Can I use TextFree for my business?

While TextFree has been designed with personal messaging in mind, we understand that some users may be looking for a second number for their business. However, there are a number of important factors to consider before deciding on a business phone solution.

This article covers some FAQs to help you understand if TextFree is right for your needs, possible limitations, and some alternative options to consider. 

1. Is TextFree considered a business messaging (A2P) service?
2. What happens if I send business messages from a P2P service?
3. Can I send business messages if I subscribe to TextFree Plus?
4. Are there limits to how many messages I can send?
5. Is TextFree HIPAA compliant?
6. What other options do I have if TextFree doesn't work for me?

Is TextFree considered a business messaging (A2P) service?

No, TextFree is a P2P messaging service and does not offer A2P messaging. 

A2P (Application-to-Person) and P2P (Person-to-Person) messaging are two distinct types of SMS communication. The key difference lies in the origin and purpose of the message. A2P messaging is used by businesses and organizations to send automated messages to customers, while P2P messaging is used for personal communication between individuals.

For more information on the difference between A2P and P2P messaging, please click here.

What happens if I send business messages from a P2P service?

SMS has become a highly regulated channel, and as a result major carriers are actively blocking messages that are sent using the wrong classification. This means that A2P (business-style) messages sent from a P2P number may not be delivered to your recipient.

We would advise sending messages in different formatting, using different text within the message, and not in quick succession and this will give your messages more of a chance to be delivered by your recipient's carrier. 

If your business needs to send high volume or repetitive messages to different clients, please consider an A2P messaging service like Index instead. Please note that Index requires registration with The Campaign Registry to send message. For more information on this process, see A2P Business Registration for Index.

Can I send business messages if I subscribe to TextFree Plus?

No, there is no difference in the messaging classification between TextFree Standard and TextFree Plus. Purchasing a TextFree Plus subscription does not change the quantity or type of messages that can be sent from the app.

The full list of features that TextFree Plus unlocks can be found here here.

Are there limits to how many messages I can send?

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) oversees messaging regulations in the US, and the limits they have in place apply to the SMS industry as a whole.

CTIA's daily limit for messaging is:

• No more than 1000+ messages sent per day.
• No more than 100+ new conversations per day sent to 100+ different (unique) contacts per day.
• No more than 25 repetitive messages per day.

Exceeding any of the above limits can unfortunately result in restricted or undelivered messages. For more information, please see What does the "Approaching Carrier Limit" warning message mean?

Is TextFree HIPAA compliant?

TextFree' is not designed to be HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant since messages are not sent via encryption. For more information, please visit our articles on the topic: Can TextFree encrypt text messages? and Is TextFree HIPAA compliant?

What other options do I have if TextFree doesn't work for me?

If TextFree does not suit your businesses needs, then we recommend using an A2P service instead. If you're looking for a product to use for A2P messaging, visit our other app "Index" for more information.

Please contact our Support team if you would like to transfer an existing TextFree number over to Index.

Questions? Submit a request.