Allo lets you send and receive SMS directly from your business number. Text prospects back after a missed call, follow up after a meeting, or send appointment reminders.
SMS sending requires the Business plan. Starter users can receive SMS only.
Texts not sending or not arriving? Go straight to SMS troubleshooting.
What you can do
Get started
Before you can send SMS, you need to complete a one-time registration. The process depends on your number’s country.- US & Canada (10DLC)
- France (Sender ID)
Texting US numbers requires registering your brand and campaigns with the carriers (10DLC). Allo handles that paperwork, you just answer a few questions. Without it, your messages to US numbers are blocked.Only texting Canadian numbers? No registration is needed: you can start sending right away. 10DLC applies only when you text US numbers.Once approved, the SMS composer appears in your Allo inbox and you can start sending immediately.
1
Open Settings > Compliance
Go to Settings > Compliance in your Allo dashboard.
2
Register your Brand
One-time fee of $24 for your entire company. Covers all users and all numbers.
3
Create a Low Volume campaign
Once your brand is approved, create a campaign. You can assign up to 50 phone numbers to a single campaign.
Approval takes 3 to 7 business days. Start early so you don’t hit any delays.
I'm not based in the US. Do I still need to register?
I'm not based in the US. Do I still need to register?
Yes. 10DLC registration is required for any US number, no matter where you’re located.
I have a Canadian number. Do I need 10DLC?
I have a Canadian number. Do I need 10DLC?
Only if you text US numbers. Messages between Canadian numbers don’t require any registration, so you can start sending right away.
I'm porting a number that already has 10DLC. Do I need to re-register?
I'm porting a number that already has 10DLC. Do I need to re-register?
Yes. 10DLC registrations don’t transfer between providers. You’ll need to re-register your brand with Allo.
Automatic SMS replies
Never lose a lead to a missed call. Allo sends a text message automatically when you don’t answer, so your caller knows you’ll get back to them.
- One for missed calls during business hours (“Thanks for calling, I’ll get back to you within the hour”)
- One for calls outside business hours (“Our office is closed, we’ll call you back tomorrow morning”)
1
Open your number's settings
Go to Settings > Numbers, select the number you want to set up, then go to the Automatic SMS reply section.
2
Write your messages
Write your business hours message and your after-hours message.
3
Toggle on
Activate the feature. Done.
US numbers: Requires 10DLC registration. See the US & Canada (10DLC) tab above.Canadian numbers: No registration needed to text Canadian numbers. 10DLC is required if your auto-replies go to US numbers.French numbers: Requires a registered Sender ID. See the France (Sender ID) tab above.
Sending limits
The same limits apply to US, Canadian, and French numbers. US numbers still require 10DLC registration before any SMS can be sent (Canadian numbers only need it to text US numbers), and French numbers still require a Sender ID for automatic replies.
Segment-based limits (US/CA)
Your daily limit is counted in segments, not characters. A 161-character message = 2 segments, not 1.SMS sent through the API are subject to the same limit of 500 SMS / day.
French SMS compliance
Sending business SMS in France requires following ARCEP (telecom), CNIL (data protection), and AF2M (industry charter) rules.Consent rules
Consent rules
B2C (consumer) SMS: Explicit opt-in consent required before sending. Pre-checked boxes are illegal.B2B (professional) SMS: No prior opt-in required, but the message must relate to the recipient’s professional activity. You must identify yourself and offer opt-out.
Time restrictions (marketing SMS only)
Time restrictions (marketing SMS only)
- No marketing SMS on Sundays or French public holidays
- No marketing SMS between 20:00 and 08:00
- Transactional SMS (order confirmations, alerts) has no time restrictions
STOP mechanism
STOP mechanism
Every marketing SMS must include opt-out instructions. With an Alphanumeric Sender ID, include a short code reference in the message body (e.g., “STOP au 36179”).
FAQ
Do I need to register each number separately?
Do I need to register each number separately?
No. 10DLC (US/CA) is a one-time $24 fee for your entire company. Sender ID (France) covers all your French numbers once approved.
I have a Canadian number. Do I need 10DLC registration?
I have a Canadian number. Do I need 10DLC registration?
Only to text US numbers. If you’re only texting Canadian numbers, no registration is needed and you can start sending right away.
Why can't I send MMS with my French number?
Why can't I send MMS with my French number?
In France, MMS only works on numbers linked to a physical SIM card. French telecom regulation blocks MMS on virtual numbers, the kind used by Allo and every other business phone provider. This is an industry-wide restriction, not an Allo limitation. Standard SMS text messages work normally.
Can my client reply to an SMS sent with a Sender ID?
Can my client reply to an SMS sent with a Sender ID?
No. SMS sent via Sender ID are one-way: your client sees your company name, but cannot reply directly.
Can I receive SMS on the Starter plan?
Can I receive SMS on the Starter plan?
Yes. Starter users can receive SMS. Sending requires the Business plan.
Do automatic replies work on mobile?
Do automatic replies work on mobile?
Yes. Once configured, automatic SMS replies work regardless of which device you’re using.
Do I need consent to text business contacts in France?
Do I need consent to text business contacts in France?
For B2B contacts, no prior opt-in is required. The message must relate to their professional activity, identify you as the sender, and include opt-out instructions.
I'm porting a number that already has 10DLC. Do I need to re-register?
I'm porting a number that already has 10DLC. Do I need to re-register?
Yes. 10DLC registrations don’t transfer between providers. You’ll need to re-register your brand with Allo and create a new campaign.
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SMS via API (France)
Developer guide for sending SMS in France via API