Quick answer. RCS pricing has five layers. (1) The message rate, set by message type — basic/branded text is billed per segment like SMS, while rich media (cards, carousels, video) is billed per message at a higher rate. (2) Carrier surcharges, a per-message fee each US carrier adds. (3) Registration and vetting fees through The Campaign Registry to send at all. (4) The provider's platform/software fee, which varies hugely — some bundle everything, others charge setup, per-feature, or per-seat add-ons. (5) Telecom taxes and surcharges. Your true cost is all five together.
How message type drives price: a plain branded text is the cheapest tier; adding rich media (a carousel, a video, a rich card) moves it to a higher per-message class. Some markets and providers also bill conversationally (a flat fee per 24-hour session) rather than per message — the model varies, so check how your provider counts.
How providers differ on the other layers is where bills diverge most. A low headline message rate can be undercut by setup fees, per-RCS-sender charges, feature tiers, or a separate inbox/UX you have to build. SimplyRCS's approach is to price messaging at carrier rates with no platform fee — a flat $250/month per RCS Agent covers the app, API, and every feature, with optional AI packages priced separately — and the API and app at the same price, so the layers are visible, not hidden.
Key facts
- Message classes: basic/rich text billed per segment; rich media billed per message (provider classification).
- Five layers: message rate + carrier surcharge + registration/vetting + platform fee + taxes.
- Watch for: setup/activation fees, per-RCS-sender fees, per-feature or per-seat tiers, and whether an inbox is included.