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If you’ve ever gotten a text from a business or received a confirmation code via text, you’ve probably noticed that the number the text message is from doesn’t look like a typical American or Canadian number. It’s shorter with no dashes. What’s up with that?
With so much emphasis on digital security these days, you may sometimes wonder if these odd little numbers are spam or a scam. But in all likelihood, it’s merely a short code, a mini phone number of sorts that’s used for widespread text messaging.
This guide will show you a list of the most common short codes in the US and Canada so you can recognize them as legitimate and be sure not to miss anything important.
What Are Short Codes Used For?
The good thing is that the average person will never need to create a short code for their own personal use. Short codes are primarily used by businesses, charities and nonprofits, and two-way digital authenticators.
The point of a short code is to allow your business or institution to send a high volume of sms messages in a short amount of time. And this way, they all come from one number.
This capability can be extremely useful when trying to reach customers in a variety of situations, including:
- Marketing campaigns
- Appointment reminders and check-ins
- Customer support
- Information services
- Two-factor authentication
- Verification codes
- Charity donations
- Business announcements and sales
A business that has a dedicated short code is also more likely to build their brand name and reach their customers with greater ease. Not everyone has time to open marketing emails, but a short text is more likely to be read and can boost customer engagement.
Short code messaging in the form of mass texts is also more cost effective for the business than running a traditional mass marketing campaign. And it is cost effective for the consumer as responding to a text is cheaper than driving to an in person visit or making a phone call.
Two-Factor Authentication and Verification Codes
Another very common scenario in which you may encounter a Canadian or US short code is when a website requires two-factor authentication or when you need a verification code to access your account. For example, when you log in to your Gmail from your phone, Google has no idea who you are and acts as if you now pose a threat to national security.
They may send you a Google verification code to your trusted phone number to verify your identity so you can access your account. If you ever receive a random verification code text, you should always determine who it’s from before opening the message or replying in any way. And as a general note, you should never have to reply to a real verification text because the code they send you is simply for you to type into an external browser or app.
These types of security texts will always come from a short code number and will appear in real-time as you request them.
A Short Code Directory
Here is a list of the most commonly used short codes across the US and Canada:
Text To Donate
- 52182 - Alzheimer’s Association
- 51555 or 41010 - American Cancer Society
- 68453 or 515151 - American Heart Association
- 21121 - American Red Cross
- 37332 - ASPCA
- 777444 - Boys & Girls Club of America
- 67777 - Feeding America
- 56651 - Habitat for Humanity
- 45678 - Make-A-Wish Foundation
- 888222 - Mobile Accord Charity Donations
- 999 - Mobile Giving Foundation (for charity donations)
- 99099 - National Wildlife Federation
- 90999 - Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
- 63566 - Salvation Army
- 99888 - Sierra Club
- 41444 - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- 90909 or 909090 - UNICEF
- 20222 - United Way
- 30333 - World Wildlife Fund
Text To Vote
- 335577 - Award Shows (like the Oscars)
- 33898 - Game shows (like Wheel of Fortune)
- 989898 - Political candidates and campaigns
- 123456 - Reality TV shows (like American Idol)
- 24626 - Surveys and Polls
- 54321 - Talent Competitions (like Dancing with the Stars)
Text To Order
- 47377 - 1-800-Flowers.com
- 57531 - 7-Eleven
- 29502 - American Eagle Outfitters
- 782929 - Barnes & Noble
- 266866 - Chili’s
- 247365 - CVS Pharmacy
- 41411 - Domino’s Pizza
- 95000 - Dunkin’ Donuts
- 30364 - Jamba Juice
- 66937 - Olive Garden
- 30330 - Papa John’s Pizza
- 89077 - Papa Murphy’s
- 729466 - Pizza Hut
- 73277 - Quiznos
- 55171 - Redbox
- 698443 - Sephora
- 78645 - Starbucks
- 79999 - Subway
- 21333 - Taco Bell
Other
- 21309 - Amazon Gift Cash
- 25392 - Amazon Text2Cart
- 50555 - American Cancer Society
- 313131 - American Diabetes Association
- 888-111 - American Red Cross
- 233733 - American Red Cross Blood Donation
- 47246 - AT&T customer support
- 26262 - Autism Speaks
- 20191 - Bed Bath and Beyond Credit
- 27627 - Best Buy
- 2643 - Coke Alerts
- 89800 - Comcast customer support
- 611 - Customer service for wireless carriers
- 777111 - Delta Airlines flight status updates
- 411 - Directory assistance
- 98999 - Domino’s Pizza
- 386732 - DuoSecurity
- 404040 - ESPN
- 3266 - Facebook
- 44636 - Fandango
- 747474 - Flight status and updates
- 20121 - Foundation Youth Helpline
- 87039 - G. M. Rewards
- 332211 - Google
- 466453 - Google SMS search
- 20104 - Lens Crafter
- 27722 - March of Dimes
- 878787 - Mobile coupons and promotions
- 48324 - Nikki Haley for President
- 93433 - Papa John’s Pizza
- 729725 - PayPal
- 80077 - Planned Parenthood
- 888888 - Political campaigns and advocacy groups
- 773342 - Starbucks
- 877-877 - Stop unwanted and/or spam messages
- 97411 - Subway
- 79489 - Target
- 82757 - TaskRabbit
- 48000 - Trumpia
- 888777 - Uber
- 52000 - UNICEF USA
- 81888 - Walgreens
- 246246 - Weather notifications and alerts
- 37337 - World Wildlife Fund
Emergency Numbers
Emergency numbers differ from typical short codes because they are three digits instead of five to six. And you may sometimes call rather than text these numbers.
