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Why some messages use more than one credit
Emoji and long copy can switch a message to Unicode and use extra segments.
Last updated 13 September 2026
GSM-7 can hold 160 characters in one segment, or 153 per segment when the message is split. Unicode (including most emoji) uses 70 characters in one segment, or 67 when split.
If you add an emoji, Cobbtree warns that the message has changed to Unicode and may use more credits. Shorten the copy or remove the emoji if you want to stay on one credit.
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