Solutions
SMS marketing in Canada
Texting Canadian audiences means following Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, usually called CASL, which has its own rules on consent, sender identification and unsubscribing. Encore Text supports US and Canadian recipients from the same toll-free number and adds the Canadian checks automatically when a contact has a Canadian area code.
Consent under CASL
CASL generally requires consent before sending a commercial electronic message, including a text. Express consent is a clear yes from the person. Implied consent can arise in limited situations, such as an existing business relationship from a recent purchase or inquiry, and it expires after a set period.
Encore Text records the type of consent for each Canadian contact and, for implied consent, the date it expires. Contacts whose implied consent has lapsed are skipped automatically until they give express consent.
Sender identification
CASL messages must identify who is sending and give a way to contact them. Because a text has little room, Encore Text adds a short link to a sender information page on our domain with your business name and contact details. Canadian sends are blocked until those details are complete in your workspace.
French opt-outs and Quebec
Recipients can opt out by replying STOP or in French with ARRET or DESABONNER, and the opt-out is processed immediately. For contacts in Quebec, Encore Text reminds you to include French content, and you can write a French version of a campaign that is sent to those recipients.
Time zones across the country
Canada spans six time zones. Area codes are mapped to a province and time zone, and messages that would arrive overnight wait until 8 AM local time. A 10 AM campaign sent from Toronto reaches Vancouver at a reasonable hour rather than at 7 AM.
Canadian pricing and taxes
Plans are billed in US dollars: Starter at $25 a month ($19 billed annually) and Professional at $50 a month ($39 billed annually). Messages to Canadian numbers cost 2.5¢ per segment, compared with 1.5¢ for US numbers, because carrier costs are higher. MMS is 4¢.
Canadian businesses can add their GST/HST number to their billing profile so it appears on their records. Prices are shown in USD and taxes may apply.
Your number and data
Each workspace gets one dedicated toll-free number that can text both US and Canadian recipients, included with no setup fees. Carrier verification usually takes 3–10 business days. Customer data is stored and processed in the United States, as described in our Privacy Policy.
Getting your Canadian list ready
Before your first Canadian send, review how each contact joined. Contacts who checked an unchecked box or texted a keyword after seeing your terms have express consent. Contacts who bought a ticket in the last two years, or asked a question in the last six months, may have implied consent with an expiry date. Record the right consent type on import so expiry is tracked from the start. Then complete your sender information in the workspace: business name, mailing address and a contact method. Our CASL guide covers each rule in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I text Canadian and US contacts from one number?
- Yes. Your toll-free number can reach both, and Canadian rules are applied automatically to Canadian contacts.
- Does Encore Text handle ARRET?
- Yes. ARRET and DESABONNER are treated as opt-out keywords, the same as STOP.
- Do I need to add my mailing address to each text?
- Not in the text itself. Each Canadian message links to your sender information page, which must include your business contact details.
- Is Encore Text priced in Canadian dollars?
- No. Prices are in USD. You can add your GST/HST number to your billing profile, and taxes may apply.
Send compliant texts from your own toll-free number
Every account gets its own toll-free number — included, no setup fees.
See pricing