SMS Rate Limits | Pinnacle

US carriers enforce throughput limits on 10DLC campaigns based on tier assignments. Pinnacle automatically queues messages to ensure these limits are met, maximizing deliverability.

Understanding tiers

Each 10DLC campaign is assigned two tiers that determine messaging throughput:

mnoBrandTier: Used for T-Mobile networks. Limits are based on messages per day.
mnoTcrTier: Used for AT&T, Verizon, and all other carriers. Limits are based on messages per minute.

You can view your campaign’s current tiers by calling GET /campaigns/dlc/{campaignId}.

Default tiers

All new campaigns from unvetted brands start with the lowest tiers:

mnoBrandTier: LOW (2,000 messages per day on T-Mobile)
mnoTcrTier: G (60 messages per minute on AT&T/Verizon)

Improving your tier

Tiers are determined by your brand’s vetting score. To potentially improve your tiers and increase throughput limits, submit your brand for vetting.

Vetting does not guarantee a tier change

Vetting evaluates your brand against carrier trust criteria. Your tiers will only change if the vetting results in a higher score than your current assignment. Vetting does not guarantee an improvement.

If you need additional support upgrading your throughput, contact us at founders@trypinnacle.app.

T-Mobile rate limits

T-Mobile uses the mnoBrandTier value and enforces daily message limits. Your tier is determined by your vetting score:

Tier	Vetting Score	Description	Messages per Day
`TOP`	75-100	Russell 3000 companies or high vetting scores	200,000
`HIGH_MID`	50-74	Upper-mid trust level	40,000
`LOW_MID`	25-49	Lower-mid trust level	10,000
`LOW`	0-24	Unvetted or low vetting scores	2,000

AT&T and Verizon rate limits

AT&T and Verizon use a message class system (mnoTcrTier) based on your brand’s vetting status and campaign use case.

Standard classes

These classes are assigned based on your vetting score and whether your campaign uses a declared use case or mixed/marketing messaging:

Class	Description	Messages per Minute
`A`	Declared use case, high trust (Russell 3000 or score 75-100)	4,500
`B`	Mixed/marketing, high trust (score 75-100)	4,500
`C`	Declared use case, mid trust (score 50-74)	2,400
`D`	Mixed/marketing, mid trust (score 50-74)	2,400
`E`	Declared use case, low trust (score 25-49)	240
`F`	Mixed/marketing, low trust or unvetted (score 0-24)	240
`G`	Lowest trust level (score 0-24)	60

Special classes

These classes are assigned for specific use cases:

Class	Description	Messages per Minute
`T`	Low volume mixed campaigns	75
`N`	Multi-location businesses (10-5,000 agents/branches)	3,000
`S`	High-volume social engagement campaigns	2,400

Vetting score overview

Your vetting score is determined by The Campaign Registry (TCR) and ranges from 0 to 100. The score is based on:

Brand verification status: Whether your EIN/Tax ID matches your legal company name
Russell 3000 membership: Publicly traded companies in the Russell 3000 index automatically receive the highest tier
Third-party vetting: External verification through providers like Aegis Mobile or WMC Global

Score Range	Trust Level	T-Mobile Tier	AT&T/Verizon Class
75-100	High	`TOP`	`A` or `B`
50-74	Upper-Mid	`HIGH_MID`	`C` or `D`
25-49	Lower-Mid	`LOW_MID`	`E`
0-24	Low	`LOW`	`F` or `G`

Other carriers (US Cellular, etc.)

Minor carriers use a flat rate limit of 600 messages per minute regardless of tier.

Carrier	Messages per Minute
US Cellular	600
Other carriers	600

How Pinnacle handles rate limits

Pinnacle automatically manages rate limiting for you:

Automatic queuing: When you send messages, Pinnacle queues them and delivers at the appropriate rate for each carrier.
Carrier detection: Pinnacle determines the recipient’s carrier and applies the correct rate limit.
Maximized deliverability: By respecting carrier limits, your messages avoid being flagged or blocked.

You don’t need to implement rate limiting in your application - simply send messages through the API and Pinnacle handles the rest.