Hive’s SMS/MMS pricing is pay-as-you-go, and you must have an active email plan to use SMS/MMS.
The cost of sending includes carrier fees and is based on the type of message and its length:
SMS: $0.024 per 160 characters
MMS: $0.058 per 1600 characters
The total price will vary depending on the number of emojis, merge tags, or special characters included in your message.
Note: If you do not pay Hive directly for SMS/MMS (e.g., if you’re billed through a ticketing partner or agency), the prices below may not reflect your actual costs. Please check with your partner or agency for your specific pricing model.
SMS (plain text)
An SMS is a plain text message with no emojis, GIFs, or images. Each SMS can display up to 160 characters.
1–160 characters = $0.024 per SMS
161–320 characters = $0.048 per SMS
321–480 characters = $0.072 per SMS
…and so on!
Character count is approximate—merge tags (e.g., first names) may increase or decrease the total.
Pro tip: Keep messages concise to reduce costs—shorter messages not only save money but often drive higher engagement.
Emoji SMS
Adding an emoji or special character changes the character limit to 70 characters per segment.
1–70 characters (with emoji) = $0.024 per SMS
71–140 characters (with emoji) = $0.048 per SMS
141–210 characters (with emoji) = $0.072 per SMS
…and so on
MMS (image or GIF)
An MMS includes an image or GIF and can contain up to 1600 characters.
1–1600 characters (with image/GIF) = $0.058 per MMS
Note: character count is approximate—merge tags can affect the total.
International SMS
SMS messaging is currently available only in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. International rates may apply; rates available upon request.
Viewing SMS/MMS costs in Hive
You can track your SMS/MMS costs both before and after a send.
Pre-send cost estimate: When creating an SMS/MMS campaign, the last step of the builder will show you an approximate cost. This estimate is calculated based on:
Message type (SMS or MMS)
Number of recipients
Message length
Post-send cost reporting
After a campaign has been sent, you can view the actual costs by going to your SMS page and selecting Export SMS Stats.
This export provides a detailed breakdown of:
All SMS/MMS messages sent
The Cost Estimate (Pre-carrier Fees)
Important reminder: If you do not pay Hive directly for your SMS/MMS usage (e.g., you’re billed through a ticketing partner or agency), the pre-send estimate and post-send reporting will not be available in your Hive account. Please contact your partner or agency for cost details.
Bulk messaging
If you plan to send large volumes of SMS/MMS, contact your Customer Success Manager or Hive’s Support Team (support@hive.co) to discuss bulk pricing discounts.