How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- SMS open rates sit near 98 percent, far above email's roughly 20 percent (figures published on Textedly's pricing page). That reach is why every tool here charges for it: the real comparison is cost per message, not the monthly sticker.
- Entry-level plans cluster between $20 and $39 a month for 500 to 1,000 messages. SimpleTexting ($39/month billed annually), Textedly ($29/month), EZ Texting ($20/month billed annually) and SlickText ($29/month) are the four mass-text services to compare first.
- Ecommerce stores have two purpose-built options: Klaviyo (free for 250 profiles, SMS credits on top) keeps email and SMS in one platform, while Postscript (Starter $0 with a $49 minimum spend) is the Shopify SMS specialist.
- Watch the add-ons that inflate the bill: carrier fees of about $0.004 per message, telecom surcharges, MMS costing 3 credits per message, and 10DLC registration fees. Ask for the all-in per-message number before you sign.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 SimpleTexting | Small businesses that want an easy-to-run mass text service | From $39/month (billed annually) | Free trial (no credit card required) |
 Textedly | Businesses that want the same features at every price point | From $29/month (Basic, 500 messages) | Free trial (14 days, 50 texts and one keyword) |
 EZ Texting | Businesses that want to be texting within a day | From $20/month (Launch, billed annually) | Free trial (14 days) |
 SlickText | Brands that want full features without tier games | From $29/month (500 credits) | Free trial (14 days, no credit card required) |
 Sakari | Teams that text internationally or need deep app integrations | From $25/month | Free trial (100 messaging credits) |
 Salesmsg | Sales teams that need two-way texting with calling built in | From $25/month (500 credits) | Free trial (14 days) |
 Postscript | Shopify stores that want SMS as a dedicated revenue channel | Starter $0/month with $49 minimum spend | Yes (Starter tier; free to install) |
 Klaviyo | Stores that want email and SMS in one platform | From $20/month (500 profiles); SMS credits extra | Yes (free for up to 250 profiles, including $5 of mobile messages a month) |
 Attentive | Enterprise brands that want a managed, done-with-you SMS program | See website (quote-based) | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best SMS campaign software
Ninety-eight percent of text messages get opened, according to figures published on Textedly's own pricing page. Email manages about 20 percent on a good day. That gap explains the entire category: SMS is the most direct channel a business has, and the platforms below sell you access to it, one message at a time. Nine text message marketing services, prices verified on vendor pricing pages, with the per-message math that decides the real cost.
Starting priceFrom $39/month (billed annually)
Free planFree trial (no credit card required)
SimpleTexting is the friendliest on-ramp to SMS campaigns: pick a plan by monthly text volume, change it later with no contracts, and use the full feature set (mass texting, two-way messaging, drip campaigns, MMS, AI assist, API) from day one. The estimated $39 a month plan covers 500 credits with a $4 one-time carrier registration, and unused credits roll over to the next month. Support is a genuine differentiator: real humans, seven days a week.
The credit math needs attention. MMS costs 3 credits per message, so a picture campaign to 500 subscribers burns 1,500 credits. Carrier fees of about $0.0025 per message in the US are passed through on top. For plain-text campaigns it is one of the cheapest credible options; for media-heavy campaigns, model the credits before you commit.
What we like- Rollover credits and free incoming messages on every plan
- Live support 7 days a week by phone, text, chat or email
- AI message generator and API access included
Watch out for- MMS costs 3 credits per message, which eats budgets fast
- $10 per month per extra number and $20 per extra user add up for teams
#2
Textedly
Best for: Businesses that want the same features at every price point
Visit textedly.com
Starting priceFrom $29/month (Basic, 500 messages)
Free planFree trial (14 days, 50 texts and one keyword)
Textedly's pricing philosophy is unusual and honest: plans differ only in message volume, from $29 a month for 500 messages up to $5,520 for 300,000, with every feature (text-to-pay, review requests, MMS, AI agents, integrations with 3,000-plus apps) included on all of them. Annual billing adds 20 percent more messages. Inbound messages are always free, and each account gets a free toll-free and 10DLC number.
