Understanding Message Credits
TxtSquad uses a message credit system to track and bill for outbound communications. This article explains how credits work, how they’re calculated, and how they are managed under different subscription plans.
What Are Message Credits?
Each outbound communication sent from your TxtSquad account consumes credits. The number of credits used depends on the channel, type, and length of the message.
SMS
Standard SMS: 1 credit per 160 characters.
Each 160-character segment counts as one credit.
MMS
- MMS Messages: An MMS message uses 3 credits for each attached media item (such as images or videos), plus additional credits for the message text based on SMS segment rules.
Example:
A message with 200 characters and an image will use 5 credits:
- 200 characters = 2 SMS segments = 2 credits
- 1 image = 3 credits
- Total = 5 credits
Voice
Smart Voicemail: 3 credits per minute.
Credits are calculated based on the voicemail duration, rounded up to the nearest minute.
Automated Outbound Voice Message: 3 credits per minute.
Credits are calculated based on call duration, rounded up to the nearest minute.
Example:
A 2 minute 10 second Smart Voicemail will use 9 credits:
- 3 minutes (rounded up) × 3 credits/min = 9 credits+
AI
AI Usage (AI SMS Bots): 3 credits per use.
Each AI-driven interaction/response generated by an AI SMS Bot consumes 3 credits.
Example:
If an AI SMS Bot generates 4 responses during a conversation:
- 4 uses × 3 credits/use = 12 credits
How Plan Credits Work
Monthly Plans
- Credits roll over from month to month.
- Each new month will consume current month’s credits first, followed by any available rollover credits.
- Rollover credits expire after one month if unused.
Example:
If you receive 1,000 credits in April and only use 800, the remaining 200 credits roll over to May. If those 200 rollover credits are not used during May, they will expire at the end of that month.
Annual Plans
- You receive a yearly credit total that can be used at any time throughout the year.
- This allows you to accommodate seasonal fluctuations in usage more easily.
- If you exceed your annual credit total, additional usage will be billed monthly until your annual plan renews.
Calculating Message Credits
To help you estimate the number of credits your messages will use, TxtSquad provides a Message Credit Calculator. This tool allows you to:
- Input your message text
- Receive an estimated credit usage count in real time
We recommend using this calculator before sending large campaigns to help you stay within your available credit balance.