Macedonia SMS Pricing Guide: Compare Costs & API Providers

Select the most cost-effective SMS provider for your business in North Macedonia. This comprehensive SMS pricing guide compares rates and features from leading API providers including Twilio ($0.1396/SMS), Plivo ($0.0627/SMS), Sinch, and Infobip. Find verified 2025 pricing data, detailed cost breakdowns, regulatory requirements from the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK), and proven best practices for SMS messaging in North Macedonia.

Message Encoding and Segmentation

SMS messages in North Macedonia support two encoding standards: GSM-7 and Unicode (UCS-2). Your choice directly impacts message length and cost:

• GSM-7 encoding: 160 characters per single SMS. Multi-part messages support 153 characters per segment.
• Unicode (UCS-2) encoding: Required for special characters, emojis, and non-Latin scripts. Supports 70 characters per single SMS, or 67 characters per segment for multi-part messages.

Cost Impact: Each segment counts as a separate SMS for billing. A 320-character message using GSM-7 encoding counts as three segments (3× the base rate). Using Unicode reduces character limits and increases segmentation costs. Understanding SMS character limits and message encoding helps optimize your messaging costs.

Understanding the SMS Landscape in North Macedonia

SMS delivers reliable business communication for two-factor authentication (2FA), time-sensitive alerts, and transactional notifications. North Macedonia's SMS market includes both international API providers and local mobile network operators, with pricing varying significantly based on provider choice and message volume.

A2P vs P2P Messaging

Understanding message types helps ensure regulatory compliance:

• A2P (Application-to-Person): Automated messages from business applications to individuals. Includes marketing campaigns, OTP verification codes, notifications, and alerts. Requires explicit consent and compliance with AEK regulations.
• P2P (Person-to-Person): Individual-to-individual text messages. Note: P2P traffic through APIs is prohibited in North Macedonia. Use A2P routes for business messaging. Source: Vonage Macedonia Guidelines

Local Operators

• T-Mobile Macedonia: Offers prepaid and postpaid plans with SMS bundles. Visit their website for current SMS pricing within plans.
• A1 Macedonia: Provides competitive SMS rates, bundled with voice and data allowances. Review their offerings to match your usage patterns.
• Telekom.mk (Makedonski Telekom): Offers diverse plans with varying SMS allowances. Contact them directly or visit a store for tailored pricing.

Why Choose International Providers: Local operators require complex system integrations and direct carrier relationships. International SMS API providers offer standardized APIs, global reach, transparent pricing, and simplified implementation for developers.

North Macedonia SMS Provider Pricing Comparison

International SMS API providers simplify message delivery to North Macedonia through transparent pricing structures, robust APIs, and global infrastructure. Compare rates below to find the best SMS pricing for your business needs.

Current SMS Costs (Outbound) - 2025 Rates

Pricing verified October 2025. Twilio publishes transparent rates. Other providers require direct sales contact for North Macedonia-specific pricing.

Inbound SMS Pricing: Twilio charges for inbound SMS (pricing varies by number type). Plivo starts at $0.0055 per inbound SMS with $0.0030 carrier surcharges. Contact other providers for inbound rates. [Sources: Twilio Pricing, Plivo Pricing]

Provider	Price per SMS (USD)	Inbound SMS	Volume Discounts	Key Features	Pricing Source
Twilio	$0.1396 (Intl numbers/Alpha ID)	Varies by number type	Available	Advanced API, global reach, detailed analytics	Verified Official
Plivo	$0.0627 (starts at)	$0.0055 + $0.0030 surcharge	Available	Flexible integration, competitive rates	Verified Official
Sinch	Contact Sales	Contact Sales	Available	Cost-effective, robust API capabilities	Contact Required
Infobip	Contact Sales	Contact Sales	Available	Local expertise, comprehensive features	Contact Required

Pricing Variables: Rates vary based on volume commitments, message segments, and carrier fees. Verify current rates directly with providers before committing.

Twilio Pricing Note: Twilio's official site lists $0.1396 for international numbers and alphanumeric sender IDs to North Macedonia (October 2025). Always verify current rates directly with Twilio.

Message Length and Multi-Part Costs

Standard Message Limits:

• GSM-7: 160 characters (single), 153 characters per segment (multi-part)
• Unicode: 70 characters (single), 67 characters per segment (multi-part)

Multi-Part Billing: Each segment is billed as a separate SMS. Example: A 400-character GSM-7 message = 3 segments = 3× the provider's per-message rate. Plan message length carefully to minimize costs. Source: Twilio Macedonia Guidelines

Carrier Fees and Surcharges

Beyond base provider rates, carrier surcharges apply:

• Plivo carrier surcharges: $0.0030 per SMS (send/receive on long codes), varying by carrier and number type. Source: Plivo Macedonia Pricing
• Twilio carrier fees: Additional carrier fees may apply to all messages. Failed messages incur a $0.001 processing fee. Source: Twilio Pricing

Always factor carrier fees into total cost calculations.

