13 Best SMS Marketing Platforms & Text Messaging Services

Did you know the average person looks at their mobile phone 96 times daily? 

As people become more attached to their smartphones, text messages sound like a good idea to contact them. In fact, text message marketing is one of the best ways to engage your customers and boost revenue. Although, you need an SMS automation platform to implement this effective marketing channel and reap the benefits. 

However, it’s important to note that not all SMS services are identical. You need a reliable tool that offers the features to deliver your messages to customers’ inboxes and increase engagement.

In this article, you’ll find a list of the best SMS marketing tools and what to look for in one.

Features to Look for in SMS Marketing Solution

Now, let’s look at some must-have features all SMS software should have to help you grow your audience and boost revenue:

Tips for Choosing the Right SMS Marketing Platform

Not all of them are created equal, so before you choose your text message marketing software, you should:

• Understand your needs. Before selecting an SMS marketing solution, it’s crucial to define your SMS marketing strategy requirements clearly – the volume of messages you plan to send, the types of campaigns you want to run, and any specific features you need to achieve your marketing goals;
• Evaluate features and integrations. Look into the features offered by each platform: scheduling, personalization, automation, and analytics. Also, consider how well the platform integrates with other tools and software you use;
• Consider pricing and scalability. Compare the pricing models of different SMS marketing platforms to find one that fits your budget and offers good value for money. Also, consider the platform’s scalability, ensuring it can accommodate your growing needs as your business expands without a sudden spike in costs.

13 Best Text Marketing Platforms & Apps in 2024

Let’s now look at the best SMS marketing platforms in 2024 that can help you boost engagement and revenue:

• Sender
• Textla
• Klaviyo
• EngageBay
• TextMagic
• SlickText
• EZ Texting
• Attentive
• Textedly
• SimpleTexting
• MessageDesk
• ActiveCampaign
• Zonka Feedback

1. Sender — Most Affordable Email & SMS Marketing Software

Sender is one of the most cost-efficient text message marketing platforms, offering an intuitive user experience and seamless SMS marketing automation.

• Complimentary toll-free number;
• Automated omnichannel campaigns;
• Pre-made SMS templates.

Seamlessly combine email and SMS automated sequences for exceptional results using a simple automation builder and pre-built workflows.

Enhance your customer engagement with omnichannel follow-up campaigns, ensuring consistent and effective communication across all platforms.

And what about segmentation and personalization? Easy! Effortlessly group customers based on their needs and preferences. Then, send them relevant and customized messages to engage them and boost loyalty.

Sender Key Features

• SMS marketing automation to send timely and relevant text messages;
• Real-time reporting and analytics to track and improve your text message marketing strategies;
• Smart segmentation and personalization for sending relevant and targeted messages;
• Opt-in SMS consent forms and responsive popups for seamless contact list growth.

Sender Pros & Cons

Sender Pricing

• Paid plans start from $15 per month, and you get SMS credits equal to your monthly plan;
• SMS cost starts at $0.014/message.

2. Textla — Leading Text Messaging Service for Businesses 

Textla is the fastest-growing text message marketing platform for SMBs and solopreneurs looking to send their customers bulk texts and two-way text messages. Its competitive pricing and ease of use make It the leader in modern SMS software for businesses. 

• Onboard in minutes;
• Two-way texting;
• Simple campaign management.

Textla makes it easy to run automated SMS marketing campaigns, schedule recurring campaigns, chat one-to-one with customers in a shared inbox, and see real-time analytics about delivery.

The platform enables users to onboard in just minutes, get a business phone number for texting, and begin the approval process so they can begin sending messages to their customers.

Textla also offers hands-on customer support, which is a huge value-add. Their US-based team of experts has helped thousands of customers understand best practices for SMS marketing and optimize their campaigns for maximum deliverability and effectiveness.

Textla is a great option for businesses looking to do bulk SMS marketing quickly and easily without breaking the bank.

Textla Key Features

• Bulk SMS and MMS sending;
• Two-way chats via shared inbox;
• Real-time SMS deliverability insights;
• Bulk contact upload, grouping, and tagging; 
• Keyword opt-ins.

Textla Pros and Cons

Textla Pricing

• 14-day free trial available with up to 100 credits and full access to platform features;
• Paid plans start at $25 per month and $0.005 per SMS.

3. Klaviyo — SMS Marketing Service for SMS Messages & MMS

Klaviyo is an SMS marketing service for text messaging and MMS marketing designed for ecommerce businesses looking to start SMS marketing campaigns. This SMS service’s automation features and flow builder help you engage your audience via SMS and email on autopilot. 

