List of text message short codes
Bank alerts, delivery updates, verification codes, marketing promos—these are all sent via short codes.
But every once in a while, you receive a text that looks… suspicious.
And when you don’t recognize the number, it’s natural to wonder if it’s legit.
Below, you’ll find a complete directory of text message short codes organized by category—plus tips on how to identify unknown senders and spot scams.
Top 10 most popular short codes
Here are the short codes people search for the most*:
| Short code | Owner / service | Primary use | Category |
| 32665 | Meta / Facebook (FBOOK) | 2FA verification codes and password resets and account notifications | Social media & entertainment |
| 22395 | Twilio / Authy / Shop Pay / Mailchimp | 2FA verification (shared code) | Tech & security verification |
| 2300 | T-Mobile | MMS routing and message blocking error notifications | Wireless carrier |
| 7726 | Industry-wide carrier spam reporting (CTIA) | Forward spam texts to report them to your wireless provider | Wireless carrier |
| 65821 | Okta | Identity verification / 2FA codes | Tech & security verification |
| 61746 | Walmart | Order shipping notifications and delivery updates | Retail & e-commerce |
| 24273 | JPMorgan Chase (spells CHASE) | Account alerts and transaction notifications and banking updates | Banking & financial services |
| 87892 | Microsoft | Verification codes | Tech & security verification |
| 24255 | Affirm | Two-factor authentication, purchase confirmations, and payment reminders | Banking & financial services |
| 44398 | Hinge | SMS login verification / 2FA | Social media & entertainment |
*Based on the volume of Google searches for each short code in the US, January–December 2025.
What are SMS short codes?
Whether you run a business, manage a government agency, or work with nonprofits, sooner or later there’ll come a time when you need to send text messages at high volume.
That’s what short codes are for.
These are 5- or 6-digit phone numbers that—unlike regular numbers—are built for mass communication. Think marketing campaigns, alerts, authentication codes, and so on.
Here’s what you should know about them:
- They’re regulated
- They’re leased, not purchased
- They’re fast
- They’re country-specific.
Are BRB, OMW, and ASAP short codes?
This may trip some people up.
Back in the day, short codes used to be actual short codes for something, like “143,” which meant “I love you.” We’re talking about the pager era.
Now, short codes just mean “short numbers.”
If you’re among those old-timers, Googling “text message short codes” won’t return text slang. Those are text abbreviations and are a completely different thing.
Not all short codes are created equal. There are three types—though one has been retired.
| Vanity short code | Random short code | Shared short code (deprecated) | |
| Definition | Chosen by the brand for memorability | Randomly assigned by the registry | One code shared by multiple brands using different keywords |
| Example | 262966 = AMAZON on a keypad | 543762 (no specific meaning) | 22395 (associated with more than one company) |
| Status (2026) | Active—most popular for big brands | Active—budget-friendly option | Previously common; no longer issued |
Shared short codes are no longer issued because of how easy it is to exploit them—phishing attacks, spam campaigns, and zero accountability when something goes wrong.
Now, short codes in the US must be dedicated to one brand, with only a few exceptions.
That said, you might still get texts from different brands on the same number. Why?
Some legacy shared codes haven’t fully expired, and codes owned by SMS platforms (like Twilio’s 22395) serve multiple clients through one number.
However, shared short codes will gradually disappear as new ones are no longer issued.
Short codes vs 10DLC vs toll-free numbers
Short codes aren’t the only way businesses can communicate with you. There are also toll-free numbers and 10DLC numbers (10-digit numbers).
Short codes are built for high-volume messaging—they start at 100 messages per second and can scale into the hundreds or even thousands. They’re ideal for big brands sending mass-scale automated messages, like promo offers and verification codes.
But there are some situations where short codes won’t cut it. Think voice calls, like customer support. That’s where toll-free numbers come in.
They’re not as efficient at sending texts—the default is just 3 messages per second, but—unlike short codes—toll-free numbers support both voice calls and texting. That makes them a good option for businesses that need a single number for everything from customer support to marketing messages.
Then there are 10DLC numbers (10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code), which are a kind of middle ground between short codes and toll-free numbers.
They have better throughput than toll-free numbers but lag behind short codes quite significantly—throughput varies from about 1 to 60 messages per second. Their advantage? Price. They’re the most affordable option—and what most small and mid-sized businesses use for everything from marketing texts to appointment reminders and verification codes.
Essential 3-digit utility codes (N11 numbers)
Important distinction: N11 codes are 3-digit dialing codes managed by the FCC.
