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Messaging in CloudTalk is always billed separately from your calling plan. This article explains how SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp messages are charged and what affects their cost.
User level: Admin
SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp messages are not included in your subscription. All messaging is charged from your account credit based on usage. This means:
  • Every message you send has a cost
  • There are no included message bundles in standard plans
  • Messaging will stop if your credit balance runs out

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How messaging is billed

Messaging follows a simple usage-based model:
  • You are charged per message
  • Charges are deducted from your prepaid credit balance
  • Pricing depends on the destination country and message type
This applies to SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp.

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SMS and MMS pricing

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Per-message billing

SMS and MMS are billed individually. Each message is charged based on the recipient’s country.

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Message fragments (important)

SMS messages are billed in fragments, where one fragment equals up to 160 characters.
  • Messages longer than 160 characters are split into multiple fragments
  • Each fragment is billed separately
  • Inbound messages are charged at $0.008 per fragment
Messaging rates vary by country. For a full list of SMS pricing by destination, contact Support or your account manager or refer to your pricing agreement.

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SMS availability and reachability

Not all CloudTalk numbers support SMS, and message delivery may vary depending on the country and carrier.
  • Some numbers are SMS-capable only for domestic messaging
  • Some countries do not support international SMS delivery
  • In certain cases, messages may be filtered or the sender ID may be changed
To learn more, see the guide on SMS-capable numbers and reachability.

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WhatsApp pricing

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Requirements

To use WhatsApp in CloudTalk:
  • You must be on the Expert or Custom plan
  • Your account must have at least 3 users (seats)
  • WhatsApp must be activated via the dashboard setup

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How pricing works

  • WhatsApp messages are charged at a fixed rate of $0.01 per message, for both inbound and outbound messages
  • Charges are deducted from your CloudTalk credit balance

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US SMS compliance (A2P 10DLC)

If you send SMS messages to US numbers, you must comply with A2P 10DLC regulations.

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What is A2P 10DLC

A2P (Application-to-Person) 10DLC is a US messaging standard required by carriers to:
  • Reduce spam
  • Improve message deliverability
  • Ensure sender transparency

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How to register

You need to register your messaging use case through CloudTalk. This typically includes:
  • Business verification
  • Campaign details (what messages you send and why)
  • Approval from carriers
⚠️ Why registration is requiredWithout A2P 10DLC registration, all SMS sent to US numbers from a CloudTalk number with the +1 country code will be blocked.
To learn more, see the guide on registering US numbers for A2P 10DLC messaging.

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How to track messaging charges

You can monitor your messaging usage and costs in two ways.

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Credit movement export

Download the Credit Movement export to review a detailed breakdown of your messaging charges. This includes:
  • Individual message charges
  • Date and time of each message
  • Destination numbers
  • Cost per message
This is the most accurate way to verify how your messaging usage is billed.

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Messages report in Analytics

Use the Messages report to track:
  • Total messages sent
  • Usage trends
  • Activity by user or number
Need help or have a question? Just reach out through our Support portal — we’re here for you.