• SMS automation;
• SMS A/B testing; 
• AI writing for SMS.

Klaviyo offers several valuable features you seek in an SMS messaging app. These include a central dashboard for monitoring all conversations, readymade SMS flows, audience segmentation, and support for MMS messages and GIFs.

It also has AI capabilities to help you with SMS copywriting, intelligent replies, and predictive analytics, though some users report the analytics could be better. 

Klaviyo Key Features

• SMS opt-ins through links, QR, and email CTAs; 
•  Dynamic text blocks for SMS sign-up forms; 
• Two-way communication; 
• Audience segmentation for SMS. 

Klaviyo Pros & Cons 

Klaviyo Pricing

• The basic plan for email and SMS starts at $60 per month, which includes 1,250 SMS credits. Additional credits can be purchased as needed;
• The cost per SMS message is approximately $0.01.

4. EngageBay — Best SMS Marketing Software with CRM Solution

EngageBay is the best mass text message software with CRM solution that offers sales, marketing, and customer support tools to engage customers and boost revenue.

• Email and SMS marketing;
• Sales and marketing automation;
• Landing pages, popups, and forms.

This text message marketing software offers advanced SMS marketing features that help you improve your marketing efforts. 

For example, you can use CRM data to segment your customers based on their behavior and automate your SMS campaigns to send personalized and relevant offers to each customer.

On top of that, its integrated CRM helps you manage your customer relationships seamlessly while streamlining your sales and marketing processes.

EngageBay Key Features

• SMS personalization;
• Integrates with your favorite business apps;
• All-in-one CRM software;
• Automation workflows.

EngageBay Pros & Cons

EngageBay Pricing

• Starting at $11.95 per user per month, paid plans include SMS marketing for up to 500 contacts;
• The cost per SMS starts at $0.00736 per SMS (assuming 10,000 SMS/month).

5. TextMagic — Best Online SMS Service for Pay-As-You-Go Messages

Your business needs a reliable platform to create and send marketing text messages, and TextMagic does exactly that. As the best online SMS service for pay-as-you-go messages, the tool helps you engage with customers using cutting-edge SMS features.

• SMS opt-out management;
• SMS campaigns;
• Scheduled text messages.

You can access the platform’s text message marketing tools through its desktop, browser, or iOS and Android apps. After logging into your account, you can compose your messages by selecting a contact list and sending bulk texts with only a few clicks. You can even insert files, tags, and premade templates into your bulk messages.

Zapier also helps you connect your TextMagic account with your favorite apps through simple, no-code integration.

TextMagic Key Features

• Two-way SMS chats;
• Bulk text messages;
• SMS apps for iOS and Android;
• Zapier SMS integrations;
• Mail merge SMS and templates.

TextMagic Pros & Cons

TextMagic Pricing

• Paid plans start at $0.049 per text;
• 30-day trial and free credit for testing.

6. SlickText — Text Marketing Platform with Great Analytics Features

SlickText is a text marketing platform that offers customer loyalty tools and great analytics features. It can be used to offer mobile coupons with unique codes, create a loyalty rewards program, and run text-to-win contests.

• SMS autoresponders;
• Subscriber list growth;
• One-on-one texting.

With SlickText, you can engage in one-on-one conversations with your customers to encourage them to take your desired action. You can also let subscribers respond to your mass texts and reply using private messaging. This makes it a critical business text messaging feature.

In addition, its analytics dashboard can help you gain helpful insights into your SMS marketing efforts.

The platform provides everything from response data and click-through rates to abandoned cart revenue and opt-in stats, helping you measure your SMS marketing performance, find ways to improve it, and grow your business.

SlickText Key Features

• SMS automation;
• Mass text messaging;
• MMS marketing;
• SMS short codes.

SlickText Pros & Cons

SlickText Pricing

• Starts at $29 per month for up to 500 text messages;
• 14-day free trial for up to 50 text messages.

7. EZ Texting — Feature-Rich SMS Texting Service

A feature-rich SMS texting service can help you increase your revenue and build customer loyalty. EZ Texting does exactly that.

• Reporting and analytics;
• Design tools and MMS templates;
• Contact list growth.

What makes the platform stand out is its intuitive design. It assumes that users don’t know how a marketing platform operates, so it has prompts all over telling you what to do. This makes it ideal for new users starting out with SMS marketing.

The SMS marketing software also includes a link shortener, web sign-up links, and a native Shutterstock integration that lets you insert high-quality stock images directly into your text messages.

