HubSpot SMS in Canada: What Works for Canadian Businesses

Canadian teams checking out HubSpot SMS have two questions in one. Does HubSpot even text Canadian phone numbers? What does Canada’s anti-spam law require for every message you send?

HubSpot SMS in Canada means you can send and receive text messages to and from your Canadian contacts inside your HubSpot account either using HubSpot’s own Marketing SMS Add-On or an SMS app from the HubSpot App Marketplace. Any commercial message sent to a Canadian number is subject to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and must meet the rules on consent, sender identification, and opt-outs. Canadian carrier guidelines add additional requirements like French opt-out keywords.

Here’s a look at what HubSpot’s own SMS offers Canadian businesses, what CASL requires for a text, how carrier rules differ from the U.S., and how to set up HubSpot so your records can prove consent.

Can you send SMS from HubSpot in Canada? The short answer

Yes I am. HubSpot’s own SMS can reach Canadian numbers, but it sends from a US number and only on Marketing Hub Professional or Enterprise. SMS apps from the HubSpot App Marketplace can also text Canadian contacts and some apps work on any HubSpot plan.

	HubSpot Marketing SMS Add-On	SMS app from the HubSpot Marketplace
HubSpot plan needed	Marketing Hub Professional or Enterprise	Depends on the app; some work on every plan
Sending number	US-based numbers only	Depends on the app
Reaches Canadian contacts	Yes, on the long code (10DLC) add-on	Yes, if the app supports Canada
Numbers per account	One marketing number	Depends on the app
Who you can text	Opted-in marketing contacts	Any contact with valid consent

How HubSpot’s own SMS handles Canada

HubSpot’s add-on serves Canadian contacts with some limits. HubSpot’s SMS setup guide lists these:

• You can send only from US-based numbers, so Canadian contacts see a US area code.
• The long code (10DLC) add-on can contact the US and Canada. The short code add-on reaches the US only.
• Canadian businesses can register. The form asks for your legal business name and your Business Number (BN) as they appear on your official registration record.
• Each account gets one number for marketing SMS.
• You need Marketing Hub Professional or Enterprise to buy the add-on.
• Sole proprietors can’t use HubSpot SMS.

A US area code also looks out of place on a Canadian brand’s texts. HubSpot also built the add-on for marketing, so to get automated texts, contacts must be opted in and set as marketing contacts. Our guide to HubSpot SMS marketing covers the rest of the add-on’s limits.

CASL rules for text messages

CASL applies to commercial texts. The CRTC’s CASL guidance confirms that commercial messages sent through a text messaging service fall under the law. Each commercial text needs three things: consent, sender identification, and a way to unsubscribe.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Talk to Canadian counsel about your specific program.

Consent: express or implied

CASL recognizes two kinds of consent.

• Express consent is a clear opt-in, written or oral. It doesn’t expire, though the contact can withdraw it at any time.
• Implied consent is based on an established relationship and has a time limit. The CRTC says it is good for two years after a purchase or six months after an inquiry or application. An abandoned cart does not equal a purchase.

Pre-checked boxes don’t count as consent, the CRTC says. The contact has to do the action like ticking an empty box. The burden is on you to prove it, so you need documentation of when and how each contact agreed.

Sender identification

Each commercial text must indicate the sender and the recipient. And you’re also required to provide contact details, including a mailing address that’s valid for at least 60 days after you send. Because texts don’t have much room, the CRTC lets you include a link to a web page that has those details, so long as the link is clear and easy to open.

Unsubscribe

All commercial texts must provide an easy way to opt out. For SMS, the CRTC accepts a response like STOP or Unsubscribe. You have 10 business days to process an opt-out under CASL. Consider that the legal limit. Your SMS tool must stop sending to a contact immediately when they reply STOP.

Penalties

Penalties for CASL violations can be as high as $1 million for an individual and $10 million for a business. Directors and officers may be personally liable if they directed or authorized the violation.

Carrier rules and number types in Canada

Canadian carriers set their own expectations on top of CASL. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) acts as the governing body for text messaging programs in Canada.

French keywords

The Canadian guidelines have five mandatory keywords: STOP, HELP, ARRET, AIDE and INFO. ARRET and AIDE are the French versions of STOP and HELP and INFO should reply in both languages. Also, please make sure that your SMS tool treats ARRET as an opt-out, just like it does STOP.

Number types

Canada uses the same three number types as the US:

• Long codes (10-digit numbers) suit conversations and smaller sends.
• Toll-free numbers need their own verification.
• Short codes (5 or 6 digits) handle high volume but need CWTA approval, which takes several weeks.

Canada doesn’t allow alphanumeric sender IDs, so every text comes from a phone number.

Registration

Canada doesn’t run a separate 10DLC registry like the US. Cross-border traffic changes that. Providers such as HighLevel report that Canadian numbers texting US recipients need A2P brand and campaign registration, and that some newer Canadian numbers need verification even for Canada-only traffic. Rules vary by provider, so ask yours what applies to your numbers. Our A2P 10DLC registration guide covers the US side.

