How much do messages cost?

Sakari individually prices each message by multiplying the segment count of the message by the plan price of sending a message segment to the receiving country.

Segment count

Sakari calculates message length in character batches called segments, the same as SMS carriers worldwide.  The more segments a message contains, the more it costs to send or receive it. 

Receiving country

Much like a telephone call, the destination determines the cost of the message.  Each country has a specific rate per segment.  The international dialling code of the destination number determines the receiving country.  Please see our pricing spreadsheet.

Plan price of a segment

The per-segment rate for each country changes depending on your monthly or annual commitment to Sakari.  Higher commitments result in lower per-segment rates and vice versa.  Annual plans are available at a discounted rate, further reducing the cost of messaging.

Calculating message costs

Examples

Example #1  - single message

On a $25 monthly plan, the charge for each segment sent or received in the United States is 0.032 USD.

A two-segment message to a single US telephone number costs $0.064 USD (2 x $0.032).

Example #2 - multiple messages

On a $100 monthly plan, the charge for each segment sent or received in the United Kingdom is 0.0562 USD.  

Sending a two-segment message to six UK telephone numbers is 67 cents US (2 x 6 x $0.0562).

Example #3 - multiple messages to multiple destinations

You are subscribed to a $1,595 Annual plan and based in the United States.  You send a Sakari SMS Campaign to 750 contacts.

There are 250 contacts based in the UK, 250 in the United States, and 250 in France.  Your message is three (3) segments long.

The cost of sending your Campaign is calculated as follows:

250 x 3 x $0.0280 (US segment rate on a $1,595 Annual plan) = $21.00

250 x 3 x $0.0570 (UK segment rate on a $1,595 Annual plan) = $42.75

250 x 3 x $0.0990 (France segment rate on a $1,595 Annual plan) = $74.25

Total: ($21.00 + $42.75 + $74.25) = $138.00 US

 

FAQ

What is a text message segment?

All phone carriers measure text messages in character batches called segments.  As a general rule, a segment typically consists of 160 characters; however, varying factors may apply. 

You can learn more about segments here

How do I pay for messages?

Customers add messaging credit to their accounts in advance.  The balance is depleted with each message sent or received according to its price.

Does one plan support sending messages to multiple countries?

Yes - each plan has an associated per-segment rate for each country, allowing you to mix and match messaging across multiple countries with a single plan.

Can I use emojis?

Using special characters or emojis in your SMS can double the segment count, as they change the message's coding.  Learn more about this in Text Message Encoding.

 

 

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