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Toll-Free

Learn about Toll-Free numbers and how to call the API for your account's number information

What is a Toll-Free number?

Toll-free SMS numbers are 10-digit numbers with an 800 “area code” as the leading digits (example: 800-780-8000).

Text-enabled toll-free numbers allow you to send messages at decent messaging speeds without adding extra fees.

All accounts at Mobile Text Alerts include a dedicated toll-free number for free.

Toll-free Verification

Toll-free numbers must be verified, this reduces the risk of filtering your message traffic. This is a mandatory industry-wide process that whitelists your text messaging traffic.

When you first create your account, you will need to enter your Brand Registration information. This includes your company's contact information, expected messaging use case and messages, and a Privacy Policy for compliance. After submitting this information, MTA will submit your Toll-Free number to carriers for approval.

You can call the /dedicated-numbers endpoint of the API to see the status of your toll-free number(s) with the tollFreeVerificationStatus field..

10DLC vs Toll-Free vs Short Code

Pros for using a toll-free number

  • The registration process for toll-free numbers is free.

  • Toll-free numbers usually allow for higher messaging speeds than 10DLCs (1,200 messages per minute as opposed to 150 messages per minute).

  • Toll-free number registration doesn’t require an EIN/tax ID, so sole proprietors and very small businesses may have an easier time getting registered.

  • Toll-free numbers have no daily limits, unlike 10DLCs which have a daily limit of around 2,000.

Cons for using a toll-free number

  • Toll-free numbers generally have much slower messaging speeds than short codes (though they are faster than 10DLCs).

  • Toll-free numbers may not seem as personable (and therefore not get as much engagement) as 10DLC’s because the “area code” is a generic 800 number.

  • Toll-free numbers aren’t as convenient as dedicated short codes, because they are longer numbers.

Toll-free throughput and limits

Toll-free numbers will give you significantly higher throughput than 10DLC’s, at 1,200 text messages per minute.

Unlike 10DLCs, toll-free numbers have no daily limits.

Summary

Mobile Text Alerts generally recommends toll-free numbers over 10DLCs because registration for toll-free numbers is always free, and they have faster messaging speeds. But they do sacrifice the benefit of a personal area code, businesses with a more robust budget may want to consider a dedicated short code.

Get a toll-free number for sending messages

A dedicated toll-free number is included for free with any Mobile Text Alerts subscription. You can get started in seconds to test it out for yourself and for your business today.

Make sure to submit the Brand Registration form that appears at the top of the main dashboard page when you log in to your account.

View your Numbers with the API

Just as you can view Your Numbers on the platform dashboard, you can view your all account's numbers and data about them such as name, type, status, and more by calling the /dedicated-numbers endpoint.

Verification Status

This endpoint will return the verification status of your toll-free number(s) with tollFreeVerificationStatus this is an ENUM value (0-5) that corresponds with the following statuses:

  • 0 - Not Submitted

  • 1 - Verification Form Complete

  • 2 - Submitted for Review by Carriers

  • 3 - Approved by Carrier

  • 4 - Denied by Carrier

  • 5 - Submission Failure Reported by Carrier

Example request

curl --location 'https://api.mobile-text-alerts.com/v3/dedicated-numbers' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer 3068eebf-7611-5458-830e-65tf055a0b95'

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
Query parameters
Responses
200
Success
application/json
Responseall of
get
GET /v3/dedicated-numbers HTTP/1.1
Host: api.mobile-text-alerts.com
Authorization: Bearer apiKey
Accept: */*

{
  "statusCode": "MTANoLinkedAccountError",
  "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
  }
}
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