Long Code
A long code is a normal 10-digit number. Texting from one as a business requires 10DLC registration, and throughput depends on your brand's trust score.
Long codes are ordinary 10-digit phone numbers — the same format consumers use. Their local feel gives them strong answer and read rates, which is why businesses love texting from them.
Carriers ended the free-for-all in 2021: any application-driven (A2P) traffic from a long code must run on a registered 10DLC campaign. The "10DLC" name literally means "10-digit long code."
Long codes suit conversational and moderate-volume messaging. Their throughput is governed by the brand's trust score, ranging from less than 1 message per second for unvetted sole proprietors to 75+ per second for vetted brands.
Frequently asked questions
Related glossary terms
10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is the US carrier-mandated framework for sending Application-to-Person SMS from local 10-digit numbers, requiring brand and campaign registration with The Campaign Registry.
A short code is a 5- or 6-digit phone number leased for high-volume A2P SMS, offering the highest throughput available but costing roughly $500-$1,250 per month plus a multi-week approval process.
Carrier filtering is the automated blocking or throttling of SMS that carriers judge unregistered, off-use-case, or spam-like — often without any error returned to the sender.