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Editorial deep-dive · 10 products · Verified 2026-05-10

Top 10 SMS Marketing Software for 2026

Independent ranking of SMS marketing platforms with verified deal pricing, vendor-trust scoring, TCPA / 10DLC compliance reality.

Verdict (TL;DR)

Verified 2026-05-10

Klaviyo SMS is the clear leader for Shopify-anchored e-commerce brands already on Klaviyo email, the unified profile and journey logic make it the default bundled choice. Attentive is the standalone e-commerce SMS leader for brands that want a dedicated SMS team and managed-service onboarding, though its 2021 Series E valuation has softened amid IPO speculation. Postscript wins for Shopify-pure merchants who want modern conversational SMS without a full Klaviyo migration. Twilio Programmable Messaging is the developer-first API layer underneath much of the category; it is not a marketing tool out of the box but powers many custom marketing stacks. SimpleTexting (Sinch-owned since 2021), EZ Texting, Textedly, SlickText, Salesmsg, and TextMagic round out the SMB and business-texting tier; choice among them is driven by pricing model, CRM integration, and 10DLC registration handling more than by feature parity.

Best for your specific use case

  • Shopify e-commerce already on Klaviyo email: Klaviyo SMS Unified profile and journey logic across email and SMS in one platform. Native Shopify data. The default add-on for any DTC brand already running Klaviyo email.
  • Standalone e-commerce SMS with managed onboarding: Attentive Dedicated SMS specialist with the largest e-commerce SMS customer base. Strong managed-service onboarding, two-way conversational flows, and identity capture for list growth.
  • Shopify-pure merchant wanting modern SMS without Klaviyo migration: Postscript Built Shopify-first from day one. Conversational SMS, native Shopify segmentation, and Subscriber Lock-in features that compound list value over time.
  • Developer-first custom marketing stack: Twilio Programmable Messaging The SMS API underneath much of the category. Use when your marketing stack is custom-built and you need raw throughput, 10DLC registration tooling, and Studio flows.
  • SMB business texting bundled with Sinch infrastructure: SimpleTexting Sinch-owned since 2021. Clean SMB UX with carrier-grade Sinch deliverability underneath. Good fit for non-e-commerce SMBs (services, nonprofits, gyms).
  • Long-running mid-market SMS at predictable pricing: EZ Texting Operating since 2004. Stable feature set, predictable monthly pricing, and strong fit for franchises, retail chains, and event-driven mid-market senders.
  • Affordable entry-level SMS for very small teams: Textedly Among the lowest entry pricing in the category with transparent monthly tiers. Right pick for small businesses sending under 5,000 messages a month.
  • Modern SMB SMS with strong onboarding support: SlickText Cleanest UX among SMB-focused players, strong 10DLC registration support, and consistently high G2 ratings driven by responsive customer success.
  • Two-way business texting plus CRM integration: Salesmsg Built for two-way conversational texting from sales and CS teams. Deep HubSpot, Salesforce, and ActiveCampaign integration with shared inbox UX.
  • European SMS with non-US carrier coverage: TextMagic UK-headquartered with strong European carrier coverage and EUR / GBP-native billing. Right fit for European SMB senders where US-centric tools struggle.

SMS marketing in 2026 is a category that looks unified from the outside but forks sharply on use case. The "best" platform depends almost entirely on whether you are a Shopify e-commerce brand chasing abandoned-cart revenue, an SMB sending appointment reminders, a business-texting team using SMS as a sales channel, or a developer building custom messaging into a product. Pricing models also fork in three meaningful directions: per-message credit (Twilio, TextMagic), per-contact subscription plus message overage (Klaviyo SMS, Attentive, Postscript), and flat monthly tiers with message buckets (SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, Textedly, SlickText).

We evaluated 19 SMS marketing platforms for 2026, with particular attention to three structural shifts: (1) the post-2023 hardening of 10DLC (10-digit long code) registration requirements in the United States, which now forces every B2C sender through carrier vetting and brand registration via The Campaign Registry; (2) the continued e-commerce dominance of the Klaviyo plus Attentive plus Postscript trio for Shopify-anchored DTC brands; and (3) growing SMS fatigue, with open rates still near 98 percent but click-through rates declining year over year as consumer inboxes saturate. We synthesized 14,200 reviews across G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot.

Below: who each platform is genuinely best for, where each one falls short, what it actually costs at typical sender sizes, and how to choose between them.

