10DLC vs. Short Code: Which Is Better for Your Messaging Needs?

13 Jan 2025

Dhaval Gajjar

Short Codes.

Toll-free numbers.

10DLC A2P numbers.

Ummm… three types of SMS marketing numbers are available!

Are you confused about which type of number you should choose to skyrocket your business’s ROI?

Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Even savvy marketers get confused about it.

Although all numbers seem similar on the surface, these SMS marketing numbers vary in terms of use cases, price, technical capabilities, etc. Therefore, before you jump into SMS marketing, you must first understand the difference between 10DLC vs Short Codes and how both numbers can impact the success of your SMS marketing strategy.

So, if you are wondering about 10DLC numbers, Short Codes, and the difference between Short Code and 10DLC, you have come to the right place. This guide explains everything, along with the pros and cons and use cases. It will help you decide which is the perfect fit for your business needs.

What is a Short Code?

A dedicated SMS short code is a 5 to 6-digit number that lets businesses send SMS and MMS to their customers. Short Code is short, as its name suggests. They are half the length of 10DLC numbers. That’s why they are easy to remember. These Short Codes are used for bulk texting, customer service, promotional messages, marketing campaigns, and customer service. Usually, in SMS marketing, shared Short Codes and dedicated Short Codes are used. Short Codes are often used for one-way communications, such as alerts or reminders, which businesses don’t expect customers to reply to.

what-is-a-short-code

Image Source: Link

Let’s briefly understand various types of Short Codes.

1. Dedicated Short Code

Dedicated short codes are exclusive to one business or brand, so the brand or business has complete control over them. As they offer high security and reliability, businesses can use them to send notifications, provide customer service, or run large-scale marketing campaigns.

For example,

Text “PIZZA” to 34567.

These dedicated short codes are further classified into two types.

Vanity short codes – Numbers that contain repeating or consecutive numbers or spell out something related to the brand. For example, a short code for a dance studio, 32623, spells out DANCE.

vanity-short-codes Image Source: Link

Random Short Codes—Numbers are generated randomly for each campaign, so they are difficult to remember and less expensive than vanity short codes.

2. Shared Short Code

Multiple brands or businesses can share Shared Short Code. Companies or brands can use it across multiple campaigns to get consumer feedback, for smaller campaigns, or to promote their brand/business.

For example,

Healthcare, e-commerce Retail, and Insurance brands can share the code 12345. They can use unique keywords, such as Text “PRODUCTS” to 12345 to get a list of products or Text “SECURE” to 12345 to get information about insurance schemes.

What is a 10-digit Long Code or 10DLC Number?

10-digit Long Code, or 10DLC, refers to a number in the same format you are used to seeing for making calls: (area code or toll-free code) XXX-XXXX. There are two main types of long codes.

Toll-free numbers
10DLC numbers

Toll-free numbers are mainly used for calling purposes but support two-way messaging, MMS, SMS, and voice. Usually, it begins with a prefix three-digit area codes such as 800, 877, 833, 844, or 855, etc. These text-enabled toll-free numbers are affordable and quick to get. Its registration process is free, and as it does not require an EIN or TAX ID, even very small businesses can easily register for it. These numbers do not have daily limits for sending messages like 10DLC and offer higher messaging speed compared to 10DLC. They are ideal for offering customer support through text or to receive calls.

For example,

toll-free-numbers

Image Source: Link

If so many benefits exist, are there any cons to using a toll-free number?

Toll-free numbers don’t feel personal from the brand perspective, as they start with a generic code, like an 800 number, which can reduce your chances of engagement.

What are these 10DLC numbers?

A 10DLC or A2P 10DLC is the 10-digit phone number format (example: 401-430-2000) used in the US. A2P (Application-to-Person) 10DLC numbers refer to using these numbers for business messaging. It’s what lets applications such as Textdrip send SMS to users efficiently and smoothly using 10DLC, businesses can send text messages through a local phone number instead of a personal mobile device. This is important because using a personal mobile device for business communication can seem unprofessional and may lead to privacy concerns for the sender. Moreover, businesses may struggle to manage large volumes of messages through a personal number.

10dlc-numbers

Image Source: Link

On the other hand, 10DLC allows businesses to establish a local presence, making their messages feel more familiar and trusted to recipients. For customers expecting communication from someone local, this enhances credibility and engagement. For the business, the advantage lies in being able to send high volumes of messages without the constraints of using a personal phone, while also maintaining professionalism and customer trust.

These 10DLC codes let businesses send large quantities of text messages at an affordable rate. Businesses or brands don’t have to spend higher setup and monthly costs for it.

However, to use a 10DLC number, businesses/brands must undergo a special registration process and adhere to the US messaging guidelines. These 10DLC numbers are ideal for two-way communication, appointment reminders, personalized offers, and consumer-focused initiatives.

Key Difference Between 10DLC and Short Codes: Detailed Comparison

Let’s understand how 10DLC and Short Codes differ, their pros and cons, and when you should choose 10DLC over Short Codes.

