10DLC or toll-free: which number should you text from?
Costs, approval, speed and fit for each kind of business number, with Twilio’s and Vonage’s current fees.
We make TextScaleHQ, which works with both kinds of number. Fees come from Twilio, Vonage and The Campaign Registry, checked October 21, 2026, with links.
Key takeaways
- Texts cost the same on both on Twilio: $0.0083 each, with about the same carrier fees.
- Toll-free verification is free; 10DLC costs $4.50 to $46 to register, $15 per campaign review and $1.50 to $10 a month.
- Both are blocked until approved. Toll-free takes about 3 to 5 business days on Twilio; 10DLC campaigns can take weeks.
- For a small business sending campaigns to a list, toll-free is usually the simpler choice.
The two kinds of number
A 10DLC number is an ordinary local number with your area code, registered for business texting through The Campaign Registry. A toll-free number starts with 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888 and is verified through your provider instead. Both can send marketing texts once approved, and carriers block both until they are.
Side by side
| Local number (10DLC) | Toll-free number | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like | A local area code, like (305) 555-0142 | An 8XX prefix, like (844) 555-0101 |
| Number on Twilio | $1.15 a month | $2.15 a month |
| Price per text | $0.0083, plus carrier fees | $0.0083, plus about the same carrier fees |
| Registration | Brand $4.50 ($46 with standard vetting), $15 per campaign review, then $1.50 to $10 a month | Toll-free verification, free |
| Needs an EIN | Yes, unless you register as a sole proprietor | Yes since 2026, unless you’re a sole proprietor |
| Review time | Up to 5 business days; standard campaigns can take weeks | 3 to 5 business days on Twilio |
| Speed | 4 to 75 texts a second per carrier, by trust score; T-Mobile daily caps from 2,000 to 200,000 | 3 texts a second by default; more for a fee |
| Sending before approval | Blocked since September 1, 2023 (error 30034) | Blocked since January 31, 2024 (error 30032) |
Prices are Twilio list prices, checked October 21, 2026. Twilio pricing, 10DLC fees, 10DLC throughput, T-Mobile caps, Toll-free throughput
What each costs in a year
Texts cost the same on both, so the difference is the number and the registration. For one standard marketing campaign on Twilio:
| 10DLC fee on Twilio | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brand registration | $4.50 once |
| Standard brand vetting | $41.50 once (so $46 for a standard brand) |
| Campaign review | $15 per submission, not refunded |
| Campaign, standard or marketing | $10 a month |
| Campaign, low-volume mixed | $1.50 a month |
| Campaign, sole proprietor | $2 a month |
That puts a local number at about $194.80 in the first year ($61.00 up front, then $10 a month for the campaign and $1.15 for the number), against about $25.80 for a toll-free number. A sole proprietor pays less for 10DLC ($4.50, $15, then $2 a month) but is limited to one number and about 1,000 texts a day to T-Mobile.
10DLC fees, Campaign vetting, Sole proprietor, The Campaign Registry fees
Getting approved
- 10DLC
- You register a brand (who you are, with your EIN) and a campaign (what you’ll send, how people opt in, sample messages). Twilio says campaign review takes up to 5 business days, and warns standard campaigns can take weeks. Sample messages with public link shorteners are a common rejection. Vetting FAQ, Troubleshooting
- Toll-free
- One form: business details with your EIN, use case, how people opt in, sample messages, and links to your privacy policy and terms. Twilio quotes 3 to 5 business days. Our step-by-step guide covers every field. Toll-free best practices
How fast they send
10DLC speed depends on your brand’s trust score: 75 texts a second per carrier at the top, 40 in the middle and 4 at the bottom, with T-Mobile capping a brand at 2,000 to 200,000 texts a day. A verified toll-free number sends 3 texts a second, about 10,800 an hour, and Twilio sells higher speeds starting at 25 a second. For a small business sending a few thousand texts, both are fast enough.
10DLC throughput, T-Mobile caps, Toll-free throughput, Higher-throughput toll-free
Which should you pick?
You send marketing campaigns to a list, want one free review instead of brand and campaign fees, and don’t mind an 8XX number.
A local area code matters to your customers, you also text one to one, or you need more than 3 texts a second without paying extra.
Get written consent, name your business in every text and include a way to opt out. Carriers review both.
Sole-proprietor 10DLC is cheap but capped at one number and about 1,000 texts a day to T-Mobile. Toll-free verification also takes sole proprietors.
Vonage charges almost the same 10DLC fees, verifies toll-free numbers for free in 2 to 10 business days, and sends 30 texts a second per registered toll-free number. Vonage 10DLC fees, Vonage toll-free
Questions
Is toll-free or 10DLC better for SMS marketing?
For a small business sending campaigns to a list, toll-free is usually simpler: one free review and no monthly campaign fee. 10DLC makes sense if a local number matters to you or you need more speed.
How much does 10DLC registration cost?
On Twilio: $4.50 for the brand, $41.50 for standard vetting, $15 for each campaign review, then $10 a month for a standard marketing campaign. Sole proprietors pay $4.50, $15 and $2 a month.
Is toll-free verification free?
Yes, on Twilio and on Vonage. The number itself is $2.15 a month on Twilio.
Can I text before my number is approved?
No. Unregistered 10DLC traffic has been blocked since September 1, 2023, and unverified toll-free traffic since January 31, 2024.
How many texts a second can a toll-free number send?
Three by default on Twilio, about 10,800 an hour. Twilio sells higher speeds starting at 25 a second.
Do texts cost more on toll-free?
No. On Twilio both cost $0.0083 per text, and carrier fees are about the same.
SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, SlickText, Textmagic, Salesmsg, Textedly, ClickSend, Twilio and Vonage are trademarks of their owners. TextScaleHQ isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