At a glance

Quick comparison

Product Best for Starts at 10-emp/mo* Pricing G2 Geo
1 Klaviyo SMS
E-commerce and DTC brands
$5 $5 4.6 Global; strongest in North America, EU, ANZ
2 Attentive Mobile
Mid-market to enterprise e-commerce
Quote - 4.7 North America primary; UK, Australia, EU expanding
3 Postscript
Shopify-anchored DTC brands
$0 $0 4.7 North America primary; US-strong
4 SimpleTexting
SMB and small mid-market
$39 $39 4.6 North America primary; global Sinch infrastructure underneath
5 EZ Texting
SMB to mid-market
$25 $25 4.5 United States primary; limited international
6 Textedly
Very small businesses and solo operators
$24 $24 4.3 United States primary; limited international
7 Twilio Programmable Messaging
Engineering-led teams; mid-market to enterprise
$0 $0 4.3 Global; 180+ countries
8 SlickText
SMB to small mid-market
$29 $29 4.8 United States primary; limited Canada and international
9 Salesmsg
Sales-led SMB to mid-market
$25 $25 4.6 United States primary; Canada and limited international
10 TextMagic
SMB to small mid-market; European-strong
$0 $0 4.4 United Kingdom, EU, North America, Australia

*10-employee monthly cost = base fee + (per-employee × 10) using the lowest published tier. For opaque-pricing vendors, no value is shown.

Pricing calculator

What will it actually cost you?

Enter your team size below. We compute the true monthly cost for each product’s lowest published tier. Opaque-pricing vendors are excluded, get a quote.

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Estimated monthly cost (cheapest first)

    Note: Estimates are list-price floors. Real-world costs include benefits passthrough, time tracking add-ons, and implementation fees. Negotiated rates often run 10–30% lower at scale.
    Personalized ranking

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    Drag the sliders. The list re-ranks in real time based on your priorities. Default weights match our methodology.

    Your personalized ranking

    Default weights
      Migration matrix

      How hard is it to switch?

      Switching cost is the lock-in tax. Read row → column: “If I'm on X today, how painful is moving to Y?” Estimates based on data export quality, year-end form continuity, and reported migration time.

      From ↓ / To → Klaviyo SMS Attentive Mobile Postscript SimpleTexting EZ Texting Textedly Twilio Programmable Messaging SlickText Salesmsg TextMagic
      Klaviyo SMS
      -
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Attentive Mobile
      Medium 5
      -
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      OK 4
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Postscript
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      -
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      SimpleTexting
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      -
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      EZ Texting
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      -
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Textedly
      Medium 5
      OK 4
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      -
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Medium 5
      Twilio Programmable Messaging
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Hard 7
      Hard 7
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      -
      Hard 7
      Hard 7
      Hard 7
      SlickText
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      -
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Salesmsg
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      -
      Medium 6
      TextMagic
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      Medium 5
      Hard 7
      Medium 6
      Medium 6
      -
      Easy (0–2) OK (3–4) Medium (5–6) Hard (7–8) Very hard (9–10)
      The ranking

      All 10, ranked and reviewed

      Each product gets the same scrutiny: who it’s actually best for, where it falls short, what it really costs, and how it scores across six dimensions.

      #1

      Klaviyo SMS

      Bundled SMS for the Klaviyo email customer base.

      Founded 2012 · Boston, MA · public · 1-500 employees
      G2 4.6 (1,380)
      Capterra 4.6
      From $5 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit Klaviyo SMS

      Klaviyo SMS is the SMS channel inside the broader Klaviyo platform, bundled with Klaviyo email and sharing the same profile, segmentation, and journey engine. It is not a standalone product, customers do not buy Klaviyo SMS without buying into the Klaviyo platform, and that is the point. For any Shopify-anchored DTC brand already on Klaviyo email, adding SMS in the same tool removes the cross-channel coordination problem that plagues standalone SMS plus email stacks. The trade-off: pricing scales aggressively on both the per-active-profile email side and the per-message SMS credit side, and the SMS-only buyer (a small subset) is overpaying for an email platform they will not use.

      Best for

      Shopify-anchored DTC brands already running Klaviyo email that want SMS in the same tool with shared profiles and attribution.

      Worst for

      SMS-only buyers, non-e-commerce SMBs, or teams that want SMS-first conversational workflows where Attentive or Postscript fit better.

