What are the Google Voice texting limits?

If you’ve been thinking about getting a Google Voice account to manage your texts, we’ve got some bad news. There’s a Google Voice texting limit that applies to both volume and group chats — and it’s probably not what you’re looking for long-term. Although Google Voice users love using this VoIP phone system without outright buying a secondary number (did we mention Google Voice telephone numbers are free for personal users?), they really don’t like the texting limits that much.

But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s take a closer look at the Google Voice texting limit for groups and character count, as well as a couple of ways to encourage a higher limit. And if you’re sick and tired of sifting through tons of material about how to make Google Voice work, we’ll provide a secondary way to send SMS messages totally hassle-free.

What is Google Voice’s sending limit per text message?

You can send messages up to 160 characters to any non-Google voice number. Anything above that limit will instead go out as multiple messages. Texts sent to another Google Voice number won’t have a text cap.

For context, 160 characters is just a pinch longer than the length of an original Tweet.

There are a few other considerations to keep in mind about Google Voice texting limits. You can send as many messages as you want from your Google Voice account but prepare to (potentially) get blocked.

Any messages that look the same, regardless of content, are going to get flagged by spam prevention bots. Getting reported as spam by other users doesn’t help much, either. 

If you go over the texting limit with your account, you’ll be temporarily blocked from texting or calling for 24 hours. Multiple infractions will result in suspension, which basically prevents you from accessing your account forever. You can take things up with the folks behind the suspension notice, but there’s no guarantee you can get your account back.

What are the group texting limits with Google Voice? 

Short answer? It depends. Longer answer? Up to 8 people (including yourself). Maybe.

According to support.google.com, Google Voice was never meant for anything bigger than one-on-one convos. Although the platform does support group messages, the limit is capped out at 8 users — including the original sender. Confusing, we know.

But the limits don’t just stop here. Any messages you duplicate and send to a list of other people can get your account suspended.  If you ever need to send a text to more than 7 people at a time, just make a phone call instead — or better yet — switch to a Google Voice alternative. It’s not worth the headache. 

As you might imagine, the Google Voice group text limit can be a little restrictive – especially for growing businesses that rely solely on the Google Voice app. And if you need to text lots of people at once, you might want a different solution.

What can cause your Google Voice account to have a lower sending limit? 

So let’s clear the air. First: there’s no preset limit to the number of texts you can send. It might be 40, or 40,000. But there’s no way to know what the limit is on individual accounts.

According to the voice.google.com forums (and other support documents), Google Voice users might have a lower sending limit because of:

• Rapid fire messages (every 1.5 seconds-ish)
• Including links to URLs
• Not getting frequent replies
• Having a newer account

Some Google Voice users never have a problem with their accounts getting locked, while others have been suspended after the first few instances. In either case, it pays to be cautious about what and when you send your text messages.

How to encourage a higher sending limit

If you’d like to get a higher sending limit on Google Voice and not experience issues where Google Voice isn’t working for you, your best bet is time. The older your account is, the more texts you’ll be able to send. But if you’re pressed for time, or if you need a few other solutions, there are a couple of tactics you can try to get a higher limit.

• Stop putting links in your messages
• Ask questions to the ends of your messages to encourage replies
• Wait longer between text messages to look less like spam
• Try texting recipients in smaller groups, or calling rather than texting (but avoid spam calling also) 

Note that any of these tips are likely to change in the future, especially as the Google Voice platform continues to get updates (and as legacy accounts go the way of the dinosaur).

Can you send videos on Google Voice?

Google Voice doesn’t support sending MMS messages directly that contain attached files such as documents and videos. If you want to attach and send videos, you’ll need to use an alternative to Google Voice.

What other Google Voice text limits are there?

First and foremost, Google Voice lets you upload photos and GIFs into Google Photos so you can send them. You won’t be able to copy and send which is possible on other platforms.

Additionally, Google Voice doesn’t support auto-replies if you’re looking to set expectations automatically when your team is unavailable.

Keep in mind also Google Voice was not built for international messaging. According to official support documents, free SMS texting to US and Canada is only available to US customers with Google Voice for Google Workspace.

Texting to non-US and Canadian numbers also isn’t possible. In other words, Google Voice currently doesn’t support international SMS. Sorry, folks.

Is it possible to mass text with Google Voice?

The Google Voice group text limit makes it just about impossible to mass text in any capacity. Not only are you limited in character count and group chat capabilities, but you run a high risk of getting reported as spam. If your account goes over its limit multiple times, you might be suspended for good — unless you want to take it up with the account monitors, of course.

Google Voice might be one of the most popular VoIPs out there, but when compared to the texting functionality of a standard cell phone plan, it really struggles to measure up. And if you need to send automated text messages with Google Voice, you’re better off sending voice calls from your existing phone number. 📞 

At this point, you’re probably feeling a little frustrated. If it helps, so are we. That’s why we created a text messaging alternative that lets you send SMS messages a lot more efficiently — and without worrying about suspensions. 

Why OpenPhone is the best texting alternative to Google Voice

At OpenPhone, we’re all about functionality. While we totally get that spam is a thing, we also know that users need to reach their friends, clients, and customers in a way that makes sense. That’s why we designed a system that makes texting easier and more convenient than ever. 

Here’s how SMS messaging works with OpenPhone:

• Unlike Google Voice, our platform lets you text for free to any US or Canadian number (no matter where you are). We also offer international texting and toll-free North American numbers. All you need is WiFi to text from your computer or mobile phone (support iOS and Android devices).
• We provide plenty of support for the things you need, from MMS and number porting (or pick a new number based on any US or Canada area code) to shared inbox management.
• OpenPhone offers multiple ways to send group text messages at a glance, including desktop and mobile apps along with Chrome and other web browsers.
• Connect your business phone to the other tools you use. With Zapier on your size, use more than 3,000+ tools to send texts based on specific touchpoints.
• Use a variety of built-in features to help you save time texting including snippets, scheduled messages, auto-replies, and yes, group texting capabilities.

If you’re looking for a platform that supports text messaging in all the right ways, OpenPhone is here to help. Try us free for a week to test out texting through OpenPhone. After a test run, you can port your existing number from Google Voice (or any other service).

Meagan Shelley

Meagan is a professional writer in VA that has covered business phone communication since 2021. If she’s not helping companies navigate VoIP technology, she’s helping companies craft their own stories.