🏷️ SMS features vary by Marsello plan
Loyalty Launch + SMS add-on: Unlocks loyalty automations via SMS
Loyalty Launch + Marketing add-on + SMS add-on: Unlocks loyalty automations via SMS and SMS campaigns
Loyalty Accelerate + SMS add-on: Unlocks loyalty automations via SMS
Loyalty Accelerate + Marketing add-on + SMS add-on: Unlocks loyalty automations via SMS and SMS campaigns
Please note that the SMS feature is billed separately from Marsello.
This article explains how SMS billing works in Marsello, including SMS credits, pricing plans, and how to manage your SMS subscription.
Before you get started
SMS campaigns are an add-on feature and fall under a different pricing model. This allows you to choose an SMS plan that suits your SMS-sending needs. SMS pricing contains a variety of tiered monthly subscription plans with different amounts of SMS credit allocations to choose from.
SMS Credits are the 'cost' of sending an SMS Campaign. Each time that you send an SMS Campaign, it will use a certain number of credits which are based on the location of each individual customer. Certain locations cost more credits than others.
You will reach your plan's limit when you have either hit the maximum number of profiles or sent the maximum number of SMS messages, whichever comes first.
The inclusion of special characters in your SMS messages can raise credit consumption as they reduce the total permissible characters in each SMS, leading to multiple parts being sent.
Any failed deliveries do count towards your SMS billing plan's limits.
Merchants selling products that fall under S.H.A.F.T. guidelines (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco, vaping, CBD, marijuana/cannabis, and any content associated with either one of these) will not be able to send SMS campaigns. Please refer to our SMS Marketing Compliance Introduction article for further details.
SMS campaigns are an add-on feature and follow a separate pricing model from your standard Marsello plan. This allows you to select an SMS plan that best suits your messaging needs.
SMS pricing includes a range of tiered monthly subscription plans, each offering a different allocation of SMS credits.
SMS credits represent the cost of sending SMS campaigns. Each time you send an SMS campaign, a certain number of credits will be used based on the location of each recipient. Some countries require more credits per message than others.
You will reach your plan's limit when you have either hit the maximum number of profiles or sent the maximum number of SMS messages, whichever comes first.
The inclusion of special characters in your SMS messages may increase credit usage. Special characters reduce the number of characters allowed in a single SMS segment, which can cause your message to be split into multiple parts.
Please note that failed SMS deliveries still count toward your SMS billing plan limits.
⚠️ Compliance Notice: Merchants selling products that fall under S.H.A.F.T. guidelines (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco, vaping, CBD, marijuana/cannabis, or related content) are not permitted to send SMS campaigns using Marsello.
For more information, see the SMS Marketing Compliance Introduction article.
How SMS billing works
SMS campaigns in Marsello are billed using SMS credits. Each SMS plan provides a monthly allocation of credits, which are used whenever you send an SMS campaign.
Credits are deducted based on:
The number of recipients
The location of each recipient
The length and formatting of your message
Some locations require more credits per message than others.
Your plan limit is reached when you either:
Use all your SMS credits, or
Reach the maximum number of eligible customer profiles
—whichever happens first.
💡Tip: A complete listing of credit cost per SMS message by location is available in your Marsello app admin.
What are SMS credits?
SMS credits are the cost of sending SMS campaigns. Each SMS message uses a certain number of credits depending on the country of the recipient.
Example credit costs
Location | Credit cost per SMS |
United States | 1 credit |
Australia | 4 credits |
New Zealand | 7 credits |
💡 Tip: A full list of SMS credit costs by location can be found inside your Marsello admin dashboard.
Credit estimation formula & guidelines
To calculate SMS credit requirements:
Multiply the total number of recipients by the credit-per-message rate based on their region.
Factor in additional credits for multi-part messages when text exceeds standard limits or includes special characters. For example, if sending to 15,257 recipients in a region requiring 1 credit per message, you'll need 15,257 credits as a minimum estimation for single-segment messages. Exceeding the segment limit may increase total credits.
