SMS segment and cost calculator
Count the segments in a text and price a whole campaign at Trident's published rate of $0.025 per segment. Results are estimates.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026 by the Trident team.
How do you calculate the cost of a text campaign?
Count the segments in your message, multiply by the number of recipients and by the number of texts each recipient gets in the sequence, then multiply by the price per segment. On Trident that price is $0.025. A one-segment, three-step sequence to 1,000 owners is 3,000 segments, or $75.00.
Cost = segments per message × recipients × messages per recipient × $0.025How many characters fit in one text segment?
A text using only standard GSM-7 characters fits 160 characters in one segment, and longer texts split into 153-character segments. Any emoji, curly quote or other Unicode character switches the message to UCS-2: 70 characters, or 67 per segment once split. Some symbols such as { } [ ] ~ ^ | and € count as two characters.
| Encoding | One segment | Per segment when split | Example: 200 characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 (plain text) | 160 characters | 153 characters | 2 segments |
| UCS-2 (emoji or other Unicode) | 70 characters | 67 characters | 3 segments |
How do I keep seller texts cheap and compliant?
Keep the first text under 160 plain characters, skip emojis and smart quotes, identify yourself and your business, and include opt-out wording such as "Reply STOP to opt out." Send only from a registered 10DLC number, honor every opt-out at once, and check consent rules under the TCPA before texting anyone.
Trident sends from a 10DLC-registered line, records STOP replies and blocks further texts, and shows a live segment counter and the campaign cost before it sends. This page is not legal advice. See what 10DLC means, pricing, or start a trial.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SMS segment?
Carriers bill and deliver text messages in segments. A message written only in the standard GSM-7 character set fits 160 characters in one segment; longer messages split into segments of 153 characters. If the message contains any character outside GSM-7, such as an emoji or a curly quote, the limits drop to 70 and 67.
Why does one emoji double my text cost?
An emoji is not in the GSM-7 character set, so the whole message switches to Unicode (UCS-2) encoding, where a segment holds only 70 characters. A 150-character message that was one segment becomes three. Removing emojis and smart quotes is the easiest way to cut texting costs.
How much does texting cost on Trident?
Trident charges $0.025 per outbound SMS segment from your wallet, after your plan's monthly usage credit. Sending from a 10DLC-registered business line is included, campaigns show their cost before they send, and STOP replies are recorded and block further texts automatically.