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
- Ecommerce brands on Shopify should compare Postscript (from $49/month minimum, $0.009 per SMS) and Attentive (custom quote).
- Stores already on Klaviyo for email get the simplest path: SMS as a $15 per month add-on with credit-based pricing.
- Local businesses and nonprofits get honest value from SimpleTexting, SlickText and Textedly, all starting around $25 to $29 per month.
- Sales teams on HubSpot or Salesforce should look at Salesmsg: CRM-synced two-way texting, not broadcasts.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Attentive | Mid-market and enterprise DTC brands | See website (custom quote only; no public pricing) | Free trial (for eligible businesses) |
 Klaviyo SMS | Ecommerce stores already running Klaviyo email | $20/month (Email plan) + $15/month SMS add-on (about 1,000 credits) | Yes (up to 250 profiles; $5 of mobile messages per month) |
 Postscript | Shopify DTC brands treating SMS as a revenue channel | $49/month minimum spend (Starter); SMS $0.009 each plus carrier fees | No (free trial; no free plan) |
 SimpleTexting | Small businesses, restaurants, nonprofits and event teams | $29/month for 500 credits (toll-free number) | Free trial (no credit card required) |
 EZ Texting | SMBs and service businesses using Mailchimp | $25/month (Launch, 500 credits; $20/month billed annually) | Free trial (14 days; no free plan) |
 SlickText | Restaurants, franchises and compliance-minded SMBs | $29/month for 500 credits | Free trial (14 days; no free plan) |
 Textedly | Budget-conscious SMBs, nonprofits, churches and clinics | $29/month (Basic, 500 messages) | Yes (free account with 50 messages and one keyword, no time limit) |
 Salesmsg | Sales and revenue teams on HubSpot or Salesforce | $25/month (500 credits, 1 seat + 1 number) | Free trial (14 days; no free plan) |
 Podium | Local service businesses that prioritize reviews | See website (custom quote only; no public pricing) | No (no free plan; no published free trial) |
Is your product missing or out of date?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 numbers explain why every marketing team is looking at SMS: messages are opened 98 percent of the time, and 95 percent are read within 3 minutes of delivery, according to AudienceTap's 2026 ecommerce marketing report. The catch is that every text costs money, and the pricing models here are deliberately confusing: credits, messages, minimums, carrier fees and per-seat charges all stack differently. These nine platforms cover the real options, with the credit math spelled out for each.
Starting priceSee website (custom quote only; no public pricing)
Free planFree trial (for eligible businesses)
Attentive is the concierge option for brands that treat SMS as a revenue channel. You get a managed program with a dedicated customer success manager, patented sign-up units, and a platform that unifies SMS, email, RCS and push with AI-powered personalization. It is built for mid-market and enterprise DTC brands, typically $20M-plus in GMV.
The cost is the conversation nobody has upfront. There is no public pricing; everything is a custom quote, commonly with 6 to 12 month contracts, auto-renewal, and quarterly minimum spends with no rollover for unused volume, which punishes seasonal senders. Third-party analyses put the effective cost 30 to 50 percent above the quoted platform fee once per-message costs, MMS and carrier fees stack. If you are under $5M GMV or just testing SMS, Klaviyo SMS and Postscript deliver most of the value at a fraction of the cost.
What we like- Patented two-tap mobile sign-up that lifts opt-in rates
- SMS, email, RCS and push in one platform with AI send-time optimization
- 100-plus integrations with built-in compliance and peak-volume deliverability
Watch out for- No published pricing, with quarterly minimum commitments around $2,000 to $3,000
- Carrier pass-through fees are not advertised upfront and raise the real bill substantially
#2
Klaviyo SMS
Best for: Ecommerce stores already running Klaviyo email
Visit klaviyo.com
Starting price$20/month (Email plan) + $15/month SMS add-on (about 1,000 credits)
Free planYes (up to 250 profiles; $5 of mobile messages per month)
Klaviyo SMS is the path of least resistance for stores already on Klaviyo. Email and SMS run on the same customer profiles, segments and flows, with predictive data like churn risk shared across both. The credit model is predictable: US SMS runs around $0.011 to $0.015 per send, and number registration is handled in-platform.