EZ Texting Key Features

• Contact management;
• SMS messaging tools;
• SMS campaign automation;
• SMS integration and API.

EZ Texting Pros & Cons

EZ Texting Pricing

• Starts at $25 per month for up to 500 contacts;
• Free plan available with limited features.

8. Attentive — Best SMS Marketing Platform for Personalized Text

Attentive is a text messaging platform for personalized text messaging that lets you engage customers throughout the entire lifecycle with conversational, promotional, and transactional text messages.

• SMS & email analytics;
• A/B testing;
• 100+ integrations.

This text message marketing service provides engagement data you can use to segment customers and create personalized messages with dynamic content.

On top of that, you can maximize your engagement and revenue with segmentation that uses AI to predict the best send times and content for each audience.

You can also send MMS that features GIFs, images, and videos to stand out in your subscribers’ inboxes.

Attentive Key Features

• Text messaging automation;
• SMS personalization;
• AI segmentation;
• Build two-way relationships with SMS.

Attentive Pros & Cons

Attentive Pricing

• Attentive’s pricing varies and is tailored to each customer.

9. Textedly — Best Text Marketing App for Two-Way Messaging

Textedly is the best text marketing app for two-way messaging if you’re looking for a tool to handle the basics. It includes SMS and MMS features and other SMS marketing tools you need to run a simple campaign.

• Two-way SMS conversation;
• Auto-reply texts;
• Comprehensive analytics.

With Textedly, you can invite visitors to subscribe to your marketing messages based on the types of services or products they’re interested in. You can also create keywords that reflect your offers (like “dog food” if you own a pet store) and encourage customers to use them when they sign up to receive texts. 

In addition, all Textedly accounts include a toll-free number your subscribers can use to text you. If you activate Textedly’s voice calling option, customers can call that number to connect with your business directly.

Textedly Key Features

• Conversation triggers;
• SMS surveys;
• SMS drip campaigns;
• Personalization and segmentation.

Textedly Pros & Cons

Textedly Pricing

• Starts at $26 per month for up to 500 text messages;
• Free 14-day trial plan available for up to 50 text messages.

10. SimpleTexting — Intuitive All-in-One Text Marketing Solution

The best SMS marketing platforms help you run campaigns, create custom keywords, view analytics, and send personalized or mass messages. SimpleTexting is a great text messaging service for businesses that check all these boxes.

• Two-way conversations;
• SMS and MMS campaigns.

With SimpleTexting, you can create unlimited custom keywords in all plans, which you can view on your dashboard. The keywords allow subscribers to join your list of services and products they’re interested in. You can then send messages with relevant offers based on their preferences.

This business texting service is also highly scalable, meaning you can easily integrate it with the other web apps you already use. In summary, SimpleTexting gives businesses the tools they need to create their ideal SMS marketing campaigns.

SimpleTexting Key Features

• Two-way messaging;
• Mass texting;
• Customer segmentation;
• SMS drip campaigns;
• MMS marketing.

SimpleTexting Pros & Cons

SimpleTexting Pricing

• Starts at $29 per month for up to 500 credits. Your phone number comes with your plan;
• 14-day free trial that includes 50 free messages.

11. MessageDesk — Best SMS Service for Business Texting

MessageDesk is the best SMS marketing software for organizations with teams. It works great for texting one-on-one and broadcasting to large groups from a 10-digit phone number. You can also connect your existing business phone number or text enable your landline.

• Mass text message broadcasts;
• Work together as a team.

MessageDesk is a great tool if you’re looking to create conversational customer experiences. This makes it well-suited for conversational commerce. It also works great for customer service, appointment reminders, review and feedback collection, and more.

MessageDesk Features

• Scheduled and automated text messages;
• Templates and MMS messages;
• Mass text broadcasts;
• Call forwarding and voicemails to any number.

MessageDesk Pros & Cons

MessageDesk Pricing

After a free trial, starting costs are $14 per month for one user. MessageDesk also offers custom pricing for larger teams.

12. ActiveCampaign — Marketing Platform for Email & SMS Messages

ActiveCampaign is a robust marketing platform that excels in SMS campaign management, providing businesses with a comprehensive suite of tools to streamline their text message marketing efforts.

• SMS campaign management;
• Bulk SMS services;
• Broadcasting .

ActiveCampaign’s intuitive interface allows users to easily design, execute, and monitor their SMS campaigns, ensuring effective communication with their audience. 

With this text message marketing software, marketers can use advanced features like segmentation and automation to deliver personalized messages that resonate with their customers.

