Understanding the true cost of A2P 10DLC messaging can be confusing. Between carrier pass-through fees, TCR registration fees, and monthly maintenance costs, expenses add up quickly. This guide breaks down every fee you need to know about in 2025.
Overview of 10DLC Costs
There are three main categories of 10DLC fees:
Carrier Pass-Through Fees (Per Message)
Every SMS message sent via 10DLC incurs a carrier surcharge. These fees are charged by the destination carrier and passed through by your messaging provider.
Current Rates (December 2025)
| Carrier | Pass-Through Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $0.003 | Per message segment |
| T-Mobile | $0.003 | Per message segment |
| Verizon | $0.003 | Increasing to $0.004 in June 2025 |
| US Cellular | $0.002 | Per message segment |
| Sprint | $0.003 | Now merged with T-Mobile |
What's a Message Segment?
SMS messages are limited to 160 characters (or 70 for Unicode). Longer messages are split into segments:
| Message Length | Segments | Total Characters |
|---|---|---|
| 1-160 chars | 1 | 160 |
| 161-306 chars | 2 | 306 (153 x 2) |
| 307-459 chars | 3 | 459 (153 x 3) |
Important: Each segment incurs a separate carrier fee. A 200-character message = 2 segments = $0.006 in carrier fees.
Inbound Message Fees
Most carriers also charge for inbound (received) messages:
| Carrier | Inbound Fee |
|---|---|
| AT&T | $0.003 |
| T-Mobile | $0.003 |
| Verizon | $0.003 |
TCR Registration Fees
The Campaign Registry (TCR) charges fees for registering brands and campaigns.
Brand Registration
| Fee Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Brand registration | $4 | One-time |
| Brand vetting (optional) | $40 | One-time |
Brand vetting is optional but can increase your Trust Score and throughput limits. It's recommended for businesses sending high volumes.
Campaign Registration
| Campaign Type | Registration Fee | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard campaign | $15 | $10/month |
| Low-volume campaign | $2 | $2/month |
| Sole proprietor | $2 | $2/month |
What's a Low-Volume Campaign?
Low-volume campaigns are available for businesses that:
- Send fewer than 6,000 messages per month
- Use cases like appointment reminders or transactional messages
- Have simpler compliance requirements
Upcoming Fee Changes in 2025
June 1, 2025: Verizon Toll-Free Increase
Verizon is increasing its toll-free pass-through fee:
- Current: $0.003 per segment
- New: $0.004 per segment
This affects toll-free numbers, not 10DLC, but many businesses use both.
August 1, 2025: TCR Fee Increase
TCR has announced fee increases effective August 2025:
- Standard campaign registration: $15 → $18
- Monthly campaign fee: $10 → $12
- Brand vetting: $40 → $45
Tip: Register before August 2025 to lock in current rates.
