Overview of Communication Charges

    CategoryAccount and Billing
    Article typeDocumentation
    Estimated reading time 7 min read
    Last reviewedRecently reviewed
    Applies toGEVADE CRM accounts where the feature is enabled
    Access requiredAccess may depend on your user permissions
    Plan/configuration noteFeature availability may depend on your selected plan and account configuration

    Summary

    Communication charges (telephony and email) are billed on a usage basis from your prepaid wallet. The exact cost depends on the channel (SMS, Phone, Email, WhatsApp) and the destination region.

    Who this article is for

    This article is for marketers and account owners planning campaign budgets.

    Overview

    GEVADE CRM provides powerful omnichannel communication capabilities. Because sending millions of emails or texts incurs real-world infrastructure costs, these are billed transparently via a usage-based model rather than being artificially capped or hidden in expensive pricing tiers. This allows small businesses to pay pennies for low volume, while enterprise users pay exactly for what they consume. Understanding the nuances of these charges—such as segment limits and regional variations—is essential for running profitable marketing campaigns.

    Before you begin

    • Ensure your wallet auto-recharge is enabled.
    • Review the character limits for SMS segments.
    • Verify your A2P 10DLC registration if texting US numbers.

    Step 1: How It Works

    When you execute a marketing campaign or a workflow sends an automated message, the system checks your wallet balance. If funds are available, the message is sent, and a fraction of a cent is deducted. This happens in real-time.

    Step 2: Types of Charges

    You will incur charges for Outbound SMS, Inbound SMS (in some regions), Outbound Phone Calls, Inbound Phone Calls, Call Recording, Outbound Emails (via SMTP), and WhatsApp messaging, depending on your account configuration. Each channel has its own specific rate.

    Step 3: Regional Variations

    Telecommunications pricing is highly regional. Sending a text to a US number is significantly cheaper than sending one to an Australian or European number. Always review the specific rate cards for your target audience to avoid budget surprises.

    Step 4: A2P 10DLC Surcharges

    In the US, carriers impose minor surcharges for unregistered or specific types of traffic. Registering your business profile for A2P 10DLC compliance is mandatory to get the best delivery rates and lowest costs. Unregistered traffic is heavily penalized.

    Configuration note

    If your wallet runs out of funds and auto-recharge fails, all communications will halt immediately. Campaigns will fail, and workflows will drop the communication steps.

    Important clarification

    Sending a massive SMS blast without checking the character count. If your SMS is 300 characters long, it will be split into two or three segments, and you will be charged for each segment separately.

    Resolution guidance

    Why did a single SMS cost more than expected?

    Your message likely exceeded the 160-character limit for a single SMS segment, or it included emojis/special characters which reduces the limit to 70 characters per segment. You are billed per segment.

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    If your question requires account access, billing review, workflow inspection, message delivery diagnosis, AI response review, or private configuration review, submit a support request with examples and screenshots.