Channels and costs
Which channel to use when, how message parts are counted, and how cost is calculated.
Every channel in Sauti uses the same audience, approval, wallet, quiet-hours and opt-out controls. What differs is reach, cost and what a message can carry.
Choosing a channel#
| Channel | Best for | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Reaching almost everyone, on any phone | An approved sender ID and an active route |
| USSD | Interactive menus on any phone, without data | A USSD code approved by the networks |
| Voice | Reaching people who prefer listening, or cannot read | An assigned voice account; you pay for answered minutes |
| Longer updates, newsletters, attachments | A verified sending domain | |
| Telegram | People who started your campaign bot, and channels | An active campaign bot |
| Only where permitted; see WhatsApp | Operator switches and your recorded acceptance |
How SMS length is counted#
SMS is charged per part:
| Characters used | One part holds | Each part of a longer message holds |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (GSM) letters, numbers and common symbols | 160 characters | 153 characters |
| Any other character (some accents, emoji, curly quotes) | 70 characters | 67 characters |
A single emoji or curly apostrophe can turn a 160-character message into three parts. The composer shows the character and part count for sample recipients, including the opt-out footer and any shortened links.
Tip: Type straight quotes and avoid emoji in SMS. Write Kiswahili with standard letters to stay in the cheaper character set.
How cost is calculated#
Cost = recipients × parts × the price per part for the channel and network on your plan.
- The composer shows the estimated cost and your projected wallet balance before you submit.
- When a send is released, its cost is reserved from your wallet.
- Messages that finally fail to deliver are refunded according to your plan's refund policy, with a ledger entry you can see.
- Voice broadcasts are charged for answered minutes.
See Wallet and top-ups.
Promotional and transactional messages#
Mark a send as promotional (campaign messages, appeals) or transactional (receipts, event logistics for people who registered). Quiet hours, frequency caps and election-silence periods apply to promotional messages; opt-outs apply to both.