Imagine gearing up for a major product launch, firing off hundreds of texts to your customers—only to watch most of them disappear into the spam abyss, blocked by carriers. Nightmare fuel, right?
That's the tough reality for businesses that overlook 10DLC registration. But here's the good news: Signing up is straightforward, cost-effective, and your key to reliable message delivery.
As of 2025, registration is mandatory for all U.S. businesses sending SMS or MMS, with unregistered messages facing blocks or heavy filtering. In this guide, I'll walk you through the process step by step, highlight what you need, and share tips to make it seamless—especially if you're already using voice AI platforms, call centers, or AI agents to enhance customer service.
When you register for 10DLC (short for 10-Digit Long Code), you're essentially signaling to carriers:
• "Hey, I'm a legitimate business."
• "This is what my texts will cover."
• "My customers have opted in."
Carriers verify this via The Campaign Registry (TCR), and once approved, your texts get prioritized—much like how speech recognition in AI voice agents ensures smooth, real-time interactions.
This process integrates well with existing systems, allowing your AI phone setup to understand and respond to customer queries via text in the real world.
Before diving into the steps, let's cover why it's worth it, especially in 2025's stricter landscape:
• Improved delivery rates: Registered numbers earn carrier trust, ensuring texts reach inboxes—just as natural language processing helps voice agents deliver accurate responses.
• Compliance assurance: Stay aligned with TCPA and CTIA rules, dodging fines that could hit hard.
• Enhanced customer trust: Local, verified numbers encourage engagement, similar to how an AI agent builds rapport in call centers.
• Easy scalability: Handle thousands of texts daily without throttling, complementing your voice AI platform for omnichannel customer service.
Here’s a quick summary of the registration steps (perfect for Featured Snippets):
1. Pick a Campaign Service Provider (CSP).
2. Register your brand (business details).
3. Define your campaign use case.
4. Set up opt-in & opt-out keywords.
5. Link your number(s).
6. Await carrier approval.
Now let’s break it down:
You can't register directly with carriers—use a Campaign Service Provider (CSP) like Twilio, Bandwidth, Plivo, or platforms that integrate with TCR. These act as your intermediary, much like how AI voice agents bridge existing systems in a call center.
💡 Pro Tip: If you're using an AI phone system, pick a CSP that syncs with it for seamless real-time texting.
Provide your business basics:
• Legal name (matching EIN records).
• Tax ID/EIN (U.S.) or equivalent.
• Business type (LLC, Corp, Sole Proprietor, Non-Profit).
• Website or online presence.
⚠️ Consistency is key—mismatched details are a top rejection reason.
Specify your texting purpose: marketing, customer service, alerts, or 2FA codes. Each has different throughput limits. Provide sample messages, for example:
"Hi [Name], your order ships today. Track it here: [link]. Text HELP for support."
This ensures your campaigns align with natural language processing tools that understand and respond to queries in the real world.
Consent is crucial—carriers demand clarity. Include these in every campaign:
• Opt-in: “Text START to subscribe.”
• Opt-out: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
• Help: “Text HELP for assistance.”
Integrate this with your AI agent to handle auto-replies, boosting customer service efficiency. Tools like the AI SMS Agent Builder make this process easier.
Assign 10DLC numbers to your campaign. Opt for local area codes to build trust, enhancing connections like those in call centers using voice AI platforms.
• Brand approval: 1–3 business days.
• Campaign approval: 7–14 days (sometimes up to 2–3 weeks for complex cases).
Once greenlit, you’re ready to start messaging—perfect for syncing with real-time AI phone systems.
Here’s a quick cost breakdown table for clarity (varies by provider & carrier):
Compared to short codes, 10DLC is budget-friendly, scalable, and carrier-approved.
Do’s
1. Register your brand & campaigns with accurate info.
2. Always include opt-in, opt-out, and HELP keywords.
3. Provide clear sample messages.
4. Stick to approved use cases (e.g., alerts, service updates, 2FA).
1. Don’t send SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco).
2. Don’t skip opt-in records.
3. Don’t delay registration—unregistered messages will get blocked.
4. Don’t use vague campaign descriptions like “general messaging”.
• Mismatched business info (EIN vs. legal name).
• Vague campaign descriptions.
• Omitting opt-in/opt-out in samples.
• Delaying registration (post-2024 deadlines, unregistered = blocked).
• Submitting restricted content.
Q: Do I need 10DLC for low-volume texting?
Yes. Even a few texts can be blocked if unregistered. As of 2025, all U.S. businesses must use 10DLC for A2P messaging, regardless of volume.
Q: Is 10DLC registration required?
Yes. Registration is mandatory for U.S. businesses sending SMS or MMS. Unregistered messages risk being blocked or heavily filtered by carriers.
Q: How to get 10DLC registration?
You must register through a Campaign Service Provider (CSP) such as Twilio, Bandwidth, or Plivo. Submit your brand details, campaign use case, and sample messages via The Campaign Registry. Or, get started today with ContactSwing.
Q: Can one 10DLC handle multiple campaigns?
No. Each campaign requires separate registration. However, you can link multiple phone numbers to a single campaign if needed.
Q: How long does 10DLC approval take?
Brand approval usually takes 1–3 business days, while campaign approval takes 7–14 days. More complex cases can take up to 2–3 weeks.
Q: How much is the brand registration fee for 10DLC?
Brand registration costs a one-time $4 for low-volume senders and up to $44 for standard A2P brands. Additional campaign and per-message fees apply.
Q: How to get the 10DLC campaign approved?
Submit accurate business information, a clear use case, and sample opt-in/opt-out messages. Carriers review and approve based on compliance and legitimacy.
Q: What is the limit for 10DLC?
Throughput depends on your brand score and campaign type. Registered businesses can send thousands of texts daily, with carrier-specific limits applied.
Q: Is 10DLC U.S.-only?
Yes, 10DLC is currently limited to U.S. carriers. However, similar registration systems may expand internationally in the future.
Q: Is 10DLC better than toll-free?
For local engagement, yes. 10DLC provides better trust and scalability at lower costs. Toll-free numbers work nationwide but lack the personal feel of a local number.
Q: What is a 10DLC application?
A 10DLC application refers to your campaign registration request. It includes your business info, campaign use case, and sample messages for carrier approval.
Q: When did 10DLC start?
10DLC was introduced by U.S. carriers in 2021 to reduce spam and regulate business messaging. Enforcement expanded significantly in 2023–2024, making it mandatory in 2025.
Q: How does 10DLC integrate with AI tools?
Seamlessly. You can connect 10DLC with AI voice agents, voice AI platforms, or call center software. Natural language processing ensures real-time, human-like SMS interactions.
