A2P SMS cost calculator
Enter your monthly volume; the calculator itemizes A2P SMS costs: brand registration, vetting, campaign verification, monthly per-campaign carrier fees, per-segment pass-through, and provider rate, next to flat iMessage pricing.
Carrier mix of your list
US Cellular takes the remaining 2%. Blended pass-through: $0.0041 per segment.
| A2P SMS line item | Charged | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brand registration | One-time | $4.50 |
| Standard external vetting | One-time | $41.50 |
| Campaign verification (2 campaigns) | One-time | $30.00 |
| Per-campaign carrier fees (2 at $12.50) | Monthly | $25.00 |
| Carrier pass-through (20,000 segments at a blended $0.0041) | Monthly | $81.20 |
| Provider per-segment rate (editable, at $0.0079) | Monthly | $158.00 |
$264
A2P SMS, monthly
$3,244
A2P SMS, first year
$2,988
iMessage, first year (1 line)
A Blue Reacher line is $249 per month with unlimited iMessages (50 opted-in / 30 cold new contacts a day), so the $249 monthly figure does not move with message volume, and there is no registration to pay for or wait on. No A2P registration is required because iMessage is not carrier SMS.
Registration and carrier figures are The Campaign Registry's published rates after its 1 August 2025 increase and each carrier's published 2026 pass-through rates, as compiled in our A2P cost model dated 26 July 2026. The provider per-segment rate varies by vendor, so it is an editable default rather than a claimed fact. Inbound pass-through and taxes are excluded, which understates the A2P total. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Why is the real A2P SMS cost higher than the advertised rate?
The advertised per-message rate is the smallest invoice line. Before send: brand registration, vetting, campaign verification, and 3-6 week approval wait. Monthly: carrier fees per campaign and per-segment pass-through on top of provider rates. Full sourced model: The State of B2B iMessage 2026.
How does iMessage pricing compare?
iMessage is not carrier SMS, so it carries none of the registration stack: no A2P registration required, no per-campaign fees, and no per-segment metering. A Blue Reacher line is a flat monthly price with unlimited iMessages (50 opted-in / 30 cold new contacts a day), published on the pricing page, so the comparison column in the calculator does not move with volume. The registration difference is a channel distinction, not a consent exemption; the A2P 10DLC guide covers where each regime applies.
Related
- SMS segment calculator for counting the exact segments a message costs
- The State of B2B iMessage 2026 for the sourced cost model these fees come from
- A2P 10DLC explained for what registration involves and who needs it