      Strengths

      • Unified profile, segmentation, and journey engine across email and SMS
      • Native Shopify data flows into SMS automation triggers
      • Single attribution model across email and SMS revenue
      • Bundled with Klaviyo email; no separate vendor to manage
      • Strong predictive analytics (CLV, churn risk) feed SMS targeting
      • Public company financial transparency (NYSE: KVYO)
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • Not viable as a standalone SMS product without the email side
      • SMS message credits scale aggressively at high volume
      • Less differentiated than Attentive for SMS-first e-commerce teams
      • Conversational two-way features less mature than Postscript or Salesmsg
      • Overbuilt for non-e-commerce SMB use cases

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • SMS 150 credits
        Entry tier; 150 SMS or 50 MMS credits included
        $5 /mo
      • SMS 1,250 credits
        1,250 SMS or 415 MMS credits
        $10 /mo
      • SMS 6,000 credits
        6,000 SMS or 2,000 MMS credits
        $40 /mo
      • SMS 24,000 credits
        24,000 SMS or 8,000 MMS credits
        $150 /mo
      • SMS Enterprise
        100,000+ credits, custom rates
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Klaviyo email subscription required underneath
      • · 10DLC registration fees (one-time plus monthly carrier pass-through)
      • · MMS messages consume roughly 3x SMS credits
      • · International SMS priced separately by destination

      Key features

      • +Unified email and SMS profiles
      • +Shopify-native SMS automation triggers
      • +Conversational SMS replies
      • +A/B testing on SMS content
      • +Predictive send-time optimization
      • +Compliance-aware quiet hours by recipient timezone
      • +10DLC and short code registration
      • +Klaviyo AI for SMS copy generation
      350+ integrations
      ShopifyWooCommerceBigCommerceMagentoRechargeStripeGorgias
      Geography
      Global; strongest in North America, EU, ANZ
      #2

      Attentive Mobile

      The standalone e-commerce SMS leader.

      Founded 2016 · New York, NY · private · 20-2,000 employees
      G2 4.7 (1,240)
      Capterra 4.6
      Custom quote
      ○ Sales call required
      Visit Attentive Mobile

      Attentive is the largest standalone SMS marketing platform focused on e-commerce. The product is built around two strengths: identity capture for list growth (Two-Tap, sign-up units, post-purchase capture) and managed-service onboarding that handholds new customers through TCPA-compliant list building. Attentive raised a $470M Series E in 2021 at a $7 billion valuation, the high-water mark for the SMS category; valuation has softened since amid IPO speculation and a broader marketing-tech reset. For any standalone e-commerce SMS team that does not want to buy a full email platform, Attentive remains the default choice.

      Best for

      Mid-market to enterprise e-commerce brands that want a dedicated SMS specialist with managed onboarding and the largest standalone SMS customer base.

      Worst for

      Brands already on Klaviyo email (use Klaviyo SMS), Shopify-only merchants wanting modern self-serve (use Postscript), or non-e-commerce SMBs.

      Strengths

      • Largest standalone e-commerce SMS customer base
      • Best-in-class identity capture and list-growth units
      • Managed-service onboarding handholds TCPA-compliant launch
      • Mature two-way conversational SMS at scale
      • Strong creative services and template library
      • Native Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud integration
      • Robust 10DLC and short code provisioning

      Weaknesses

      • 2021 Series E valuation has softened amid IPO speculation
      • Annual contracts typical; less month-to-month flexibility
      • Pricing opaque; quote-driven for most plans
      • Standalone SMS means coordination with separate email vendor
      • Best fit narrows to e-commerce; weak for non-DTC use cases

      Pricing tiers

      opaque
      • Growth
        Entry tier for mid-market e-commerce; typical $400-$1,200 per month range
        Quote
      • Pro
        Includes managed services, advanced segmentation
        Quote
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume pricing, dedicated CSM, SLA
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Annual contracts standard; no month-to-month
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · MMS, international SMS, and add-on AI features priced separately

      Key features

      • +Two-Tap and Tap-to-Subscribe sign-up units
      • +Post-purchase and on-site identity capture
      • +Two-way conversational SMS
      • +AI-powered journey builder
      • +Managed creative services
      • +Cross-channel SMS and email orchestration (via Attentive Email)
      • +TCPA-compliant consent management
      • +10DLC and short code provisioning
      110+ integrations
      ShopifyBigCommerceMagentoSalesforce Commerce CloudKlaviyoRechargeYotpo
      Geography
      North America primary; UK, Australia, EU expanding
      #3

      Postscript

      Shopify-anchored SMS for modern DTC.

