Unicode SMS Character Checker: Find Characters That Cost You Extra SMS
Paste your message to see whether it will be sent as GSM-7 or Unicode. The checker highlights every character that forces Unicode, shows how many extra SMS segments it costs and can replace the common ones for you.
Your message with problem characters highlighted
Characters that force Unicode
What makes an SMS switch to Unicode?
An SMS is sent in the GSM-7 alphabet unless it contains a character that alphabet does not include. One such character is enough to switch the whole message to Unicode, which fits 70 characters per segment instead of 160. The usual culprits are copied punctuation, emojis and non-Latin scripts such as Nepali.
| Character | Where it comes from | Replace with |
|---|---|---|
| “ ” ‘ ’ | Curly quotes from Word, Google Docs or websites | Straight quotes " and ' |
| – — | Long dashes added by autocorrect | A hyphen - |
| … | The single ellipsis character | Three dots ... |
| (non-breaking space) | Text copied from web pages | A normal space |
| Emojis | Keyboards and chat apps | Remove them, or accept Unicode |
| Nepali letters | Devanagari text such as नमस्ते | No replacement. Send as Unicode SMS |
Can you send Nepali text in a bulk SMS?
Yes. Nepali (Devanagari) messages are sent as Unicode SMS. Each segment holds 70 characters, and 67 characters when a message runs over one segment, so Nepali messages are best kept short. The WebGradee SMS dashboard has a Unicode message type for this, and you can count the segments with the SMS length calculator before you send.
Why check characters before a bulk SMS campaign?
Every extra segment uses another SMS credit for each recipient. A curly quote that pushes a 100-character message into Unicode can double the segments, and sending to thousands of customers multiplies the cost. Check your text once, fix the characters and send with confidence. See bulk SMS pricing in Nepal to plan your pack.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Unicode character in an SMS?
A Unicode character is any character outside the standard GSM-7 SMS alphabet, such as Nepali (Devanagari) letters, emojis, curly quotes and long dashes. If a message contains even one, the whole SMS is sent as Unicode, which fits 70 characters per segment instead of 160.
Why did my SMS switch to Unicode?
One character in your text is not part of the GSM-7 alphabet. The most common causes are curly quotes copied from Word or the web, a long dash, the ellipsis character and emojis. Paste your message in the checker to see exactly which characters are responsible.
Can I send Nepali text in a bulk SMS?
Yes. Nepali (Devanagari) text is sent as a Unicode SMS, and the WebGradee SMS dashboard has a Unicode message type for it. Each segment holds 70 characters, and 67 characters when the message is longer than one segment.
How do I fix characters that force Unicode?
Replace curly quotes with straight quotes, long dashes with a hyphen, the ellipsis character with three dots and remove emojis. The Replace common characters button above does this for you. Nepali letters cannot be replaced, so those messages stay Unicode.
Does Unicode SMS cost more than normal SMS?
The price per SMS segment is the same, but a Unicode message fits fewer characters per segment, so the same text can need more segments and use more SMS credits. Shorter messages and clean characters keep your cost down.
Ready to Send Your First Bulk SMS?
Tell us your business and how many SMS you plan to send. We will set up your account and help you pick the right pack.
- Call / SMS+977 9817549221
- Emailinfo@webgradee.com
- Open 7 days a weekA real Nepali team for support, sales and billing, every single day.
- Visit usDhaulagiri Chowk, Kalanki, Kathmandu, Nepal
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