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 │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
$9 USD ~$20 USD Ready to send!
1-3 days 1-7 days
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 | $9 | One-time |
| Campaign Registration | ~$20 | One-time |
| 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:
- Completed KYC verification - Identity verification for your account
- US phone number - At least one number to assign to your campaign
- Business information - Legal name, EIN, address, website
Next Steps