Your text messaging account operates on a credit-based system. Every message you send — whether from a campaign, the Inbox, or an automated alert — uses credits from your account balance. Understanding how credits work helps you plan campaigns, choose the right plan, and avoid running out mid-month.
How Credits Work
Credit Usage
- 1 SMS message = 1 credit per recipient
- 1 MMS message = 2 credits per recipient
- 1 alert notification = 1 credit (both email and SMS alerts)
An SMS is a standard text message without media. An MMS is a rich media message that includes an image, PDF, or other attachment.
Calculating Campaign Costs
To estimate the credit cost of a campaign, multiply the number of recipients by the credit cost per message type:
Example: Sending an SMS text blast to 4,000 customers uses 4,000 credits. Sending an MMS text blast to the same 4,000 customers uses 8,000 credits.
If your campaign includes follow-up messages, each follow-up is an additional send. Five SMS campaigns to 4,000 customers in one month would use 20,000 credits total.
Choosing a Plan
Your plan determines how many credits you have available each billing period. Choose a plan based on your audience size and messaging frequency.
Monthly Plans
Monthly plans provide a set number of credits each month. Credits reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. If you use all your credits before the reset, you may need to purchase additional credits to continue sending until your next cycle begins.
Annual Plans
Annual plans provide a total credit allocation for the year, often at a lower per-credit cost than monthly plans. If your messaging volume fluctuates seasonally — for example, higher volume in peak months and lower volume in the off-season — an annual plan lets you distribute credits across the year.
Tip for seasonal organizations: If your organization is busier during certain months, an annual plan gives you the flexibility to send more messages during peak periods and fewer during quieter months, while still staying within your budget. Off-season messaging can cover things like weather updates, board communications, staff updates, and planning for the next busy season.
Custom Plans
For organizations with specific needs, custom plans may be available. customer your account team to discuss options.
Managing Your Credit Balance
Checking Your Balance
Your current credit balance is visible from your dashboard. Keep an eye on your balance before launching large campaigns.
Running Out of Credits
Monthly plan: If you run out of credits before your monthly reset, you may need to purchase additional credits to continue messaging. The platform allows overages so your service is not interrupted.
Annual plan: If you use your annual allocation early, customer your account team to discuss adding credits to your plan.
If you believe credits were used in error or there was a fault in the system, reach out to your support team for review.
Purchasing Additional Credits
Additional credits can be purchased at any time to supplement your plan. This is useful for months where you need to send more messages than your plan covers.
Changing Plans
You can change your plan at any time. If your messaging needs grow or shrink, upgrading or downgrading ensures you are paying for the right level of service. customer your account team or use the billing section of your settings to review available options.
Cancellation
When you cancel your plan, your account is removed from the system. If you are considering cancellation, customer your account team to discuss alternatives.
Payment Options
All major payment methods are accepted. customer your account team for billing questions.
Tips & Best Practices
- Review your credit balance before launching large campaigns to make sure you have enough credits for the full send.
- Plan your campaigns monthly and estimate total credit usage to avoid surprises. Add up all planned sends across all groups.
- Consider an annual plan if your messaging is seasonal — it gives you more flexibility to distribute credits where you need them.
- Keep alert credit usage in mind. Each alert notification uses 1 credit. If you have multiple users each receiving alerts for every inbound message, the credits add up. Configure alert filters to reduce unnecessary notifications.
Common Questions
What happens if I run out of credits?
The platform allows overages so your messaging is not interrupted. You can purchase additional credits to cover the extra usage.
Why would I need additional credits?
If you are on a monthly plan and use your credits before the monthly reset, you will need additional credits to continue sending. This is common during months with higher-than-normal messaging activity.
How many characters can I include in a message?
Due to modern carrier capabilities, character counting is no longer a primary concern. Sending an SMS and an MMS to the same group should result in the same number of credits used per message type.