Free SMS compliance tool
Free SMS Compliance Checker for South Africa
Check your marketing SMS against the WASPA Code of Conduct and POPIA in seconds — opt-out keyword, sender identification, segment count, and GSM-7 deliverability. No sign-up needed to run the checks below.
Type or paste your SMS above to see live WASPA checks, the segment count, and GSM-7 deliverability flags.
WASPA sending hours (§16.8): Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00, Sat 09:00–13:00. No Sundays or public holidays.
Get the full AI verdict
The checks above catch the mechanical issues. The AI compliance checker reads your message in full — consent, tone, and clause-by-clause WASPA + POPIA flags — and tells you exactly how to fix it. It’s free.
Why sign in for the full check?
The free checker catches the mechanical issues. Signing in unlocks the AI compliance verdict on your specific message — the part that actually tells you whether you’ll pass.
A real pass / warning / fail verdict
Not just keyword matching — the AI reads your whole message and judges it against the WASPA Code and POPIA.
Clause-mapped flags
Every issue is tied to the specific WASPA clause or POPIA section it touches, so you know exactly which rule applies.
Concrete remediation
It doesn’t just name the problem — it suggests a specific fix you can paste straight back into your campaign.
What the rules actually say
The essentials for marketing SMS in South Africa. This is reference material, not legal advice.
Get consent first
POPIA Section 69You need opt-in consent before sending marketing SMS, with a narrow exception for existing customers you’re marketing similar goods or services to. Keep proof of how and when each recipient consented.
Identify yourself
WASPA §16.12Every marketing message must identify who sent it and give contact details for opt-out requests. The simplest way is to lead with your brand name in the message.
Offer a free opt-out
WASPA §16.15–16.16Recipients must be able to reply STOP — or END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT — to stop further messages. Honour every opt-out immediately.
Send within permitted hours
WASPA §16.8Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 and Sat 09:00–13:00. No marketing on Sundays or public holidays.
Mind the character set
GSM-7WinSMS sends GSM-7 only — there’s no Unicode path. Smart quotes, dashes, accents and emoji are substituted before sending and can garble. (Some other providers escalate to UCS-2 at 70 characters per part and charge more; WinSMS never does.)
Want the full picture? Read the WASPA & POPIA SMS compliance guide or price your campaign with the free SMS cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMS marketing legal in South Africa?
Yes — with consent. POPIA Section 69 requires opt-in consent (with a narrow existing-customer exception) before you send marketing SMS, and every message must identify the sender and offer a free opt-out. The free checker above catches the mechanical issues instantly; sign in free for the full AI verdict on your exact message.
Do I need consent to send a marketing SMS?
Yes. POPIA Section 69 requires prior, specific, voluntary opt-in consent for direct marketing, with a limited existing-customer exception — and you must be able to show how and when each recipient consented. Sign in free to check your message against POPIA and the WASPA Code with an AI verdict and fix-it guidance.
What must a compliant marketing SMS include?
Your brand or business name in the message body (South Africa has no sender IDs, so identification goes in the copy — WASPA §16.12) and a clear, free opt-out instruction such as "Reply STOP" (WASPA §16.15). The free checker above confirms both; sign in free for the full AI verdict on consent, tone and the edge cases a keyword check can't see.
How do I let people opt out?
Include a free opt-out in every message — usually "Reply STOP" — and honour it immediately. WASPA §16.15–16.16 require STOP and its equivalents (END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT) to work, and POPIA Section 69 backs the right to object. Paste your message above to check the keyword, then sign in free for the full compliance verdict.
How many characters is one SMS?
One SMS is 160 characters using the standard GSM-7 set. Longer messages split into 153-character segments, each billed separately, up to six parts (918 characters). Smart quotes, dashes, accents and emoji can garble or be substituted before sending. The counter above shows your exact segment count live; sign in free for the full compliance check and cost.