10DLC Knowledge Base

Clear guides and checklists to help you stay compliant and improve deliverability.

Quick Compliance Tips

Identify your brand in the first message.
Include STOP instructions for promotional programs.
Use branded or first-party links; avoid public shorteners.
Do not send SHAFT content (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco).
Capture and store explicit consent before messaging.
Honor opt-out requests promptly across the program.

What Is 10DLC?

10DLC (ten-digit long code) is the U.S. standard for business-to-consumer A2P text messaging sent from local phone numbers. Carriers introduced it to reduce spam, verify senders, and align message throughput with a brand's trust level and campaign type.

To send A2P traffic on 10DLC you must register your brand and a campaign through The Campaign Registry (TCR) via your messaging provider. After review, carriers assign throughput limits based on your use case and trust score.

10DLC

Local alerts & two-way messaging. Recognizable local number, lower cost. Requires brand & campaign registration.

Short Code

High-volume national programs. Very high throughput. More expensive with a longer approval process.

Toll-Free SMS

Support or notifications with nationwide reach. Verification recommended; content rules still apply.

Stay compliant: always include your brand name, reply to STOP/HELP automatically, use branded links, and only text users who opted in.
✅ Compliant

"Welcome to BrandName alerts. Msg&data rates may apply. Up to 3 msgs/week. Reply STOP to opt out."

⚠️ Risky

"50% off today only! Click bit.ly/offer" — no brand name, no STOP, public short link.

Registration steps

  1. Brand registration — submit legal name, EIN, address and website.
  2. Campaign registration — describe your use case, opt-in process and submit 3 sample messages.
  3. Assign numbers — link long codes to your campaign before sending traffic.

Guides

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CTIA Messaging Guidelines & Compliance Checklist

Consent requirements, brand identification, STOP/HELP behavior, content restrictions, and a pre-send compliance checklist.

10DLC FAQ (2025 Guide)

Answers to the most common questions on registration, consent, spam filtering, and carrier rules.

Ready to check your messages?

Use our free compliance checker to validate campaigns before sending.

Try Compliance Checker Get the Chrome Extension