How Vagaro Calculates Credit Usage for Text Messages – Vagaro Support

When you send a text through Connect by Vagaro or as part of a text campaign, the cost for each message is measured in credits from your Text Messaging plan. The number of credits required for each message depends on how many segments it contains. A segment is a portion of your message that fits within the character limits set by SMS networks, and each segment costs one credit. Short messages fit into one segment, but longer ones are split into multiple segments so they can be sent and reassembled on the recipient’s device.

How Text Messages are Calculated

Messages are divided into segments, and segments are divided into characters. Characters include letters, numbers, spaces, symbols, and emojis.

Standard letters, numbers, and symbols such as $, #, and @ count as one character each.
Basic emojis count as two characters, modified emojis (like skin tones) can count as four, and complex emojis made of multiple joined symbols can count as 15 or more characters.

Each segment has a character limit, and the number of characters per segment depends on the characters used in your message. Using emojis, certain special characters, and non-Latin languages (such as Chinese) can reduce the number of characters allowed per segment.

Message Type	Characters per one-segment message	Characters per credit for multi-segment messages	Maximum Length
Standard Message (GSM-7)	160	153	1,600
Message with Emojis and Unsupported Languages* (UCS-2)	70	67	700

* As soon as one emoji, special, or non-Latin character, like Chinese or Japanese, is added to a message, the character limits change.

How Longer Messages are Sent

SMS transmits a 161-character standard message in two segments: one with 153 characters and a second with 8 characters.

If you're unsure how many credits your message will require, copy and paste your message into this Message Segment Calculator.

Sending Messages to Multiple Customers at Once

How Images and GIFs Affect Credit Usage

Adding media, like images and GIFs, changes how credits are calculated. Instead of being charged per segment, media messages use a flat rate:

Country	Credit Cost per Message	Character Limit
United States and Canada	3 credits	Up to 1,600
Australia	15 credits	Up to 1,600
United Kingdom	Not supported	n/a

Important

Recipients must have a mobile data plan to receive media.

Tips to Manage Credit Usage

If you’re running low on credits or planning a large text campaign, check how many credits you have left and how many your message will use before sending it. While creating your campaign, the number of credits required per message appears directly below the Compose Text box.

Keep messages within the single-segment limit (160 characters for standard text, 70 for messages with emojis).
Avoid unnecessary emojis or special characters.
Review the segment counter before sending campaigns.
Use media only when it adds clear value to your message.