Detailed Provider Analysis

Twilio

• Pricing: $0.1396 per outbound SMS to North Macedonia using international numbers or alphanumeric sender IDs (verified October 2025). Inbound SMS pricing varies by number type. Volume discounts and committed-use discounts available for enterprise customers.
• Strengths: Excellent documentation, robust API, global infrastructure, and advanced analytics. Supports message concatenation. Best for high-volume needs and complex integrations.
• Considerations: Base pricing higher than some competitors. Contact sales for volume discounts if you're an enterprise customer.
• Sender ID Support: Alphanumeric sender IDs supported (dynamic provisioning). International long codes supported, but sender ID may be replaced by generic alpha ID. Avoid generic sender IDs (SMS, INFO, NOTICE). Two-way SMS not supported in North Macedonia.
• Source: Twilio SMS Pricing – North Macedonia, Twilio Macedonia Guidelines

Plivo

• Pricing: Starts at $0.0627 per outbound SMS (long codes). Inbound SMS: $0.0055 + $0.0030 carrier surcharge. Volume discounts available.
• Strengths: Developer-friendly API, flexible integration options, and scalable infrastructure. Lower base rates than Twilio. Balances features with affordability.
• Considerations: Carrier surcharges add to base costs. Verify network-specific pricing as rates vary.
• Source: Plivo SMS Pricing – Macedonia

Sinch

• Pricing: Contact sales for North Macedonia rates.
• Strengths: Cost-effective for enterprise volumes, reliable delivery routes, and strong API documentation. Best for budget-conscious businesses with negotiable volumes.
• Considerations: Requires direct negotiation for specific pricing. Feature set may be less extensive than Twilio or Infobip.

Infobip

• Pricing: Contact sales for North Macedonia rates.
• Strengths: Regional expertise in Southeast Europe, advanced messaging features, and local support presence. Best for businesses needing local knowledge and support.
• Considerations: Enterprise-focused pricing model works best for significant messaging volumes.

What Influences SMS Pricing in North Macedonia

These factors determine your final SMS costs in North Macedonia:

• Geographic Location: International messaging rates exceed domestic rates.
• Message Volume: Higher volumes unlock discounted rates. Most providers use tiered pricing structures.
• Message Encoding: GSM-7 (standard Latin characters) allows 160 characters per SMS. Unicode (emojis, special characters, Cyrillic) reduces capacity to 70 characters, increasing segmentation costs.
• Message Length: Messages exceeding single-segment limits split into multiple segments. Each segment is billed separately. A 320-character GSM-7 message = 3 segments = 3× base cost.
• Carrier Fees: Additional per-message surcharges from mobile network operators (typically $0.0030 – $0.0050 per SMS).
• Sender ID Type: Alphanumeric sender IDs versus numeric sender IDs may have different delivery characteristics. Alphanumeric IDs supported in North Macedonia but may be changed by carriers to ensure delivery.
• Pricing Model: Choose the model that fits your usage patterns:
  • Pay-as-you-go: Flexible per-message billing. Best for fluctuating volumes.
  • Subscription-based: Fixed monthly fee with predetermined message allocation. Best for consistent usage.
  • Hybrid models: Combine pay-as-you-go and subscription elements.
• Features: Short codes, dedicated numbers, two-way messaging, and analytics increase costs.

Cost Calculation Example:

• Send 10,000 messages per month (average 200 characters/message GSM-7 encoding)
• 200 characters = 2 segments per message
• Total segments: 20,000
• Plivo cost: 20,000 × ($0.0627 + $0.0030) = ~$1,314/month
• Twilio cost: 20,000 × $0.1396 = ~$2,792/month (before volume discounts)

Sender ID Regulations

Alphanumeric Sender IDs: Supported in North Macedonia with dynamic provisioning. Sender IDs may be modified by carriers to ensure delivery. Avoid generic IDs like "SMS," "INFO," "TEXT," "Verify," or "Notice" – these are frequently blocked.

Numeric Sender IDs: International long codes supported but not recommended. Local operators may replace numeric sender IDs with generic alphanumeric IDs. Twilio recommends using alphanumeric sender IDs for Macedonia.

Best Practice: Use branded alphanumeric sender IDs (e.g., your company name) for better recognition and deliverability. [Sources: Twilio Macedonia Guidelines, Vonage Macedonia Restrictions]

AEK Regulatory Requirements for SMS in North Macedonia

The Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) regulates telecommunications in North Macedonia. Your provider must comply with AEK regulations for SMS messaging.

