# Broadcast Limits

> Every limit on broadcasts in one place: how many you can send each month and what counts (a broadcast counts once it starts sending), up to 10 drafts, list size, scheduling window, pace and your number's daily messaging limit.

Source: https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts/limits

[Broadcasts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts) reach many people at once, so a few limits keep them safe for your WhatsApp
number and fair across plans. This page lists them all.

| Limit | How much | Set by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Broadcasts each month](#broadcasts-each-month) | Your plan's number, or unlimited. See [Plans](https://docs.theavoxai.com/plans) | Your plan |
| [Drafts](#drafts) | Up to 10 at a time | Avox |
| [Contacts in one broadcast](#contacts-in-one-broadcast) | Up to 100,000 | Avox |
| [Scheduling](#scheduling) | At least 5 minutes ahead, up to 60 days ahead | Avox |
| [Pace](#pace-and-your-numbers-daily-limit) | 1 to 1,000 messages a minute | You, or Avox from your number's limit |
| [People a day](#pace-and-your-numbers-daily-limit) | Your number's messaging limit | WhatsApp |

## Broadcasts each month

Your plan sets how many broadcasts each Switchboard can send each calendar month, and a plan can allow
unlimited broadcasts.

### What counts

A broadcast counts once it **starts sending**, in the calendar month (UTC) it starts. From then on it
keeps counting for that month, whatever happens next. Broadcasts you've already sent or scheduled for
this month that haven't started yet are held for it, so **Send now** and **Schedule** can't go past the
limit.

| Broadcast | Counts this month? |
| --- | --- |
| **Sent**, or **Sending**, started this month | Yes |
| **Paused** or **Stopped** after it started this month | Yes |
| **Scheduled** for this month, not started yet | Held for it, so Send can't go past the limit. It counts once it starts. |
| **Scheduled** for next month | No. It counts in the month it starts. |
| Waiting because the **Switchboard is paused** | No, not until it starts after the Switchboard is resumed. |
| **Stopped** before it started | No, never. |
| **Draft** | No |

Stopping or pausing a broadcast after it started doesn't give it back. **Duplicate** makes a new draft,
which counts only once it starts sending.

### When a broadcast is due but the month is full

Right before a broadcast starts, Avox checks the month again. If this month's broadcasts are already
used up (for example, several were waiting while your Switchboard was paused), it doesn't start: it
shows **Paused by Avox** with "Your plan's broadcasts for this month are used up"
([AVX-3868](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3868)), and your team is told in the bell and by email. Nothing is counted.
**Resume** it from the 1st of next month, or straight away after you
[change your plan](https://docs.theavoxai.com/billing/change-plan) to one with more broadcasts. With no active plan it pauses the
same way ([AVX-3869](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3869)).

The limit counts broadcasts, not messages: a broadcast to 50 people and one to 5,000 people count the
same. What Meta charges for the messages is separate and billed to your own Meta account: see the
[cost estimate](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts/before-you-send#estimated-cost).

### Where to see it

- The **Broadcasts** page: **Broadcasts this month**, with "A broadcast counts once it starts sending, in
  the month it starts; ones scheduled for this month are held for it. Drafts don't count. The count
  starts again on the 1st of each month (UTC)."
- **Settings > Usage**.
- The [check before sending](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts/before-you-send).

### When the month is used up

The count starts again on the 1st of each month (UTC). Until then, new broadcasts can't be sent or
scheduled ([AVX-3868](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3868)). You can still make and save drafts (up to 10), ready
for the 1st. To send more now, move to a plan with more broadcasts: see
[Change plan](https://docs.theavoxai.com/billing/change-plan). There are no extra broadcasts to buy.

Broadcasts need an active plan. With no plan, or a paused one, none can be sent or scheduled
([AVX-3869](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3869)).

## Drafts

Each Switchboard keeps up to 10 broadcast drafts at a time ([AVX-3894](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3894)), so
unfinished ones don't pile up. The **Broadcasts** page shows "Drafts 4 of 10" next to the monthly count.

- At 10, a new broadcast can't be saved, and **Use this** on a ready-made broadcast is greyed out. Send a
  draft you're happy with, or delete one (**Delete draft** on its page).
- Drafts never count towards the monthly limit.

See [Drafts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts#drafts).

## Contacts in one broadcast

One broadcast can go to up to 100,000 contacts ([AVX-3863](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3863)). For a bigger list,
narrow it down on the **Audience** step, or split it into more than one broadcast (for example by
country or tag). Contacts who are [skipped](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts#who-is-skipped), like anyone with the
**Unsubscribed** tag, are never sent anything.

## Scheduling

**Schedule for later** takes a date and time in your own time zone, at least 5 minutes from now and up
to 60 days ahead ([AVX-3867](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3867)). For anything sooner, use **Send now**.

## Pace and your number's daily limit

- **Pace**: a broadcast goes out at a steady number of messages a minute. **Pace it for me** picks one
  from your number's messaging limit; switch it off to set **Messages a minute** yourself, from 1 to
  1,000 ([AVX-3892](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3892)). See [Pace](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts#pace).
- **People a day**: WhatsApp limits how many different people each number can start chats with in 24
  hours. Avox never sends more broadcast messages from a number in 24 hours than that limit allows; a
  bigger list waits and carries on by itself, usually the next day
  ([AVX-3885](https://docs.theavoxai.com/error-codes/avx-3885)). The check says how many days it will take. See
  [Quality and limits](https://docs.theavoxai.com/whatsapp/quality-and-limits#messaging-limits-and-tiers).

## Related

- [Broadcasts](https://docs.theavoxai.com/broadcasts): Send one Marketing template to many contacts