The pricing structure needs a careful read. There is no standalone SMS plan; SMS is an add-on to a paid email plan, so the $20 per month email plan plus the $15 per month mobile-messages add-on is the real floor. The free plan includes $5 of mobile messages per month but cannot buy more SMS without a paid plan. MMS costs roughly three SMS in credits, and per-send rates vary by country. For a 500-profile store sending 10,000 US texts a month, budget roughly $125 per month on top of email.
What we like- Email and SMS share segments, flows and customer profiles in one platform
- Transparent credit-based SMS pricing
- Supports toll-free, 10DLC and short codes across 20-plus countries
Watch out for- SMS is strictly an add-on to a paid email plan, so the true entry cost is higher than it looks
- MMS costs roughly three times one SMS in credits
#3
Postscript
Best for: Shopify DTC brands treating SMS as a revenue channel
Visit postscript.io
Starting price$49/month minimum spend (Starter); SMS $0.009 each plus carrier fees
Free planNo (free trial; no free plan)
Postscript is the transparent alternative to Attentive for Shopify brands. The integration is genuinely native: purchase, cart and browse data feed flows and segmentation without middleware. Pricing is fully published, which is rare in this category: Starter carries a $0 headline with a $49 monthly minimum spend at $0.009 per SMS, Growth is $100 per month at $0.008, Professional $500 at $0.007, plus pass-through carrier fees billed at cost.
The honest catch is the Starter tier: you pay the $49 minimum even if you send zero messages, and unused credits no longer roll over, so brands under $1M GMV or just testing are often better served by Klaviyo's free tier. Carrier fees are clearly disclosed on the pricing page, which makes true cost modeling possible. Coverage is US and Canada only, and anything outside Shopify needs a second tool.
What we like- Shopify-native with deep purchase, cart and browse data
- Fully published self-serve pricing
- In-house compliance with 10DLC handled in-platform
Watch out for- Shopify-only, with shallow integration elsewhere
- US and Canada coverage only
Starting price$29/month for 500 credits (toll-free number)
Free planFree trial (no credit card required)
SimpleTexting is the easy all-around mass-texting tool for teams that do not want enterprise complexity. Every plan includes mass texting, two-way messaging, MMS, keywords and 10DLC guidance, with incoming texts and replies free. Pricing is fully transparent with a real 20 percent annual discount.
The credit math is the thing to learn once: 1 SMS equals 1 credit, but longer messages cost 2 and MMS costs 3, so image-heavy campaigns cost more than the headline suggests. A local number adds $10 per month plus a one-time $4 carrier registration fee. Low-volume occasional senders should note the subscription model: unused capacity does not stack indefinitely, so truly sporadic senders may waste months.
What we like- Simple interface built for small teams, with unlimited contacts and free incoming texts
- Unused credits roll over
- Mailchimp and Zapier integrations with live support seven days a week
Watch out for- Messages over 160 characters cost 2 credits and MMS costs 3, so long or visual messages burn credits faster
- US and Canada only, and a local number adds $10 per month
Starting price$25/month (Launch, 500 credits; $20/month billed annually)
Free planFree trial (14 days; no free plan)
EZ Texting fits service businesses that mainly need broadcast campaigns with AI-assisted drafting, especially teams already on Mailchimp. The headline pricing is clear: Launch $25 per month, Boost $75, Scale $125, Enterprise from $3,000. Free incoming messages come on every plan, and AI Compose plus AI Reply handle drafting and inbound.
The plan structure hides one quirk: because every tier ships 500 monthly credits, heavy senders must budget overage credits or buy bundled credits at checkout. MMS costs 3 credits each. Only one user seat comes per plan; extra seats are $10 per month each. There is also a $5 per month telecom fee on Launch, waived on Boost and above, and credits expire with no rollover. Count your monthly messages before choosing a tier.
What we like- Published transparent pricing from $25 per month
- Built-in compliance tooling with unlimited keywords
- AI Compose for drafting and AI Reply for inbound messages
Watch out for- Every self-serve tier includes the same 500 credits, so paying more buys contact capacity, not messages
- A $5 per month telecom fee applies on Launch only
Starting price$29/month for 500 credits
Free planFree trial (14 days; no free plan)
SlickText's pitch is simple: no feature gates. Workflows, segments, integrations, analytics, popups, the conversational inbox and rollover credits ship on every plan, starting at $29 per month for 500 credits and scaling to $939 for 50,000. Unlimited users cost nothing extra.