Total Cost Examples
Let's calculate the total cost for different scenarios:
Example 1: Small Business (1,000 messages/month)
Monthly messages: 1,000
Average carrier fee: $0.003
Carrier fees: 1,000 × $0.003 = $3.00
TCR monthly: $10.00
Phone number: $1.15
Total monthly: $14.15
Cost per message: $0.014Example 2: Growing Startup (10,000 messages/month)
Monthly messages: 10,000
Average carrier fee: $0.003
Carrier fees: 10,000 × $0.003 = $30.00
TCR monthly: $10.00
Phone number: $1.15
Total monthly: $41.15
Cost per message: $0.004Example 3: Enterprise (100,000 messages/month)
Monthly messages: 100,000
Average carrier fee: $0.003
Carrier fees: 100,000 × $0.003 = $300.00
TCR monthly: $10.00
Phone numbers (5): $5.75
Total monthly: $315.75
Cost per message: $0.003How Zavu Pricing Works
Zavu simplifies 10DLC pricing with a transparent model:
What's Included
- TCR fees at cost - Brand and campaign registration passed through without markup
- Refund on rejection - The brand fee is returned if the carrier rejects the registration
- Compliance monitoring - We handle carrier policy changes
- Support - Help with registration and troubleshooting
What You Pay
- From $0.004 per SMS - Carrier fees already included, no separate surcharge
- $20/month on Pro - Which comes back as $20 of monthly usage credit
- TCR fees at cost - $4 brand, $15 campaign ($2 for low volume), $10/month while active ($2 low volume). These belong to The Campaign Registry, not to us
Comparison
| Cost Component | Traditional Provider | Zavu |
|---|---|---|
| Base message fee | $0.0083 | Pass-through only |
| Carrier fees | + $0.003 | Included |
| TCR registration | $4 + $15 | Included |
| Monthly TCR | $10/month | Included |
| Markup | 10-30% | None |
Tips to Reduce 10DLC Costs
1. Optimize Message Length
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible:
Bad (162 chars = 2 segments):
"Your order #123456789 has been shipped via USPS Priority Mail. Expected delivery date is December 28, 2025. Track your package here: https://track.usps.com/..."
Good (158 chars = 1 segment):
"Order #123456789 shipped! Delivery: Dec 28. Track: https://zav.to/abc123 Reply HELP for support or STOP to unsubscribe."2. Use Link Shorteners
Long URLs eat into your character limit. Use short links:
- https://example.com/orders/12345/tracking → https://zav.to/abc123
3. Batch Similar Messages
Some providers charge per API call. Batch messages when possible:
TypeScript// Instead of individual sends for (const user of users) { await client.messages.send({ to: user.phone, text: message }); } // Use broadcast API await client.broadcasts.create({ name: "Flash Sale", text: "Flash sale! 20% off today only.", contacts: users.map(u => ({ recipient: u.phone })), });
4. Choose Low-Volume Campaigns
If you send under 6,000 messages/month, register as a low-volume campaign:
- Registration: $2 (vs $15)
- Monthly: $2 (vs $10)
5. Register Before August 2025
TCR fees are increasing in August 2025. Register now to lock in current rates.
Hidden Fees to Watch For
1. Carrier Compliance Fees
Some carriers charge additional compliance or infrastructure fees not included in standard pass-through rates.
2. Number Porting Fees
Moving numbers between providers can cost $10-25 per number.
3. Long Message Surcharges
Messages over 160 characters cost more (multiple segments).
4. MMS Fees
MMS (picture messages) cost significantly more than SMS:
- SMS: ~$0.0083 + carrier fees
- MMS: ~$0.02 + carrier fees
5. International Numbers
Messaging international numbers (even from US numbers) has different rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do carrier fees apply to inbound messages?
Yes, most carriers charge the same rate for inbound messages.
Are there volume discounts?
Carrier pass-through fees don't have volume discounts. Provider fees may decrease with volume.
What about toll-free numbers?
Toll-free numbers have higher carrier fees (~$0.003-0.004) but don't require 10DLC registration.
Do fees change by use case?
Carrier fees are the same regardless of use case (OTP, marketing, etc.). TCR fees may vary based on campaign type.
Summary
| Fee Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier pass-through | $0.002-0.003 | Per message segment |
| Brand registration | $4 | One-time |
| Campaign registration | $2-15 | One-time |
| Campaign monthly | $2-10 | Monthly |
| Brand vetting | $40 | One-time (optional) |
With Zavu, you pay:
- From $0.004 per SMS, carrier fees included
- TCR fees at cost, refunded if the carrier rejects the brand
- Phone numbers at cost
Ready to start sending? Get started with Zavu - we handle the compliance, you focus on building.
See also:
- What is A2P 10DLC? - Understanding the basics
- 10DLC Registration Requirements - Step-by-step guide
- A2P 10DLC Guide - Complete overview
Need help understanding 10DLC fees? Contact us or join our Discord community for support and updates.