Introduction
A single text message doesn't always bill as one text. Special characters, emoji, and personalized variables can push a message over the standard length limit, and any message with an image, video, or file attached (MMS) always bills as 3 texts. Lofty now warns you in real time when a message you're writing is at risk of this, and gives you a full breakdown of exactly how many texts you've actually been billed for.
Why a Message Can Bill as More Than One Text
- Special characters and emoji (like curly quotes or emoji) use a different character set that lowers the number of characters allowed per text segment, from 160 down to 70. A message that would normally fit in one text can split into two or three.
- Variables (like a lead's first name) expand into real text when the message sends. If the expanded message runs long, it can also split into multiple texts.
- MMS — any text with an image, video, or file attached — always bills as 3 texts, regardless of length.
Getting a Warning While You Write
As you write a message in a Smart Plan Auto Text step or the manual chat composer, Lofty checks the content in real time. If it's at risk of billing as more than one text, a single-line orange warning appears below the message, with a Learn more link. This warning is informational only — it never blocks you from sending.
- Special characters or emoji only: the character counter changes from 160 to 70 and turns red, and the warning lists the specific characters it detected.
- Variables only: the warning notes that the expanded message may run long, without listing the variable names.
- Both at once: one combined warning explains that special characters lower your per-text limit while variables add length, and that combining them makes multi-text billing especially likely.
Tip: If you see this warning, try removing emoji or smart-quote characters — these are often introduced by copy-pasting from Word or an iPhone. Plain apostrophes and quotation marks don't trigger it.
Checking an Existing Smart Plan Step
If you open an Auto Text step you already built, Lofty re-checks it and shows the same warning below the message if it still carries risk. You won't see a warning badge on the step itself out on the canvas — you'll only see it once you open the step to review it.
Usage Transparency: Seeing What You've Actually Been Billed
Beyond the in-the-moment warning, you can see exactly how many texts you've sent versus how many you've actually been billed for.
- Open your Text License card.
- Click View Usage Details.
- Choose a date range: Last 7 days, Last 30 days (default), or Last 90 days. All usage is reported in Pacific Time.
The modal shows: - Current License — Messages Sent vs. Texts Used against your total quota, with your Remaining quota highlighted in green. - Usage Breakdown — usage aggregated by source (Manual Text, Group Text, Smart Plan, Mass Text, and system-sent messages). - Download CSV — an export of the same data.
Note: If your Average Texts/Messages is higher than 1, it means some of your messages included special characters, ran long due to variables, or were MMS (which always bills as 3 texts).
What's in the CSV Export
| Source | Row shows | Detail column |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Text | One row per day | — |
| Group Text | One row per day | — |
| Smart Plan | One row per campaign per day (same plan and trigger combine into one row) | First 30 characters of the message |
| Mass Text | One row per campaign per day | Campaign name |
| Other (system-sent) | One row per sub-type per day | Sub-type (e.g., New Lead Welcome, Reminder) |
Other Places You'll See Usage Reminders
- Campaigns list: a gray hint between the search bar and the campaigns table reminds you that one message may split into multiple texts, with a Learn why link.
- Settings: under Settings > Call & Text > Info & Settings, a View Details link (marked NEW) below your SMS usage number opens the same usage modal.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this topic or any others, please reach out to our Support Team via email at support@lofty.com, by phone at 1 (855) 981-7557, or by chat with us through your Lofty CRM.
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