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Our Philosophy

At OpenPhone, we believe in transparent and fair pricing. Sometimes it can be hard to understand the true cost of something when it’s buried in the fine print. We are committed to helping you clearly understand and manage your costs when using our platform.

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Pricing Structure

Our pricing is based on a per-segment model for API-powered outgoing text messages. With this model, pay only what you use. By keeping messages to a single segment, you can reduce your costs. Here’s a clear breakdown of our current rates:

Local (US and Canada) SMS

$0.01 per segment

International SMS

$0.01 + destination-specific rate* per segment
*International rates vary by country. Please refer to our International Pricing Guide for current rates.

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Pricing Details

A segment is a unit of measurement for text messages. For SMS, one segment is generally up to 160 characters. Longer messages are split into multiple segments. This is a standard all companies use when determining text messaging fees, but we want to make sure you’re fully aware of it.For a detailed understanding of how messages are segmented, you can use this Segment Calculator. This tool helps you estimate the number of segments for your messages, allowing for more accurate cost projections.
API-powered messages are text messages sent using our API, either directly or through integrations built with it. This term covers:
  • Direct API Usage: Messages sent by interacting directly with the OpenPhone API.
  • Integration-Enabled: Messages sent via third-party applications or services that utilize the OpenPhone API.
There are no additional or hidden fees associated with sending messages through the API. Our pricing is inclusive of any carrier fees.

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Billing and Credit System

We use a straightforward credit-based system for API-powered messaging charges. Here’s how it works:
1

Add Funds

Add funds to your account’s credit balance under the “Plans & Billing” tab.
2

Send a Message

When you send a message via the API, we deduct the appropriate amount from your credit balance based on the number of segments and the message destination (local or international).
3

Replenish as Needed

You can continue sending messages as long as you have sufficient credits in your account. We recommend turning on the auto-charge feature to prevent interruptions in service.
If a message costs more than your available credit balance, the API will return an error for insufficient funds and the message will not be sent.Partial credits cannot be used. If your credit balance is insufficient for the full cost of the message, an error will be returned.

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Important Notes

  1. MMS Support: MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is not supported in the current version of the OpenPhone API.
  2. Subscription Requirement: To use the API, you must have an active OpenPhone subscription in addition to purchasing API credits.

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Need More Information?

We’re committed to helping you understand every aspect of our pricing. If you have any questions, need clarification on any part of the billing process, or require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our support team at support+developers@openphone.co.