They’re not the same as 5–6 digit SMS short codes. But people often search for them together, so we’ve included them here.
| Code | Service | What it does |
| 211 | Community Services (United Way) | Connects you to local health, housing, food, and human services info. Free and confidential. |
| 311 | Non-emergency municipal services | Report potholes, graffiti, noise complaints, and trash collection issues. Run by the local government. |
| 411 | Directory assistance | Phone number lookups. Usage has dropped sharply thanks to smartphones. Carrier-dependent. |
| 511 | Traffic & transportation info | Road conditions, travel advisories, and transit info. Availability varies by state. |
| 611 | Phone company repair/support | Connects you to your wireless carrier’s customer service. |
| 711 | Telecommunications relay service | Connects hearing-impaired users to TRS interpreters. Mandated by law. |
| 811 | Call Before You Dig | Request underground utility line marking before excavation. National safety service. |
| 911 | Emergency services | Police, fire, ambulance. ~240 million calls annually in the US. Mandated by law. |
| 988 | Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text for mental health crisis support. Went nationwide July 2022. Covers anxiety, substance use, grief, and more. |
Complete list of text message short codes by category
Here’s a breakdown of popular short codes, organized by the type of company or service behind them.
For the purposes of this article, “popular” short codes are defined as those that received an average of 100 or more monthly Google searches (in the USA) between January and December 2025.
Banking & financial services
Banks use short codes for fraud alerts, balance notifications, 2FA, and transaction confirmations. They almost always text from the same short code so you can recognize them.
| Short code | Company | Primary use |
| 24273 | JPMorgan Chase (spells CHASE) | Account alerts and transaction notifications and banking updates |
| 24255 | Affirm | Two-factor authentication, purchase confirmations, and payment reminders |
| 28581 | Cash App | Sign-in codes sending, payment notifications, and security alerts |
| 227898 | Capital One | Fraud alerts and account servicing messages and 2FA codes |
| 73981 | Bank of America | SafePass verification, two-factor authentication (2FA) & security alerts |
| 58083 | Affirm (primarey owner) / Google / Venmo (shared short code) | Verification codes, payment reminders, and financing application texts |
| 75243 | Plaid | 2FA/OTP for linking and verifying bank accounts to financial apps |
| 99398 | Klarna (primary owner) / Twilio (leases the code to multiple companies) | Two-factor authentication, verification codes, security alerts, purchase confirmation |
| 72975 | PayPal | 2FA security codes and login alerts |
| 24463 | Chime | Two-factor authentication (2FA), transaction alerts, and fraud warnings |
| 93557 | Wells Fargo (spells WELLS) | Text banking and 2FA and account alerts |
| 36726 | Fidelity Investments | 2FA/MFA login verification and account security alerts |
| 32858 | Authentify / shared by multiple banks (KeyBank / PNC Bank / Umpqua Bank / Citizens Trust Bank) | Banking 2FA and one-time passcodes and security alerts |
| 87175 | Connexus Credit Union / Goldman Sachs (Apple Card) | 2FA verification codes and fraud alerts |
| 43426 | GEICO | Roadside assistance requests and insurance alerts and 2FA |
| 53849 | Bank of America | Fraud alerts and Zelle notifications and 2FA SafePass codes |
| 86434 | Q2 Text Banking Alerts (shared by multiple banks and credit unions) | Banking 2FA and secure access codes and account alert notifications |
| 56085 | Experian | 2FA/OTP and credit monitoring security alerts |
| 23837 | Afterpay | Verification codes, account notifications, and two-factor authentication |
| 47173 | Halsted Financial Services | Debt collection notifications |
| 72166 | JPMorgan Chase | Fraud alerts and account security notifications |
| 99354 | Progressive Insurance | App download links and Accident Response alerts |
| 29946 | U.S. Bank | 2FA verification codes and account alerts |
| 868722 | USAA (MY-USAA) | Fraud alerts and security codes and account notifications |
| 242733 | JPMorgan Chase | 2FA and Extra Security at Sign-In codes and fraud alerts |
| 36397 | SecureNow Banking Alerts (shared by multiple banks and credit unions) | Banking 2FA and one-time passcodes for online banking login |
| 767666 | Fiserv / Zelle (used by HSBC and other bank partners) | Zelle enrollment verification and fraud alerts and transaction notifications |
| 22622 | Netspend / PayPal Prepaid | Account balance and deposit alerts (Anytime Alerts) |
Tech & security verification
These codes are used almost exclusively for two-factor authentication (2FA) and one-time passwords (OTPs).