The credit math matches the category standard: 1 SMS is 1 credit, 1 MMS is 3, and the per-credit cost drops sharply with tier. Watch the add-ons: RCS messaging costs $500 one-time plus $200 per year maintenance, and dedicated short codes start at $500 per month. Support is phone, live chat and email with fast response, but only Monday to Friday.
What we like- Every plan includes the full feature set, including rollover credits and unlimited contacts
- Free incoming texts and a free toll-free number
- Unlimited users at no extra cost
Watch out for- Live support is weekday business hours only
- RCS messaging is a pricey add-on
#7
Textedly
Best for: Budget-conscious SMBs, nonprofits, churches and clinics
Visit textedly.com
Starting price$29/month (Basic, 500 messages)
Free planYes (free account with 50 messages and one keyword, no time limit)
Textedly is the budget ladder. Thirteen tiers run from $29 per month for 500 messages to $5,520 per month for 300,000, so small and mid-size senders can match spend to volume precisely. The free account (50 messages, one keyword, no credit card, no time limit) is genuinely useful for trials. All plans include all features with free incoming messages.
Two things to verify at checkout. A telecom surcharge of around $8 per month applies on every plan and sits outside the headline prices. Dedicated short codes run $1,000 per month plus a $1,000 setup fee, so skip them unless you truly need one. Developer-heavy teams should note the API situation before committing.
What we like- The widest tier ladder in the category (13 plans) for right-sizing spend
- A genuinely useful free account
- Annual billing gives 20 percent more messages instead of a price cut
Watch out for- A telecom surcharge (reported around $8 per month) applies on every plan
- The public API was still labeled "coming soon" as of late 2026
Starting price$25/month (500 credits, 1 seat + 1 number)
Free planFree trial (14 days; no free plan)
Salesmsg is a conversation platform first and a broadcast tool second, which makes it different from everything else on this list. It is built for sales, support and revenue teams that already run on HubSpot or Salesforce: every text and call syncs to the contact timeline automatically, removing manual logging. Texting and calling share one number and one team inbox, with AI agents that qualify leads and book when the team is offline.
Pricing starts at $25 per month for 500 credits with one seat and one number, scaling to $49 (1,000), $99 (2,500) and $179 (5,000). The seat math matters: each plan covers one seat, so a five-person team pays five seats. Subscription credits expire at the end of each billing cycle; only auto-recharge credits roll over. For pure promotional blasts, the broadcast tools above are cheaper.
What we like- Native two-way HubSpot and Salesforce integration with texts syncing to contact records
- Texting and calling from the same number with a shared team inbox
- TCPA, 10DLC and HIPAA compliance built in
Watch out for- Each plan covers exactly one seat, with extra teammates at $10 per month each
- Subscription credits expire each billing cycle
#9
Podium
Best for: Local service businesses that prioritize reviews
Visit podium.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote only; no public pricing)
Free planNo (no free plan; no published free trial)
Podium is not a marketer-first SMS broadcast tool, and that distinction matters. It is built for single-location and small multi-location local service businesses that want review generation and conversational messaging in one inbox. The review automation is the standout feature, and HIPAA-compliant texting through a published BAA matters for clinics.
The pricing model is the wall. There is no public pricing; independent 2026 analyses consistently report Core around $399 per month and Pro around $599, with Signature quote-only. Bulk SMS is hard-capped at 250 messages per month on Core with no metered overage, so exceeding it forces an upgrade to Pro. Contracts run 12 months with auto-renewal, and fees sit outside the headline price. If your goal is promotional broadcasting at volume, look elsewhere.
What we like- Unlimited one-to-one texts on every plan with a unified inbox for SMS, webchat, reviews and payments
- Standout Google review-generation automation
- 10DLC registration handled inside the app
Watch out for- Bulk SMS is hard-capped at 250 messages per month on Core with no metered overage
- 12-month contracts with auto-renewal
The credit math that decides your real bill
Almost every platform on this list sells credits, not messages, and the conversion is where budgets die. The category standard is 1 SMS of up to 160 characters equals 1 credit, a longer message equals 2, and 1 MMS equals 3. A campaign of 1,000 image MMS messages costs 3,000 credits. Multiply your monthly message count by your actual mix before comparing headline prices.
