Fit your texts into fewer segments
Paste a text to see its character count, whether it sends as plain GSM-7 or as Unicode, and how many segments it splits into. A plain text fits 160 characters in one segment. One emoji or curly quote switches the whole text to Unicode, which fits 70, and the counter highlights the character to swap.
Last updated:
- Characters
- 113
- Encoding
- GSM-7 (plain)
- Segments
- 1
- Sticky SMS credits
- 1
47 characters left in segment 1. Each segment holds 160 characters.
On Sticky SMS, 1 credit covers 1 segment and an MMS uses 2. Pricing is quoted on the demo call.
Sticky SMS, by Sticky Cards, the loyalty and marketing platform for cannabis dispensaries, built this counter as one of its texting tools for dispensaries.
Size a text in three steps
Paste your text
Type or paste the text exactly as you will send it, with your store name, link and STOP line.
Read the segments
The counter shows characters, encoding and segments as you type.
Swap the flagged characters
Highlighted characters switch the text to Unicode. Swap or remove them and watch the segment count drop.
One emoji switches the whole text to Unicode
Plain texts send in GSM-7, a 7-bit alphabet that fits 160 characters in one segment. An emoji, a curly quote or certain accented letters are outside that alphabet, so the whole text switches to Unicode (UCS-2), which fits 70.
So a 100-character text that was one segment becomes two. Messaging providers bill by the segment, so each swap you make here can save a segment on every send.
| Encoding | One segment | Each segment of a longer text |
|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 (plain characters) | 160 | 153 |
| UCS-2 (Unicode) | 70 | 67 |
Straight quotes and short links keep a text lean
- Use straight quotes and apostrophes. Phones and word processors often insert curly ones.
- Leave emoji out of the text. When a picture says it better, send an MMS.
- Keep links short, on a domain you own.
- Say one thing per text, and save a second idea for a second text.
For when a picture earns its place, read SMS vs MMS for dispensaries. To see how Sticky SMS is priced, open the Sticky SMS pricing page.
Build your text program with us
Book a time and we will walk through your list, your POS and the texts you want to send, on a video call with a real person.
Book a demoFrequently asked questions
What is an SMS segment?
A segment is the unit a text is split into and billed by. A plain text fits 160 characters in one segment. A longer text splits into segments of 153 characters each.
Why does my text show 70 characters per segment?
It contains at least one character outside the GSM-7 alphabet, such as an emoji or a curly quote, so it sends as Unicode, which fits 70 characters per segment.
Do my store name, link and STOP line count?
Yes. Every character in the message counts, so paste the text exactly as it will go out.
How much does a text cost on Sticky SMS?
Sticky SMS is quoted on the demo call, priced on your store count and volume. Book a demo to get the number for your store.
Is what I type stored anywhere?
No. The counter runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent.
Sources
- Twilio, What the heck is a segment? (SMS character limits) (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026