Overview
A standard text holds 160 characters. A longer one is split into segments of 153 characters each, and you pay for every segment. If a text has an emoji, a curly apostrophe or another character outside the standard SMS alphabet, each segment holds only 70 characters, or 67 in a longer text.
Campaigns send standard SMS and MMS only, not iMessage.
See the count while you write
In the campaign composer, the counter under Write your text shows the characters used and a badge such as 2 SMS. It includes the "Reply STOP to opt out." line when that box is ticked.
Adding a curly apostrophe and an emoji to the same text raises it from 2 SMS to 4 SMS.
What changes the count and the cost
Emoji, curly quotes and apostrophes, and long dashes: Any one of them moves the whole text to the 70 and 67 limits. Text pasted from Word, Google Docs or a phone often has curly apostrophes.
Special symbols: The caret, curly braces, backslash, square brackets, tilde, vertical bar and euro sign each count as two characters, for example.
Pictures: Adding an image makes the text an MMS. An MMS is one message however long the text is, up to 1,600 characters.
Merge tags: Tags such as {first_name} are counted with sample values, so the real count can differ once each name is filled in.
Schedule & send shows Per message and an Estimated cost. Cobalt multiplies your recipients by the price of one text on your plan, including carrier fees. An SMS costs that price for each segment, and an MMS costs 1 time (up to 1,600 characters).
Get support
Questions? Please message our team via Live Chat on the bottom right or send us a text message at: 321-318-9777