Bandwidth review
Bandwidth is a US SMS API and gateway provider that runs its own CLEC network. Its per message rate for US 10DLC and short code traffic is 0.6c, read on September 9, 2026. There is no self-serve messaging trial; the free Bandwidth Build trial covers voice only. We score it 6.83 out of 10.
Alain Grossbard OAM, with Justin Grossbard Updated How we rate Reader supported, we may earn a commission Reader supported. We may earn a commission when you sign up through a link on this page, and it never changes a score. How we make money.
Bandwidth cost at your volume
$6 in message charges a month, at 0.60c (long code (10DLC))
The same rule prices Bandwidth on the versus pages and the price guides: the band, top-up or number type your volume reaches, from Bandwidth's own US rates read 9 September 2026. Carrier fees are billed on top and sit in the tables below.
Bandwidth scores
| Value for money | 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 7 | |
| Reliability | 2 | |
| Reputation | 7 | |
| Compliance | 10 | |
| Customer service | 10 | |
| Gateway fit | 7.5 |
Six criteria, equally weighted, each scored out of 10 from Bandwidth's own published pages (how we rate). The gateway fit score counts eight published API features and is not part of the overall score.
Bandwidth US rates
| As published | Price | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. 10DLC | 0.60c | Lower than 30 of 32 other providers' lowest US rates |
| U.S. Short code | 0.60c | Lower than 30 of 32 other providers' lowest US rates |
| U.S. Toll-free | 0.75c | Lower than 27 of 32 other providers' lowest US rates |
Read from Bandwidth's own US pricing page on 9 September 2026. By number type. Each row is read against the lowest published US rate of every other provider we price. Source.
Bandwidth fees, trial and support
| What | Bandwidth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10DLC registration fees | Bandwidth's own 10DLC fee table: monthly campaign fees from $3 (Low Volume) to $60 (Agents and Franchises), Standard $20. Per brand: registration $9, optional third-party vetting $83, optional enhanced vetting $203. Every campaign except Political carries a 3 month minimum. Sole Proprietor brands are not supported. | Read Source 1 |
| Toll-free verification | Required before a toll-free number can send SMS; Bandwidth offers a Toll-free Verification API with real-time status updates. No verification fee is stated on the pages held. | Read Source 1 |
| Carrier fees | Passed through per registered 10DLC SMS: AT&T $0.0035 each way; T-Mobile $0.0045 outbound, $0.0025 inbound; Verizon $0.0045 outbound, rising to $0.0050 from 1 October 2026; US Cellular $0.0050 outbound, $0.0025 inbound. Unregistered traffic costs $0.010 to $0.012. | Read Source 1 |
| MMS rate | MMS outbound $0.015 on 10DLC, $0.020 on short code and toll-free; carrier surcharges extra | Read Source 1 |
| Free trial | No self-serve messaging trial. The Bandwidth Build free trial (3,000 credits, one US number, no card) covers Voice API and SIP Trunking only; a messaging trial is by request. | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Minimum plan or spend | Not published | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Credit expiry | Not published | Read Source 1 |
| API and SDKs | true; REST Messaging API over HTTP for SMS and MMS, plus SMPP; SDKs for PHP, C#, Node.js, Java, Ruby and Python | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Web app | The Bandwidth App handles number management, messaging setup and Messaging Insights reporting (message logs, health, usage, delivery, capacity). No campaign composer, contact lists, scheduling or template library is published. | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Two way | true; two-way SMS on Bandwidth numbers, with Global 2-Way A2P messaging sold in 120 countries outside the US | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Email to SMS | Not published | Read Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 |
| Integrations named | Operator Connect and Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams, SIP Link for Google Voice, Webex Calling, Webex Contact Center, Genesys Cloud CX, Zoom Phone, Zoom Contact Center, Five9, Pindrop; Clerk Chat partner listing for SMS into Microsoft Teams | Read Source 1 |
| Support channels | Free Signature plan: email, chat (AI assistant Synthi plus tickets), phone at (855) 864-7776, online knowledge base and a community forum. Silver adds SLA-backed response times; Gold adds a designated customer success manager and a dedicated Slack channel. Silver and Gold prices are not published. | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Support hours | 24x7x365 on the free Signature plan | Read Source 1 |
