SMS credits in Omnisend are dollar amounts you purchase to send text messages to your contacts.
How you access SMS and how much it costs depends on when you subscribed to a paid plan. Starting May 4, 2026, SMS is available on the Pro plan only with new volume-based pricing. Users who subscribed before this date keep their previous pricing and plan access.
👉 Check "Before You Begin" below to see which pricing model applies to you.
This guide shows you how to view, purchase, manage, and calculate the SMS credits you need.
Before You Begin
Legacy SMS Pricing (Subscribed Before May 4, 2026)
If you subscribed to a paid plan before May 4, 2026, you keep this pricing model:
Free and Standard plans: $1 credit included (≈66 messages to US/CA at $0.015/SMS)
Pro plan: FREE SMS credits equivalent to your subscription price (e.g., $59/month = $59 in SMS credits)
All plans: You can purchase additional SMS Credits Subscription separately
Important: You keep legacy pricing as long as you stay on a paid plan. If you downgrade to Free or cancel your subscription, the new pricing rules (May 4, 2026+) apply when you re-subscribe.
Current SMS Pricing (Subscribed On or After May 4, 2026)
If you subscribe to a paid plan on or after May 4, 2026:
Free and Standard plans: SMS not available (must upgrade to Pro)
Pro plan: SMS available as an add-on with volume-based pricing starting at $0.007/SMS (no included credits)
Volume tiers: Lower per-message costs at higher spending levels ($50, $500, $1k, $10k+)
All Users
Rollover: Unused credits from the previous billing period roll over (60-day expiration applies).
Each Brand connected to your Omnisend account has a separate SMS budget.
View Your SMS Credits
Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab to view:
SMS credits used
Current balance
Subscription details (refill date, amount, auto-upgrade status)
Usage breakdown
Click Get SMS subscription or Change SMS subscription to manage your credits.
Understand Your SMS Dashboard
Your SMS credits dashboard shows:
Term | What It Means |
Balance | Dollar amount of SMS credits remaining (e.g., $8.30 left) |
Refill status | How your subscription renews – "Monthly" = auto-renews every 30 days; "One-time" = no renewal |
Next refill date | When your subscription renews and adds more credits (e.g., Dec 31) |
Refill amount | Dollar amount added at the next refill (e.g., $20) |
Credits used | Total credits spent this billing cycle |
How SMS Credits Work
Pro Plan SMS Credits (Legacy Pricing Only)
If you subscribed to Pro before May 4, 2026:
All users on the Pro plan get SMS credits equivalent to their monthly subscription plan payment.
Example: Upgrading to a $59 Pro plan gives you $59 SMS credits for the next 30 days.
These credits are added automatically and can be used within the current billing period or rolled over to the next 30 days for monthly payments.
Important:
If you downgrade your plan from Pro to Standard or Free, your included SMS credits will be removed from your account
If you cancel your subscription and re-subscribe on or after May 4, 2026, you'll move to the new volume-based pricing model
Pro Plan SMS (Current Pricing – On or After May 4, 2026)
If you subscribe to Pro on or after May 4, 2026:
SMS is available as an add-on with volume-based pricing:
Entry rate: $0.007/SMS (US/Canada recipients)
Volume discounts: Rates decrease as you send more (tiers at $50, $500, $1k, $10k+ monthly spend)
No included credits: SMS is purchased separately from your Pro plan subscription
Purchase SMS credits through SMS Credits Subscription (see below).
Free & Standard Plan SMS Credits
Legacy SMS pricing (subscribed before May 4, 2026):
Free and Standard plans include $1 in SMS credits (≈66 messages to US/CA)
To send more SMS, purchase an SMS Credits Subscription (starting at $10/month)
Current SMS pricing (subscribed on or after May 4, 2026):
SMS is not available on Free and Standard plans
Upgrade to Pro to access SMS with volume-based pricing
Get SMS Credits Subscription
SMS credits subscription is an additional service you can purchase to send more SMS messages.
Who Can Subscribe?
Legacy SMS pricing (before May 4, 2026):
Available on all plans (Free, Standard, Pro)
Current SMS pricing (on or after May 4, 2026):
Available on Pro plan only
Uses volume-based pricing with tiered rates
Subscription Tiers
Legacy SMS pricing: Monthly subscription tiers include: $10, $15, $20, $25, $30, $40, $50, $65, $80, $90, $100, $120, $140, and so on.
Current SMS pricing: Volume-based pricing automatically adjusts per-message cost based on monthly spend. Example tier structure:
$50/month: ≈5,555 SMS (US/CA) at $0.009/SMS
$500/month: Lower per-message rate (check SMS calculator for exact pricing)
$1,000+/month: Additional volume discounts available
Before choosing a tier, check the price for a single SMS in your recipient countries to see how many credits you need.
How to Subscribe
Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab.
Click Get SMS subscription (or Change SMS subscription if you already have one).
Select your monthly price and volume for SMS.
Select if you want to auto-upgrade to the next tier when credits run low.
Proceed with the payment.
