Sinch Engage dedicated short code
For when you want to reach a very large audience quickly. Learn what you can send and how to get fast short code number registration.
Top brands rely on Sinch to reach their customers
Also known as an SMS short code number, a dedicated short code is a five- or six-digit phone number that can handle high throughput SMS and MMS messaging. It’s ideal for sending a high volume of messages to a large audience, fast.
Due to their superior reach and security, businesses often use short codes for mass texting campaigns, time-sensitive alerts, two-factor identification, and two-way messaging. They’re especially handy for SMS keyword opt-in campaigns (e.g. “text VIP to 44455 to get exclusive offers!”) and sending in the millions.
Short code vs. other number types
Short codes support SMS and MMS and can help you get maximum impact on large-scale text marketing campaigns. See more about how the number types differ.
| Dedicated short code | 10DLC Local number | Toll-free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | 5-6 digits | 10 digits | 10 digits |
| Speed | Fastest | Fast | Faster |
| Best for | High-volume marketing or alerts | 1-to-1 interactions, appointment reminders | Customer support, large-scale notifications |
| Volume per day | Millions | Thousands | Hundreds of thousands |
| Throughput | High | High | Medium |
| Reach | Within country of registration | US, Puerto Rico, Canada | US, Canada, US territories, and the Caribbean |
| Setup cost | High | Low | Low |
| Provisioning time | 8-12 weeks | 1-5 business days | 1-5 business days |
There are several steps for short code number registration, and we’re happy to guide you along the way:
We’ve been helping businesses of all sizes better connect with their customers for over 20 years. Top brands in retail, health & fitness, beauty, education, and more trust us for:
Easy setup, with multiple ways to send
Fastest phone number registration
Full compliance & data security
Global reach and 99.9% uptime
FAQs
Getting a dedicated short code approved and ready to use usually takes 8–12 weeks. It’s a bit longer than other number types due to carrier approvals, but we’ll guide you through the process from start to finish.
Dedicated short codes typically come with a one-time carrier setup fee of $1,000, a monthly leasing fee of $1,000 for a random short code or $1,500 for a vanity short code- a custom, memorable short code of your choice plus messaging costs. We’ll help you find the right setup for your use case and budget. Talk to one of our experts for more information.
Short codes are built for high-volume messaging in many regions throughout the world. Think marketing blasts, time-sensitive alerts, two-factor authentication, and more—they’re fast, reliable, and made for scale.
Short codes are provisioned for each country and they are not available in all countries. This means you have to go through the provisioning process in each country to use a short code for international texting.
