SMS SEGMENT COST CALCULATOR · RUNS IN YOUR BROWSER
Why does this text bill as 3 segments?
Paste a message. See its encoding, segment count and monthly cost at your volume, and the exact characters (curly quotes, long dashes, emoji) that push it from 1 segment to 3.
Nothing is uploaded. Counted in this browser using the GSM 03.38 and UCS-2 rules; prices are approximate and editable.
1. Your message and volume
2. Result
Cut the bill
Change
New segments
Saves per month
Prices (editable)
Check your provider's pricing page (Twilio, Telnyx, Plivo and others bill by the same segment rules).
Common questions
Is my message uploaded anywhere?
No. The message is counted in your own browser and never sent. There is no account and no server call.
Why did one apostrophe triple my SMS cost?
A text is billed per segment. Plain GSM-7 text fits 160 characters in one segment (153 each once split). A single character outside that set, such as a curly apostrophe, a long dash or an emoji, forces the whole message into UCS-2, which fits only 70 characters (67 each once split).
Where do the prices come from?
They are approximate US long-code list prices as best known in 2025 and every one is editable. Carrier surcharges and 10DLC fees vary by provider and traffic type, so check your provider's pricing page before relying on a number.
Does it work for Twilio, Telnyx, Plivo and others?
The segment counting follows the GSM 03.38 and UCS-2 rules that all of them bill by, so the counts apply across providers. Enter your own per-segment price to match your provider.