# Toll-free SMS numbers · US and Canada without 10DLC

One recognizable business identity

Sender example

+1 800 555 0194

Choose SMS capability

Read the capabilities on the number.

Complete verification

Prepare the toll-free messaging use case.

Connect the conversation

Send updates and receive supported replies.

Illustrative toll-free number. Messaging follows its own verification and destination requirements.

## When a toll-free number fits.

Toll-free is one of the four sender types on [Bird SMS numbers](/sms-api/features/numbers), part of the broader [Bird SMS API](/sms-api). Reach for it when one number should cover both the US and Canada and you'd rather skip A2P 10DLC registration: verification handles the carrier review instead.

## What a toll-free number gives you.

Cross-border reach, two-way traffic, no 10DLC.

- **01** US and Canada from one number. A single 8xx number reaches recipients on both sides of the border, so you don't provision and manage a separate sender per country.
- **02** A reply path when SMS is supported. Point the number's inbound traffic at a webhook and replies arrive as signed events, the same conversational foundation as any Bird number.
- **03** No A2P 10DLC needed. Toll-free traffic sits outside the 10DLC system entirely, so there's no brand-and-campaign registration to file before you send.
- **04** Cleared through toll-free verification. Carriers review the use case and message content. After approval, sending remains subject to the number’s throughput and destination conditions.

## Find the number. Prepare it for launch.

Search by country and capability and buy the number, the same client you send with. Inbound traffic is routed by a workspace webhook subscribed to sms.received, not per number. Check each number’s capabilities and registration status; short codes follow an assisted allocation path.

**toll-free.ts**

```typescript
const { data: page, error: searchError } = await bird.numbers.available
  .list({
    country_code: "US",
    number_type:  "toll_free",
    capabilities: ["sms"],
  })
  .safe();
if (searchError) throw searchError;

const { data: order, error: orderError } = await bird.numbers.orders
  .create({ number: page.data[0].number })
  .safe();
if (orderError) throw orderError;

console.log(order.status, order.number_id); // → "completed" "nda_0ydh2yfw..."
```

## Verification is part of the deal.

Before a toll-free number can send application traffic, it goes through [toll-free verification](/sms-api/features/compliance): the carriers review your use case, sample messages, and opt-in before approving the number. Bird files the verification from the dashboard and reports its status through the API, so you know exactly when the number is cleared. If your US traffic already runs over A2P 10DLC, a [long code](/sms-api/features/numbers/long-codes) is the alternative sender.

## Questions about this sender

### Do toll-free SMS numbers need 10DLC registration?

Toll-free messaging uses a separate verification program. Choose a number with SMS capability and complete toll-free verification for the intended use case.

### Does verification guarantee delivery?

No. Approval establishes eligibility for the program. Message content, recipient availability, suppressions and carrier conditions still affect delivery.

### Can a toll-free number receive replies?

An SMS-capable toll-free number can support replies where the destination and carrier allow them. Subscribe to inbound events and review the relevant keyword handling.

## Other ways to send

Toll-free is one of four sender types. Compare the rest.

- [Long codes](/sms-api/features/numbers/long-codes): SMS-capable local numbers, with 10DLC registration for US application traffic.
- [Short codes](/sms-api/features/numbers/short-codes): Short national numbers for a reviewed, high-volume messaging program.
- [Alphanumeric sender IDs](/sms-api/features/numbers/alphanumeric): Send from your brand name where the destination country allows it.
- [All SMS numbers](/sms-api/features/numbers): Compare every sender type: reach, throughput, and registration.
- [SMS API overview](/sms-api): The full SMS API: sending, numbers, two-way, compliance, routing, and analytics.

## Scale without  losing control.

Organize teams in workspaces, control API access, and trace changes through audit logs.

Harbor Organization
Workspaces Production Sandbox

### Delivery agent

API key · Customer operations team
Active
Permissions Access
Email Read & write
SMS Read & write
WhatsApp Read Read & write
AL Alex Lee Admin  Permissions updated

### Audit log

Production
 API key updated Alex Lee · 09:42:18 UTC

Workspace
Production

Resource
Delivery agent

WhatsApp
Read Read & write

Succeeded

 [Workspaces](/docs/guides/workspaces)[Team roles](/docs/guides/users-teams-roles)[API authentication](/docs/guides/authentication)
[Explore Enterprise](/enterprise)

## Start with SMS. Build across channels with Bird.

[Get started](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Fsms%2Fonboarding) · [Contact Sales](/demo?product=sms)

[Email](/email-api) · [SMS](/sms-api) · [WhatsApp](/whatsapp-api) · [Apple Messages](/apple-messages-api) · [Voice](/voice-api)



## Related resources

- [Registering your SMS sender ID](/learn/sms/registering-your-sms-sender-id) (video)
- [SMS sender IDs](/docs/guides/sms/senders) (docs)
- [What is sender ID registration, and why do some countries require it?](/explained/sms/what-is-sender-id-registration) (answer)
- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=sms-senders)