10-Digit Long Code Provider
10DLC allows businesses to send texts from local phone numbers, even existing landlines. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, 10DLC is the messaging service you need to take engagement with consumers and workers to the next level.
Long Code SMS
10-digit long codes, or 10DLC, are carrier approved local phone numbers that allow businesses to send text messages to customers, prospects, candidates, employees and more. By text-enabling a local phone number, businesses can engage with stakeholders from a familiar area code, and drive higher engagement with two-way texting capabilities.
Benefits of 10-Digit Long Codes
Improved customer engagement
10DLC helps businesses offer an improved customer experience through more personalized two-way messaging, while giving customers the ability to initiate a conversation with your business.
Greater message flexibility
With 10DLC, it’s possible to send longer messages, allowing businesses to include more information than they could with short codes. This enables more effective communication with less limitations.
Lower costs
Short codes typically cost thousands of dollars per month, while 10-digit numbers are affordable for any sized business. 10DLCs offer a more cost-effective way to message customers and offer a higher return on investment.
Better trust and recognition
With two-way messaging, businesses can create a positive relationship with their customers. And messaging with a localized 10-digit number within a customer’s area code offers a greater sense of familiarity and trust.
Scalability and customization
With 10DLC, businesses can send high volumes of text messages while maintaining compliance with carrier regulations, helping streamline their texting efforts while reaching more customers.
Increased deliverability
10DLC creates A2P SMS routes that are dedicated solely to business-to-consumer traffic, making for more trusted messaging, less spam, and more reliable and consistent deliverability.
Faster throughput
Faster messaging speeds keep your team in sync and your customers happy. From time-sensitive updates to urgent requests, 10DLCs ensures that your messages are delivered quickly and efficiently, every time.
Industry compliant
All 10DLCs must be registered to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. By registering your numbers, 10DLCs also come with a reduced risk of getting your messages blocked or flagged as spam.
How to Get Started with 10DLC Registration
Complete our registration form.
You’ll provide us with information about your company, industry, use case, samples of the messages you will be sending, and how you gather opt-in consent.
Submit your 10DLC registration
Once the form is completed, we’ll submit your 10DLC registration on your behalf and reach out if more information is needed. We’ll keep you posted on its status and let you know as soon as it gets approved.
Get a new 10DLC, or text-enable your existing number.
Once your 10DLC registration is approved, we’ll get you set up with new virtual numbers, or text-enable your existing 10-digit numbers. New virtual numbers will be created with your desired area code.
Start texting!
Once your numbers are set up, your team can begin texting.
Compare Number Types
| 10- Digit Long Code | Toll-free | Short Code | |
| Area Code | Local | 8XX | None |
| Digits | 10 | 10 | 5 or 6 |
| Throughput | 12 - 225 MPS* | 3 - 150 MPS | 100 - 300 MPS |
| Daily campaign volume limits | Yes | No | No |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Use Case | Local recruiting, marketing, sales, workforce management | National recruiting, marketing, sales, workforce management | High volume local or national marketing and recruiting |
| Benefits | More affordable Faster provisioning Local area code | Consumer trust Portability 8XX area code | Fastest throughput Highest deliverability Easy to promote |
| Provisioning Timeline | A few days to a few weeks | One to three weeks | Six to eight weeks |
*10DLC throughput is determined by an organization’s TCR trust score and shared across all its long codes.
Compliance and Best Practices for 10DLC Messaging
To fully benefit from 10-digit code messaging, businesses must follow essential compliance requirements that protect consumers and ensure reliable delivery. Whether you’re launching a new 10DLC campaign or scaling your SMS marketing efforts, aligning with 10DLC regulations is key to successful business texting.
Adherence to Carrier Guidelines
All carriers now require formal 10DLC registration for any business that sends text messaging through 10-digit codes. This ensures that every message complies with carrier policies and reduces the risk of filtering or blocking. Businesses must register their use case, message samples, and opt-in process as part of the 10DLC registration process. Staying in compliance boosts deliverability and protects your business from penalties.
Opt-In and Opt-Out Mechanisms
A compliant messaging strategy starts with consent. Businesses should collect explicit opt-in consent before sending any SMS message or marketing communication. Your contacts must know they are agreeing to receive texts, and they must be able to opt out easily at any time. Every 10DLC number should support keywords like “STOP” to let recipients unsubscribe. This is not only a best practice—it’s a requirement under 10DLC regulations.
