The short answer
Bandwidth is billed per sms message. It has no free tier (Trial account on request). The paid plans we list start at Variable add-on (Carrier surcharges).
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 10DLC SMS (US) | $0.004 / msg | Per-message outbound rate for US Application-to-Person 10-digit long codes (carrier surcharges additional). |
| 10DLC MMS (US) | $0.015 / msg | Flat per-message MMS rate regardless of media size. |
| Toll-Free SMS (US) | $0.007 / msg | Outbound SMS over verified toll-free numbers; MMS $0.020/msg. |
| Short Code SMS (US) | $0.008 / msg | Outbound SMS over dedicated short codes; MMS $0.020/msg. |
| Carrier surcharges | Variable add-on | Pass-through carrier fees billed on top of base rates; T-Mobile Rich Media >5MB adds $0.001/MB (eff. Apr 1, 2026). |
How Bandwidth bills you
The pricing model is per sms message. Tier-1 carrier delivering direct-to-carrier SMS at low cost with multi-language SDKs, aimed at enterprises and CPaaS resellers rather than quick self-serve. Best suited to: direct carrier network for enterprise messaging.
What to watch for on the bill
- Distinctly US-focused; international coverage relies more on carrier partnerships and reviewers report international connectivity issues
- Recurring complaints about billing transparency and accuracy
The pricing page we read
Source: https://www.bandwidth.com/pricing/. Prices change, so confirm there before you commit.
Compare Bandwidth with alternatives
Other sms & messaging apis: Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx, Plivo, Sinch.
Looking at quality rather than price? See the Bandwidth score on APIbenchmarks. Full entry: Bandwidth pricing.