Currency Conversion Considerations
Marsello charges for SMS services in USD. If you are paying in another currency, such as AUD, the final amount will depend on the exchange rate applied by your bank or card provider at the time of the transaction. While it is possible to estimate the cost using current exchange rates, the exact amount may vary.
Factors that affect SMS credit usage
Several factors can increase the number of credits used when sending an SMS campaign.
Recipient location
Different countries require different numbers of SMS credits.
Message length
Long messages may be split into multiple message segments, increasing credit usage.
Special characters
Special characters (such as emojis or non-standard symbols) can reduce the number of characters allowed per SMS segment. This can cause your message to be sent in multiple parts and use additional credits.
Failed SMS deliveries
Failed SMS deliveries still count toward your SMS billing plan limits.
How to estimate SMS credit usage
To estimate the number of credits required for a campaign:
Credit estimation formula
Number of recipients × Credit cost per region = Estimated credits required
Example
If you send an SMS campaign to 15,257 recipients in a region that costs 1 credit per message, you will need at least: 15,257 credits
📝 Note: If the message exceeds the SMS character limit or contains special characters, the message may be split into multiple segments, which increases credit usage.
Choose Your SMS Billing Plan
1. In the upper right-hand corner of your Marsello app admin, select the drop-down menu to the right of your business name and select billing.
2. Select the SMS add-on tab.
Here you will see all available SMS plans. Select choose plan to begin using the plan that will work best for you.
📝 Note: The prices listed in the plans section are listed in USD and do not include sales tax.
When choosing an SMS plan, you should consider two things:
Customers who can receive SMS marketing
SMS marketing laws and regulations require you to have the customer's permission in order to send them SMS campaigns. The customer must also have a valid mobile number (that includes their country code) in their Marsello customer profile.
SMS Campaigns Frequency
SMS Campaigns best practice recommends sending 2 - 4 SMS campaigns per month.
You can send more or less, however, it is important that you set clear expectations with your customers on how many campaigns they will receive from your store.
3. Enter your payment details when prompted.
4. Confirm your SMS plan
Your credit card will then be charged according to your selected SMS plan and you'll receive the associated SMS credit allocation.
⚠️ Important
SMS is a monthly subscription
Every month, on the date that you subscribed to your SMS plan, your credit card will be charged and the SMS credits will be added to your account.
SMS credits don't expire
You asked, and we listened. We've updated our SMS credits so they no longer expire. So don't worry if you don't use all your credits in a month, you now have the flexibility to use your SMS credits on your terms 😎
SMS credits are non-refundable
You can only have one credit card per Marsello account. If you pay for SMS using a different credit card, it will change the default credit card for your account. The account owner will be notified via email if a payment fails. If you are paying in a currency other than USD, the final amount will depend on the exchange rate applied by your bank or card provider. This may result in slight variations in the total cost.
Upgrading your SMS plan
If you need more SMS credits, you can upgrade to a higher SMS plan at any time.
When upgrading:
You will be charged the difference between the two plans
You will receive the additional credits included in the higher plan
Example
If you upgrade from:
$50 plan (1,500 credits)
to$100 plan (3,100 credits)
You will be:
Charged $50
Given 1,600 additional credits
On your next billing cycle, you will be charged $100 and receive 3,100 credits.
Downgrading your SMS plan
You can downgrade your SMS plan at any time. There is no charge for downgrading, and you will keep your existing SMS credit balance.
Example
If you downgrade from:
$100 plan
to$50 plan
You will be:
Keep your existing SMS credit balance
Be charged $50 on your next billing cycle
Receive 1,500 credits
Cancelling your SMS plan
If you no longer wish to subscribe to an SMS plan, you can pause your subscription by downgrading to the $0 plan (0 credits).
When you do this:
You will not be charged
You will keep your remaining SMS credits
No new credits will be added until you subscribe again
SMS payment details
Marsello accounts can only have one credit card on file.
If you pay for SMS using a different credit card than your email plan, it will become the default payment method for your Marsello account. If a payment fails, the account owner will be notified via email.
📝 Note: Visa and Mastercard only.
Brands also searched for: msgs, mess, ocst, cents, cancel SMS, downgrade plan, change SMS plan, smns, SMSbilling, text message, susbscription, prci, pyament, amex