🇺🇸 SMS Destination Guide for United States

Country dialing code: +1. Numbers are written in E.164 as +1 then the 10-digit number, area code first, with no trunk prefix, so (212) 555-1234 becomes +12125551234. We deliver to 146 mobile network operators within United States, including AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. Learn how to send compliant SMS to United States with our guide below.

Price per SMS

1.05p ex VAT

Two-way support

Coming soon

Sender ID Types

  • Long code

    VMN / phone number

    Supported

    • We send from verified toll-free numbers, so no 10DLC registration is needed; short codes are also available.
    • Needed for two-way messaging and replies.

  • Short code

    Five-digit sender

    Supported

    • Approval takes 30–50 business days.
    • Best for high-volume campaigns.

Every US sender has to be registered with the carriers, but you don't need to deal with 10DLC: PureSMS sends US traffic from verified toll-free numbers, and we handle toll-free verification for you. Our own KYC and Sender ID verification applies to every account on top for your safety and security.

United States's mobile networks

One flat 1.05p rate covers every network we reach in United States.

  • AT&T Mobility 159.7M subscribers
  • Verizon Wireless 155M subscribers
  • T-Mobile USA 86M subscribers
  • Sprint Nextel 54.5M subscribers
  • US Cellular 5M subscribers
  • Iowa Wireless Services 4.5M subscribers
  • Inteliquent 4M subscribers
  • Commio 2M subscribers

Plus 138 further networks, all at the same rate. We don't charge per-carrier fees, so you always know what you're paying.

Compliance in United States

  • Opt-in: Required. Marketing texts need prior express written consent: a clear disclosure at sign-up naming your brand, what you'll send and roughly how often, that message and data rates may apply, and how to opt out. Keep a record of when and how each number consented; the carriers review your sign-up flow as part of toll-free verification.
  • Opt-out: Required. Honour STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL and UNSUBSCRIBE, and any other reasonable request, within 10 business days (FCC rule in force since 11 April 2025). You may send one confirmation after an opt-out and nothing else. PureSMS handles this for you: opt-out replies are processed automatically and the number is blocked from further sends, so you're compliant without building anything.
  • Quiet hours: No marketing texts before 8 am or after 9 pm in the recipient's local time under TCPA rules; some states are stricter.
  • Restricted content: Gambling · High risk financial
  • Registration: All traffic must be registered or verified with the carriers; PureSMS handles this for the toll-free numbers we send from.
  • Content related to tobacco, alcohol and firearms must be age-gated to 21+.
  • US carriers maintain a list of disallowed content categories for A2P messaging.

Legislation & penalties

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) ↗

Marketing texts need the recipient's prior express written consent; informational texts need prior express consent. Recipients may revoke consent by any reasonable means and revocations must be honoured within 10 business days.

Penalty: Statutory damages of $500 per message, trebled to $1,500 if wilful, enforceable by private lawsuit and class action with no proof of harm required.

CTIA Messaging Principles and carrier registration ↗

The carriers' own rules for business messaging. Toll-free numbers must be verified before they can send, 10-digit local numbers must be registered under 10DLC, and short codes are approved individually. SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) is restricted, and alcohol, firearms and tobacco must be age-gated to 21+.

Penalty: Unverified or unregistered traffic is blocked or heavily filtered by the carriers; violations can get a number or brand suspended.

These rules are what we generally check against, however they may not be up-to-date. We'll always keep you informed of what is needed for each destination throughout any registration process.

Regulators & industry bodies

Guidance last reviewed 2026-08-27.

Frequently asked

Can I use my brand name as the sender ID in the United States?

No. US carriers don't support alphanumeric sender IDs. PureSMS sends your messages from a verified toll-free number (or a short code if you need one), and recipients see that number.

Do I need 10DLC registration to text US customers?

Not with PureSMS. 10DLC applies to 10-digit local numbers; we send US traffic from toll-free numbers instead, which need carrier verification rather than 10DLC registration. We handle that verification for you; allow around a week.

What consent do I need under the TCPA?

Prior express written consent for marketing texts: a clear disclosure at sign-up naming your brand, what you'll send, that message and data rates may apply, and how to opt out. Transactional and informational texts need prior express consent, which can be as simple as the customer giving you their number for that purpose.

What are the penalties for breaking the TCPA?

$500 per message in statutory damages, rising to $1,500 if the violation is wilful. Consumers can sue directly and class actions are common, so a single unwanted campaign can be very expensive.

Which opt-out keywords must I honour in the US?

STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL and UNSUBSCRIBE, plus any other reasonable request. Revocations must take effect within 10 business days, and you may send one confirmation message afterwards. PureSMS processes opt-out replies automatically and blocks further sends to that number.

Do you charge US carrier fees?

No. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon levy per-message surcharges on A2P traffic, but our flat rate to the United States already covers every network. There are no per-carrier fees on top.

How do I format US phone numbers?

Use E.164: +1 then the 10-digit number with the area code first and no leading 1. A number shown as (212) 555-1234 is sent as +12125551234.

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