When launching a business texting strategy, one of the first technical decisions you'll face is choosing between a short code and a long code. Here is everything you need to know.

What is a Short Code?

A short code is a 5 or 6-digit number (e.g., 555-55) used primarily for high-volume, mass text message marketing. They are highly regulated and vetted by wireless carriers.

Pros: Extremely high throughput (thousands of messages per second), avoiding spam filters, and they are highly memorable for "text-to-join" campaigns.

Cons: They are expensive to lease, take weeks to provision, and feel impersonal for conversational messaging.

What is a Long Code (10DLC)?

A long code is a standard, 10-digit phone number (e.g., 800-555-1234). With A2P 10DLC regulations, businesses can now use standard local or toll-free numbers for scalable messaging.

Pros: Much cheaper, supports two-way conversational commerce, allows you to text-enable your existing voice landline, and feels like a personal text from a human.

Cons: Lower sending speeds compared to short codes, and strict registration requirements under modern 10DLC rules.

Which Should You Choose?

If you are a massive retail brand needing to blast 500,000 promotional coupons in 10 minutes, a short code is necessary. However, for 95% of businesses looking to engage in customer support, sales conversations, appointment reminders, and targeted marketing, a registered 10DLC long code is the far superior choice.

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