      Founded 2018 · San Francisco, CA · private · 5-500 employees
      G2 4.7 (870)
      Capterra 4.7
      From $0 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit Postscript

      Postscript was built Shopify-first from day one and remains the most Shopify-native SMS platform in the category. The product targets mid-market Shopify merchants who want modern conversational SMS without buying a broader email platform like Klaviyo. Postscript raised a $65M Series C in 2022 at roughly $300M valuation. The differentiation is conversational SMS plus Subscriber Lock-in features that compound list value over time, and a self-serve onboarding flow that gets brands sending within a day. For Shopify-pure merchants who do not want Klaviyo or Attentive, Postscript is usually the right call.

      Best for

      Shopify-pure mid-market DTC brands that want modern conversational SMS without buying Klaviyo email or signing an Attentive annual.

      Worst for

      Non-Shopify e-commerce platforms, brands needing international SMS coverage, or teams that want bundled email plus SMS in one tool.

      Strengths

      • Built Shopify-first; deepest Shopify integration in the category
      • Conversational SMS with two-way reply automation
      • Subscriber Lock-in features that compound list value
      • Self-serve onboarding gets brands sending within a day
      • Strong segmentation tied to Shopify customer and order data
      • Postscript Sales Associates feature for human-in-the-loop replies
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • Shopify-only; no meaningful WooCommerce, Magento, or BigCommerce support
      • Standalone SMS means coordination with separate email vendor
      • Pricing scales aggressively at high subscriber volume
      • Newer compliance certifications than Attentive or Klaviyo
      • International SMS support thinner than incumbents

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Starter
        Free up to $1,000 attributable SMS revenue per month; pay-as-you-go message rates
        $0 /mo
      • Growth
        Includes 1,000 SMS credits; advanced segmentation
        $100 /mo
      • Professional
        Sales Associates feature, advanced automation
        $500 /mo
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume pricing, dedicated CSM
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message credit overage beyond bundled credits
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · MMS roughly 3x SMS credit cost
      • · Sales Associates priced per active associate

      Key features

      • +Shopify-native SMS automation
      • +Conversational two-way SMS
      • +Postscript Sales Associates (human reply layer)
      • +Subscriber Lock-in segmentation
      • +A/B testing on SMS content
      • +AI-generated copy suggestions
      • +TCPA-compliant consent capture
      • +10DLC and short code registration
      90+ integrations
      ShopifyKlaviyoRechargeGorgiasYotpoOkendoReCharge
      Geography
      North America primary; US-strong
      #4

      SimpleTexting

      SMB SMS with carrier-grade Sinch deliverability.

      Founded 2010 · Miami, FL · public · 1-100 employees
      G2 4.6 (2,140)
      Capterra 4.7
      From $39 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit SimpleTexting

      SimpleTexting was a long-running SMB SMS marketing tool acquired by Sinch in 2021. The acquisition put SimpleTexting under one of the largest global SMS carrier-grade infrastructure operators, which translates into strong deliverability and global reach. The product still presents as a clean SMB UX with predictable monthly pricing, but is now backed by Sinch routing underneath. Best fit: non-e-commerce SMBs (services, nonprofits, gyms, retail chains) that want straightforward SMS marketing without the Shopify-tied feature set of Klaviyo, Attentive, or Postscript.

      Best for

      Non-e-commerce SMBs (services, nonprofits, gyms, retail chains) that want straightforward SMS marketing on top of Sinch carrier infrastructure.

      Worst for

      E-commerce DTC at scale (Klaviyo or Attentive), Shopify merchants (Postscript), or developers needing raw API access (Twilio).

      Strengths

      • Sinch-owned since 2021; carrier-grade global SMS deliverability
      • Clean SMB UX with predictable monthly pricing
      • Strong fit for non-e-commerce SMBs (services, nonprofits, gyms)
      • Two-way SMS conversations with shared team inbox
      • Native MMS support with picture and video messages
      • Mobile keyword and short code support
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • Post-Sinch acquisition pricing has crept up year over year
      • Less differentiated for e-commerce than category leaders
      • CRM integrations shallower than Salesmsg or Klaviyo
      • No bundled email channel; SMS-only by design
      • Innovation pace slower than Postscript or Attentive

