---
title: "The delivery SMS"
description: "What it takes to turn a text message on, and what it costs."
slug: "en/customs/delivery/the-delivery-sms"
url: "https://docs.custom.one/en/customs/delivery/the-delivery-sms/"
capability: "delivery"
published_at: "2026-10-21T09:50:26.496Z"
---
The **delivery SMS** carries the same thing as the video delivery email — their
result and a link to it — as a text message. It's off until you turn it on, and
it goes out on the same schedule as the email. You'll find it on the **SMS** tab
of **Delivery**.

## Two things have to be true

1. **You collect phone numbers.** Turn the phone field on in
   [the contact step](/en/customs/quiz/the-contact-step/). Without a number
   there's nowhere to send. On an Outreach custom there's no contact step: your
   leads need a phone number in their details instead.
2. **SMS is switched on for your workspace**, with the **SMS Notifications**
   switch under **Workspace settings → Billing** — only the workspace owner can
   open Billing ([team and roles](/en/settings/team-and-roles/)). Text messages
   are charged per message, so they're off until you opt in.

If one of these is missing, the **SMS** tab says which — with a link straight to
it — and the SMS can't be switched on until it's sorted.

## Writing the message

Keep it short. The counter under the field counts toward 160 characters, which
is what fits in a single text — past that it's sent as more than one. It counts
the text as you write it; the link and names are longer once filled in, so leave
room under 160.

Keep the **Results link** variable in — it's already in the message you start
with. It's the
only reason most people open the text, and unlike the email there's no button
to fall back on.

## The name it comes from

**From name** is up to 11 characters, letters, numbers and spaces only. It's
what appears where a phone number normally would. Leave it empty and the text
comes from your brand's **Default sender**, or failing that, CustomOne.

Some countries don't allow a name in that position at all. There, the message
arrives from a number instead — that's the local carrier rules, not a setting
you can change, and nothing you need to fix.

## Where it can't go

Text messages can't be sent to numbers in most African countries. People with
those numbers are simply skipped — their row in **Leads** shows **Result SMS skipped**, and nothing is charged.

Everything else about them is unaffected: they still get the emails, and their
result still exists.

## What it costs

Per message, on top of your plan, at the rate shown next to **SMS
Notifications** in **Workspace settings → Billing**. See
[going over your plan](/en/settings/plan-and-billing/going-over-your-plan/) for
how that's charged.

You can send up to five test messages a day while you're setting it up.