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- Double opt-in messages are billed the same way as any other text message - there's no separate free or credit type for them.
- Typical cost is 2 credits to send the opt-in request, plus 1 more credit if the contact confirms — up to 3 credits per contact.
- Credits are used for everyone you send to, whether or not they end up confirming.
How Credits Work
Every text message your campaigns send — SMS or MMS, promotional or transactional — draws from your account's credit balance. The number of credits a message uses depends on its length and format; an image (MMS) message costs more than a plain text message.
Your credit balance and the number of credits a campaign will use are shown in the final review step of campaign setup (Send Settings), right before you send. This indicator only appears when you're near or over your credit allowance, so you won't see it on every campaign — only when it's worth your attention.
What Double Opt-In Does
Double opt-in adds a confirmation step for any contact who hasn't explicitly agreed to receive text messages yet. When it's turned on for your account, any contact who isn't already confirmed will receive a message asking them to opt in instead of the campaign you actually sent them.
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In other words, an unconfirmed contact never sees your campaign content on that first send. They only see the opt-in request. If they reply to confirm, they become eligible to receive your future campaigns normally.
Best Practice When Enabling Double Opt-In
If you enable double opt-in and then send your regular campaign to a list that includes unconfirmed contacts, none of those contacts will receive that campaign — they'll only get the opt-in request.
For that reason, we recommend sending a dedicated campaign whose only purpose is to collect opt-in confirmations before you send anything promotional. Once contacts have confirmed, your regular campaigns will reach them as expected.
Cost Breakdown
| Message | Credits |
|---|---|
| 1. Opt-in request sent to the contact | 2 |
| 2. Confirmation reply received (only if they opt in) | +1 |
| Total if the contact confirms | 3 |
| Total if the contact never confirms | 2 |
These figures assume a standard text message. If your original campaign was an MMS (image) send, the opt-in request itself is still plain text, so it will typically cost less than the full MMS would have.
Why Usage Can Vary Month to Month
Opt-in confirmations happen on each contact's own schedule — some reply immediately, some later, some never. Because of that, credits for the opt-in request are used for your entire send list at the time you send, regardless of how many contacts ultimately confirm.
For example, if you send a re-permission campaign to a large list of contacts who need to reconfirm, credits for the initial opt-in request are used across that full list. Only the contacts who actually reply and confirm generate the additional confirmation credit. If you're re-engaging a large or older list, expect your credit usage for that send to reflect the size of the list you're contacting, not just the number who opt in.
Because this can make usage harder to predict than a standard campaign, your account may see a credit adjustment at the end of your billing cycle to reconcile estimated usage against what was actually sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who pays for double opt-in messages?
A: You do, using your normal credit balance. There's no separate billing category for double opt-in — it's charged exactly like any other text message.
Q: How many credits does a double opt-in cost?
A: Typically 2 credits for the initial opt-in request, plus 1 more credit if the contact confirms — 3 credits total for a completed opt-in, or 2 if they don't respond.
Q: Do I need to buy extra credits to cover double opt-in?
A: No separate credit pool exists for it. It draws from the same credits you already use for campaigns, so make sure you have enough headroom before sending an opt-in campaign to a large list.
Q: Will I be charged if someone doesn't opt in?
A: Yes. The 2 credits for the initial opt-in request are used for every contact you send to, whether or not they end up confirming.
Q: Should I send my regular campaign right after turning double opt-in on?
A: No — send a dedicated opt-in campaign first. Any unconfirmed contact in your regular campaign's audience will only receive the opt-in request, not your intended message, so it's more effective to collect confirmations separately.
Q: Where can I see how many credits a campaign will use?
A: In the final step of campaign setup (Send Settings), just before sending. It's shown there when you're near or over your credit allowance.
Still have questions about credits or double opt-in on your account? Reach out to your ECOM Support team, ecomsupport@blaze.me and reference this article.