What is 10DLC, and why does it require registration?

10DLC (10-digit long code) is the rule set US carriers use for business texts sent from a normal-looking phone number. Carriers ask every business that sends this way to register its brand. You also register each type of message you send, called a campaign. The goal is to cut spam and fraud.

Who actually charges the 10DLC fees, the platform or the carriers?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) sets the base fees, and carriers and platforms pass them on. A platform like Twilio charges what TCR bills plus its own handling. So the fees don't come from the platform you pick, though the total can vary a little from one platform to the next.

How long does registration actually take?

Twilio says most campaigns are approved in under a week. It gives no fixed date, since carriers, Twilio and outside vetting partners all take part. Leave some slack before a launch date that hangs on it.

Where does SalesCrew fit with 10DLC?

Disclosure: SalesCrew is our product. It gives you phone numbers and two-way SMS with consent tracking, STOP handling and 10DLC registration support, beside your email, LinkedIn and call work in one CRM with unlimited seats.

Best 10DLC registration help

Twilio and SimpleTexting both walk you through 10DLC brand and campaign sign-up. Here is what each one charges, and what the registry itself sets.

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Pipeline with weighted forecast and stage breakdown

Twilio wins for a team with developers that wants to see and control each brand and campaign fee line by line. SimpleTexting wins for a team without developers that wants one flat monthly plan, with help on sign-up built in.

The short answer

Twilio charges $44 one-time for standard brand sign-up, or $4 one-time for low-volume standard or sole proprietor sign-up. Add a $15 one-time campaign vetting fee, then $1.50 to $10 a month per campaign, based on the sign-up type.
SimpleTexting charges a $4 one-time carrier fee as part of its plans. Plans start at $39/mo with 500 monthly credits and a local number.
Twilio expects most campaigns to clear in under a week. It won't promise a date, since carriers and outside vetting partners are part of the process.
The base fees come from The Campaign Registry, not the platform you sign up through. Each platform passes those on and adds its own handling. That's why the fee shape looks alike across providers, even when the exact numbers differ.

How we compared these

We ranked each platform on what it charges for brand and campaign sign-up. Every SMS platform here "supports" 10DLC in some form, so that alone tells you little. We checked each figure on the vendor's own pricing page in September 2026.

10DLC registration fee comparison

Provider	Brand/campaign fee	Vetting	Monthly cost	Best for
Twilio	$44 one-time standard brand fee ($4 for low-volume standard or sole proprietor)	$15 one-time campaign vetting fee	$1.50-$10/mo per campaign, by sign-up type	Line-by-line fees and direct API control for a dev team
SimpleTexting	$4 one-time carrier fee	Included in onboarding	Included in the ~$33-39/mo Local Number plan, 500 credits	A team without developers that wants guided setup in a flat plan
EZ Texting	Fee is part of setup on the plan page, not listed as its own figure	Part of guided setup	Included in the $20/mo Launch plan (annual), 500 credits, one number, one user	A low-cost, guided start for a team without developers
Bandwidth	No flat sign-up fee on the pricing page we checked; it lists per-message prices sent straight to carriers	Not published on the page checked	$0.006/SMS and $0.015/MMS outbound on 10DLC, direct-to-carrier	High-volume senders with developers who want direct carrier prices

Figures checked on each vendor's own pricing page, September 2026, including twilio.com, simpletexting.com, eztexting.com and bandwidth.com.

The field, ranked

1. Twilio

Twilio shows you The Campaign Registry's fees with no bundling. That suits a team that wants to see and control every line item. Not for a team without developers that wants one guided setup and no fee tables to read.

2. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting bundles sign-up help and a lower one-time fee into a flat monthly plan, with credits and a number included. Not for a team that needs Twilio-level API control or is building SMS into a larger custom product.

3. EZ Texting

EZ Texting has the lowest published entry price, with sign-up folded into guided setup. Not for a team that needs more than one number or user on day one without an upgrade.

4. Bandwidth

Bandwidth sells per-message pricing sent straight to carriers, built for high-volume senders. Its sign-up fees aren't listed as a flat figure. Not for a small team that wants a simple, guided setup.

How to choose

Choose Twilio if you have developers and want each 10DLC fee on its own line. Choose SimpleTexting if you want sign-up help inside a flat plan from $39/mo. Choose EZ Texting if you want the lowest entry price, at $20/mo on the annual Launch plan. Choose Bandwidth if you send high volume and want direct carrier prices of $0.006 per SMS. Whichever you pick, check the current carrier rules for your send volume first.

Questions

What is 10DLC, and why does it require registration?: 10DLC (10-digit long code) is the rule set US carriers use for business texts sent from a normal-looking phone number. Carriers ask every business that sends this way to register its brand. You also register each type of message you send, called a campaign. The goal is to cut spam and fraud.
Who actually charges the 10DLC fees, the platform or the carriers?: The Campaign Registry (TCR) sets the base fees, and carriers and platforms pass them on. A platform like Twilio charges what TCR bills plus its own handling. So the fees don't come from the platform you pick, though the total can vary a little from one platform to the next.
How long does registration actually take?: Twilio says most campaigns are approved in under a week. It gives no fixed date, since carriers, Twilio and outside vetting partners all take part. Leave some slack before a launch date that hangs on it.
Where does SalesCrew fit with 10DLC?: Disclosure: SalesCrew is our product. It gives you phone numbers and two-way SMS with consent tracking, STOP handling and 10DLC registration support, beside your email, LinkedIn and call work in one CRM with unlimited seats.