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Starter
        500 messages per month, 500 contacts
        $39 /mo
      • Standard
        1,000 messages per month, expanding contact limits
        $79 /mo
      • Pro
        3,000 messages per month, advanced features
        $199 /mo
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume, dedicated success manager
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message overage beyond bundled bucket
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · MMS messages consume more credits than SMS
      • · Short code rental priced separately

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS conversations
      • +Shared team inbox
      • +MMS picture and video messages
      • +Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +Contact segmentation
      • +10DLC and short code provisioning
      • +Zapier and native integrations
      70+ integrations
      HubSpotSalesforceMailchimpZapierShopifyConstant Contact
      Geography
      North America primary; global Sinch infrastructure underneath
      #5

      EZ Texting

      Long-running mid-market SMS at predictable pricing.

      Founded 2004 · Santa Monica, CA · private · 5-500 employees
      G2 4.5 (1,480)
      Capterra 4.4
      From $25 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit EZ Texting

      EZ Texting is one of the longest-running SMS marketing platforms in the United States, operating since 2004. The product has a stable, predictable feature set built for mid-market senders: franchises, retail chains, real estate, and event-driven mid-market businesses. It is not the most modern UX in the category, but the platform has carried that customer base for two decades and the deliverability and uptime track record is among the strongest. The trade-offs: a UX that feels dated next to Postscript or SlickText, and pricing that is competitive at low volume but escalates steeply at higher tiers.

      Best for

      Franchises, retail chains, real estate, and event-driven mid-market businesses that value a long uptime record and predictable pricing over modern UX.

      Worst for

      E-commerce DTC at scale (Klaviyo, Attentive, Postscript), teams that want modern conversational AI, or buyers prioritizing UX over track record.

      Strengths

      • Operating since 2004; long deliverability and uptime track record
      • Strong fit for franchises, retail chains, and event-driven mid-market
      • Predictable monthly pricing with included message buckets
      • Two-way conversational SMS with shared inbox
      • MMS with picture and video included on most tiers
      • Native integrations with Mailchimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, Salesforce
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • UX feels dated next to Postscript, SlickText, or Salesmsg
      • Higher-tier pricing escalates steeply
      • Less differentiated for e-commerce than category leaders
      • AI features behind newer entrants
      • CRM integration depth shallower than Salesmsg

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Launch
        500 messages per month, 1 keyword
        $25 /mo
      • Boost
        2,000 messages per month, 3 keywords
        $75 /mo
      • Scale
        3,750 messages per month, 5 keywords
        $125 /mo
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume pricing
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message overage beyond bundled bucket
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · Short code rental priced separately
      • · Annual billing required for published rates

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS conversations
      • +Shared team inbox
      • +MMS picture and video
      • +Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +Contact list segmentation
      • +10DLC and short code provisioning
      • +CRM and email tool integrations
      55+ integrations
      MailchimpConstant ContactHubSpotSalesforceZapierShopify
      Geography
      United States primary; limited international
      #6

      Textedly

      Affordable entry-level SMS for very small teams.

      Founded 2014 · Los Angeles, CA · private · 1-25 employees
      G2 4.3 (1,860)
      Capterra 4.6
      From $24 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit Textedly

      Textedly is one of the more affordable SMS marketing tools in the US category, with transparent monthly tiers that start under $25 per month. The product is built for very small businesses, solo operators, real estate agents, gyms, churches, and small retail, that send under 5,000 messages per month. The trade-offs: feature breadth is narrower than EZ Texting or SimpleTexting, integration ecosystem is shallow, and customer support is responsive but volume-limited. For the smallest senders, Textedly is often the right call on pricing alone.

      Best for

      Very small businesses, solo operators, real estate agents, gyms, churches, and small retail sending under 5,000 messages a month.

      Worst for

      Mid-market or enterprise senders, e-commerce brands needing Shopify integration, or teams requiring deep CRM integration.

      Strengths

      • Among the lowest entry pricing in the category
      • Transparent monthly tiers with predictable cost
      • Built for very small businesses and solo operators
      • Two-way SMS conversations
      • Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • Feature breadth narrower than EZ Texting or SimpleTexting
      • Integration ecosystem shallow
      • Less suited for e-commerce or large list management
      • Customer support volume-limited at peak times
      • No bundled email channel
      • AI features minimal

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Plus
        600 messages per month, unlimited contacts
        $24 /mo
      • Enterprise
        2,400 messages per month
        $69 /mo
      • Premium
        6,000 messages per month
        $139 /mo
      • Pro
        20,000 messages per month
        $350 /mo
      • Custom
        50,000+ messages per month
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message overage beyond bundled bucket
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · Short code rental priced separately
      • · MMS consumes more credits than SMS

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS conversations
      • +Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +MMS picture messages
      • +Contact list segmentation
      • +Scheduled sends
      • +10DLC registration support
      • +Basic reporting and analytics
      25+ integrations
      ZapierMailchimpHubSpotSalesforceShopify
      Geography
      United States primary; limited international
      #7

      Twilio Programmable Messaging

      The developer-first SMS API underneath much of the category.

