Is This Really Unlimited SMS?
Understand what "unlimited SMS" means with WhatSnap, including fair use policies, volume limitations, and best practices for maximizing your messaging capacity.
How Can WhatSnap Offer "Unlimited" SMS?
Short Answer: WhatSnap itself places no limits on the number of messages you send through our platform. You are only limited by:
Your carrier's fair use policy for your SIM plan
Country regulations on SMS messaging
Android phone limitations (technical and carrier-imposed)
Your messaging channel (SMS, iMessage, or WhatsApp)
Understanding "Unlimited"
What WhatSnap Doesn't Limit
✅ WhatSnap Platform:
No per-message fees
No monthly message caps
No throttling based on volume
No additional charges for high usage
Flat pricing regardless of message count
You pay only for:
Your SIM card plan (~$10-30/month)
Your Android device (one-time hardware cost)
Your WhatSnap subscription
What DOES Limit You
1. Carrier Fair Use Policies
Every mobile carrier has a "fair use" or "acceptable use" policy for SMS:
Typical Carrier Limits:
Stated as "unlimited" but with fair use clauses
Usually tolerate 100-250 messages/day on consumer plans
Business plans may support higher volumes
Exceeding limits can result in warnings or account suspension
Examples:
Verizon Business: Users report 1,000+ messages with no issues
Lycamobile: Users report 5,000+ messages/day successfully
TracFone: Users report 50,000+ msgs/month across multiple devices
Tello: Stated 10,000/month but blocks common at lower volumes
Speed Talk Mobile: Maximum 2,500 SMS/month explicitly stated
See: SIM Plan Recommendations by Country
2. Country Regulations
Some countries impose legal limits on SMS:
Example:
France: Legal limit on SMS per month through a SIM card
Exceeding = potential carrier block or legal issues
Your Responsibility:
Research local SMS regulations
Comply with telecom laws in your country
Follow carrier-specific policies
3. Android Phone Limitations
Built-in Rate Limiting:
Android has protection against "SMS abuse"
Triggers warning if you exceed 30 SMS in 30 minutes
You can override, but it signals you're pushing limits
How It Works:
Sending > 30 messages in 30 minutes
→ Android warning: "App is sending large number of SMS"
→ Tap "Allow" to continue
→ Messages queued until you approveRecommendation:
Stay at or below 1 message per minute sustained
Avoid triggering Android's built-in warnings
Use multiple devices/SIMs for higher volume
4. Messaging Channel Differences
Different channels have different capabilities:
Android SMS
100-250/day
1 per minute
SIM-dependent
iMessage
50 unique/day
Burst capable
Apple-imposed
Varies
1 per minute
WhatsApp policy
SMS Focus: This guide focuses on Android SMS. For iMessage and WhatsApp limits, see respective documentation.
Realistic Volume Expectations
Conservative (Safe for All Carriers)
Single Device/SIM:
Week 1 (Warm-up): 10-20 messages/day
Week 2 (Ramp up): 50-100 messages/day
Week 3+ (Sustained): 100-150 messages/day
Rate: 1 message every 1-2 minutes
Risk Level: ✅ Low - Works with nearly all carriers
Moderate (Most Carriers)
Single Device/SIM:
Week 1: 20-40 messages/day
Week 2: 75-150 messages/day
Week 3+: 150-250 messages/day
Rate: 1 message per minute
Risk Level: ⚠️ Moderate - Works with most good carriers, may push limits on budget carriers
Aggressive (Premium Carriers Only)
Single Device/SIM:
Week 1: 50+ messages/day
Week 2: 150-250 messages/day
Week 3+: 250-500+ messages/day
Rate: Burst capable (with proper spread throughout day)
Risk Level: 🛑 High - Only achievable with premium business plans (Verizon Business, Lycamobile, etc.). Not recommended for most users.
Start Conservative: Always begin with lower volumes and increase gradually. It's easier to scale up than to recover from a blocked SIM.