French-language texts for Quebec contacts

Quebec’s Charter of the French language requires French in commercial and promotional material. Under the Bill 96 amendments, French must appear at least as prominently as any other language, and businesses must serve customers in French. The law doesn’t name text messages specifically, so confirm with counsel how it applies to your marketing texts.

HubSpot makes managing French texts easy. Store each contact’s language in a property (e.g., HubSpot’s Preferred language property) and create separate lists for English and French contacts. Write each text in both languages from the start, and keep the French version as complete as the English one.

Texting US and Canadian contacts from one HubSpot account

Many Canadian businesses text customers on both sides of the border. The rules of each country follow the number of the recipient. Messages to Canadian numbers are CASL compliant. Texts to US numbers are subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and US carrier registration rules.

The simplest approach is to meet the stricter rule in each area:

• Collect express consent everywhere, since CASL’s implied consent windows don’t help with US contacts.
• Include your business name and a STOP option in every text.
• Support STOP and ARRET on every number.
• Register your brand and campaign for US traffic before you text US numbers.

Add a country property to your HubSpot contacts and filter your lists on it. That way, a promotion meant for Ontario customers doesn’t reach a list of US prospects by mistake. Our guide to TCPA consent language for SMS covers the US consent wording.

How to set up HubSpot for CASL-compliant texting

CASL puts the burden of proof on you, so your HubSpot records should hold the evidence. Create these contact properties before your first send:

Property	Type	What it records
SMS consent type	Dropdown (express, implied)	Which kind of consent you rely on
SMS consent date	Date	When the contact opted in, purchased, or inquired
SMS consent source	Dropdown	The form, keyword, or checkout box that captured consent
Implied consent expiry	Date	Two years after a purchase or six months after an inquiry
Preferred language	Dropdown	English or French for message versions

Use the expiry date as a list filter so contacts drop out of sends when implied consent runs out. On a Professional-tier hub, a HubSpot workflow can calculate the expiry date and ask for express consent before it lapses. For more on list building, see our guide to building SMS segments in HubSpot.

For Canadian teams, Message IQ supports this setup. It sends and receives texts in the US and Canada, works on any HubSpot plan for one-to-one texts and list sends, and adds a native SMS action to workflows on Professional-tier hubs. You do not need Marketing Hub Professional or an add-on from HubSpot. Opt-out keywords modify an opt-out property for a Message IQ contact and can serve as suppression criteria in any workflow. See how the Message IQ HubSpot SMS integration works.

What to look for in an SMS app for Canadian HubSpot users

Run each app you consider through these checks:

• Canadian coverage. The app sends to and receives from Canadian numbers.
• Number options. Ask whether you can get a number with a Canadian area code.
• French keywords. ARRET works as an opt-out, and AIDE returns help text in French.
• Opt-out sync. STOP and ARRET replies update a HubSpot property you can filter on.
• Plan fit. The app works on your current HubSpot plan, not only on Professional.
• Registration help. The vendor guides you through registration for US traffic and any Canadian verification.
• Reply logging. Every reply writes to the HubSpot contact timeline.
• Pricing model. You know whether you pay per user, per message, or per segment, and whether Canadian messages cost more.

FAQ

Does HubSpot SMS work in Canada?

Yes, with some limitations. HubSpot’s Marketing SMS Add-On can message Canadian numbers using its long code option, but only sends messages from numbers based in the US. It also requires Marketing Hub Professional or Enterprise. SMS apps in the HubSpot Marketplace can also text contacts in Canada.

Does CASL apply to text messages?

Sure. CRTC confirms that commercial messages sent by text are covered by CASL. Every commercial message must be authorized, identify its sender, and include an easy way to opt out.

How long does implied consent last under CASL?

Implied consent is valid for two years from the date of purchase or six months after an inquiry or application. An express consent never expires but the contact can withdraw it at any time.

Do I need to support French opt-out keywords in Canada?

Yes. Carrier guidelines for Canada require the use of ARRET and AIDE, as well as STOP and HELP. Your SMS tool should treat ARRET as an opt-out on all numbers.

Can I text US and Canadian contacts from the same HubSpot account?

Yes, I am. Texts to Canadian numbers are compliant with CASL and texts to US numbers are compliant with TCPA and US carrier registration rules. Save each contact’s country in HubSpot and filter your lists by it.

How much does it cost to text Canadian contacts from HubSpot?

For the native HubSpot route, you’ll need Marketing Hub Professional and the SMS add-on, which costs around $75 a month for 1,000 message segments. Message IQ starts at $49/month for 1,000 messages, unlimited users, works on any HubSpot plan and is month-to-month so you can cancel anytime.

Text Canadian contacts from the HubSpot account you already have

You don’t need to upgrade Marketing Hub to text customers in Canada. Pick an app that covers Canada, set up consent properties in HubSpot, and support French keywords from day one. Message IQ starts at $49 a month, works on every HubSpot plan, and covers the US and Canada. Compare plans by message volume on our pricing page