⚠️ Private Beta: This feature is currently in private beta and more functionality is coming soon. If you wish to request early access please contact your Customer Success Manager. Klaviyo Support will assist customers enrolled in the beta but cannot provide updates on applications.
RCS Agent Registration Fees
RCS agents in the United States have a one off setup fee and an annual maintenance fee. These fees do not apply in other countries.
Klaviyo does not currently charge any RCS agent fees in any country. However, fees may be introduced in the future for agents registered in the US only.
RCS Message Rates
RCS Message Types
RCS supports four main message types:
| Text-only | Card | Carousel | File | |
| Description | A text-only message | A card template with the following elements:
| Up to 10 cards in a swipeable carousel. | A standalone file attachment. The following formats are supported:
|
| Characters | Each text-message can contain:
| Each card can contain:
| Each card can contain:
| Each file can contain:
|
| Buttons | No | Yes (0-4) | Yes (0-4) | No |
| Quick Actions | Yes (0 - 11) | Yes (0 - 11) | Yes (0 - 11) | Yes (0 - 11) |
| Media | No | Yes (image or video) | Yes (image or video) | Yes (all supported file types) |
Billing Types
RCS messages are priced based on content type and region. There are two pricing categories:
- Basic RCS - for basic, text-only messages (limits vary by region)
- Single RCS - for rich messages with interactive elements
The eligibility criteria for each pricing category differs slightly between the US/Canada and the Rest of World.
Please see the table below for a breakdown of how pricing categories are defined by region.
| Region | US & Canada | Rest of World | ||
| Pricing Category | Basic RCS | Single RCS | Basic RCS | Single RCS |
| Message Types Supported | Text-only | Text-only, card, carousel, file | Text-only | Text-only, card, carousel, file |
| Character Limit | 3,072 chars (body); 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) | Text-only = 3,072 chars (body); 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) Card = 2,000 chars (body); 200 chars (title); 4 x 25 chars (buttons); 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) File = 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) | 160 chars Note. If a message exceeds 160 chars it will be billed as a Single RCS message. | Text-only = 161 - 3,072 chars (body); 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) Card = 2,000 chars (body); 200 chars (title); 4 x 25 chars (buttons); 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) File = 11 x 25 chars (suggestions) |
| Suggestions | Yes Note. Quick reply, open URL (no webview) and dial a number actions only | Yes | No | Yes |
| Billing method | Basic Rate x number of 160-character segments (total across body & labels) | 1 x Single Rate | 1 x Basic Rate | 1 x Single Rate |
Message Rates
Credit usage varies by message type and country, but all RCS messages will draw from your existing SMS credit balance.
The table below outlines credit usage and estimated costs.
| Country | SMS | MMS | Basic RCS | Single RCS |
| Austria | 4 | N/A | 6 | 6 |
| Germany | 12 | N/A | 9 | 10 |
| Netherlands | 12 | N/A | 12 | 15 |
| Denmark | 7 | N/A | 8 | 11 |
| Spain | 5 | N/A | 5 | 12 |
| France | 7 | N/A | 10 | 10 |
| Italy | 7 | N/A | 1 | 2 |
| Poland | 3 | N/A | 4 | 7 |
| Sweden | 6 | N/A | 6 | 9 |
| United Kingdom | 5 | N/A | 6 | 8 |
| United States | 1 | 3 | 1* | 3 |
*Basic RCS in the US is billed in 160-character segments, similar to SMS. This means longer messages will consume more credits. For example, a Basic RCS message with 161 characters will be charged as 2 credits.
Notes:
- All credits are deducted from your SMS credit balance.
- Fallback to SMS/MMS occurs automatically when RCS is not supported on the recipient’s device or network.
- Pricing is subject to change if carrier or network costs increase, but we will always provide at least 30 days’ notice before any price updates go into effect.
- These are all the countries where both RCS is supported and Klaviyo currently supports SMS. We’ll add RCS in the remaining countries as it becomes available.
More characters available per message
One of the key advantages of RCS over SMS is the additional characters available within each message. Since RCS messages include built in branding and opt-out functionality, there is no need to include an org-prefix or opt-out instructions in the message body. This gives you roughly 40 additional characters per message.
In addition, unlike SMS, emojis in RCS do not reduce the character limit from 160 to 70. This allows you to create richer, more engaging messages without sacrificing space for your core content.
Example 1 (text-only)
SMS message:
- Recipients: 100,000 US recipients
- Copy:
- Klaviyo: Your summer essentials are here! Enjoy 25% OFF across all categories until midnight. Free shipping on orders over £50. Shop now at https://kav4.io/XXXXXX. Reply STOP to opt out.
- Characters: 185 (2 x SMS segments)
- Credits used: 200,000 (2 x 100,000)
- Note: Credit usage in these examples is based on US rates. Actual credits may vary by country.
RCS message:
- Recipients: 100,000 US recipients
- Copy:
- Your summer essentials are here! Enjoy 25% OFF across all categories until midnight. Free shipping on orders over £50. Shop now at https://kav4.io/XXXXXX.
- Characters: 153 (1 x Basic RCS)
- Credits used: 100,000 (1 x 100,000)
- Note: Credit usage in these examples is based on US rates. Actual credits may vary by country.
✅ Result: Sending the same content over SMS costs twice as much, since each message must include an org prefix and opt-out instructions.
Example 2 (emojis & special characters)
SMS message:
- Recipients: 100,000 US recipients
- Copy:
- Klaviyo: 🏖️ Your summer essentials are here! Enjoy 25% OFF across all categories until midnight ⏰. Free shipping on orders over £50. Shop now 👉 https://kav4.io/XXXXXX. Reply STOP to opt out.
- Characters: 191 (3 x SMS segments)
- Note: Emojis and special characters reduce the SMS segment character limit to 70.
- Credits used: 300,000 (3 x 100,000)
- Note: Credit usage in these examples is based on US rates. Actual credits may vary by country.
RCS message:
- Recipients: 100,000 US recipients
- Copy:
- 🏖️ Your summer essentials are here! Enjoy 25% OFF across all categories until midnight ⏰. Free shipping on orders over £50. Shop now 👉 https://kav4.io/XXXXXX.
- Characters: 159 (1 x Basic RCS)
- Note: Emojis and special characters don’t reduce the RCS segment character limit.
- Credits used: 100,000 (1 x 100,000)
- Note: Credit usage in these examples is based on US rates. Actual credits may vary by country.
✅ Result: Sending the same content over SMS costs three times as much, since emojis and special characters reduce the SMS character allowance.