NZ SMS Long Codes
Your own 5 or 6 digit dedicated SMS number — from $85/month. The cost-effective alternative to premium 3-4 digit shortcodes.
Want the prestige of a 3 or 4 digit number? See premium shortcodes. Just need two-way SMS with no setup? Try shared shortcodes.
Digit Numbers
From, 6-digit
Cheaper than 4-digit
Carrier Coverage
What is an SMS Long Code?
In NZ SMS, a long code is a 5 or 6 digit dedicated number. It's longer than the premium 3-4 digit shortcodes you see in TV ads — and dramatically cheaper — while still being short enough to print, advertise and remember.
Long codes give you the same two-way messaging, keyword routing and full carrier coverage as a premium shortcode, but at $85-95/month instead of $249-289/month.
Why choose a long code:
- Far cheaper: $85-95/mo vs $249-289/mo for a 3-4 digit shortcode
- Same capability: Two-way SMS, keywords, high throughput
- Wider availability: Many more codes free to choose from
- All NZ networks: Spark, One NZ and 2degrees
- Free-to-text option: Customers and staff text in without using their credit
Long Code Examples
5 and 6 digit numbers that print as cleanly as a 4-digit code
34567
prefix 3 or 4
Text JOIN to 34567 — customer pays standard SMS rate
412345
prefix 3 or 4
Memorable patterns like 411-411 or 4-1-2-3-4-5 still possible
51234
prefix 5 or 8
Customer texts FREE — you pay for both directions
812345
prefix 5 or 8
Same FTEU benefits at the lowest monthly rate
Long Code vs Premium Shortcode
Same SMS capability, very different monthly cost
| Feature | Long Code 5-6 digit |
Premium Shortcode 3-4 digit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $85 – $95 | $249 – $289 |
| Setup fee | $350 | $400 |
| Per SMS sent | 10c | 10c |
| Two-way SMS | ||
| Unlimited keywords | ||
| All NZ carriers | ||
| Free-to-text option | ||
| Memorability | Good | Premium / TV-ready |
| Available numbers | Plentiful | Limited (3-digit especially) |
Long Code Pricing
All prices NZD, exclude GST. The same per-message rate as a premium shortcode.
Standard Long Code
Customer pays standard SMS rate to text in
Prefix: Must start with 3 or 4 (e.g. 34567, 412345)
- 10c per SMS sent — same as premium shortcodes
- FREE incoming SMS — replies cost you nothing
- Unlimited keywords with auto-responses
- Email2SMS, Web Portal and API sending
- SMS2Email, Web Portal and Webhooks for replies
Free-to-Text Long Code
Your customers text in for FREE
Prefix: Must start with 5 or 8 (e.g. 51234, 812345)
- Customers text for FREE — no cost on their bill
- 10c per SMS sent, 10c per SMS received
- Ideal for competitions, surveys and field-staff replies
- Boosts response rates — no friction to reply
- Same keywords, integrations and 24/7 support
All prices exclude GST. Full pricing →
NZ long code prefix rules
5 and 6 digit codes must start with 3 or 4 for a standard long code, or 5 or 8 for a free-to-text long code. Carriers will not provision a 5/6 digit number that starts with any other digit. 3 and 4 digit shortcodes have no prefix restriction — see shortcodes.
We Handle Carrier Registration
Same registration process as a premium shortcode — we manage Spark, One NZ and 2degrees on your behalf
Spark
Direct provisioning of 5 and 6 digit long codes
One NZ (Vodafone)
Registered as approved long-code aggregator
2degrees
Approved vendor for both standard and FTEU codes
Pick a Code
Choose any available 5 or 6 digit number with the right prefix
We Register
All three carriers, all paperwork, all compliance
Testing
End-to-end verification across every NZ network
Go Live
Your long code is in production
Timeline: 2-4 weeks from application to go-live — same as a premium shortcode.
