ×
|
|
+599
|
Curacao (former Netherlands Antilles)
|
7 ×
|
|
+60
|
Malaysia
|
7 ×
|
|
+61
|
Australia
|
2 ×
|
|
+62
|
Indonesia
|
12 ×
|
|
+63
|
Philippines
|
5 ×
|
|
+64
|
New Zealand
|
2 ×
|
|
+65
|
Singapore
|
2 ×
|
|
+66
|
Thailand
|
1 ×
|
|
+670
|
Timor L'este
|
5 ×
|
|
+672
|
Norfolk Island
|
2 ×
|
|
+673
|
Brunei Darussalam
|
2 ×
|
|
+674
|
Nauru
|
6 ×
|
|
+675
|
Papua New Guinea
|
6 ×
|
|
+676
|
Tonga
|
4 ×
|
|
+677
|
Solomon Islands
|
2 ×
|
|
+678
|
Vanuatu
|
4 ×
|
|
+679
|
Fiji
|
5 ×
|
|
+680
|
Palau
|
2 ×
|
|
+681
|
Wallis and Futuna
|
2 ×
|
|
+682
|
Cook Islands
|
4 ×
|
|
+683
|
Niue
|
8 ×
|
|
+685
|
Samoa
|
5 ×
|
|
+686
|
Kiribati
|
1 ×
|
|
+687
|
New Caledonia
|
3 ×
|
|
+689
|
French Polynesia
|
3 ×
|
|
+690
|
Tokelau
|
8 ×
|
|
+691
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
2 ×
|
|
+692
|
Marshall Islands
|
2 ×
|
|
+7
|
South Ossetia
Kazakhstan Abkhazia Russian Federation |
10 ×
|
|
+81
|
Japan
|
2 ×
|
|
+82
|
Korea, Republic of
|
1 ×
|
|
+84
|
Vietnam
|
4 ×
|
|
+852
|
Hong Kong
|
2 ×
|
|
+853
|
Macau
|
1 ×
|
|
+855
|
Cambodia
|
8 ×
|
|
+856
|
Laos
|
8 ×
|
|
+86
|
China
|
1 ×
|
|
+880
|
Bangladesh
|
9 ×
|
|
+886
|
Taiwan
|
2 ×
|
|
+90
|
Turkey
Northern Cyprus |
1 ×
|
|
+91
|
India
|
2 ×
|
|
+92
|
Pakistan
|
12 ×
|
|
+93
|
Afghanistan
|
10 ×
|
|
+94
|
Sri Lanka
|
12 ×
|
|
+95
|
Myanmar
|
9 ×
|
|
+960
|
Maldives
|
6 ×
|
|
+961
|
Lebanon
|
9 ×
|
|
+962
|
Jordan
|
8 ×
|
|
+963
|
Syria
|
9 ×
|
|
+964
|
Iraq
|
9 ×
|
|
+965
|
Kuwait
|
7 ×
|
|
+966
|
Saudi Arabia
|
5 ×
|
|
+967
|
Yemen
|
6 ×
|
|
+968
|
Oman
|
4 ×
|
|
+970
|
Palestinian Territory
|
9 ×
|
|
+971
|
United Arab Emirates
|
3 ×
|
|
+972
|
Israel
|
6 ×
|
|
+973
|
Bahrain
|
3 ×
|
|
+974
|
Qatar
|
6 ×
|
|
+975
|
Bhutan
|
10 ×
|
|
+976
|
Mongolia
|
7 ×
|
|
+977
|
Nepal
|
8 ×
|
|
+98
|
Iran
|
6 ×
|
|
+992
|
Tajikistan
|
10 ×
|
|
+993
|
Turkmenistan
|
7 ×
|
|
+994
|
Azerbaijan
|
9 ×
|
|
+995
|
Georgia
|
4 ×
|
|
+996
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
8 ×
|
|
+998
|
Uzbekistan
|
12 ×
|
|
+882
|
Worldwide
|
Not supported
|