Check SMS notification rates
See how SMS notification rates work in Upper, why international messages cost more, and how to check your current SMS balance before a high-volume send.
SMS notification costs in Upper vary by where the message is going. Each text is billed against a prepaid balance, and the per-message rate depends on the destination country and how long the message is. Checking your rates and balance before a large send keeps the cost predictable and stops you running dry mid-route.
This article uses the driver / Delivery labels. A workspace set up for service businesses may show technician / Service instead (for example "Out For Service"). Both refer to the same notifications.
Why rates vary
Two things drive the cost of a single SMS notification:
- Destination country. International messages typically cost more than domestic ones, and rates differ widely from one country to the next. Sending to a new region without checking first can use up your balance faster than you expect.
- Message length. SMS is billed per segment, not per send. A longer message splits into multiple segments and is charged for each one. The message editor shows a live "This message will send in N segment(s)" indicator as you type, so you can see the segment count before you save.
Keep your templates tight. Trimming a message so it fits in one segment instead of two can roughly halve the cost of every send that uses that template.
Check your current SMS balance
Your SMS balance is a prepaid dollar amount held against the Notifications and Alerts add-on in the Marketplace. Check it before any high-volume send.
Open the Marketplace
Go to Marketplace in Upper.
Open Notifications and Alerts
Select Notifications and Alerts. This is the add-on that holds your SMS balance.
Review your balance
Your current prepaid balance is shown here. If it is low, top it up before you dispatch so notifications keep sending.
You can set up auto-recharge on the Notifications and Alerts balance so it tops up automatically and your notifications never stop because the balance hit zero.
See per-country rates
Rates differ by destination country, so confirm the rate for a region before you send to it for the first time. For the per-region rate detail and any country-specific sending rules, see the related articles below.
Before you start
- SMS must be enabled. SMS notifications are available on paid plans and are not offered on the Starter plan.
- A depot address may be required. Some accounts must have a depot address on file before SMS can be sent — Upper will tell you if one is needed.
- A funded balance. SMS draws from your prepaid Notifications and Alerts balance. If it is empty, messages will not send.
Troubleshooting
Related
Check SMS notification history
Review every customer SMS Upper sent in the Route Plan SMS Detailed Report in Analytics — see the recipient, message, status, segments, and cost per text.
Collect customer feedback after deliveries
Upper doesn't have a feedback box on the tracking page. Customers reach you by messaging the driver from the tracking page or replying to a notification from a custom sender.