What is Short Code?

A short code is a 5-6 digit phone number used for sending and receiving SMS messages at high volumes. Short codes are the premium option for SMS marketing with the highest throughput and deliverability.

Short Code Types

Dedicated Short Code

Exclusive use by one brand

Full customization of keywords

Highest trust and throughput

Cost: $500-$1,000/month + setup fees

Shared Short Code (Deprecated)

Multiple brands share one number

Limited keywords available

Lower cost but higher risk

Carriers phasing these out

Short Code vs 10DLC

Short Code Use Cases

High-volume marketing campaigns

Two-factor authentication

Text-to-vote/text-to-win

National advertising campaigns

Time-sensitive alerts

Registration Process

1. Lease short code from carrier

2. Submit detailed program brief

3. Undergo carrier review (8-12 weeks)

4. Provision on each carrier separately

Short codes require separate approval from each major carrier.