Product Comparison: SMS vs. iMessage vs. WhatsApp
Volume Capabilities by Channel
Max Volume
100-250/day
50 unique/day
Varies by use
Rate Limit
1 per minute
Burst capable
1 per minute
Device Type
Android only
iPhone + Mac
Android or iPhone
Multi-SIM
Yes
Yes
Yes
Free AI Chatbots
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Calls
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
eSIM Compatible
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
A2P Required
❌ No
❌ No
❌ No
Fixed Cost
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Message Format
SMS only
iMessage + SMS fallback
WhatsApp only
Best Use Case
DBR & Conversational
Conversational & Low DBR
DBR & Conversational
Key Insights:
SMS: Best for database reactivation (DBR) and general business messaging
iMessage: Best for conversational messaging, limited daily reach
WhatsApp: Global reach, good for international, varies by usage patterns
Understanding "Unlimited" by Channel
SMS (Android):
"Unlimited" = Carrier fair use limit (typically 100-250/day)
Can scale with multiple SIMs
Fixed monthly cost regardless of actual usage
iMessage:
"Unlimited" = Apple's daily unique contact limit (~50/day)
After 50 unique contacts/day, may face temporary restrictions
Good for ongoing conversations, limited for cold outreach
WhatsApp:
"Unlimited" = WhatsApp's terms of service
No hard daily cap stated, but patterns matter
Spam-like behavior results in account bans
Business accounts have different rules than personal
Scaling Beyond Single-SIM Limits
Using Multiple SIMs
Each additional SIM adds capacity:
1 SIM
100/day
150/day
250/day
3 SIMs
300/day
450/day
750/day
5 SIMs
500/day
750/day
1,250/day
10 SIMs
1,000/day
1,500/day
2,500/day
Benefits of Multi-SIM:
✅ Distribute load across carriers
✅ Redundancy (if one blocked, others continue)
✅ Different numbers for different purposes
✅ Scale linearly with hardware
Considerations:
Each SIM needs separate Android device (or dual-SIM phone)
Each requires warm-up process
More devices to manage
Increased monthly costs
See: Multiple SMS Accounts Guide
When to Use Twilio Instead
If you need truly unlimited (thousands/day):
Consider Twilio A2P:
Volume: Unlimited (with scaling costs)
Cost: $0.0075-0.01 per SMS (adds up fast)
Infrastructure: Cloud-based, no devices
Use Case: High-volume transactional messaging
Compare:
10,000 msgs/month via WhatSnap: ~$30 (3 SIMs)
10,000 msgs/month via Twilio: ~$75-100
Recommendation:
WhatSnap: Best for 100-1,500 messages/day
Twilio: Best for 2,000+ messages/day if you need guaranteed delivery
Hybrid: Use both for optimal cost/performance
Best Practices for "Unlimited" Messaging
1. Choose the Right Carrier
Priority Factors:
✅ Stated fair use limit (10,000+ SMS/month ideal)
✅ Business plan options (higher tolerances)
✅ Direct carrier (better than resellers)
✅ Good reputation with WhatSnap community
Examples of Good Carriers:
🇺🇸 Verizon Business, Lycamobile, TracFone (slow warm-up)
🇦🇺 Aussie Broadband Business, Telstra
🇬🇧 Smarty, Giffgaff
🇳🇿 Warehouse Mobile ($4/month unlimited!)
2. Warm Up New Numbers
Critical for "Unlimited" Success:
Week 1:
Start: 10-20 messages/day
Gradual increase
Very slow sending rate
Week 2:
Increase to 50-100 messages/day
Still gradual
Week 3+:
Reach sustained volume (100-250/day)
Monitor deliverability
Why:
New numbers are watched closely by carriers
Sudden high volume = instant red flag
Gradual growth = legitimate business use pattern
See: Database Reactivations - SIM Warm-Up
3. Use WhatSnap's Outreach Module with Drip Mode
Do NOT Use GHL's Native SMS Broadcast Drip: The native GoHighLevel SMS broadcast drip feature does not allow proper per-contact delivery timing control. Messages queue and can send in bulk bursts, which will trigger carrier spam filters.
Use WhatSnap's Outreach Features:
✅ Throttled sending: Maximum 1 SMS per minute
✅ Randomized delays: Prevents batch appearance
✅ Auto opt-out handling: STOP = Auto-DND
✅ Time restrictions: Send only during business hours
Workflow Best Practices:
Trigger: Contact tagged for campaign
↓
Wait: Random 1-60 minutes (spreads messages)
↓
Send SMS: Personalized message
↓
Rate: 1 message per minute maximum
↓
Daily Cap: 100-250 (depending on warm-up status)See: Outreach Module
4. Message Quality > Quantity
High-quality messages avoid blocks:
Do:
✅ Personalize every message ({{first_name}}, {{company}})
✅ Vary content (don't send identical messages)
✅ Conversational tone
✅ Respond to replies immediately
✅ Respect opt-outs
Don't:
❌ Send links in initial messages (major spam trigger)
❌ Use identical message templates
❌ ALL CAPS, excessive punctuation!!!