When a Long Code is the Right Choice
If you don't need a TV-ad-grade 3 or 4 digit number, you're almost certainly better off with a long code
Appointment reminders & confirmations
Your patients or customers don't need to memorise the number — they reply to it. A 6-digit long code does this for $164 less per month than a 4-digit shortcode.
e.g. Text YES to 412345 to confirm
Customer service & support
Two-way SMS support channels rarely benefit from a premium number — customers are usually replying to your message rather than looking the number up. Use FTEU to remove friction from replies.
e.g. Text HELP to 51234 (free for customer)
Internal & field-staff comms
Tradespeople, drivers, on-call crews and volunteers shouldn't have to pay to reply to a work message. Free-to-text long codes are the cheapest way to give staff a reliable two-way channel.
e.g. Text ETA 1430 to 812345 (free for staff)
Surveys, NPS & feedback
Response rates on FTEU long codes match premium shortcodes once the customer is in the conversation — the prefix doesn't matter when they're replying to your SMS rather than typing the number from scratch.
e.g. Rate 1-10 and reply to 51234
Delivery & order notifications
Transactional SMS doesn't need a memorable number. A 6-digit long code handles thousands of messages an hour with the same throughput as any other carrier-registered code.
e.g. Your order is out for delivery — reply REDELIVER to 412345
Keyword opt-ins & loyalty
JOIN-to-opt-in still works on a long code — you just print 5 or 6 digits instead of 4. Pair with FTEU for the highest conversion on competitions and sign-ups.
e.g. Text JOIN to 81234 — free to enter
When to choose a premium shortcode instead
Long codes aren't the right answer when the number itself has to be the call-to-action — on a billboard, the side of a TV screen, or a radio ad where the listener can't see it written down. In those cases the $100-200/month extra for a 3 or 4 digit shortcode buys real memorability.
See premium shortcodes →Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is an SMS long code?
In NZ SMS terminology a long code is a 5 or 6 digit dedicated number — longer than a premium 3 or 4 digit shortcode but still much shorter than a full mobile number. They give you the same two-way messaging, keyword routing and carrier coverage as a premium shortcode at a fraction of the monthly cost.
How much cheaper are long codes vs premium shortcodes?
A 6-digit long code is $85/month and a 5-digit long code is $95/month, compared with $249/month for a 4-digit shortcode and $289/month for a 3-digit shortcode. That's roughly a 60-66% saving while keeping all of the same SMS capability across Spark, One NZ and 2degrees.
What numbers can a long code start with?
Standard 5 and 6 digit long codes must start with 3 or 4 (e.g. 34567, 412345). Free-to-text (FTEU) 5 and 6 digit long codes must start with 5 or 8 (e.g. 51234, 81234). The prefix is what tells the carrier how the code is rated on the recipient side.
What's the difference between a standard and free-to-text long code?
Standard long codes (prefix 3 or 4) are free to receive on your side — you only pay for outbound. Free-to-text long codes (prefix 5 or 8) shift the cost of replies from your customer onto you, so customers, staff or competition entrants can text in without using their own credit. FTEU is the right pick for competitions, customer service, and field-staff comms.
Do long codes work across all NZ mobile networks?
Yes — every dedicated long code we provision is registered with Spark, One NZ (formerly Vodafone) and 2degrees. Any New Zealand mobile user can text the number regardless of their carrier. See the carriers page for our direct-connection details.
Can I run keyword campaigns on a long code?
Yes — long codes support unlimited custom keywords exactly like premium shortcodes. Customers can text JOIN, STOP, HELP or any keywords you configure and each can trigger a different auto-response or webhook.
How long does it take to get a long code activated?
2-4 weeks from application to activation, the same as a premium shortcode. We handle all three carrier registrations, compliance documentation and testing on your behalf.
Can I see which long codes are already taken?
Yes — our NZ shortcode directory indexes every active 3, 4, 5 and 6 digit code across all NZ carriers, refreshed daily. Type the number you want into the search at the top of this page and we'll show availability or who currently uses it.
Get a Long Code from $85/month
All the SMS capability of a premium shortcode. None of the premium price tag.
Questions? Call us: +64 27 4909-712