| Short code | Company | Primary use |
| 22395 | Twilio / Authy / Shop Pay / Mailchimp | 2FA verification (shared code) |
| 65821 | Okta | Identity verification / 2FA codes |
| 87892 | Microsoft | Verification codes |
| 69525 | Microsoft | MFA/2FA verification codes and account security alerts |
| 47458 | Yahoo / AOL | Account verification and 2FA codes |
| 22000 | 2FA verification codes and RCS Chat feature activation | |
| 25623 | ADP | Payroll/HR 2FA and workforce management notifications |
| 78008 | Login.gov (U.S. federal government) | 2FA/OTP for accessing US government websites |
| 7727 | All major carriers (SPAM reporting) | Forward spam texts here to report them |
| 88811 | Intuit (TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint) | Two-factor authentication (2FA), security alerts, and account verification |
| 26096 | Microsoft | MFA/2FA verification codes and account security alerts |
| 51789 | Microsoft | MFA/2FA verification codes and account security alerts |
| 50204 | WordPress.com (Automattic) | Blog comment notifications and account security alerts |
Retail & e-commerce
Retailers use short codes for promotional offers, flash sale alerts, order confirmations, shipping updates, and loyalty program messages.
| Short code | Company | Primary use |
| 61746 | Walmart | Order shipping notifications and delivery updates |
| 25392 | Amazon | Security 2FA and login alerts and OTP verification |
| 36682 | Fashion Nova | SMS marketing and promotional alerts |
| 64078 | O’Reilly Auto Parts (O’Rewards) | Loyalty program marketing alerts |
| 31524 | Pizza Hut | Deals & promotions |
| 34648 | Harbor Freight Tools | Promotional SMS marketing and coupons |
| 262966 | Amazon | Shipment tracking updates and OTP delivery verification |
| 53747 | Home Depot | SMS marketing (also heavily spoofed by scammers) |
| 22369 | Academy Sports + Outdoors | SMS marketing and promotional offers |
| 53744 | Kroger Co. (Kroger Clicklist) | Grocery order updates and pickup/delivery notifications |
| 88607 | Domino’s Pizza | Order tracking and SMS ordering and delivery updates |
| 95730 | Cost Plus World Market | SMS marketing and promotional alerts |
| 26435 | Victoria’s Secret | SMS marketing campaigns (vanity code spells ANGEL) |
| 56457 | Kohl’s | SMS marketing and promotional coupons |
Delivery & transportation
Delivery and ride-hailing services use short codes for real-time tracking updates, driver notifications, delivery confirmations, and ETA alerts.
| Short code | Company | Primary use |
| 26266 | United Airlines | Flight status alerts and check-in reminders |
| 46339 | FedEx | Package shipment tracking notifications (also heavily spoofed by scammers) |
| 28777 | USPS (spells 2USPS) | Package tracking updates and delivery notifications |
| 41063 | Uber | Account verification, ride updates, and 2FA |
| 84285 | U-Haul | Automated SMS alerts and moving reservation updates |
| 47268 | OnStar | Vehicle diagnostics and EV charging alerts and proactive alerts |
Social media & entertainment
Platforms use short codes for account verification, login codes, security alerts, and notification digests of things like friend requests and new messages.
| Short code | Company | Primary use |
| 32665 | Meta / Facebook (FBOOK) | 2FA verification codes and password resets and account notifications |
| 44398 | Hinge | SMS login verification / 2FA |
| 39041 | Meta (Facebook / Instagram) | 2FA verification codes and password reset codes |
| 776836 | eBay | 2FA verification codes and account security OTPs |
| 32099 | Meta / Facebook (Instagram) | 2FA verification codes and password resets |
| 30368 | Tinder | SMS login verification / 2FA |
| 83992 | NoWait (restaurant waitlist app) | Restaurant queue management and table-ready notifications |
| 29694 | Evite | Digital event invitations and RSVP updates via SMS |
Healthcare, crisis, & nonprofit
These organizations use short codes for appointment reminders, prescription notifications, emergency alerts, and donation campaign messages.
| Short code | Company / org | Primary use |
| 898287 | CVS Pharmacy (TXT-CVS) | Prescription alerts and refill reminders |
| 66458 | ParentSquare | School notifications and emergency alerts for parents/guardians |
| 85166 | Walmart Pharmacy | Prescription notifications and Rx pickup alerts |
| 91994 | Press Ganey | Patient satisfaction surveys and hospital follow-up communications |
| 21525 | Walgreens | Pharmacy Rx alerts and refill reminders |
| 64556 | DrFirst RxInform | Prescription fulfillment notifications from healthcare providers |
| 36794 | ParentSquare | School emergency alerts and parent/guardian notifications |
| 53079 | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VEText) | Appointment reminders, prescription tracking, and VA health alerts |
| 89885 | Vagaro | Appointment reminders and booking notifications for salons/spas/gyms |
| 56181 | Walgreens | Pharmacy alerts, identity verification, and marketing messages |
Wireless carrier
Carriers use short codes to send account and billing notifications, data usage warnings, plan upgrade offers, and service outage alerts.
