Short Code

Learn about dedicated short codes and how to call the API for your account's number information

What is a dedicated short code?

A dedicated short code is a 5 or 6-digit phone number for sending and receiving messages that is exclusively owned by a single brand or organization (example: 52001).

Dedicated short codes have the best throughput (rate of messages sent per second) and are the most convenient for users (since they are short, they are easy to remember and type into a phone). Dedicated short codes support sending hundreds or thousands of messages at once, with high deliverability rates.

10DLC vs Toll-Free vs Short Code

Pros for using a dedicated short code

• Dedicated short codes have a much higher SMS throughput volume (starting as high as 350 messages per second or 21,000 messages per minute). So messages will go out faster than with 10-digit numbers.

• Dedicated short codes are convenient for your audience because they are typically 5-6 digits.

Cons for using a dedicated short code

• Registration is required to use a short code in any capacity.

• Dedicated short codes are the most costly SMS marketing option, with a one-time $2,500 provisioning fee and a $600/month leasing fee (premium and vanity codes may cost more).

• Setup time is significantly longer than other options, as it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months to get final approval from the mobile carriers.

Short code throughput and limits

Short code numbers give you the highest throughput by far, at as much as 21,000 text messages per minute.

Unlike 10DLCs, short code numbers have no daily limits.

Summary

Dedicated short codes cost significantly more than other messaging options. We recommend them for businesses with a larger budget and high send volume.

Short Code Type Options

There are three types of dedicated short codes. You can lease one of these options or migrate an existing dedicated short code through Mobile Text Alerts.

Three types of short code options

Premium short code

Premium short codes allow spelling out a brand name or a significant word using a mobile phone’s dial pad. These codes create memorable customization, but may be pricier than other options.

Examples: 827438 for “Target” or 262966 for “Amazon.”

Vanity short code

Vanity short codes are numbers that you can select from a list of available codes. With this option you can choose a code that is easy for your customers to remember.

Depending on the options available, you may even be able to select a code that fits your brand without paying the full price of leasing a premium short code.

Random short code

Random short codes are short numbers that are randomly assigned.

The benefit of choosing a random short code is that you receive all the same short code features for a lower cost than a premium or vanity short code.

Get a dedicated short code for sending messages

If you’d like to lease a dedicated short code for your business, you can contact us.

View your Numbers and Short Codes with the API

List the short codes on your account

You can view all the short codes assigned to your account by calling the Get shortcodes endpoint.

Example request

curl --location 'https://api.mobile-text-alerts.com/v3/shortcodes' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer 89fa747a-e01b-5940-99c2-4e96fa996258'

Example response

{
  "data": {
    "shortcodes": ["99999", "11111"]
  }
}

List Short Codes

get

Authorizations

bearerAuth

AuthorizationstringRequired

Bearer authentication header of the form Bearer <token>.

Responses

200

Success

application/json

400

BadRequestError

application/json

401

UnauthorizedError

application/json

403

ForbiddenError

application/json

500

InternalServerError

application/json

get

/shortcodes

HTTPcURLJavaScriptPython

GET /v3/shortcodes HTTP/1.1
Host: api.mobile-text-alerts.com
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SECRET_TOKEN
Accept: */*

{
  "success": true,
  "error": "text",
  "message": "text",
  "data": {
    "shortcodes": null
  }
}

List all numbers on your account

Just as you can view your numbers on the platform dashboard, you can view all numbers on your account by calling the /dedicated-numbers API endpoint. This returns the name, type, status, and more.

Example request

curl --location 'https://api.mobile-text-alerts.com/v3/dedicated-numbers' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer 89fa747a-e01b-5940-99c2-4e96fa996258'

Example response

{
  "data": {
    "rows": [
      {
        "name": "Main Phone Number",
        "created": "2025-01-27T15:26:48.000Z",
        "longcodeId": 10721,
        "number": "8332298025",
        "tollFree": 1,
        "isShortcode": 0,
        "branded": 0,
        "pending": 1,
        "verified": 0,
        "countryCode": "US",
        "users": {},
        "type": "Toll-Free",
        "status": "Basic",
        "deliveryRate": 0,
        "tollFreeVerificationStatus": 0,
        "tollFreeVerificationSubmissionDate": "2025-03-25T18:21:23.276Z"
      }
    ],
    "page": 0,
    "pageSize": 25,
    "total": 1
  }
}

List Dedicated Numbers

get

Authorizations

bearerAuth

AuthorizationstringRequired

Bearer authentication header of the form Bearer <token>.

Query parameters

pagenumberOptional

pageSizenumberOptional

sortBystringOptional

sortDirectionstring · enumOptionalPossible values:

querystringOptional

Responses

200

Success

application/json

400

BadRequestError

application/json

401

UnauthorizedError

application/json

403

ForbiddenError

application/json

500

InternalServerError

application/json

get

/dedicated-numbers

HTTPcURLJavaScriptPython

GET /v3/dedicated-numbers HTTP/1.1
Host: api.mobile-text-alerts.com
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SECRET_TOKEN
Accept: */*

{
  "success": true,
  "error": "text",
  "message": "text",
  "data": {
    "rows": [
      {
        "name": "text",
        "created": "text",
        "longcodeId": 1,
        "number": "text",
        "tollFree": 1,
        "isShortcode": 1,
        "branded": 1,
        "pending": 1,
        "verified": 1,
        "countryCode": "text",
        "users": {
          "ANY_ADDITIONAL_PROPERTY": "text"
        },
        "type": "text",
        "status": "Basic",
        "deliveryRate": 1,
        "tollFreeVerificationStatus": null,
        "tollFreeVerificationSubmissionDate": "text"
      }
    ],
    "page": 1,
    "pageSize": 1,
    "total": 1
  }
}