Compliance Checklist:

• Obtain explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages (consent must be specific, informed, and freely given)
• Maintain records of user consent with timestamps and consent method documentation
• Provide clear opt-out mechanisms in all marketing communications (support HELP/STOP keywords in local language)
• Comply with data protection regulations (North Macedonia DP Law harmonized with GDPR)
• Do not send marketing messages to do-not-call registries
• Send messages during daytime hours unless urgent (avoid 8 pm – 8 am)
• Support HELP/STOP messages in Macedonian language

Data Protection Compliance: North Macedonia's Law on Personal Data Protection (effective February 2020) is harmonized with EU GDPR. Requirements include:

• Explicit consent for electronic marketing and profiling
• Data subject rights (access, rectification, erasure, portability)
• Mandatory breach notification within 72 hours
• Data Protection Officer appointment for large-scale processing
• Cross-border data transfer safeguards
• Consent record retention (maintain for audit purposes; specific duration requirements apply based on data type)

Penalties: Legal entities face fines up to 2 – 4% of annual turnover for serious violations. The Personal Data Protection Agency (DPA) enforces compliance. [Sources: DLA Piper Data Protection Guide, Vonage Macedonia Guidelines]

Regulatory Authority: Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) – www.aek.mk

How to Choose the Best SMS Provider for North Macedonia

Evaluate providers based on your specific business needs:

• Message Volume: Estimate your monthly SMS volume to maximize volume discounts. High-volume senders (>100,000/month) should negotiate enterprise pricing.
• Budget: Balance cost with features and reliability. Factor in base rates + carrier fees + segmentation costs.
• Message Characteristics: Consider average message length and encoding needs. Unicode content significantly increases costs due to reduced character limits.
• Integration Needs: Evaluate API documentation, SDK availability, webhook support, and integration complexity.
• Technical Support: Assess support levels, availability (24/7 versus business hours), and response times.
• Features: Prioritize essential features like two-way messaging (not supported in Macedonia via Twilio), delivery reports, analytics, and message scheduling.
• Sender ID Requirements: Determine if alphanumeric sender IDs meet your branding needs.
• Compliance: Verify the provider adheres to North Macedonia regulations and offers consent management tools.
• Deliverability: Review the provider's carrier relationships and delivery success rates in North Macedonia.

Quick Selection Guide:

• Best for transparency: Twilio (published pricing, extensive documentation)
• Best for cost: Plivo (lowest base rates at $0.0627/SMS)
• Best for regional expertise: Infobip (Southeast Europe focus)
• Best for enterprise volumes: Sinch (negotiated enterprise pricing)

SMS Marketing Best Practices for North Macedonia

• Obtain Consent: Get explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages. This ensures compliance and protects your brand reputation. Document consent method, timestamp, and scope.
• Personalize Messages: Tailor messages to individual recipients for better engagement. Use merge fields for names and relevant details.
• Offer Value: Provide relevant information, exclusive deals, or helpful reminders. Avoid generic promotional content.
• Optimize Message Length: Keep messages under 160 characters (GSM-7) or 70 characters (Unicode) to avoid multi-part message costs. Use URL shorteners for links.
• Respect Frequency: Send 1 – 3 promotional messages per week to avoid overwhelming customers. Send transactional messages (OTP, alerts) as needed.
• Timing Matters: Send messages during business hours (9 am – 8 pm local time) unless urgent. Avoid early mornings, late evenings, and weekends for marketing content.
• Provide Opt-Out Options: Make unsubscribing easy with STOP/UNSUBSCRIBE keywords. This is both a legal requirement and best practice. Process opt-outs immediately.
• Monitor Performance: Track delivery rates, response rates, and conversion rates to optimize campaigns. Target 95%+ delivery rates.
• Use Branded Sender IDs: Alphanumeric sender IDs (e.g., "YourBrand") improve recognition and trust. Avoid generic IDs.
• Test Before Scaling: Send test messages to verify formatting, encoding, and deliverability before launching large campaigns.

Common Delivery Issues & Troubleshooting:

• Sender ID blocked: Avoid generic IDs (SMS, INFO, NOTICE). Use branded alphanumeric IDs.
• Message not delivered: Verify number format (+389 prefix), check carrier coverage, and review content for prohibited keywords.
• Unexpected segmentation: Check for special characters forcing Unicode encoding. Use the GSM-7 character set when possible.
• High costs: Review message length and segmentation. Optimize content to stay within single-segment limits.

Frequently Asked Questions About North Macedonia SMS Pricing

How much does it cost to send SMS in North Macedonia?

