How to Use the SMS Unicode & Pricing Calculator
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Type or paste your text into the message box, check "Type in Nepali," or choose one of our pre-built templates.
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The tool automatically counts total characters, detects message encoding (GSM-7 or Unicode), and calculates exact message split segments.
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Review the grid below your message to spot extended symbols or hidden Unicode triggers that might increase your character count.
That's it! Nest SMS’s live character analysis and mobile preview give you complete visual clarity on how your message will perform before you send it to your recipients.
GSM vs. Unicode Encoding: What's the Difference?
GSM-7
GSM-7 is the standard SMS encoding for basic English text and numbers. A single GSM message allows up to 160 characters before splitting into multiple parts.
Unicode (UCS-2)
Unicode is used for non-Latin scripts (like Nepali Devanagari) and emojis. Because non-Latin characters require more data, a single Unicode SMS message limit drops to 70 characters.
| Feature | GSM-7 | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| Character Limit | 160 characters per message | 70 characters per message |
| Multipart Split Limit | Splits into 153-character segments | Splits into 67-character segments |
| Supported Content | Standard English text, numbers, basic symbols | Nepali Devanagari text, non-English scripts, emojis |
| Cost Impact | Most cost-effective for longer English campaigns | Higher credit usage due to shorter character limits |
| Important Notes | Extended symbols count as 2 characters. | A single non-GSM character or Nepali word switches the entire message to Unicode |
GSM-7 Extended Symbols
Extended symbols such as square brackets, tildes, carets, braces, backslashes, vertical bars, and the euro symbol count as 2 characters.
How Nest SMS’s Unicode Calculator Helps
Nest SMS's calculator provides real-time character analysis so you never pay more than expected. #BAE6FD highlights represent standard GSM characters, #93C5FD highlights identify 2-count special symbols, and #FEF08A highlights flag non-GSM characters that trigger Unicode encoding. Use our character counter to clean up your SMS copy, remove unwanted characters, and keep your message segments short and clear before launching your campaign.
What Triggers Hidden Unicode in Your SMS?
Many SMS campaigns accidentally switch to Unicode, doubling credit costs due to non-standard characters copied from text editors, Word documents, or AI tools. Common hidden triggers include:
- Smart/Curly Quotes: “and” instead of straight quotes.
- Special Punctuation: Em dashes (—), en dashes (–), or ellipses (…).
- Emojis & Symbols: Emojis (e.g., 🙂, 🔥) or non-Latin currency signs.
- Accented Letters & Non-Standard Spaces: Special characters that fall outside the standard GSM-7 character set.
Our checker highlights these hidden characters instantly in #FEF08A so you can remove or replace them before sending.
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