10DLC Overview

Learn about 10DLC registration requirements for sending SMS in the United States

10DLC Compliance

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is the industry standard for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging in the United States. All businesses sending SMS to US phone numbers must register their brand and messaging campaigns.

Starting February 2025, unregistered traffic will be blocked by carriers. Complete your 10DLC registration to ensure uninterrupted SMS delivery.

Why 10DLC?

US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) require 10DLC registration to:

• Reduce spam - Verify legitimate business senders
• Improve deliverability - Registered traffic gets priority routing
• Increase throughput - Higher message limits for trusted senders
• Ensure compliance - Meet TCPA and carrier requirements

Registration Process

10DLC registration consists of two steps:

┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│  1. Register    │ →  │  2. Register    │ →  │  3. Assign      │
│     Brand       │    │     Campaign    │    │     Numbers     │
└─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
   $35 USD total          Included             Ready to send!
  (charged upfront)      1-7 days
     1-3 days

The $35 registration fee covers both brand ($15) and campaign (~$20) registration. It is charged upfront when you register your brand.

Step 1: Brand Registration

Your Brand represents your business entity. You provide company information like legal name, EIN/Tax ID, address, and website. This is reviewed by The Campaign Registry (TCR).

Step 2: Campaign Registration

A Campaign describes your messaging use case. You specify the type of messages (2FA, marketing, notifications), provide sample messages, and confirm compliance settings.

Step 3: Phone Number Assignment

Once your campaign is approved, assign your US phone numbers to it. Messages sent from these numbers will be delivered as registered A2P traffic.

Costs

Item	Cost	Type
Brand Registration	$15	One-time (charged upfront as part of $35 total)
Campaign Registration	~$20	One-time (included in $35 upfront fee)
Campaign Monthly Fee	$2-15/month	Recurring

Costs vary by campaign use case. Marketing campaigns have higher fees than transactional ones like 2FA.

Throughput Limits

Your messaging throughput depends on your Trust Score, assigned by TCR based on your brand vetting:

Trust Score	Daily Limit	Messages/Second
Low	2,000	0.2
Medium	10,000	1
High	200,000	10+

Most small businesses receive a Medium trust score. Large enterprises with established brands typically receive High scores.

Prerequisites

Before starting 10DLC registration, you need:

1. Completed KYC verification - Identity verification for your account
2. US phone number - At least one number to assign to your campaign
3. Business information - Legal name, EIN, address, website

Next Steps

Register Your Brand

Start with brand registration

Create a Campaign

Set up your messaging campaign