The surcharges are the catch. An $8 monthly telecom fee applies to every account, overage texts cost $30 per 500, and each teammate beyond the account owner costs $10 a month. The 14-day trial with 50 free texts is enough to test deliverability with your real list. If you hate feature gating, this is the most transparent structure in the category.
What we like- Every plan includes every feature, so you never pay extra to access tools
- Free toll-free and 10DLC numbers on every account
- Unlimited contacts and teammates on any plan
Watch out for- $8 monthly telecom surcharge on every account
- Overage texts at $30 per 500 and paid teammates at $10 a month each
Starting priceFrom $20/month (Launch, billed annually)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
EZ Texting has been in the business long enough to make the hard parts invisible: A2P 10DLC carrier registration, which other vendors charge as a checkout surprise, is included in every plan. The Launch plan starts at $25 a month, or $20 billed annually, with 500 monthly credits, a local textable number, and unlimited contacts. AI compose, drip campaigns, keyword auto-replies and text-to-pay links are all included.
Two numbers to note: Launch carries a $5 monthly telecom fee (waived on higher plans), and each plan includes exactly one user seat, with extras at $10 a month each. MMS costs 3 credits per message, standard for the category. For a business that wants to launch a campaign this week with compliance handled, EZ Texting is the fastest path.
What we like- Setup within one business day with A2P carrier registration included at no extra cost
- AI compose and reply tools plus a Shutterstock media library on every plan
- Inbound messages are free
Watch out for- Launch plan carries a $5 monthly telecom fee and only 500 credits
- Each plan includes just one user seat (extra seats are $10 a month each)
Starting priceFrom $29/month (500 credits)
Free planFree trial (14 days, no credit card required)
SlickText competes directly with SimpleTexting on both features and price, and says so openly: they will match any SimpleTexting standard plan price. Every paid plan includes the full toolkit (workflows, integrations, four number types including RCS), and plans scale from $29 a month for 500 credits to $939 for 50,000, with two free months on annual billing. Rollover credits mean quiet months are not wasted money.
The support structure tilts toward bigger spenders: the free 1-on-1 onboarding session starts at the $129 plan, and dedicated success managers appear at 50,000 credits. Carrier fees are passed through at no markup, which is fair but still adds to the per-message cost. If SimpleTexting's pricing fits but you prefer their competitor, SlickText is engineered to make switching painless.
What we like- Full access to every feature, including integrations and workflows, on any paid plan
- Unused credits roll over (one month on monthly plans, one year on annual)
- Price matching against SimpleTexting
Watch out for- Onboarding help starts at the $129 plan
- Carrier fees are passed through on top
- RCS costs a $500 setup plus $200 annual maintenance fee
#5
Sakari
Best for: Teams that text internationally or need deep app integrations
Visit sakari.io
Starting priceFrom $25/month
Free planFree trial (100 messaging credits)
Sakari is the international pick in a US-centric category: plans start at $25 a month and include one free dedicated number from the US, Canada, the UK or France, with messaging available to more than 20 countries at per-country rates. All plans include unlimited users and contacts, MMS is supported in the US and Canada at a $0.02 premium per segment, and unused credits roll over for 90 days. The 1,000-plus integration library is the deepest outside the ecommerce specialists.
The unusual cost is inbound: Sakari charges for received messages too, while most competitors give them free. For a broadcast campaign that is a rounding error; for a two-way support program with chatty customers, it adds up. The free trial with 100 credits is the right way to test real-world costs before committing.
What we like- Messaging to 20-plus countries with per-country segment rates
- Unlimited users and contacts on every plan
- 1,000-plus integrations with a free dedicated number included
Watch out for- You pay for inbound messages as well as outbound, unlike most competitors
- The pricing page does not list plan tiers, only the $25 starting point
#6
Salesmsg
Best for: Sales teams that need two-way texting with calling built in
Visit salesmsg.com
Starting priceFrom $25/month (500 credits)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Salesmsg is the sales-tool version of SMS: two-way texting, voice calling, a shared team inbox and AI agents that qualify leads and book meetings, all logged automatically to HubSpot or Salesforce contact records. Plans start at $25 a month for 500 credits, scaling to $249 for 7,500, with overage rates improving from 4.0 to 3.1 cents per credit at higher tiers. Extra seats are $10 a month each.
