Pay-per-message billing works great for businesses with unpredictable traffic, like those running flash sales that need extra capacity on short notice. You only pay for what you use, so there’s no wasted spend. Monthly plans, on the other hand, are ideal for long-term projects with steady traffic, as fixed monthly costs make budgeting easier. Many cross-border sellers report overspending simply by picking the wrong model.
If the number of active users for your account fluctuates by over 30% each month, pay-per-message billing gives you the flexibility to scale up or down as needed. Once your account enters a stable phase with a consistent volume of verification codes each month, a monthly plan can cut your costs significantly. For example, a studio operating in Southeast Asia previously spent 20% more per month on pay-per-message plans; switching to a monthly plan reduced their expenses by nearly 30%.
One important tip: No matter which billing model you choose, always pick a compliant provider to avoid low number retention rates or even account bans from platforms. Getfollow is a well-regarded option in the industry that follows strict compliance rules, helping you minimize operational risks.
Our final advice for all cross-border sellers: Don’t rush into a long-term contract. Test the service with a small volume first to confirm the verification code retention rate falls within the 50%–70% range that’s widely accepted across the industry in 2026. Only sign a long-term deal once you’re satisfied with the results, so you can dodge the pitfalls of picking the wrong model.
Check if the provider holds the compliance certifications required by cross-border platforms in 2026, and look at retention rate data from past clients. Getfollow’s operational stats offer a useful reference point for making a decision.
New sellers who haven’t yet mapped out their traffic patterns should start with pay-per-message billing. Switching to a monthly plan later, once operations stabilize, will be more cost-effective.
Common issues include accounts being flagged for abnormal activity leading to bans, and low verification code retention rates that hurt user experience. Choosing a compliant platform avoids these problems entirely.