Getting Started · 3 min read

Non-CLI vs CLI routes: what's the difference?

When to use each route type, how pricing differs, and what shows up on the recipient's screen.

Quick definition

  • CLI route — your caller ID is delivered to the destination intact. The recipient sees the number you set in the From / PAI headers.
  • Non-CLI route — caller ID is stripped or randomized somewhere along the path. The call still completes; the recipient sees a random local number, a short code, or "Unknown".

When to use which

ScenarioRoute
Branded outbound, 2FA codes, dispatchCLI
High-volume outbound where answer rate matters more than identityNon-CLI
Markets that block foreign CLI (many African and Asian destinations)Non-CLI
Pen-testing with authorized scopeCLI

Pricing

CLI routes are ~1.5× the price of non-CLI for the same destination. Caller-ID delivery requires clean upstream interconnects with operators that honor PAI, and those interconnects cost more.

Browse current rates: Routes (non-CLI) or CLI Routes.

Can I switch later?

Yes. You can order both trunk types on the same account and route per-campaign in your softswitch.

Related in Getting Started

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