The unified credit pool is both the appeal and the risk: calls, texts and AI transcription all draw from the same credits, so a rep who calls all day can burn the month's allocation before sending a single campaign text. For a sales team that lives on the phone, the $25 entry point is genuinely cheaper than a separate dialer; for pure broadcast campaigns, the flat-rate specialists are simpler to budget.
What we like- Built-in voice calling, power dialer and AI agents alongside texting
- Native two-way sync with HubSpot and Salesforce
- Unlimited contacts and a free number on every plan
Watch out for- Credit-based pricing covers texts, calls and AI in one pool, so heavy calling drains text credits
- Subscription credits do not roll over month to month
#7
Postscript
Best for: Shopify stores that want SMS as a dedicated revenue channel
Visit postscript.io
Starting priceStarter $0/month with $49 minimum spend
Free planYes (Starter tier; free to install)
Postscript is the incumbent SMS app for Shopify: campaign tooling is the strength, with automations for abandoned carts, browse abandonment and post-purchase flows built specifically for the platform. Starter is free to install with a $49 monthly minimum spend (new accounts get credit toward the first month), Growth runs $100 a month at about $0.008 per SMS, and carrier fees average about $0.004 per message passed through at cost. The 4.7-star rating across 1,100-plus Shopify reviews reflects real adoption.
The minimum spend is the number to model: a store that sends occasionally still pays $49 a month, which makes it a poor fit for SMS-as-an-afterthought. Postscript prices like a channel with a full-time owner, and it performs like one when the calendar is full. Shopify stores where SMS is a priority channel should shortlist it; stores that just want occasional texts should look at Klaviyo or the generalists.
What we like- Built exclusively for Shopify with deep abandoned-cart and browse-abandonment automations
- Transparent published per-message rates ($0.007 to $0.009 per SMS)
- Carrier fees passed through at cost with no markup
Watch out for- The $49 monthly minimum applies whether you send or not
- Shopify only, so it is useless outside that ecosystem
- US and Canada only
Starting priceFrom $20/month (500 profiles); SMS credits extra
Free planYes (free for up to 250 profiles, including $5 of mobile messages a month)
Klaviyo is the default email platform for DTC brands, and its SMS offering rides on the same foundation: one profile database, one set of segments, one flow builder for email and text together. The free plan covers 250 profiles with 500 emails and $5 of mobile messages a month, paid email starts around $20 a month at 500 profiles, and SMS is billed per credit on top. For a store already running Klaviyo email, adding SMS means no new platform, no list migration and no duplicate contact records.
The profile-based pricing is the thing to watch: you pay for every stored contact that could receive email, not just the ones you message, so list hygiene directly affects the bill. And the SMS credit layer means a heavy texting month can double the total. Klaviyo SMS is the simplest choice for stores already on Klaviyo; as a standalone SMS tool for non-customers, the generalists are cheaper.
What we like- Email and SMS share one contact database, one segmentation engine and one automation builder
- Free plan covers 250 profiles with 500 emails a month
- AI subject lines and revenue attribution included
Watch out for- SMS is layered on top as a credit model (about $0.009 per credit), so active texting can double the bill
- Pricing climbs with active profile count whether you message them or not
#9
Attentive
Best for: Enterprise brands that want a managed, done-with-you SMS program
Visit attentive.com
Starting priceSee website (quote-based)
Free planNo
Attentive is the premium end of the category: an SMS (and now email) platform sold as a managed program with strategy, creative and deliverability support, aimed at brands with large lists and serious revenue targets. Third-party analyses put entry pricing in the four-figure monthly range with annual commitments, though the company does not publish prices. The 4.8-star Shopify rating and enterprise client roster reflect a product built for scale.
For a small business, Attentive is the wrong tool at the wrong price. Everything it does well (managed strategy, enterprise deliverability, dedicated support) is unnecessary below tens of thousands of subscribers, and the quote-based sales process is the opposite of the self-serve signups everywhere else on this list. Included here because buyers researching the category will encounter the name; shortlist it only when your list and budget are both enterprise-sized.