| Short code | Carrier | Primary use |
| 2300 | T-Mobile | MMS routing and message blocking error notifications |
| 7726 | Industry-wide carrier spam reporting (CTIA) | Forward spam texts to report them to your wireless provider |
| 49674 | Spectrum (Charter Communications) | Service alerts, account notifications, and two-factor authentication |
| 6245 | Carrier gateway (Verizon / T-Mobile) | Email-to-SMS gateway (spells MAIL on keypad) |
| 266278 | Xfinity / Comcast (COMCAST4U) | Account management, service alerts, and appointment reminders |
| 1511 | T-Mobile | Account notifications and system alerts |
| 87598 | Spectrum (Charter Communications) | Service alerts, appointment reminders, and account notifications. |
How to identify an unknown short code
Got a text from a number you don’t recognize? Here’s how to figure out who sent it.
Option 1: Text “HELP” to the short code
Under CTIA guidelines, every short code program is required to respond with the company name, a description of the service, and opt-out instructions. This is the fastest way to find out who’s behind a code.
Step 2: Google the number
A simple search like “22395 short code” will usually turn up community forums, lookup directories, or articles explaining who owns it.
Pro tip: Every short code in the US is required to support two keywords—HELP (returns company info) and STOP (unsubscribes you). If a code doesn’t respond to either, that’s a red flag. Report it to your carrier and the CTIA.
Are short codes safe? How to spot scam texts
For the most part—yes.
Legitimate short codes go through a rigorous vetting process. Carriers and the CTIA review the company, its website, terms of service, privacy policy, and opt-in mechanisms before a code goes live. That process takes 8–12 weeks.
But scammers can still slip through the cracks. They sometimes spoof short codes or use social engineering tactics to trick people.
Here’s what to watch out for:
- Urgency tactics. Messages like “your account will be locked!” are a classic red flag.
- Suspicious links. If a text asks you to click a link you don’t recognize, don’t.
- Requests for passwords or PINs. No legitimate service will ever ask you to share a verification code with a caller.
- Wrong number format. Banks always text from consistent short codes. If Chase contacts you, it’ll come from 24273 or 28107—not a random 10-digit number.
Why you might get texts from a code you didn’t sign up for:
- A company you do business with enrolled your number (check the fine print of things you’ve signed up for).
- Your phone number was previously owned by someone who subscribed.
- A data broker sold your number to a marketing list.
- It could be spam or a scam—report it to 7726 (SPAM) and your carrier.
Short codes around the world: US vs Canada vs UK
Short codes are country-specific, which means a code that works for Amazon in the US (262966) won’t reach you if you’re in the UK or Canada.
If you travel abroad, you typically won’t receive short code messages from services back home.
In the US, short codes are 5–6 digits long, whereas in Canada, codes can be 4–6 digits and are managed through a separate registry, so the same company might text you from a completely different number than the one you’re used to.
In the UK, short codes are 5–6 digits, and certain number ranges are reserved for specific purposes—codes starting with 70 are used by charities and 72 by lotteries, which can help you quickly identify who’s texting you.
There isn’t a global network of shortcodes. Instead, each country has its own system, with its own numbers and regulations. the number on your phone.
FAQ
What are short codes for texting?
Short codes are 5- or 6-digit phone numbers used by businesses and organizations to send and receive text messages at high volume. They’re used for marketing campaigns, two-factor authentication, emergency alerts, and customer notifications.
How do I find out who owns a short code?
Text HELP to the code (they’re required to respond with company info) or Google the number.
Why am I getting texts from a short code I didn’t sign up for?
A few possible reasons: a company you do business with enrolled your number, your number was previously owned by a subscriber, a data broker shared your info, or it could be spam. Text STOP to unsubscribe or report it to 7726.
Are short codes safe?
Legitimate short codes go through a rigorous carrier approval process and are generally trustworthy. But scammers can spoof numbers. Never click links or share passwords from unsolicited texts. When in doubt, text HELP first.
What is the difference between a short code and a long code (10DLC)?
Short codes are 5–6 digits with high throughput (500+ msgs/sec) and higher cost. 10DLC numbers are standard 10-digit phone numbers registered for business texting, with lower throughput but much lower cost. Short codes are best for large-scale national campaigns; 10DLC are better for local or regional businesses.
Can I block short codes on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, open the message, tap the number, and select Block this Caller. On Android, open the message, tap the three dots, and select Block. You can also text STOP to the code to unsubscribe from that specific program.
Major US carriers phased out shared short codes between 2020 and 2022. Shared codes allowed multiple brands to use one number with different keywords, but this led to spam abuse and security issues. Now all US short codes must be dedicated to a single brand.
