Maximum Character Count for SMS: Examples and Guide

When sending alerts to your customers, the question of format is crucial. Understanding the rule of maximum character notifications with examples is essential to prevent your messages from being cut off or billed double by your telephony provider.

The Golden Rule of SMS Characters: GSM-7 vs Unicode

Most professionals think an SMS always contains 160 characters. This is theoretically true, but in practice, reality is more complex, especially in the French language. The limit depends entirely on the encoding used for your messages.

• GSM-7 Encoding (160 characters): This is the standard encoding for the basic Latin alphabet. It includes letters from A to Z, numbers, and some common accented characters (like é, è, or à).
• Unicode / UCS-2 Encoding (70 characters): As soon as your message contains a single character not supported by GSM-7 (for example an emoji, a special character like "ç", "ê", or "ë"), the entire message switches to Unicode. The character limit then instantly drops to 70 characters per message.

If you exceed this limit, your message is divided into several segments (concatenated messages). Traditional SMS gateways like Twilio or Plivo charge for each segment individually, which can quickly triple your operational costs without you even realizing it.

Difference between SMS and Push Notifications

A frequent question among developers and integrators is: what is the text limit when sending push notifications on sms? It is important not to confuse the two technologies.

Push notifications (on iOS or Android via Firebase) have a size limit based on bytes (usually 4 KB, or about 4000 characters). In contrast, SMS notifications are governed by the strict telecom protocols described above (160 characters in GSM-7 and 70 in Unicode). If you send a notification via SMS, you must strictly respect these limits to optimize deliverability and control your costs.

Maximum Character Notifications: Concrete Examples by Sector

To help you design impactful and economical messages, here are real examples of notifications according to your business sector, with the exact calculation of their length and their impact on your billing.

Example 1: Schools and Training Centers

To set up targeted notifications for parents to report an absence or an event, every word counts. French accents can quickly flip your SMS to Unicode.

Message Example:
"Dear parents, tonight's parent-teacher meeting is postponed to 6:30 PM. Please confirm your attendance."

Analysis: This message contains 111 characters. Using standard characters, it fits into a single GSM-7 SMS. However, if you use complex Unicode characters, it will be split. With MySMSGate, you don't have to worry about these complex calculations: we charge a flat rate per message sent, regardless of its length or encoding.

Example 2: Delivery Services and Couriers

If you are looking to find out how to set up courier delivery sms notifications, clarity and brevity are essential. Here is an optimized template for delivery drivers:

Message Example:
"Your package #84920 is out for delivery. It will be delivered today between 2 PM and 4 PM. Tracking: https://moncolis.fr/84920"

Analysis: This message is 114 characters long. It contains only standard GSM-7 characters. It therefore counts as 1 SMS. If you evaluate the cost of bulk sms for courier delivery notifications with traditional providers, you will find that custom URLs or long messages often double the bill. Using the best sms gateway for courier delivery notifications like MySMSGate guarantees you a fixed rate of $0.02 per send, with no surprises.

Example 3: Pharmacies and Medical Offices

Health dispensaries need to send alerts for prescription availability. This is where choosing the best sms gateway for pharmacy notifications comes in to ensure confidentiality and reliability at the best price.

Message Example:
"Your prescription is ready at the Central Pharmacy. You can pick it up with your health card."

Analysis: This message contains 112 characters. Watch out for characters like "é" and "à": although supported in basic GSM-7 on most networks, some older operators may force Unicode encoding, reducing the limit to 70 characters and billing this message as 2 separate SMS on Twilio.

Comparison Table of Limits and Sending Costs

To better visualize the impact of message type and gateway choice on your budget, here is a comparison table based on sending 500 notifications containing special French characters (Unicode).

As this table shows, for small businesses and local services, using an Android SMS gateway like MySMSGate allows you to divide your costs by 5 while simplifying the management of your campaigns.

How to Set Up Your SMS Notifications Easily?

Whether you are a developer looking to integrate a robust API or a merchant without technical skills, setting up your SMS alerts is child's play.

1. Create your account: Go to MySMSGate to create your free account in seconds.
2. Connect your phone: Install our Android application on your professional smartphone (or an old dedicated phone) and scan the QR code displayed on your dashboard. Your phone instantly becomes your personal SMS gateway.
3. Send your messages: Use our intuitive web interface to chat live with your customers, or connect your existing tools via Zapier, Make.com, or n8n.

For developers, integration is done via an ultra-simple REST API with a single endpoint. You can consult our complete guide: send SMS from an Android phone via API.

API Integration Code Example (Python)

Here is a quick example to integrate notification sending into your application or your pharmacy or delivery management software:

import requests

url = "https://mysmsgate.net/api/v1/send"
payload = {
    "to": "+33612345678",
    "message": "Your order is ready! Pick it up today.",
    "device_id": "your_device_id_here"
}
headers = {
    "Authorization": "Bearer your_api_key_here",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
print(response.json())

This simple script allows you to automate your notifications reliably and economically. To learn more about pricing and economies of scale, read our guide to the cheapest SMS API for small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions about SMS Character Limits

Find answers to the most common questions regarding character management and sending professional notifications by SMS.

What is the character limit for a standard SMS?

A standard SMS encoded in GSM-7 has a strict limit of 160 characters. If you use special characters (like emojis or certain complex accents), the limit drops to 70 characters per message.

How can I avoid paying double for my SMS containing accents?

The most effective solution is to use a gateway like MySMSGate. Unlike traditional APIs that charge per 70 or 160-character segment, MySMSGate applies a flat rate of $0.02 per message sent from your own SIM card, regardless of its length or encoding.

Can I send SMS notifications without knowing how to code?

Yes, absolutely. With the MySMSGate dashboard, you can send messages directly from your web browser using our online conversation interface, or use no-code integrations like Make or Zapier to automate your sends from Google Sheets or your CRM.

Do I need a special phone number or operator validation?

No. By using MySMSGate, SMS are sent directly from your own Android smartphone and your existing SIM card. Your customers receive the message from your usual phone number, which significantly increases the open and trust rate, without any tedious administrative procedures (like 10DLC registration in the USA).