Definition: Toll-free verification is the review process a business completes, through its messaging provider, before sending A2P text messages from a toll-free phone number.
Businesses in the US can text from 10DLC numbers, toll-free numbers, or short codes. Each has its own approval path. Toll-free verification is separate from the brand and campaign registration in The Campaign Registry that 10DLC uses.
| 10DLC | Toll-free | Short code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looks like | a regular 10-digit number | a toll-free number | 5 or 6 digits |
| Approval path | brand and campaign in TCR | toll-free verification | lease from the US Short Code Registry, then carrier provisioning |
| Tax ID | tax ID for standard brands (Twilio); sole proprietor option without an EIN | business registration number required on Twilio since Feb 17, 2026 (sole props excepted) | ask your provider |
The consent rules are the same idea across number types. CTIA's guidelines on opt-in, opt-out, and privacy apply to non-consumer messaging in general.
Whichever number type you pick, reviewers want proof of who you are and how people opt in. A clear site with a privacy policy, SMS terms, and a proper opt-in form supports that. See the 10DLC website requirements.
Related terms: 10DLC, Short code, EIN, Sole proprietor brand
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