❌ Spam keywords (FREE, LIMITED TIME, ACT NOW)
❌ Ignore opt-outs
5. Monitor and Adjust
Daily Monitoring:
✅ Check delivery success rate (target: >95%)
✅ Monitor opt-out rate (target: <2%)
✅ Track response rate (5-20% typical for cold DBR)
✅ Watch for failed sends or errors
If Issues Arise:
🛑 Reduce volume immediately
🛑 Improve message personalization
🛑 Check for spam-like content
🛑 Contact carrier if necessary
🛑 Consider backup SIM
Common "Unlimited" Misconceptions
Myth 1: "Unlimited Means I Can Send 10,000 Messages/Day"
Reality:
❌ Carrier fair use limits apply
❌ 100-250/day per SIM is typical sustainable volume
✅ "Unlimited" means no WhatSnap-imposed caps or per-message fees
✅ Scale with multiple SIMs for higher volume
Myth 2: "I Don't Need to Warm Up"
Reality:
❌ Warm-up is absolutely required for sustained volume
❌ Starting fast = almost guaranteed block
✅ 2-3 week warm-up = sustainable long-term operation
Myth 3: "Unlimited = No Restrictions"
Reality:
⚠️ Carrier terms of service apply
⚠️ Spam content will get you blocked regardless of volume
⚠️ Fair use doesn't mean abuse
✅ "Unlimited" refers to WhatSnap platform, not external factors
Myth 4: "I Can Use the Cheapest SIM for Unlimited Messaging"
Reality:
❌ Budget carriers (like Tello) have strictest limits
❌ "Unlimited" plans with vague terms often have low actual limits
✅ Better carriers cost more but support higher sustainable volumes
✅ Direct carrier business plans are most reliable
Cost Comparison: "Unlimited" vs. Pay-Per-Message
WhatSnap "Unlimited" SMS Costs
Single SIM Setup:
SIM Plan: $10-30/month (unlimited within fair use)
Android Device: $100 one-time (~$4/month amortized over 2 years)
Electricity: ~$2-3/month
Total: ~$16-35/month for 3,000-7,500 messages
Per-Message Cost:
At 100 msgs/day (3,000/month): $0.005-0.012 per message
At 250 msgs/day (7,500/month): $0.002-0.005 per message
Twilio Pay-Per-Message Costs
US Example:
Per-message: $0.0079
3,000 messages: $23.70/month
7,500 messages: $59.25/month
Australia Example:
Per-message: $0.0515
3,000 messages: $154.50/month
7,500 messages: $386.25/month
Break-Even Analysis
WhatSnap More Cost-Effective:
✅ Sending 100+ messages/day consistently
✅ International markets with expensive Twilio rates
✅ Ongoing database reactivation campaigns
✅ Budget-conscious operations
Twilio More Cost-Effective:
✅ Very low volume (<50 messages/day)
✅ Ultra-high volume (2,000+ msgs/day) where device management is burden
✅ Need for guaranteed SLA (99.95% uptime)
Cost Savings: For most small-to-medium businesses sending 100-1,000 messages/day, WhatSnap's "unlimited" model saves $100-500+/month compared to pay-per-message services.
Summary
Is WhatSnap Really Unlimited?
Yes, from WhatSnap's perspective:
✅ No per-message fees
✅ No platform-imposed caps
✅ Flat monthly pricing
✅ Send as many as your carrier allows
But limited by external factors:
⚠️ Carrier fair use policies (100-250/day typically)
⚠️ Country regulations
⚠️ Android phone limitations
⚠️ Message quality and warm-up requirements
Key Takeaways
WhatSnap doesn't limit you - we don't charge per-message or impose caps
Carriers have fair use limits - typically 100-250 messages/day per SIM
Scale with multiple SIMs - each adds 100-250/day capacity
Warm-up is mandatory - for sustained "unlimited" operation
Message quality matters - spam gets blocked regardless of "unlimited" plan
Cost-effective - fixed monthly cost vs. per-message charges
Best Practice Strategy
For "Unlimited" Success:
✅ Choose carrier with clear, high fair use limits
✅ Warm up new SIMs properly (2-3 weeks)
✅ Use drip mode (1 message/minute max)
✅ Personalize every message
✅ Monitor deliverability daily
✅ Scale with multiple SIMs as needed
✅ Respect opt-outs immediately
Unlimited Within Reason: WhatSnap provides unlimited messaging infrastructure. Your responsibility is to use it within carrier policies, legal requirements, and best practices for sustained, successful operation.
Related Resources
SIM Plan Recommendations - Carriers with best fair use policies
Database Reactivations - Warm-up and volume strategies
Multiple SMS Accounts - Scale beyond single-SIM limits
Outreach Module - Throttled, compliant sending
Cold SMS Outreach - Compliance and best practices
Questions About Volume? Contact WhatSnap support at support@whatsnap.ai for guidance on carrier selection and scaling strategies for your specific volume needs.
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