One of ActiveCampaign’s standout features is its bulk SMS services, which enable users to send large volumes of messages simultaneously. This broadcasting capability is perfect for businesses looking to reach a wide audience quickly and efficiently. 

The platform’s text message marketing software is designed to integrate seamlessly with other marketing channels, providing a cohesive strategy that enhances customer engagement and drives conversions.

ActiveCampaign Key Features

• Text message marketing automation;
• Integration with other marketing channels;
• Analytics and reporting;
• Customer journey mapping;
• Customizable templates.

ActiveCampaign’s Pros & Cons

ActiveCampaign Pricing

• Paid plans start from $15 per month;
• You get to send SMS with a paid add-on. The add-on costs $21 per month and includes 1,000 SMS credits.
• Depending on how many SMS you send monthly, it can cost starting at $0.016/SMS.

13. Zonka Feedback — Real-Time Customer Feedback with SMS Surveys

Zonka Feedback is one of the best and easiest SMS survey software to measure real-time customer feedback via SMS.

• Survey and feedback collection;
• Automation;
• Real-time analytics & reporting.

Connect Zonka Feedback to your CRMs, ecommerce platforms, POS, service desks, or any other platform and trigger automated surveys after an event or transaction to measure customer feedback. 

Zonka Feedback Features

• Customizable templates;
• Multi-language support;
• Response tracking and management;
• Data export and import.

Zonka Feedback Pros & Cons

Zonka Feedback Pricing

• Paid plans start at $49 per month and include up to 2,500 email or SMS sends per month;
• Depending on the plan you choose, the cost starts at $0.00398/SMS.

merce Platforms, POS, Service Desks, or any other platform and trigger automated surveys after an event or transaction to measure customer feedback. 

Benefits of Using Text Message Marketing

Apart from being a top customer engagement channel, SMS is much more effective than other platforms, with an open rate of 98% and a reply rate of 45%.

With that in mind, let’s look at some key benefits of SMS marketing:

• Reach customers on the go. SMS marketing helps you connect with customers wherever they are and build lasting relationships.
• Fast and efficient audience reach. With SMS campaigns, you can contact customers directly on their phones and send them highly personalized offers.
• Targeted personalization and segmentation. You can segment customers based on their preferences and needs and then send them relevant SMS messages to boost engagement and sales. 
• High open and response rates. As mentioned, SMS offers a massive open rate of 98% and a reply rate of 45%. With the right marketing strategies, you can be sure that almost all your customers will open and respond to your messages.
• Cost-effective. With marketing automation tools like Sender, you won’t have to break the bank to connect with customers using SMS. The platform offers affordable yet powerful SMS marketing services.
• Tracking and measurement capabilities. SMS analytics helps you analyze how well your SMS campaigns perform so you can find ways to improve them.
• Integration with existing tech stack. Integration helps you connect your SMS service with other business tools to manage all your data in one place.
• Scheduling and automation. With scheduling, you can send automated messages to customers at the right time to boost engagement.
• Easy setup and management. Easy-to-use platforms like Sender enable you to build, run, monitor, and optimize high-converting SMS campaigns effortlessly.

SMS Marketing Tools’ FAQs

Is SMS marketing worth it?

Yes, SMS marketing is very worth it. It offers open rates of 98%, reply rates of 45%, and click-through rates of 19%. These metrics show that SMS is one of the best channels to reach your audience and grow your business.

Is SMS marketing legal?

Yes, SMS marketing is legal, but it is regulated by laws such as the TCPA in the US and GDPR in Europe to protect consumers from unwanted messages. 

Businesses using SMS delivery systems must obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending messages and provide an easy opt-out mechanism. Compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid fines and legal actions​.

How much does SMS marketing cost?

The cost of SMS marketing varies depending on the provider, the volume of messages sent, and additional features included. 

For instance, Sender offers competitive pricing with plans starting at around $10 per month for a small number of messages, with additional messages costing about $0.01 to $0.02 each. 

MessageDesk’s pricing begins at $14 per month for 100 messages, with extra messages costing $0.05 each. Similarly, other SMS marketing services like Textedly and EZ Texting have their own pricing structures, typically ranging from $0.01 to $0.05 per message, depending on the plan and text volume​.

About author

Skirmantas Venckus

Author

Sender

Skirmantas Venckus leads marketing at Sender, bringing hands-on experience helping brands connect with customers. He deeply understands email marketing’s evolving role and is passionate about making it work smarter, not harder, for everyone.