- 911 - Emergency response
- 211 - Public health and community services
- 311 - Non-emergency response
- 511 - Road and traffic conditions
- 711 - Telecommunications Relay Service for those verbally or auditorily impaired
- 811 - Check underground conditions before you dig
- 988 - Suicide prevention hotline
- 999 - Emergency services for some areas
- 211-211 Crisis and emergency counseling
- 12345 - Emergency alerts and notifications from the local government
Short Code Rules and Regulations
There are a few rules and requirements when it comes to the wonderful world of short code texting. First, US and Canadian short codes have to be 5-6 digit phone numbers. Normal phone numbers are 10 digits by comparison, so they are genuinely much shorter. And there are often no dashes or parentheses, as you may see in personal and business numbers.
The US Short Code Registry
The mothership of short codes comes in the form of the US Short Code Registry. They operate within the greater CTIA: Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. Short codes only work for mobile carriers that have partnered with CTIA.
The registry is where you go to rent a short code for whatever you may need because, no, you can’t buy them. Short codes are like apartments in that you pay a monthly fee to rent them. The US registry is who collects that fee and determines which codes are still available for rent.
They have also created a short set of rules that all organizations that use short codes must follow:
- The message must be clear: That first text must detail the purpose of the notification and express what the goal of the text is.
- Consumers must be able to consent: Those who receive the text must be able to determine how they interact with it according to predetermined CTIA guidelines.
- Opt-in confirmation: Consumers must be able to choose in the first message to opt-in to alerts and messages. The option of opting-out must be clear as well.
- Opt-outs must be adhered to: At any point if a consumer chooses to opt-out, they must be able to do so completely.
- Texts must be clear and accurate: Businesses can’t obscure the truth or say anything but the full transparent truth. Anything that is said in any message must be adhered to.
The point of these rules is to protect the consumer and ensure short code messages do not become overbearing and unwanted. Checking to see if the text you got follows these guidelines is also a good strategy to use when figuring out if a text is spam or legitimate. With these rules in place, you can feel safe and confident when responding to and interacting with short code texts.
Short Code Pricing
So yes, if you’re going to become a proud owner of a short code, you will need to pay that rent. The US Short Code Registry has clear guidelines for the pricing of short codes, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Select Codes: $1,000/month
Select codes are codes that you create yourself. You can search for any 5-6 digit number on the registry website, and if the one you want is available, you can select it. They will also provide you with options for numbers that are similar in nature.
Memorable: $1,000/month
Memorable codes are 5 digit codes that are easier for consumers to memorize and recognize. Using one of these can be helpful when trying to build a brand and establish a relationship to better the customer experience. There are usually repeating numbers because that is easier to remember. An example is: 20666.
Random: $500/month
This is a much cheaper option but you don’t have nearly as much control. The short code administration itself will give you a list of 5 digit options, none of which will be as flashy or catchy as a “memorable” code.
How To Look Up Short Codes
If you ever get a text from a short code and it’s not clear who the sender is, you can do a short code lookup to get to the bottom of the mystery. You can look up American short codes in the US Short Code Directory. For Canadian codes, visit their registry.
A Second Number for Short Codes
Short codes almost always come from businesses and institutions like doctor’s offices and nonprofits. While it is important to keep in touch with certain businesses, you may not want sms marketing, appointment reminders, and sms campaigns of any kind cluttering up your primary number.
A great way to organize your contacts and separate friends and family from everything else is by using a second phone number app. With a secondary app like Burner, you can generate a custom phone number and give that number out to businesses instead of your personal one. That way, any associated marketing or informative texts will be automatically organized into your second number.
A Burner phone can also be helpful when organizing coupons, appointment reminders, and anything else that may come through short code texts that you want to remember for later. It really would be tragic if you missed that 50% off sale for your favorite store.
Also, in the event that a short code text attempts to pose as a real business but is, in fact, spam, any potential hackers or viruses will not be linked to your main number. This prevents your main number from being compromised and ensures you won’t have to go through the trouble of replacing it. Try Burner today to organize your contacts and keep short code texts separate from your main number.
What To Remember About Short Codes
Now you know the short code basics. You don’t have to memorize all one hundred of the most common short codes, just look them up in the US registry along with any unfamiliar code that messages you.
Remember those 5-6 digit numbers are usually functioning as a marketing tactic, information resource, place to donate, or as a verification code. And you can always opt-in and opt-out of messages from any legit company.
If you are interested in using a short code, you can register with CTIA. But for the most part, your existing 10-digit number is fine. You have enough to manage without adding an extra five digits.
Sources:
Short Code Monitoring Program Handbook
Find a Short Code | CTIA Shortcodes
911 and Other Special Service Numbers
