What is ActiveCampaign SMS?
ActiveCampaign offers SMS as an extra feature. It is not part of the basic plans. You need to buy an add-on to use it. This add-on gives you SMS credits. You use these credits to send text messages. Different countries use different amounts of credits. Also, longer messages or messages with pictures use more credits. ActiveCampaign shows you how many credits a message will use. This helps you manage your costs.
How ActiveCampaign Charges for SMS
ActiveCampaign charges for SMS using a credit system. You buy a certain number of If you want to get more email addresses, visit our main website. db to data credits. Each time you send a text, it uses some credits. The cost of one credit is part of the add-on fee. However, the number of credits used per message changes. For example, in the USA, a regular text uses 1 credit. But if you send a message with emojis, it might use more. Sending pictures, called MMS, uses even more credits.
Therefore, it is important to know this. You need to understand how credits are used. This helps avoid surprise costs. ActiveCampaign's platform shows you credit usage. This helps you keep track.
When you sign up for the SMS add-on, you pick a monthly credit amount. This is like a plan for your texts. If you need more credits, you can buy them. They are called additional credits. These additional credits cost extra money. The pricing for these extra credits also varies. It depends on how many you buy. Buying more credits at once can sometimes be cheaper per credit.
Image 1: A simple infographic showing "SMS Credits Explained." It would have two bubbles. One bubble shows "1 SMS Credit = 1 Text (USA, no emoji)." The other bubble shows "3 SMS Credits = 1 MMS (USA)."
Breaking Down the Costs
ActiveCampaign's main plans offer many features. These include email marketing and automation. But SMS is separate. You must buy the SMS add-on. This add-on is available with certain plans. For instance, the Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans. It is not usually available with the cheapest plan, the Lite plan. This means you need a higher main plan to even use SMS.
SMS Add-on Pricing
The SMS add-on has its own price. It starts at a certain amount each month. For example, it might start around $17 per month. This cost usually includes a set number of credits. For instance, 1,000 credits might be included. As you need more credits, the price for the add-on goes up.
For example, if you need 2,500 credits, it will cost more. If you need 10,000 credits, it will cost even more. The pricing structure is like steps. Each step gives you more credits for a higher price. It is important to check the latest prices on ActiveCampaign's website. Prices can change.
Furthermore, how often you pay also matters. If you pay for ActiveCampaign yearly, you might get a discount. This discount can also apply to the SMS add-on. So, paying annually can save you money. This is a good tip for businesses.
Factors Affecting SMS Credit Usage
Many things change how many SMS credits you use. First, the length of your message matters. A very short text uses fewer credits than a long one. Second, special characters like emojis increase credit use. Even one emoji can make a text cost more credits. Third, sending pictures or videos through text uses many more credits. These are called MMS messages.
Moreover, the country where you send the message matters. Sending a text to a customer in the USA might cost 1 credit. But sending the same text to a customer in the UK might cost 5 credits. Different countries have different rules and costs. ActiveCampaign has a list of supported countries. This list also shows the credit cost per message for each country. Always check this list. It helps plan your budget.
Businesses often send many texts. So, tracking credit usage is key. ActiveCampaign's platform shows your used, scheduled, and remaining credits. This helps you manage your SMS budget. You can see how many texts you've sent. You can also see how many credits are left.
Image 2: A visual showing a phone screen with a short text message on one side, labeled "1 Credit." On the other side, a phone screen with an emoji-filled message or a small image, labeled "More Credits."
Example of Credit Calculation
Let's imagine you send a text. It is to a customer in the USA. The message is short, with no emojis. This message will likely use 1 SMS credit. Now, imagine you send a longer text. It has a smiley face emoji. This might use 2 or 3 credits, even for a short message. It depends on how ActiveCampaign counts characters with emojis.
Now, think about sending a picture. This is an MMS. In the USA, one MMS often costs 3 credits. In Canada, it could cost 5 credits. So, sending multimedia costs more. It is important to remember this. Plan your messages carefully.