What we like- Managed service model with strategy and creative support, not just software
- Strong deliverability and compliance infrastructure for large lists
- 4.8-star rating on the Shopify app store
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing with annual commitments, so budgeting starts with a sales process
- Overkill and overpriced for small businesses that can self-serve
How we chose
We verified pricing on each vendor's own pricing page, reading the plan cards, credit tables and fee schedules rather than relying on review-site summaries. Products made the list only if they exist today, serve US businesses, and publish enough pricing detail to budget against (Attentive is the deliberate exception, included because buyers will encounter it and need the honest warning). We did not run hands-on messaging trials; this comparison is built from pricing pages, documentation and verified user reviews on G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and the Shopify app store.
What a text actually costs
The monthly plan price is the least informative number in SMS marketing. The number that matters is the all-in cost per message: plan credits plus carrier fees (about $0.004 per SMS in the US) plus telecom surcharges plus 10DLC registration amortized over the year. A $29 plan for 500 messages with an $8 telecom surcharge and carrier fees is really about $0.08 per message before overages, not $0.058.
MMS multiplies everything. Most vendors charge 3 credits per MMS message, so a picture campaign costs three times a text campaign to the same list. And list size interacts with plan choice: Textedly and SlickText scale on message volume with all features included, while SimpleTexting and EZ Texting scale on credits with feature differences by plan. Model your actual monthly sends, in segments, then pick the plan. Never pick the plan and hope the sends fit.
Compliance is not optional
US carriers and the TCPA require written consent before you send marketing texts, opt-out instructions in every message, and immediate honoring of opt-outs. Every tool on this list handles the mechanics (opt-in keywords, automatic STOP handling, 10DLC brand and campaign registration), but the legal responsibility stays with you. Two practical rules: never import a purchased list, and keep your consent records. The vendors that include 10DLC registration in the plan price (EZ Texting does; others charge $4 to $44 at checkout) save you the most common surprise fee in the category.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best text message marketing service for a small business?
For most small businesses, the shortlist is SimpleTexting, Textedly, EZ Texting and SlickText, all priced between $20 and $39 a month for starter volumes with the same core features. Pick on the fee details: inbound message costs, telecom surcharges and MMS credit rates differ enough to change the real bill.
How much does mass texting cost?
Starter plans run $20 to $39 a month for 500 to 1,000 messages, but the all-in cost per SMS lands around $0.07 to $0.09 once carrier fees and telecom surcharges are included. MMS costs about three times more per message. High-volume senders should compare the per-credit overage rates, not the plan prices.
Do I need a short code or is a regular number fine?
A regular 10-digit number (10DLC) is fine for most small businesses and is what every tool on this list provides by default. Dedicated short codes (5 or 6 digits) are for high-volume senders, cost thousands a month, and need 4 to 12 weeks to provision. Start with 10DLC.
Can I text customers from my existing business number?
Some platforms support text-enabling a landline (EZ Texting and Sakari both offer it), but you cannot text from a personal mobile number through these services. You will send from a dedicated 10DLC, toll-free or short-code number that the platform registers with carriers.
What is 10DLC and why does it cost money?
10DLC is the carrier system that registers business phone numbers for application-to-person texting in the US. Registration fees run $4 to $44 depending on message volume, plus small per-message carrier fees. Unregistered numbers get filtered, which is why every serious platform handles registration for you.
Is SMS marketing legal?
Yes, with consent. US law (the TCPA) requires prior written consent before sending marketing texts, clear opt-out instructions in every message, and immediate opt-out honoring. Every tool here provides the compliance mechanics; keeping consent records and never buying lists is your job.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://www.simpletexting.com/pricing/
- https://textedly.com/pricing
- https://www.eztexting.com/pricing
- https://www.slicktext.com/pricing
- https://sakari.io/pricing/
- https://www.klaviyo.com/pricing
- https://getomnichannel.com/sms-messaging-tools/salesmsg-review/
- https://www.salesmessage.com/blog/ez-texting-pricing
- https://txtcart.ai/blog/shopify-messaging-alternatives/
- https://taylorsicard.com/blog/attentive-vs-postscript-pricing
- https://www.omnisend.com/blog/omnisend-vs-postscript/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.