What is 10DLC for Business Text Messaging?
10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code, basically US 10-digit local phone numbers approved by mobile network operators for Application to Person (A2P) text messaging.
If you are using text messaging for your business, you might have heard about 10DLC, and new confusing requirements and details surrounding 10DLC. Here we will try to give a simple explanation of what it means for a business, especially for a business having a low volume of commercial text messages, and use or planning to use Twilio SMS service.
Up until now, there were primarily 3 options for business text communication:
Short codes: 5 or 6 digit special numbers capable of sending millions of messages per day at a high rate. They can be very expensive, plus from customer’s point of view, they do not feel normal for a two-way conversation. They are very good for large size corporations with a very high volume, but not a good fit for small scale messaging. 10DLC is not applicable for short codes.
Toll-free long codes: Toll free numbers with delivery rate much lower than short codes but higher than local numbers (long codes). This is a good affordable option for businesses with lower volumes. One problem with toll-free numbers is that two-way text messaging may seem odd and impersonal to the customers. 10DLC is not applicable for toll-free numbers.
Local long codes: Standard 10-digit local numbers. This is the most familiar number format for the customers, as well as the most affordable one for the businesses. One major down side of the local number is that it allows sending only 1 message per second. Platforms like Twilio and Sociocs have built message queueing mechanisms so that you don’t have to worry about the message sending rate, however, it still limits number of messages you can send in a day. 10DLC is applicable for local numbers.
What is 10DLC?
Quick definitions
- 10DLC — 10-Digit Long Code: a standard US local phone number approved for business texting.
- A2P — Application-to-Person: business-initiated messages, as opposed to person-to-person (P2P) texts.
- TCR — The Campaign Registry: the central database that verifies brands and campaigns for 10DLC.
- Brand — Your registered business identity within TCR.
- Campaign — The registered use case describing the type of messages you send (e.g., customer care, marketing, alerts).
10DLC is a system which allows sending verified business messaging traffic using standard 10-digit local numbers. Mobile networks are participating in the system and there is a central registry called The Campaign Registry (TCR) which is acting as a reputation authority for this communication. This is applicable only to businesses sending text messages to the US numbers using local numbers.
Looking for 10DLC Registration and Campaign Costs? Visit Twilio 10DLC Pricing Guide →
10DLC registration
Businesses are required to be registered (as brands) and approved by TCR for sending business messages using 10-digit local numbers. This isn’t optional anymore — since 2023, carriers block outbound messages from unregistered 10DLC numbers rather than simply filtering or surcharging them. Here is Twilio’s guide to A2P 10DLC registration — and if you want the exact fees involved, see our Twilio 10DLC pricing guide.
What is a “Campaign”?
A campaign is the categorization of the type of the messages the business is planning to send. Don’t confuse it with the marketing campaigns. This is equally applicable to both transactional and promotional messaging. Once your business brand is registered and approved for 10DLC, you are also supposed to register a campaign, and link your phone number(s) to that campaign. Your band details combined with the campaign type will determine maximum message throughput and carrier surcharge applicable for your messages.
Benefits of 10DLC
Higher SMS volume
After the registration, your business can potentially send messages at a higher throughput approved by the carriers.
Improved delivery
10DLC numbers are pre-approved by the mobile carriers for business messaging. Messages sent from 10DLC numbers are more likely to reach the recipient than the unregistered local numbers. Unregistered numbers are almost always blocked from delivering the messages.
Transparent ecosystem
10DLC registration requirements create a barrier to entry for spammers and bad actors, but helps genuine businesses in being more trustworthy with their text communication with their customers.
Should I register?
Yes, unless you are just testing or working on a proof of concept (POC). 10DLC registration is beneficial when you want to regularly send messages to your customers.
Do I need an EIN to register for 10DLC?
Not necessarily. If you have a Tax ID (EIN), you’ll register as a Low Volume Standard or Standard brand, depending on your volume. If you don’t have an EIN — for example, as a sole proprietor — you can still register through Twilio’s Sole Proprietor Brand path, which is designed for exactly this situation.
What’s the difference between Sole Proprietor, Low Volume Standard, and Standard brands?
Sole Proprietor is for businesses without an EIN and supports one phone number with limited daily volume. Low Volume Standard is for EIN-holding businesses sending under 6,000 messages a day, with higher limits and no secondary vetting. Standard is for higher-volume EIN-holding businesses and includes secondary vetting, which unlocks the highest throughput. For the full comparison and current fees for each, see our Twilio 10DLC pricing guide.
How do I register?
Each SMS provider has its own implementation for registration. Here is the guideline for Twilio. At the time of writing this article, “Low-Volume Standard” seems to be the most efficient way with Twilio (if you intend to send fewer than 6,000 message segments/day). For the exact fees involved at each step, see our Twilio 10DLC pricing guide.
How long does 10DLC registration take?
It varies, but plan for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Brand registration is often near-instant to a few days, while campaign approval — especially for Standard brands that require secondary vetting — can take longer. Register early if you have a launch date in mind.
What if I don’t register?
Your messages won’t send. Since 2023, US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others) block outbound SMS from unregistered 10DLC numbers rather than just filtering or surcharging them — so registration isn’t a “nice to have” anymore, it’s required to send business texts at all.
Do I need to purchase new long code numbers after 10DLC registration?
No. You can link existing numbers with your campaigns after your business brand is approved.
Do I have to make any changes to my channel on Sociocs after 10DLC registration?
No. Your currently connected Twilio channel will keep working without requiring any changes, regardless of whether your register for 10DLC or not.
For more granular details of specific requirements and charges, visit Twilio’s official A2P 10DLC guide.
Check out our blog post the importance of SMS in customer communication to see how your business can benefit from text messaging.
Check out our blog post using Sociocs as a Twilio Front-end to see how you can combine powers of Twilio SMS back-end and Sociocs front-end for your business.