Enable Auto-Upgrade
Auto-upgrade automatically moves you to a higher billing tier when your balance drops below a set amount, preventing campaigns from pausing mid-send.
Important: Auto-upgrade can only be configured when you first subscribe to SMS credits. If you already have an SMS subscription and want to enable or adjust auto-upgrade, contact Support at [email protected].
You'll be able to:
Set a floor amount (e.g., upgrade when balance < $5) → Auto-upgrade when balance drops below.
Set a ceiling tier (optional) to cap spending (e.g., don't exceed $200/month).
Example: You subscribe to the $120 tier with auto-upgrade enabled. Floor = $5, Ceiling = $200. When your balance drops below $5, the system automatically upgrades you to the next tier (e.g., $140), charges $20, and adds $20 in credits.
It is entirely up to you whether you want to turn on the auto-upgrade option. However, if you have automation workflows with SMS messages, you may want to secure yourself if you run out of credits before your billing cycle ends.
Purchase One-Time SMS Credits
You can purchase one-time SMS credits instantly without subscribing to a monthly plan or upgrading your subscription tier. This option is ideal if you need extra credits for a one-off campaign or run out mid-month.
Who Can Purchase One-Time Credits?
Legacy pricing (before May 4, 2026):
Users on any plan with an active SMS subscription
Users on Pro plan (even without an active SMS subscription)
New pricing (on or after May 4, 2026):
Users on Pro plan with an active SMS subscription only
To purchase one-time credits:
Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits.
Click Add one-time credits.
Select a predefined amount ($5, $10, or $25) or enter a custom amount.
Complete the payment.
Credits are added to your SMS credits balance instantly.
Note: One-time SMS credits expire 60 days after purchase and are non-refundable. Hover over the (i) icon next to Balance to view expiration dates for each credit batch. If you make multiple purchases, credits are combined in your balance, but the tooltip shows separate expiration dates for each batch.
💡 Tip: Use one-time credits for quick top-ups. Use monthly subscriptions if you send SMS Campaigns regularly or use Automation with SMS messages.
Cancel Your SMS Subscription
Your SMS Credits Subscription is separate from your plan subscription. You can cancel SMS credits without canceling your plan.
To cancel:
Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab.
Click Change SMS subscription.
Click Cancel Subscription.
Confirm cancellation.
Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle. Unused credits expire 60 days after purchase.
Note: Canceling your Pro plan does not cancel your SMS Credits Subscription. Cancel SMS credits separately using the steps above.
⚠️ Important for Legacy Free and Standard Plan Users (Subscribed Before May 4, 2026)
If you're on Free or Standard with legacy pricing and you cancel your SMS Credits Subscription, you cannot re-subscribe while staying on Free or Standard.
What this means:
Once you cancel, SMS access ends permanently on Free/Standard
To use SMS again, you must upgrade to Pro (volume-based pricing applies)
This restriction only applies to users who cancel – keeping your subscription active preserves your access
How Credit Rollover Works
Unused SMS credits roll over to the next billing cycle but expire after 60 days (two billing cycles maximum).
Example:
September 1: You get $20 in credits
September 30: You use $5, leaving $15
October 1: $15 rolls over + $20 new credits = $35 total
October 31: You use $10, leaving $25
November 1: $20 new credits added, but September's $15 expires. You now have $30 total ($20 from October + $10 from new November credits).
Key points:
Only the most recent billing period's credits roll over
Both Pro plan SMS credits and purchased SMS subscriptions follow the 60-day expiration rule
Credits don't convert between types (SMS credits cannot be used for email sends)
Preview SMS Campaign Costs
Before sending an SMS campaign, Omnisend shows you the exact cost on the Price Estimation step.
What you'll see:
Cost for US/CA recipients (calculated separately)
Cost for non-US/CA recipients (calculated separately)
Total cost for the entire campaign
Important: Each recipient counts as at least one SMS credit. If you send a campaign to 2,000 subscribers, you will use credits for 2,000 SMS – even if you have a large subscription tier.
Check the Estimated SMS credits page before sending to avoid running out of credits mid-campaign.
FAQ
Which plans can use SMS?
Legacy SMS pricing (subscribed before May 4, 2026):
All plans (Free, Standard, Pro) can send SMS campaigns and automations
Free/Standard: $1 included credit; purchase more via SMS Credits Subscription
Pro: Included SMS credits = subscription price (e.g., $59/month = $59 in credits)
Current SMS pricing (subscribed on or after May 4, 2026):
Pro plan only
SMS available as an add-on with volume-based pricing starting at $0.009/SMS
Free and Standard plans cannot access SMS
Can I send SMS campaigns and automations on the Free plan?
If you subscribed before May 4, 2026: Yes. The Free plan includes $1 in SMS credits (≈66 US/CA messages). You can send SMS campaigns and automations using these credits. If you need more, purchase a separate SMS Credits Subscription starting at $10/month.
If you subscribed on or after May 4, 2026: No. SMS is only available on Pro plan.
What am I paying for when I buy SMS credits?
