To ensure smooth SMS delivery and avoid overloading carrier systems, SMS providers impose file size restrictions on attachments. These limitations help maintain performance while millions of people use SMS services worldwide.
SMS Attachment Guidelines
Advisor's Growth supports up to 10 attachments per message, as long as the total size (including message body and attachments) is under 5 MB.
Note: To send attachments, your Advisor's Growth Twilio number must have MMS capabilities.
Each carrier also has its own limits. On average, attachment sizes range from 300KB to 600KB, but for major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, sizes can go up to 3.5MB.
Common US Carrier Attachment Limits:
Verizon: Typically up to 3.5 MB
Other carriers: 300KB to 600KB
Although these sizes are generally accepted, variations in handsets, file types, and transcoding can affect delivery. For the best results, we recommend keeping attachment sizes under 500KB.
Supported Image File Types
Advisor's Growth supports the following image formats for MMS:
jpeg
png
gif
Twilio will automatically transcode these image types to ensure compatibility across devices. However, for non-image file types (like documents or videos), the size limits are often stricter, depending on the carrier.
Additional Considerations for Non-Image Files
For file types beyond jpeg, png, and gif (e.g., MP4, PDFs), carrier size limits tend to be smaller. For instance, AT&T allows up to 1.0 MB for long code MMS but limits Toll-Free MMS to 0.6 MB. To avoid delivery issues, it's best to keep non-image attachments under 600KB.
There’s no size limit for incoming MMS messages on your Advisor's Growth Twilio numbers. However, if more than 10 attachments are received in one message, only the first 10 will be displayed, though all attachments will appear in the Advisor's Growth Console.
If your total message size (including text and attachments) exceeds 5 MB, the message will fail, and it won’t be delivered. Media files larger than 5 MB cannot be sent via MMS.
For media like MP4 videos, these are sent as MMS and can’t be directly attached to SMS. Instead, Advisor's Growth will generate a link for the recipient to view the video if recorded in the mobile app.
Important Update (May 2021)
Currently, there are size limitations for Toll-Free MMS. To ensure successful delivery, attachments (including images) must be 600KB or smaller.
FAQs
Can I send attachments through SMS with Advisor's Growth?
Yes, attachments can be sent via SMS, but your phone number must be MMS-enabled. You can attach up to 10 files, as long as the total size (including text and attachments) doesn’t exceed 5 MB.
What are the size limits for MMS attachments?
Carrier restrictions vary, typically from 300KB to 600KB, with some tier 1 carriers like AT&T and Verizon allowing up to 3.5MB. For non-image files, limits may be smaller—AT&T, for instance, allows 1.0 MB for long code MMS and only 0.6 MB for Toll-Free MMS. We recommend keeping non-image attachments under 600KB to avoid delivery problems.
Which file types are supported for MMS, and does Advisor's Growth transcode them?
Image files in jpeg, png, and gif formats are supported, and Advisor's Growth automatically transcodes these for compatibility. Other media types, like MP4 files, are also supported, but non-image files are not transcoded or resized.
Can I receive MMS messages on my Advisor's Growth Twilio number?
Yes, there’s no limit on the size of incoming MMS. However, if a message contains more than 10 media attachments, only the first 10 will be displayed, although all will show up in the Advisor's Growth Console.
What happens if my MMS exceeds the 5 MB limit?
If the total size of your MMS (including text and attachments) exceeds 5 MB, the message will fail to send. To ensure successful delivery, keep the message size within the 5 MB limit.