RCS pricing by message type and destination country
Dexatel’s RCS business messaging pricing depends on the message type and the destination country. Basic and Single messages are billed per delivered message and conversations per 24-hour window, with the same rates from the dashboard or the RCS API.
Estimate RCS costs
Enter how many messages and conversations you expect each month. Rates are starting rates; the final rate depends on the network.
Estimated monthly total
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Full breakdown below.
Basic
Text up to 160 characters with link previews: OTPs, alerts, reminders
-per messageSingle
Rich media up to 3,072 characters, buttons: promotions, confirmations
-per messageConversation
Messages with one user within 24 hours
-per conversationFees
Setup, monthly or per-user fees depend on the country and network.
Estimated monthly total
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Starting rates. Fees are not included.
Prices go down as your volume grows. For large volumes, talk to Sales.
What you pay for with RCS
Your RCS business messaging API pricing comes down to two things: the messages you send and the destinations you send them to.
Basic and Single messages are billed per delivered message. Conversations are billed once per 24-hour window.
RCS availability by device, country and carrier
Dexatel delivers RCS business messages to Android phones and iPhones. Two things decide whether a message arrives: the device has to support RCS messaging, and the recipient’s carrier has to support RCS for Business — so a handset that handles person-to-person RCS is not automatically reachable, and coverage can differ between networks inside the same country. Where RCS can’t reach a customer, the message isn’t delivered and isn’t charged.
Dexatel Verify sends verification codes over RCS, billed at the Basic message rate for the destination country. A code is a single delivered message rather than a conversation, so no session charge applies.
RCS business messaging pricing FAQ
Are there setup or monthly fees?
Most destinations have no setup fee. Some carry an agent or platform fee, and a few carry a monthly minimum that your usage counts towards. Talk to sales and they'll confirm what applies to the markets you plan to reach.
How is RCS billed?
RCS messaging pricing depends on the message type and the destination country. Basic and Single messages are billed per delivered message. Conversations are billed once per 24-hour window, however many messages pass inside it.
How are RCS one-time passwords billed?
At the Basic message rate for the destination country, per delivered message. A conversation charge covers a two-way exchange, and a verification code doesn't open one because no reply is expected.
Is RCS available everywhere?
Not yet. RCS for Business runs on carrier agreements, so availability varies by country and by network within a country. The destinations we price are listed in the calculator above.
Does the RCS price drop with volume?
Yes. Rates come down as your volume grows, agreed per country and per channel rather than set in fixed tiers. Talk to sales about your expected traffic and destinations.
Is RCS more expensive than SMS?
It depends on the country and what you're sending. Compare the full cost: the RCS rate for your destination, any agent fees, and how many SMS segments the same message would need. Neither channel is always cheaper.
What's the difference between Basic and Single messages?
A Basic message is text up to 160 characters from your verified sender, with URL previews — the shape of an OTP or a short alert. A Single message carries up to 3,072 characters with images, video, rich cards and call-to-action buttons. They're priced separately, so what you send decides the rate.
How is RCS billed in the US?
US pricing is handled by our sales team. US carriers set their own fee structures and there are more of them than in other markets, so we quote it directly rather than publishing a rate.
What is an RCS conversation?
A 24-hour window that opens when one side replies to the other. Every qualifying message inside that window shares a single conversation charge. If the customer never replies, the message you sent is billed on its own as Basic or Single.
Am I charged for RCS messages that aren't delivered?
No. RCS is billed on delivery, so a message that doesn't reach the handset carries no charge. Agent fees and any monthly minimum follow their own rules.
Does RCS work on iPhone?
Yes, where the device and the carrier both support it. An iPhone needs to support RCS messaging, and the recipient’s carrier has to support RCS for Business — the same two conditions that apply on Android. Where either is missing, the message isn’t delivered and isn’t charged.
Do domestic and international rates differ?
In some destinations, yes. Where a destination has both, the domestic rate applies when your business is based in the destination country, and the international rate applies otherwise. Where one rate is shown, it covers everything you send there.
Can I test before I pay?
Yes. The free trial includes RCS and covers registering your RCS agent, so you can send real branded messages before committing to anything. It runs for 14 days with $1 of credit, and no card is needed. Sign up for free to start, and our team will take you through agent setup.
