Overview
Effective January 19, 2026, T-Mobile will increase pass-through carrier fees for SMS via Long Code (10DLC), Short Code, RCS and Toll-Free channels. T-Mobile initially planned and announced these changes to go live on January 15, 2026. In a later announcement, they adjusted the fees further, effective January 19, 2026. This increase by T-Mobile is consistent with other carrier adjustments to fees as they manage network traffic and quality, but lacks consideration for brands who are sending A2P messaging at scale.
Updated T-Mobile rates will apply to outbound and inbound (Mobile-Originated) SMS and RCS messages sent to T-Mobile and US Cellular handsets (T-Mobile acquired US Cellular in August 2025).
We understand that carrier fee increases directly impact a business’s bottom line and their ability to engage with customers at scale. While Twilio does not control these carrier-imposed fees, we are committed to providing our customers with the transparency, reliability, and innovative alternatives (such as RCS Business Messaging and WhatsApp) needed to navigate these changes confidently.
These changes will automatically be applied to your Twilio account on the effective date. No action is required on your part to implement the pricing changes.
What You Need To Know
Updated Fees
The following table outlines the changes for the most common message types:
| Message Type for T-Mobile | Current Price USD | New Price (Jan 29, 2026) |
| Outbound SMS (10DLC) | $0.0030 | $0.0045 |
| Outbound SMS (Short Code) | $0.0025 | $0.0045 |
| Outbound SMS (Toll-Free) | $0.0030 | $0.0045 |
| Inbound SMS (All Channels) | ~$0.0025 - $0.0030 | $0.0025 |
| Outbound RCS Rich | $0.0045 | $0.0062 |
| Inbound RCS Rich | $0.0045 | $0.0025 |
| Message Type for US Cellular Devices | Current Price (USD) | New Price (Jan 19, 2026) |
| Outbound SMS (Short Code) | $0.0035 | $0.0045 |
| Outbound SMS (Toll-Free) | $0.0025 | $0.0045 |
| Inbound SMS (10DLC) | $0 | $0.0025 |
| Outbound MMS (Toll-free) | $0.005 | $0.01 |
| Inbound MMS (Short Code & 10DLC) | $0 | $0.01 |
| Inbound MMS (Toll-free) | $0.005 | $0.01 |
| Outbound RCS Rich | $0.005 | $0.0062 |
| Inbound RCS Rich | $0.005 | $0.0025 |
Note: These changes also apply to Authy & Verify messages sent via these channels.
What to do next
We are here to support you through this transition. If you have questions about how these changes affect your specific volume or want to explore rich messaging alternatives, please reach out to your Account Executive or Twilio Support for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the other major US carriers implement similar price increases?
US telecom infrastructure is complex and the ecosystem undergoes frequent shifts to accommodate higher traffic volumes and security demands. These price adjustments reflect T-Mobile’s decision to increase pass-through fees industry-wide. As of December 2025, no other major US carrier has announced a similar increase in pricing, but there is always a possibility that other providers follow T-Mobile’s pricing increase in the future.
What alternative Messaging channels could I utilize and still maintain my ROI?
SMS remains a vital channel, however, the changing cost structure of standard text messaging highlights the value of exploring richer, more engaging messaging channels such as RCS Business Messaging or WhatsApp. This is an opportune moment to consider how RCS (Rich Communication Services) and WhatsApp can diversify your communication strategy.
- Higher Engagement: Rich channels allow for branded experiences, high-resolution media, and verified sender identities, which can increase trust and read rates compared to standard SMS.
- Verified Trust: Features like verified sender profiles on WhatsApp and RCS help consumers instantly recognize your brand, mitigating the "spam" stigma often associated with high-volume SMS.
How is Twilio making SMS less complex in the US with rising costs?
To achieve transparency and trust within the Twilio platform, we leverage the Twilio Super Network, which includes over 4,800 carrier connections, to mask the complexity of global communications, ensuring that despite infrastructure changes, your message deliverability remains high.
Apart from our investment in the Twilio Super Network, Twilio provides a suite of products and features to make the development, deployment, and innovation of your messaging solution easier.
- Unmatched Reliability: We process over 2.5 trillion interactions with 99.999% API availability. Our Traffic Optimization Engine intelligently manages traffic to prevent issues before they affect your campaigns.
- Simplified Compliance: Regulatory overhead can be costly. Twilio provides native regulatory product experiences for A2P 10DLC and Toll-Free verification to keep your traffic compliant, reducing the risk of costly filtering or blocking.
- Fraud Prevention: Our tools proactively block fraud and artificially inflated traffic (AIT), ensuring you never pay carrier fees for fraudulent messages