Enter your message and how many people you send to each month. The calculator counts characters, works out how many SMS each message uses, and estimates your monthly bill.
How bulk SMS pricing works in Kenya
- 160 characters = 1 SMS in the standard (GSM) character set. Longer messages split into 153-character parts, each billed as one SMS.
- Emoji and special characters switch the message to Unicode: 70 characters per SMS, 67 per part. One emoji can double the cost.
- Volume lowers the per-SMS price with most providers.
- Minimums and expiry matter as much as the rate. Safaricom’s direct bundles start at 25,000 SMS and expire after 60 days (tariff guide).
Read the full explanation in Bulk SMS pricing in Kenya: what you actually pay, and see our pricing page.
Tips to lower your bill
- Keep messages under 160 characters.
- Replace curly quotes (‘ ’ “ ”) pasted from Word with straight ones.
- Remove dead numbers using delivery reports.
- Segment your list so each message goes only to people it’s relevant to.
Estimates use Connect Media’s starting rate of KES 1.0 per SMS. Your rate may be lower at higher volumes.
Start sending with Connect Media
Create an account — no minimum top-up, credit that never expires, and SMS from KES 1.0 to Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom numbers. Questions? Call +254 707 339 945 or email info@connectmedia.co.ke.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters are in one SMS?
160 characters in the standard GSM character set, or 70 characters if the message contains emoji or other Unicode characters.
How is a long SMS billed?
Messages over 160 characters are split into parts of 153 characters (67 for Unicode). Each part is billed as one SMS.
How much does it cost to send 1,000 SMS in Kenya?
With Connect Media, 1,000 single-part SMS cost about KES 1,000 at the starting rate of KES 1.0 per SMS, with no minimum top-up.