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Interactive Product Selector

Answer a few quick questions to get a personalized recommendation:
This is a high-level recommendation. Contact Telnyx Sales for detailed guidance on complex use cases.

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Use Case Decision Tree

Not sure which sender type fits? Start with your primary use case:
Best options:
  • Toll-free — Fast provisioning (2–3 days), high throughput, handset-level delivery receipts. Ideal for US/CA transactional messaging.
  • 10DLC long code — Good alternative if you want a local presence. Requires brand + campaign registration (2–3 business days).
  • Short code — Best for very high volume (200+ MPS). Longer provisioning (2–6 weeks) and higher cost.
For OTP/2FA specifically, see our Two-Factor Authentication guide.
Best options:
  • 10DLC long code — Required for A2P marketing in the US. Register your brand and campaign through 10DLC registration.
  • Toll-free — Good for mixed marketing + transactional. Requires toll-free verification.
  • Short code — Premium option for brand recognition and highest throughput.
  • RCS — Rich media cards, carousels, and suggested actions for supported devices.
Best options:
  • 10DLC long code — Local number feel, supports voice + SMS on the same number.
  • Toll-free — Works well for two-way if local presence isn’t important.
  • RCS — Rich interactive experience with read receipts, typing indicators, and suggested replies.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are one-way only — recipients cannot reply.
Best options:
  • Alphanumeric sender ID — Supported in 100+ countries. No number procurement needed. Great for brand recognition internationally.
  • Local long codes — Required in some countries. Use the coverage checker below for availability.
US toll-free and short code numbers only work for US/CA destinations. For international, use alphanumeric IDs or local numbers.
Best options:
  • RCS — Full rich media support: images, video, carousels, suggested actions, branded sender profiles.
  • MMS via long code/toll-free — Image and video support for US/CA only.
See our RCS Getting Started guide for details.

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Sender Comparison

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Capabilities at a Glance

10DLC Long CodeToll-FreeShort CodeRCSAlphanumeric
Brand RecognitionLocal numberBrandBrandBrand (verified)Brand name
Throughput3–75 MPS*3–150 MPS200+ MPS100+ MPS100+ MPS
Daily Volume Limits10K–200K (T-Mobile)**UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Two-Way Messaging✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes❌ No
Voice Support✅ Yes✅ Yes❌ No❌ No❌ No
Delivery ReceiptsCarrier onlyHandsetHandsetHandsetHandset
MMS SupportUS/CA onlyUS/CA onlyUS/CA onlyRich media❌ No
Opt-Out ManagementTelnyx managedNetwork managedTelnyx managedTelnyx managedN/A
* Throughput varies based on TCR Trust Score. ** T-Mobile daily limits based on TCR brand score; can be increased upon request.

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Registration & Cost Comparison

Understanding the time and cost investment for each sender type helps you plan your launch:
10DLC Long CodeToll-FreeShort CodeRCSAlphanumeric
Provisioning Time2–3 business days2–3 business days2–6 weeks6–10 weeksInstant
Registration RequiredBrand + Campaign (TCR)Toll-free verificationCarrier approvalGoogle verificationNone
Number Procurement CostLow (~$1/mo)Low (~$2/mo)High (~$500–1000/mo)Agent setup feeFree
Per-Message CostStandard ratesStandard ratesPremium ratesStandard ratesStandard rates
Renewal/OngoingAnnual brand vettingOne-time verificationMonthly leaseOngoingNone

10DLC Registration

Register your brand and campaign for US A2P messaging.

Toll-Free Verification

Verify your toll-free number for higher throughput.

Short Code Setup

Apply for a dedicated short code.

RCS Getting Started

Set up RCS business messaging with rich media.

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Send branded one-way messages internationally.

Hosted SMS

Bring your existing numbers to Telnyx messaging.

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Check Coverage by Country

Sender type availability varies by country. Use the tool below to check which options are available for your destination:

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Key Regional Considerations

  • 10DLC is required for A2P messaging to US mobile numbers (enforced by carriers since 2023)
  • Toll-free numbers work for both US and CA
  • Short codes are country-specific (US short codes don’t work in CA and vice versa)
  • MMS is supported on long code, toll-free, and short code
  • RCS is available for Android users

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Quick Start: Send Your First Message

Once you’ve chosen your sender type, sending a message uses the same API regardless of sender: 
curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/messages \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "from": "+15551234567",
    "to": "+15559876543",
    "text": "Hello from Telnyx!"
  }'
The from field determines your sender type automatically:
  • Phone number (+15551234567) → Long code or toll-free
  • Short code (12345) → Short code
  • Alphanumeric ("MyBrand") → Alphanumeric sender ID
You can also use a Messaging Profile to let Telnyx select the best sender from your number pool.

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Next Steps

Send a Message

Complete guide to sending your first SMS/MMS.

Messaging Profiles

Configure number pools, webhooks, and features.

10DLC Rate Limits

Understand throughput tiers and daily caps.