Segments drive cost
Texts are billed per segment, not per message. A 170-character text is two segments and costs twice as much as a 150-character one.
Plan your campaign budget
Know what a text campaign will cost before you hit send.
Paste your message, enter how many contacts you will text and how many messages each one gets. The calculator counts segments, checks for emoji and other characters that shrink the limit, and estimates the total cost.
Free tool
SMS segment & campaign cost calculator
Merge fields such as {first_name} are counted as typed. Leave room for longer names.
Segments per message
1 (GSM-7)
Total segments
3,000
Cost per contact
$0.045
Estimated campaign cost
$45.00
This message fits in one segment, the cheapest way to send it. Estimates cover outbound texts only. Incoming replies are free in Text2Sale; carrier registration fees are separate.
One emoji can double it
Emoji and some special characters switch a message to Unicode, which cuts the limit from 160 to 70 characters per segment.
Plan the whole sequence
Most follow-up runs three to six texts per lead. Budget for every step, not just the first message.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to send a text message?
It depends on your provider and the number of segments. In Text2Sale, outbound texts are $0.015 per segment, or $0.0135 after a single wallet deposit of $500 or more. Incoming replies are free.
What is an SMS segment?
A segment is one billable unit of a text. A plain GSM-7 text holds up to 160 characters in one segment. Longer texts are split into 153-character segments, and Unicode texts into 70 or 67 characters.
How can I lower my texting costs?
Keep messages to one segment, avoid emoji in campaign texts, remove opt-outs and bad numbers before sending, and stop sequences when a lead replies.
Does this include carrier registration fees?
No. The calculator estimates per-message cost only. Business texting also requires carrier (10DLC) registration, which has separate one-time and monthly fees.
Related
The Insurance Lead Playbook
One follow-up tactic a week for agents who work leads.
Texting scripts, calling strategy, AI, deliverability and the numbers that matter. Short enough to read between calls.
Send the campaign from Text2Sale.
Import your list, write one-segment messages, schedule follow-up that stops on reply, and pay only for what you send.