| SOC 2 | Bandwidth's security page lists SOC 2 Type II compliance | Read Source 1 |
| ISO 27001 | ISO 27001:2022 certified, per Bandwidth's security page. (Its ISO 42001:2023 listing is an AI management standard, not a security one.) | Read Source 1 |
| HIPAA | Bandwidth says it meets HIPAA security requirements for eligible services and offers a BAA to customers covered under HIPAA | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| GDPR | Bandwidth's security page states GDPR alignment (and CCPA alignment), not a certification | Read Source 1 |
| Opt-out handling (TCPA) | No opt-in or opt-out handling on long codes or short codes. On toll-free, STOP-style keywords are enforced at the network layer, but keeping opt-in and opt-out lists is the customer's job. No page read names the TCPA itself. | Read Source 1 |
| 10DLC registration | Bandwidth registers 10DLC and short code brands and campaigns through its own Registration Center, with a published fee table | Read Source 1 |
| Founded | 1999 | Read Source 1 |
| Head office | Raleigh, North Carolina (2230 Bandmate Way, Raleigh, NC 27607) | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Ownership | Bandwidth Inc., a US company; its US carrier operations run through a wholly owned subsidiary, Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC | Read Source 1 |
| Coverage | Messaging sold in 120 countries outside the US; Bandwidth says its owned network reaches 65+ countries, with National Operator status in 30+ | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Carrier routes | Bandwidth describes itself as a carrier (CLEC) in voice and a Tier 1 messaging aggregator that works directly with carriers; it says direct connections to top mobile carriers are still being built | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Uptime or SLA | No messaging SLA is published. The coverage page claims 99.999% core network uptime (the integrations page says 99.99%); the verifier ties the figure to the voice network. The Messaging Product Terms state no uptime figure and exclude transfer confirmations from any SLA. | Read Source 1 Source 2 |
| Status page | Public status page at status.bandwidth.com with 455 named components split by transport and number type (SMPP, MM4, HTTP SMS and MMS, toll-free); count as of 9 September 2026 | Read Source 1 |
| Price changes | No price guarantee. The Messaging Product Terms require at least seven days' emailed notice of a rate change. | Read Source 1 |
Not published means Bandwidth's own pages were checked on that day and state no figure. Nothing here is carried over from the earlier version of this review.
When Bandwidth fits
Choose Bandwidth when your developers send through an SMS API at volume. The REST Messaging API, with SMPP and SDKs in six languages, carries 10DLC traffic at 0.6c per message (September 9, 2026). A random short code lease costs $500 a month (September 9, 2026). Support runs 24x7x365 on the free Signature plan, and Bandwidth offers a BAA to customers covered under HIPAA (September 9, 2026). Bandwidth states that carriers charge the short code lease fees directly, $1,000 for vanity and $500 for random (September 28, 2026); see what a US short code costs.
When to look elsewhere
Look elsewhere when you need a browser tool for campaigns: the Bandwidth App has no campaign composer, contact lists, scheduling or template library (September 9, 2026). No messaging SLA is published, the coverage page claims 99.999% core network uptime, and the Messaging Product Terms state no uptime figure (September 9, 2026). Carriers charge $0.010 to $0.012 per unregistered message (September 21, 2026). Bandwidth does not publish a minimum plan, number rental for long codes or toll-free, or credit expiry, checked September 9, 2026.
Bandwidth compared
Bandwidth is ranked against the rest of its category: where Bandwidth ranks among the best SMS gateway providers in the USA.
Bandwidth questions
How much does Bandwidth SMS pricing cost per message?
Bandwidth SMS pricing starts at 0.6c per message for US 10DLC and short code, and 0.75c for toll-free, read on September 9, 2026. MMS costs $0.015 on 10DLC.
Does Bandwidth offer a free trial?
Bandwidth does not offer a free trial for self-serve messaging. The 3,000-credit Bandwidth Build trial (September 9, 2026) covers Voice API and SIP Trunking only, with one US number and no card; a messaging trial is by request.
What is Bandwidth messaging?
Bandwidth messaging runs through a REST SMS API with SMPP and SDKs for six languages including PHP, C# and Python (September 9, 2026). Founded in 1999, the company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.