SMS in Apsis One is available as a yearly subscription. Your credits are added to your account at the start of each subscription period, so you're always ready to send.

How the SMS subscription works

When you subscribe to SMS, you choose a yearly volume expressed as a number of SMS messages per year. Apsis One then converts this into credits and adds them to your account.

The conversion is based on our most common sending cost - Sweden at 5.5 credits per SMS. For example, subscribing to 1,000 SMS gives you 5,500 credits.

Since the credit cost per SMS varies by country, the actual number of messages you can send depends on your recipient mix. If you mainly send to countries with a lower credit cost, your credits will go further. If you send to countries with a higher cost, you'll use credits faster. See SMS Credits: Calculation and Pricing for the full country pricing table.

How it works in practice:

You subscribe to 10,000 SMS/year → 55,000 credits are added to your account → You use credits throughout the year as you send SMS campaigns → At renewal, your balance resets to 55,000 credits. The number of credits applied to your account is calculated at the time of purchase. Credit costs per country may be adjusted with 2 weeks' notice.

Your credit balance

You can check your remaining credits in two places:

Dashboard: The SMS Overview widget shows your current balance at a glance (visible to Account Owners and Admins).

SMS Tool: Your credit balance is displayed on the SMS start page.

You can also Export your sent SMS to track credit usage over time, with columns for actual cost and section, useful for allocating costs internally.

Planning tip: Use the export to review your credit usage from the past 12 months. This helps you right-size your subscription at renewal so you're not over- or under-subscribing.

Renewal

Your SMS subscription renews on a yearly cycle, aligned with your main Apsis One subscription.

At renewal:

Your credit balance resets to your subscribed level. For example, if you subscribe to 55,000 credits, your balance returns to 55,000 - regardless of how many credits you had left.
Unused credits from the previous period do not roll over.
The renewal follows the same terms as your main Apsis One subscription.

What you need to know

Since credits reset at renewal, it's worth monitoring your usage throughout the year. If you consistently have a large surplus, consider downgrading at your next renewal. If you're running low well before the year is up, you can upgrade at any time (see below) or use a top-up to bridge the gap.

Upgrading your subscription

If your SMS needs grow beyond your current plan, you can upgrade at any time. Contact us at customerservice.apsis@efficy.com to increase your yearly SMS volume.

Upgrading triggers a renewal of your SMS subscription and your credit balance will be set to the new, higher level.
The SMS subscription follow the standard upgrade process for Apsis One subscriptions.

When to upgrade

Upgrading makes sense when your sending needs have increased permanently or for the foreseeable future, for example, if you've added SMS to more automation flows, expanded to new markets, or increased your campaign frequency. If you just need a short-term boost for a one-off campaign, a top-up may be more appropriate.

Downgrading your subscription

If you'd like to reduce your SMS volume, you can downgrade at renewal.

Downgrades are only possible at renewal — not mid-subscription.
You must notify us at customerservice.apsis@efficy.com at least 2 months before your renewal date.
The financial impact follows the standard downgrade process for Apsis One subscriptions.

Planning ahead

If you think you may want to downgrade, check your sending history and credit usage well before renewal. This gives you time to assess whether a lower tier still covers your needs and to notify us at customerservice.apsis@efficy.com within the required notice period.

Top-ups

If you run out of credits before your subscription renews, you can purchase a top-up to keep sending.

Top-ups are designed as a short-term safety net - not as a primary way to add credits. Here's how they work:

Top-ups are only available to customers with an active SMS subscription.
Top-up credits are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.
Top-ups are priced at approximately twice the subscription rate per credit.

When to use a top-up

Top-ups are useful for covering an unexpected spike, for instance, an unplanned campaign or a seasonal peak that pushes you beyond your subscription. If you find yourself needing top-ups regularly, it's a sign that your subscription level may be too low. Consider upgrading instead, as the per-credit cost is significantly better.

FAQ - SMS Subscription and Credits

What happens to credits I don't use?

Unused credits do not roll over. At renewal, your balance resets to your subscribed level. We recommend reviewing your usage periodically so you can adjust your subscription at renewal if needed.

Can I still buy one-off credit packs without a subscription?

The subscription model is now the standard way to purchase SMS credits. One-off purchases are no longer available as a standalone option. If you don't yet have an SMS subscription, contact your Account Manager to get started.

I have special terms, does this affect me?

Customers with existing contractual agreements can continue with top-ups at their agreed pricing and a 12-month validity period. Your Account Manager can confirm the details of your arrangement.

How is my subscription volume communicated?

Your subscription is expressed as credits per year – which corresponds to a number of SMS per year, calculated based on the credit cost per SMS and country code.

What if I run out of credits mid-campaign?

If your balance doesn't cover a scheduled sending, the SMS activity will still be delivered in full. Your balance may go negative, and the overdraft will be settled at your next top-up or renewal. To avoid this, monitor your balance and consider upgrading or purchasing a top-up if you're running low.

Can I upgrade and downgrade multiple times per year?

You can upgrade as many times as needed, each upgrade triggers a renewal of your SMS subscription. Downgrades, however, are only processed at renewal with 2 months' notice.

SMS Subscription: Manage Your Plan