How to set up SMS in Klaviyo

You will learn 

Learn how to enable SMS in Klaviyo. These steps apply if you have already set up email in your Klaviyo account. If you are going through the setup wizard for both email and SMS, the steps may be different. 

You must turn on SMS and have a sending number before you can do any of the following:

• Import SMS contacts
• Collect SMS subscribers
• Send SMS or MMS messages

Note that not all industries are eligible for SMS. 

Before you begin

For your sending number, you can have any of the following: 

• Toll-free number or short code for the US and Canada
• Branded sender ID or long code for Australia
• Branded sender ID, long code, or short code for the UK
• Branded sender ID or long code for Ireland
• Branded sender ID for Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, and Portugal
• Long code for Belgium (limited availability)
• Short code for New Zealand

Separating by country is also key if you want to know where to use your SMS credits. Since credits vary by country, targeting based on location helps you track how much you spent, who engaged, and your ROI on a per-message basis. This way, you'll know where and with who to send SMS messages to.

The table below lists all of the countries where these numbers will send to. 

These countries are currently in limited availability. Please stay tuned!

Klaviyo will provide you with a toll-free number and branded sender ID; you simply have to complete the SMS wizard to get these numbers. If you want to use another number, finish this setup process first so you can start collecting consent and then request the other number.

Turn on SMS

If you didn't set up SMS during the Klaviyo setup wizard, you can turn it on in the SMS settings page.

1. Click on the name of your account in the lower left-hand corner.
2. Navigate to Settings > SMS.
3. Click Set up SMS for free. 
   If you don't see this button, click Activate next to any country where you want to send SMS and then choose your number type.For a comparison of the numbers, please see our article on SMS sending numbers.
4. In the modal that pop ups, select the countries where you want to use SMS (check all that apply):
   • United States
   • Canada
   • United Kingdom
   • Ireland
   • Australia
   • New Zealand
   • Germany 
   • France
   • Belgium
   • Austria
   • Spain
   • Switzerland
   • Denmark
   • Sweden
   • Norway
   • Finland
     
5. Click Next.
6. Fill out your company information. 
   
7. Review your sending numbers.
   • For the US and Canada, note: 
     • This number will be used in both the US and Canada.
     • You should not send until this number is verified.
   • For Belgium, the only option is to request a long code.
     • It takes 1-3 business days to register a long code. 
   • For New Zealand: the only option is to apply for a short code.
     • This number takes 5–6 weeks to be approved.
   • For the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, France, Australia,  Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, or Portugal: create a branded sender ID.
     • Note that the same sender ID is used in all of these countries. 
     • Australian branded sender IDs must be registered before you can send to recipients. 
     • You can customize this sender ID to suit your needs.

     • Branded sender IDs must:

       • • Be between 3-11 characters 
         • Contain at least one letter
         • Not have any special characters (e.g., ~, &, etc.)
8. Click Next. 
9. If you selected Australia, you must register your branded sender ID. 
   • Click on register to open a Google form. 
   • Fill out the form and then return to Klaviyo. 
10. Choose one of the following next steps:
    • Create a signup form (best for those who are new to SMS).
    • Upload a list of previous SMS subscribers (best for those switching from another SMS provider).

Note that if you're using UTM tracking in Klaviyo already, we also recommend navigating to Settings > Other > UTM tracking and adjusting the UTM medium to be Message type. Otherwise, SMS message may not be tracked properly. 

Outcome 

You'll now be able to start collecting SMS subscribers and sending them text messages. Before you do so, though, learn best practices for SMS compliance on the Academy. 

Additional resources

• Want more details on how to get set up and running with SMS?
  • Blog post: SMS marketing strategies for all levels [+12 Pro tips]
  • Guide: Your strategic guide to Klaviyo SMS success
• Or take the next step and set up your key compliance information: 
  • Create your terms of service
  • Set up your disclosure language.