This is why understanding your audience is important. If many of your customers are in different countries, costs will add up. If you use many emojis or send pictures, costs will also add up. Therefore, think about your message type. Think about where your customers are. These things affect your total cost.
Beyond Basic Pricing
Sometimes, businesses need special SMS features. ActiveCampaign might offer these. However, these features could come with extra costs. For example, specific sender IDs or dedicated phone numbers. These are like having your own special phone number for texts. These can improve how customers see your messages. They can also make messages more reliable.
Moreover, ActiveCampaign focuses on compliance. This means following rules for sending texts. Rules can be strict in different countries. ActiveCampaign helps businesses stay compliant. This helps avoid problems. While compliance itself doesn't cost extra, it is a key part of using SMS responsibly. ActiveCampaign might guide you on rules like A2P 10DLC in the USA. This means "Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code." These are specific rules for businesses sending texts.
Understanding these rules is crucial. ActiveCampaign provides resources for this. Businesses should read them. This ensures smooth SMS operations. It also prevents legal issues.
ActiveCampaign also offers other add-ons. These are not related to SMS. But they can impact your overall ActiveCampaign cost. For example, "Conversations" allows two-way chat. "Enhanced CRM" helps manage customer relationships better. Each add-on has its own price. So, your total bill depends on what you choose.
It is wise to only pay for what you need. Start with the basics. Then add features as your business grows. This helps control spending.
Making Smart SMS Decisions
To get the most from ActiveCampaign SMS, plan carefully. Think about your business needs. How many messages do you plan to send? How long will they be? Will you use emojis or pictures? Where are your customers located? Answering these questions helps you pick the right plan. It also helps you estimate costs.
For example, a small local shop might send a few hundred texts per month. These might be appointment reminders. They might only text customers in their own country. Their costs will be lower. A large online store might send thousands of promotional texts. They might send them to many countries. Their costs will be higher.
Optimizing Your SMS Spending
To save money, use SMS wisely. Keep messages short and clear. Avoid unnecessary emojis. Use pictures only when they add real value. Think about the country-specific credit rates. Perhaps send fewer SMS messages to high-cost countries. Consider sending emails instead if the message is not urgent. Email is usually unlimited with ActiveCampaign's main plans.
Also, review your SMS usage regularly. ActiveCampaign's reports show your credit usage. Look at these reports often. Adjust your plan if you are using too many or too few credits. If you find yourself buying extra credits often, upgrade your monthly add-on. If you have many credits left over, you might downgrade. This helps match your plan to your actual needs. This way, you pay for what you use.
Another way to optimize is to build good lists. Send messages only to people who want them. This reduces wasted credits. It also keeps customers happy. Unwanted texts can annoy people. They might unsubscribe. This wastes your money. Always get permission before sending texts. This is very important.
ActiveCampaign SMS vs. Other Options
ActiveCampaign is a full marketing platform. It offers SMS as part of a bigger system. This means your emails, automations, and texts work together. This is a big advantage. Other services might offer only SMS. But they might not connect well with your other marketing tools.
When comparing prices, look at the whole package. Do other services offer the same level of automation? Do they help with compliance? ActiveCampaign tries to be an all-in-one solution. This can save time and effort. It can make your marketing smoother.
However, if you only need very basic text sending, ActiveCampaign's SMS might seem more expensive. This is because you also pay for the main ActiveCampaign plan. But for businesses that want advanced marketing, ActiveCampaign's integrated SMS can be a good value. It helps you manage all customer communication from one place.
In conclusion, ActiveCampaign SMS pricing involves an add-on fee. This fee depends on the number of credits you choose. The actual credit usage changes based on message length, emojis, pictures, and country. By understanding these factors, businesses can manage their SMS costs effectively. They can use this powerful tool to connect with customers. This helps their business grow.