Then add the three costs that sit outside the headline. Carrier pass-through fees apply on top of per-message rates at Attentive, Postscript and Klaviyo. Telecom surcharges appear at Textedly and on EZ Texting's Launch tier. Minimum spends bite hardest at the bottom: Postscript's $49 monthly minimum applies even if you send zero messages, and Attentive's quarterly minimums carry no rollover. Model a real month, including MMS and overages, before you sign.
How we chose
We started with the categories buyers actually search: SMS marketing platform, business texting app, text messaging service and SMS marketing tool. For each candidate we opened the vendor's own pricing page, checked plan names and prices against public reviews on G2 and Capterra and practitioner discussion on Reddit, and compared feature lists, integrations and business-size fit. We wrote "See website" anywhere a price could not be verified on the vendor's page rather than guessing.
10DLC, toll-free or short code: pick your number
Every platform will ask what kind of number you want to send from, and the choice affects cost, throughput and deliverability. Toll-free numbers are the default on most plans here: cheap or free, fine for moderate volume. 10DLC (a local number registered for business messaging) gives better throughput and local presence; expect a small monthly fee plus a one-time carrier registration charge.
Dedicated short codes are the enterprise option: high throughput at $500 to $1,000 per month plus setup fees. Almost nobody on this list needs one. Whatever you choose, register properly before your first campaign: carriers filter unregistered traffic aggressively, and the registration step is where most new senders get stuck.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SMS marketing cost per month?
For small businesses, $25 to $29 per month buys 500 credits or messages on SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, SlickText, Textedly or Salesmsg. Ecommerce brands pay more: Klaviyo SMS adds about $15 per month plus credits on top of the email plan, and Postscript starts at a $49 monthly minimum. Enterprise platforms like Attentive and Podium are custom-quoted and run into the hundreds or thousands per month once all fees stack.
What is the difference between credits and messages?
A credit is the billing unit; a message is what you send. The standard conversion is 1 credit per SMS under 160 characters, 2 for longer messages, and 3 per MMS. So 1,000 image messages cost 3,000 credits. Always convert your planned message mix into credits before comparing plans.
Do I need a short code for SMS marketing?
Almost certainly not. Toll-free numbers (free or cheap on most plans) and registered 10DLC local numbers cover the vast majority of businesses. Dedicated short codes cost $500 to $1,000 per month plus setup and only make sense at very high volume. Start with toll-free or 10DLC and upgrade only when throughput limits force you.
Is SMS marketing compliant with TCPA?
It can be, but compliance is your responsibility, not the platform's. You need express written consent before sending marketing texts, a clear opt-out mechanism (like reply STOP), and proper number registration. Every platform on this list offers compliance tooling, and several handle 10DLC registration in-app, but none of them can get consent from your contacts for you. When in doubt, talk to a lawyer before your first campaign.
Which SMS platform is best for Shopify stores?
Postscript and Attentive are the Shopify-native specialists. Postscript is self-serve with published pricing from a $49 monthly minimum. Attentive is concierge-led with custom quotes and quarterly minimums, built for larger brands. Klaviyo SMS is the simplest choice if you already run Klaviyo email, since it shares the same segments and flows.
Can I use SMS marketing for appointment reminders?
Yes, and it is one of the highest-ROI uses: texts are read within minutes, which is exactly what reminders need. SimpleTexting, SlickText and Textedly all handle scheduled reminders well at $25 to $29 per month. Podium adds review requests after the appointment, which pairs naturally with reminders for local services.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://www.attentive.com
- https://www.klaviyo.com/pricing
- https://postscript.io/pricing
- https://www.simpletexting.com/pricing
- https://www.eztexting.com/pricing
- https://www.slicktext.com/pricing
- https://www.textedly.com/pricing
- https://www.salesmessage.com/pricing
- https://www.podium.com
- https://www.audiencetap.com/blog/sms-marketing-statistics
- https://www.g2.com/categories/sms-marketing
- https://www.capterra.com/sms-marketing-software/
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.