SMS credits are prepaid bundles you use to send text campaigns and automations. When you subscribe to a $20/month tier, you get $20 in credits to spend on messages. You're not charged extra per message – credits are deducted as you send (e.g., $0.015 per US/CA text on legacy pricing, or volume-based rates on current pricing). If you run out before your cycle ends, you can enable auto-upgrade or manually add more credits.
What happens to my SMS credits if I downgrade from Pro?
Legacy pricing (subscribed before May 4, 2026): All unused SMS credits included with your Pro plan are permanently removed the moment you downgrade to Standard or Free. Only credits from a separate SMS Credits Subscription (purchased independently) will remain.
Important: If you downgrade or cancel and later re-subscribe on or after May 4, 2026, you'll move to the new volume-based pricing model and cannot return to legacy pricing.
Current pricing (subscribed on or after May 4, 2026): If you downgrade from Pro to Standard or Free, you lose access to SMS entirely (no SMS available on Free/Standard for new users).
How long do SMS credits last? Do they expire?
SMS credits expire 60 days after being added to your account. Unused credits from your current billing cycle roll over to the next 30 days, but credits older than 60 days are removed.
Example: $20 left in September carries to October, but any unused September credits expire before November. Credits don't stack beyond two months.
Can I cancel my SMS subscription without canceling my plan?
Yes. Your SMS Credits Subscription is separate from your plan subscription. To cancel SMS only: Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab → Change SMS subscription → Cancel Subscription. Your plan (Standard/Pro) will stay active. Your SMS subscription ends at your next billing date, and unused credits expire 60 days after purchase.
Why are my SMS credits being used up so quickly?
SMS credits can be used faster than expected for three reasons:
Character limits: Each SMS holds 160 characters. Messages longer than 160 split into multiple SMS (161–320 chars = 2 SMS, 321–480 chars = 3 SMS). Your phone merges them into one, but you're charged for each segment.
International pricing: Texts to non-US/CA countries cost more ($0.02–$0.20 per message on legacy pricing).
Automation workflows: Every triggered SMS (abandoned cart, order confirmation) deducts credits.
Check your exact usage: Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab → View usage details.
How many SMS messages can I send with $10, $20, or $100 in credits?
Legacy pricing (before May 4, 2026):
For US/Canada recipients ($0.015/SMS):
$10 = ≈667 messages
$20 = ≈1,333 messages
$100 = ≈6,667 messages
Current pricing (on or after May 4, 2026):
For US/Canada recipients (volume-based, entry rate $0.007/SMS):
$10 = ≈1,111 messages
$20 = ≈2,222 messages
$100 = ≈11,111 messages
For other countries, check the SMS pricing page.
Why can't I find the auto-upgrade option?
The auto-upgrade checkbox only appears when:
You're subscribing for the first time or upgrading to a higher tier (e.g., $20 → $25)
Your SMS credit balance is more than $1
You're selecting a higher tier (not staying on the same tier or downgrading)
If you don't see the checkbox:
Check your balance (must be more than $1)
Make sure you're upgrading to a higher tier, not staying on the same one
If you need to enable auto-upgrade after subscribing, contact Support at [email protected]
My $1 free credit says I should have 66 texts, but it shows $0 balance. Why?
Note: The $1 free credit is only available to legacy pricing users (subscribed before May 4, 2026).
The $1 free SMS credit on Free and Standard plans may have been:
Used – Check your SMS usage history
Expired – SMS credits expire after 60 days
To check your balance, go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab. If your balance is $0, you'll need to purchase SMS credits to send messages.
Will my SMS credits transfer to the next month?
The free SMS credits you get with a monthly Pro plan (legacy pricing) and the ones you purchase with the SMS Credits Subscription have an expiration date of 60 days. If you don't use your credits in the first month, you will be able to use them the next month, but they expire after two billing cycles (60 days total).
Is it possible to send MMS?
You can send MMS messages to the United States and Canada. Learn more about MMS.
Why did I pay x2, x3, x4... price for my campaign?
The character limit for a single SMS message is 160 characters, so your campaign was likely too long. The message may show as one long text on your phone because most modern phones and networks support concatenation (merging multiple SMS into one display). It's still two or more SMS sent and charged, but merged into one by your phone and/or mobile provider.
Can I add SMS credits immediately without changing my subscription tier?
Yes, if you have an active SMS subscription (any plan on legacy pricing, or Pro plan on new pricing) or are on the Pro plan.
Go to Store Settings → Pricing and usage → SMS credits tab and click Add one-time credits. Select a preset amount ($5, $10, or $25) or enter a custom amount. Credits are added instantly and appear in your SMS credits table balance.
One-time credits expire after 60 days and are non-refundable. If you need recurring credits, subscribe to a monthly SMS Credits Subscription instead.
I subscribed before May 4, 2026. Can I keep my legacy SMS pricing?
Yes, as long as you stay on a paid plan. If you downgrade to Free or cancel your subscription, you'll move to the current pricing rules when you re-subscribe (SMS available on Pro only with volume-based rates).
Do you need help finding the answer to your question? Please contact our Support Team; we are available 24/7 and can be reached via In-app chat or email at [email protected].