Content Restrictions
To maintain compliance and protect your brand, avoid sending messages that include prohibited content. This includes deceptive information, illegal offers, or spammy text messaging tactics. Whether you’re sending a promotional SMS message or a transactional update, clarity and transparency are essential. Businesses using shared short codes should also be aware that carriers are phasing them out in favor of registered 10DLC numbers and dedicated short codes.
Monitoring and Reporting
Ongoing monitoring of your 10DLC campaign is just as important as your initial registration. Track delivery rates, opt-outs, and engagement metrics to quickly identify any issues with your long code messaging. TextUs offers built-in reporting tools to help you manage performance and ensure compliance across all your business texting campaigns.
By following these best practices, businesses can use 10-digit codes to enhance customer engagement while staying compliant with 10DLC messaging regulations.
Industry-Specific Use Cases for 10DLC Messaging
Businesses across industries are turning to 10DLC numbers for secure, localized, and efficient communication. Here’s how different sectors are using long code text messaging to connect with their audiences:
Retail
Retailers use 10-digit codes to send personalized promotions, local store updates, and order confirmations. The familiarity of a local area code increases open rates and drives higher engagement in SMS marketing campaigns.
Healthcare
Healthcare providers rely on compliant texting through 10DLC messaging to send appointment reminders, patient follow-ups, and health alerts. A properly registered 10DLC number helps maintain HIPAA-friendly communication without relying on a short code.
Financial Services
Banks, lenders, and insurance companies use long code messaging to send real-time transaction alerts, fraud warnings, and account updates. Unlike a shared short code, a dedicated 10-digit code builds trust and improves message recognition.
Education
Universities and schools use SMS message updates to notify students and parents about campus events, emergency alerts, and registration deadlines. A 10DLC number with a known local area code makes educational messaging more effective.
Hospitality
Hotels and travel companies use 10DLC messaging for booking confirmations, check-in instructions, and guest experience surveys. Local texting helps deliver timely, relevant messages directly to a traveler’s phone.
Staffing & Recruiting
Staffing agencies and recruiters benefit greatly from business texting. From outreach and interview scheduling to onboarding and shift coordination, a registered 10DLC number enables personalized, high-volume messaging while staying within compliance.
Very effective form of communication
“In the year 2022, texting should be a priority for reaching clients. I am far more likely to receive a response when I reach out through Text Us than when I call. I love that we can connect our phone number to the text line as well.”
Straight forward solution to our communication needs
“We switched from another service to TextUs after looking at several. It is very a very cost-effective and straight forward tool. It took no training time at all to be able to pick it up and use it immediately. The switch-over was quite painless.”
Happy to use TextUs at work
“I like the fast and efficient communication I have with my clients. I never miss a text and always am able to respond faster than a phone call. My clients love that I can talk to them at a drop of a hat!”
FAQs
A2P 10DLC refers to a formal system in the United States and Canada that allows businesses to send Application-to-Person (A2P) type messaging via standard 10-digit long code (10DLC) phone numbers. US mobile carriers consider all business-to-consumer text messaging to be A2P.
The purpose of this technology is to provide a more reliable and secure method of communication between businesses and their audience. With 10DLC, businesses can send higher volumes of messages with an improved delivery rate and faster throughputs. In addition, 10DLC limits “bad actors” to cut down on spam messaging, making SMS a more reliable and trusted form of communication.
Companies that use A2P SMS/MMS communication to connect with their customers.
Registering your 10DLC campaign is now required by all US mobile carriers to ensure that text messaging services are used responsibly and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. 10DLC campaign registration allows carriers to get additional information on A2P message senders and the type of traffic being sent to their mobile subscribers. Any business wanting to text its consumers must register, regardless of which texting platform they choose.
Campaigns for standard use cases are typically approved in a few days. Specialty use cases may require additional vetting which can take up to a few weeks, depending on how quickly carriers can review.
Yes, you can use your existing landline or VoIP number as 10DLC.
The answer is yes! With TextUs and our 10DLC service, you can send both SMS or MMS messages to your customers or clients. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) allows you to send images, videos, and other multimedia content to your contacts, making it an ideal way to share more information or showcase your products visually.
Both short codes and 10DLCs are used to send and receive messages and allow businesses to communicate with end-users. Short codes are 5- or 6-digit numbers often used for specific use cases that require immediate message delivery such as 2FA, or alerts and notifications. 10DLCs are 10-digit local phone numbers businesses use for SMS and MMS messaging to engage their customers. 10DLCs are better suited for two-way messaging, and unlike short codes, have support for voice calls and a higher return on investment.
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