Vodafone charges 70p per picture message (MMS, up to 300KB) in the UK as of 2026, according to Vodafone's charge-checker page. That rate came in on 8 April 2025, up from the previous 66p. If you're on a standard pay monthly plan with MMS included in your bundle, you won't see this charge at all - it applies only when you send outside your allowance, or if you're on pay-as-you-go.
The current out-of-bundle rate is 70p per MMS, for files up to 300KB. Vodafone raised this from 66p on 8 April 2025. Video messages sent via MMS cost the same: 70p each. A standard text message (up to 160 characters) rose to 45p on that same date, then increased again to 48p from 14 April 2026.
Put simply, sending a picture message costs you 22p more than a standard text at current 2026 rates.
Yes, twice in fairly quick succession. Before April 2025, picture messages cost 66p and standard texts cost 43p. The April 2025 update pushed MMS to 70p and texts to 45p. Then in April 2026, texts went up again to 48p. The picture message rate of 70p has not been publicly updated beyond that as of May 2026, though Vodafone's out-of-bundle price changes page is the place to check if you want the latest figure.
On the vast majority of current Vodafone pay monthly plans, MMS is included at no extra cost. According to connection-technologies.co.uk, this is broadly true across UK mobile networks in 2026 - bundled MMS is now standard rather than a premium add-on. The 70p charge mainly catches people on older pay-as-you-go tariffs, Vodafone Basics plans, or anyone who has exhausted a limited message allowance.
If you're unsure whether your plan includes MMS, the quickest check is the My Vodafone app or a call to 191, which is free from a Vodafone mobile.
Sending a picture message to an overseas number costs 66p per message, according to Vodafone's charge-checker page. That's slightly less than the current UK out-of-bundle rate of 70p, which may seem counterintuitive, but it reflects how Vodafone structures its international messaging tariffs. Standard roaming rules and your specific plan details can also affect what you pay when abroad, so confirm the position before you travel.
Shortcode texts - the kind you send to five or six-digit numbers for competitions, charity donations or service opt-ins - cost 17p per message on Vodafone's standard network rate. This charge was not changed in the April 2025 price update and remains 17p as of May 2026. Bear in mind that shortcode services often carry their own premium charges on top, set by the service provider rather than Vodafone.
A few practical options:
For most people in 2026, MMS as a paid service is largely a legacy concern. The 70p charge is real enough, but it's one most Vodafone customers will never actually see on their bill.
## Frequently asked questions ### how much does vodafone charge for picture message 2025 Vodafone charges 70p per picture message (MMS, up to 300KB) in the UK as of April 2025. This is an increase from the previous rate of 66p. The charge only applies if you're sending outside your bundle allowance or on pay-as-you-go, as most pay monthly plans include MMS at no extra cost. ### vodafone mms cost vs text message A Vodafone picture message costs 70p while a standard text message costs 48p as of April 2026, making MMS 22p more expensive. Both rates apply only to out-of-bundle charges on pay-as-you-go or Basics customers, as standard plans typically include these services. ### when did vodafone increase picture message price Vodafone increased picture message prices on 8 April 2025, raising the cost from 66p to 70p per MMS. Text messages also increased on the same date from 43p to 45p, with a further text increase to 48p taking effect from 14 April 2026. ### does vodafone include mms in monthly plans Yes, the vast majority of Vodafone pay monthly plans include picture messaging (MMS) at no extra cost. The 70p per message charge only applies to customers on pay-as-you-go or Basics plans who are sending outside their allowance. ### how much to send picture message abroad vodafone Vodafone charges 66p per picture message when sending abroad, which is 4p less than the standard UK out-of-bundle rate of 70p. This rate applies to international MMS messages sent from the UK. ## Sources 1. [[PDF] Your Vodafone Basics Charges Guide](https://binaries.vodafone.co.uk/gbnnsauqav4t/Gq89ks4RRnwVBKEDOr209/7c06451fff6426bad23ba5dd35a2b868/evo-basics-charges-guide.pdf) (binaries.vodafone.co.uk) 2. [MMS Costs by UK Network: Are Picture Messages Free?](https://connection-technologies.co.uk/help/mms-messaging/costs) (connection-technologies.co.uk) 3. [Out-of-bundle price changes for Pay monthly plans and Vodafone Basics | Vodafone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges/out-of-bundle) (www.vodafone.co.uk)