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To protect you from fraudulent traffic and unexpected charges, daily sending limits cap how many text messages (SMS, MMS, and RCS combined) your app is allowed to send in a day.

Prerequisites

How the daily sending limit works

Each app has a daily sending limit. Find it at Settings > SMS / RCS > Pumping Protection.
  • Every app has a configurable default for text message sends per day.
  • Apps with a consistent sending history will see their limit grow from the default.
  • Sending history will never shrink your limit beyond your configured default.
  • You can schedule an override if you expect to need a different limit.
  • The limit resets at 12 AM UTC.
  • Text messages you send yourself from the OneSignal dashboard don’t count toward the limit.
  • If you know you do not need this layer of protection, you may opt out.
Daily sending limit card showing 62,500 of 200,000 text messages counted today, with a green gauge

An app well under its daily sending limit.

As you approach the limit, OneSignal will email you so you can take appropriate action.
Daily sending limit card showing 172,800 of 200,000 text messages counted today, with a yellow gauge

An app approaching its daily sending limit.

When an app reaches its limit

OneSignal turns off text message sending for the app. The Pumping Protection tab shows Sending stopped, and sending stays off until you resume it.
Banner reading Text message sending is off for this app with a Resume sending link, above a Daily sending limit card marked Sending stopped

An app over its daily sending limit, with sending stopped.

Messages that the limit stops will show as Failed in the message report. Audience Activity shows the error text Daily SMS volume limit exceeded.

Resume sending

  1. Go to the Pumping Protection tab.
  2. Click Resume sending, then confirm.
Sending turns on right away. The tab shows Limit paused until the daily limit applies again at 12 AM UTC.
Opting out of the daily sending limit or raising your limit increases your exposure to SMS pumping fraud. OneSignal assumes you understand your level of exposure and accept the risks of opting out.

Change the limit

Set the default limit

Click Edit sending limit and change Default daily sending limit. The app uses the default limit or its history-based limit, whichever is higher.
Edit sending limit drawer with the When the limit is reached options and a Default daily sending limit of 200,000

The Edit sending limit drawer.

Schedule an override

Overrides give you the flexibility to temporarily adjust your limit to fit your needs.
  1. Click Schedule override.
  2. Set Start date and time, End date and time, and Daily sending limit during override period.
  3. Click Save override.
Schedule override drawer with fields for the daily sending limit during the override period, start date and time, and end date and time

The Schedule override drawer.

While the override is active, its limit replaces the default and history-based limits. After the override ends, the app will resume its usual daily sending limit.
After an override ends: if the app is over its daily sending limit, sending will be disabled. (See Resume sending)
You can edit, end, or delete an override from its Override actions menu. You can’t change the start of an override that has already started.

Opting out of the daily sending limit

You can choose what happens when the app reaches its limit. Click Edit sending limit and, under When the limit is reached, select one:
  • Turn off text message sending at the limit (recommended): Stay opted in to the daily sending limit to stop sending at the limit until you resume it.
  • Keep sending text messages anyway: Opt out of the daily sending limit to continue sending past the limit. OneSignal will still email you as the app approaches its limit, and again when it reaches the limit.
If you are unsure what your level of exposure to pumping attacks is, we recommend staying opted in to the daily sending limit. You are responsible for all text message charges on your account.

FAQ

Why did my SMS messages fail with “Daily SMS volume limit exceeded”?

The app reached its daily sending limit, and OneSignal turned off text message sending. Resume sending, or schedule an override for planned high-volume sends.

Why can’t I change the limit?

Only users with the Admin role on the app or the organization can change daily sending limit settings. Ask an Admin on your team.

SMS message reports

Find failed messages and their error text in Audience Activity.

SMS regulatory compliance

See every protection OneSignal uses to prevent SMS fraud.