SMS costs to North Macedonia range from $0.0627 per message (Plivo starting rate) to $0.1396 (Twilio rate for international numbers/alphanumeric sender IDs), depending on your provider and volume. Add carrier surcharges ($0.0030 – $0.0050 per message) to base rates. Multi-part messages multiply costs: a 2-segment message costs 2× the per-message rate. Volume discounts can significantly reduce per-message costs for enterprise customers sending 100,000+ messages monthly.

Which SMS provider is cheapest for North Macedonia?

Plivo offers the lowest published base rate at $0.0627 per SMS (plus $0.0030 carrier surcharge = $0.0657 total). Twilio's rate is $0.1396 for alphanumeric sender IDs. However, total cost depends on your volume. Enterprise customers sending 100,000+ messages monthly should negotiate volume discounts with all providers (Twilio, Plivo, Sinch, Infobip) to find the best effective rate. Consider message segmentation and encoding in cost comparisons.

Does Twilio work in North Macedonia?

Yes, Twilio works in North Macedonia with a rate of $0.1396 per outbound SMS using international numbers or alphanumeric sender IDs (October 2025). Twilio offers robust API documentation, global infrastructure, message concatenation support, and advanced analytics. Volume discounts and committed-use discounts available for enterprise customers. Additional carrier fees may apply. Note: Two-way SMS not supported in North Macedonia via Twilio. Visit Twilio's official pricing page for current rates.

What are North Macedonia's SMS regulations?

The Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) regulates SMS in North Macedonia. Obtain explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages, maintain consent records with timestamps, provide clear opt-out mechanisms (HELP/STOP keywords), and comply with data protection regulations. North Macedonia's Law on Personal Data Protection (harmonized with EU GDPR) requires explicit consent for electronic marketing, breach notification within 72 hours, and data subject rights protection. Non-compliance results in penalties up to 2 – 4% of annual turnover. P2P traffic through APIs is prohibited. Avoid sending marketing messages during 8 pm – 8 am. Visit www.aek.mk for official regulatory information.

Can I use Plivo for SMS in North Macedonia?

Yes, Plivo supports SMS delivery to North Macedonia with competitive base rates starting at $0.0627 per SMS (plus $0.0030 carrier surcharge). Plivo offers a developer-friendly API, flexible integration options, and volume discounts. Inbound SMS costs $0.0055 (plus $0.0030 carrier surcharge). Plivo provides transparent pricing documentation and supports alphanumeric sender IDs. Contact Plivo for volume discount tiers based on your monthly sending volume.

What's the best SMS API for North Macedonia?

The best SMS API for North Macedonia depends on your needs. Plivo offers the lowest base rates ($0.0627/SMS) with transparent pricing – best for cost-conscious businesses. Twilio excels in documentation, reliability, and global infrastructure ($0.1396/SMS) – best for enterprises needing advanced features. Sinch offers cost-effective enterprise solutions with negotiated pricing – best for high-volume senders. Infobip provides regional Southeast Europe expertise – best for businesses needing local support. Evaluate based on your volume (affects negotiated rates), budget (including carrier fees), message characteristics (encoding/length), and required features (analytics, webhooks, scheduling).

Do I need AEK approval to send SMS in North Macedonia?

Your SMS provider handles telecommunications licensing with carriers. However, you must comply with AEK regulations for marketing SMS: obtain explicit user opt-in consent (documented with timestamps), maintain consent records for audit purposes, provide opt-out mechanisms (HELP/STOP keywords in local language), follow data protection rules under North Macedonia's DP Law (GDPR-harmonized), and avoid prohibited content (political, religious, gambling without proper licensing). Ensure your chosen provider complies with AEK regulations to avoid penalties. P2P traffic through APIs is prohibited – use A2P routes for business messaging.

How do volume discounts work for North Macedonia SMS?

Most SMS providers offer tiered pricing based on monthly volume. Higher volumes unlock lower per-message rates through negotiated enterprise agreements. Twilio offers committed-use discounts for annual volume commitments – contact sales for custom pricing beyond standard rates. Plivo provides volume discounts at various tiers – contact sales with your estimated monthly volume. Sinch and Infobip focus on enterprise volume pricing requiring direct negotiation. Volume tiers typically start at 10,000 – 50,000 messages/month (5 – 15% discount), 100,000+ messages/month (15 – 30% discount), and 1M+ messages/month (30%+ discount). Contact providers directly with your estimated monthly volume and message characteristics for accurate quotes.

Master North Macedonia SMS pricing and best practices to enhance customer communication, drive engagement, and achieve your business objectives. Review provider rates and features regularly as the SMS market evolves. For businesses requiring bulk SMS capabilities, compare volume discount tiers across all providers to maximize cost savings.

Last Updated: October 2025