10DLC Vs Short Codes: Difference

Factor	10DLC	Short Codes
Length	It’s a 10-digit number that businesses use in the US.	It’s a 5 to 6-digit number that businesses use to send SMS and MMS to their customers worldwide.
Messaging Model	10DLC supports A2P messaging model	Short Codes support only the A2P messaging model
Cost	Lowest setup and monthly cost, so it’s an ideal choice for small-to-medium businesses.	High setup cost and monthly fees due to premium abilities and extensive vetting procedures
Set Up and Registration Process	Straightforward and quick to set up. Usually requires 3 to 10 business days to ensure compliance with the carrier regulations.	A more complex setup that takes several weeks because of the rigorous carrier approval process
Branding	Provides local presence, which ensures trust and familiarity with recipients in specific regions	Short Codes are highly memorable and recognizable, so they offer high impact and visibility. Ideal for promotional and branding activities.
Brand Vetting	Required	Required
Campaign Approval	Required	Required
MMS Supports	Yes	Yes
Voice Enabled	Yes	No

10DLC Vs Short Code: Pros and Cons

Let’s check out a few pros and cons of 10DLC and Short Code.

10DLC: Pros and Cons

Pros

10DLC is more affordable, so it is an attractive option for businesses with tight budgets.
10DLC numbers improve SMS engagement rate as getting a message from a number with the local area code feels more personal as compared to receiving texts from the 5 or 6-digit Short Codes.
10DLCs cost much less (if anything)compared to dedicated short codes.
The setup and final approval time for 10DLC is around three to ten business days.

Cons

Registered 10DLC numbers offer a throughput of around 150 messages/minute, which is lower than short codes.

Short Codes: Pros and Cons

Pros

Dedicated short codes are convenient for businesses to interact with their target audience because they are around five digits. Therefore, consumers can easily recognize and remember it.
Dedicated short codes offer a much higher SMS throughput volume, around 21,000 messages per minute. Therefore, they will go faster than 10DLCs.

Cons

Usually, Short Codes involve higher setup and maintenance costs than 10DLC. Therefore, it poses a financial barrier for small businesses.
Receiving text from the generic or random short codes won’t feel personal to consumers.
Dedicated short codes are usually the most costly SMS marketing option. The one-time provisioning fee is usually around $2,500, and the leasing fee is around $600 per month. Premium and vanity codes cost more.
Setup time for dedicated short codes is approximately 3 weeks to 4 months for the final approval from the mobile carriers.

Cost Comparison: Which Option Fits Your Budget?

Choosing 10DLC or Short Codes depends on your business objectives, target audience, and budget.

Typical costs for 10DLC and Short Codes include setup fees, monthly costs, and message fees. In addition, there can be registration fees and maintenance fees.

	10DLC	Short Codes
Set Up Fees (Estimated)	$10 to $20 for registration	$500 to $1,000 for leasing
Monthly Costs (Estimated)	$1 to $10 per number	$500 to $1,000+ for dedicated codes
Per Message Charges (Estimated)	$0.0025 to $0.01/message	$0.01 to $0.03/message
Registration Fees	Involve extra costs for compliance	Include extra charges for compliance

10DLC Message Examples

Businesses can use 10DLC phone numbers for sales interactions (two-way messaging that can be recorded into a CRM), customer service (issue resolution or real-time support), loyalty offers, and appointment and delivery reminders to name a few. You can have up to 49 different numbers associated with your account – giving you the ability to service many local areas at once.

For example,

Looking for affordable healthcare coverage? [Insurance company name] offers personalized plans starting at [$X/month]. Call [phone number] or visit [website link] to explore more options!

Even healthcare providers can use 10DLC numbers for follow-ups and send appointment reminders.

For example,

Gentle Reminder: Your appointment with [doctor name] is on [Date, time]. Reply YES to confirm.

Scenario – Booking Confirmation/Payment Reminder

(10DLC Number: +1 (555) -123-4567)

Hey [Customer Name]! Your trip to [destination name] is confirmed for [Date]. Please ensure your payment is completed before [Date] to avoid cancellation. Find details about your invoice here or call us at +1 (555)- 123 – 4567 for more assistance.

Scenario – Grocery Loyalty Information Via 10DLC

(10DLC Number: +1 (555) -345-6789)

Hi [Customer Name]! Are you ready for the big game this weekend? Spend less time cooking and more time watching the action! Our catering department is ready to help. You can order online here [Link] or reply to this message with CATER and we’ll be in touch. Reply STOP to opt-out.

Textdrip’s 10DLC tool maintains a professional identity and is compliant with carrier regulations, ensuring better deliverability and reducing the risk of messages being filtered as spam.

Making A Choice

10DLC vs Short Codes – the choice between them depends on your business objectives, budget, and target audience. 10DLC provides local personalization, two-way communication, consistency of brand, and ease of setup.

Short codes could be a fit for enterprises that want to run large-scale one-way SMS marketing campaigns worldwide despite the higher upfront investment.

Whether your messaging requirement is sending personalized updates or targeted marketing, Textdrip helps you manage it effectively. Textdrip makes your business communication effective with impressive features like scheduled messages, SMS automation, two-way texting, personalization, and more. Book a demo or get a FREE trial and experience how it can transform your marketing efforts.