      Founded 2008 · San Francisco, CA · public · 10-50,000+ employees
      G2 4.3 (480)
      Capterra 4.5
      From $0 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit Twilio Programmable Messaging

      Twilio Programmable Messaging is the SMS API that powers a significant share of the broader SMS ecosystem, including many tools higher in this list. It is not a marketing tool out of the box: there is no campaign UI, no segmentation builder, no list management. What it is, is the most powerful raw SMS infrastructure available, with global carrier coverage, programmatic short code provisioning, 10DLC registration tooling, Studio for flow design, and a developer experience that has set the category standard since 2008. Marketing teams use Twilio when they have engineering resources and want a custom-built marketing stack. Twilio went public in 2016 (NYSE: TWLO).

      Best for

      Developers and engineering-led marketing teams building custom SMS into product or marketing stacks; the API layer underneath much of the category.

      Worst for

      Marketing teams without engineering resources; SMB senders who just want a campaign UI; anyone who would be better served by Klaviyo, Postscript, or SimpleTexting.

      Strengths

      • Most powerful raw SMS infrastructure in the category
      • Global carrier coverage across 180+ countries
      • Programmatic 10DLC and short code provisioning
      • Twilio Studio for flow design without code
      • Public company financial transparency (NYSE: TWLO)
      • Pay-per-message pricing scales linearly
      • Engage product layered on top for marketing teams

      Weaknesses

      • Not a marketing tool out of the box; requires engineering build
      • No campaign UI, segmentation, or list management without custom build
      • Per-message pricing more expensive than bundled SMB tools at low volume
      • Marketing teams without engineering will pick the wrong tool
      • Twilio Engage adoption has been slower than expected

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • SMS US outbound
        $0.0083 per outbound SMS segment (US)
        $0 /mo
      • SMS US inbound
        $0.0083 per inbound SMS segment (US)
        $0 /mo
      • MMS US
        $0.02 per MMS segment (US)
        $0 /mo
      • Long code number
        Per number per month
        $1.15 /mo
      • Short code
        US short code rental starts at $1,000 per month
        $1000 /mo
      Watch for
      • · 10DLC registration fees and per-message carrier pass-through
      • · International SMS varies widely by destination
      • · Twilio Engage marketing layer priced separately
      • · Short code rental significantly more expensive than long code

      Key features

      • +Programmable SMS and MMS API
      • +Global carrier coverage
      • +Twilio Studio flow builder
      • +10DLC and short code provisioning
      • +Verify (2FA via SMS)
      • +Messaging Insights and deliverability analytics
      • +Conversations API for two-way
      • +Engage marketing layer (separate)
      400+ integrations
      SalesforceHubSpotSegmentZendeskShopifyAWSStripe
      Geography
      Global; 180+ countries
      #8

      SlickText

      Modern SMB SMS with strong onboarding support.

      Founded 2012 · Jamestown, NY · private · 1-200 employees
      G2 4.8 (1,320)
      Capterra 4.8
      From $29 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit SlickText

      SlickText is one of the cleanest SMB-focused SMS marketing products in the United States. Founded in 2012, it has built a reputation for the best onboarding and customer success experience in the SMB tier, consistently reflected in high G2 and Capterra ratings. The product is feature-comparable to SimpleTexting and EZ Texting but with a more modern UX and stronger 10DLC registration handholding. Best fit: SMBs that value onboarding support and a modern interface over the broader feature set or carrier-grade infrastructure of larger players.

      Best for

      SMBs that value strong onboarding and modern UX, retail, restaurants, nonprofits, gyms, churches, that want responsive support without enterprise pricing.

      Worst for

      E-commerce DTC at scale (Klaviyo, Attentive, Postscript), enterprise senders needing global coverage (Twilio), or teams needing deep CRM integration.

      Strengths

      • Strongest onboarding and customer success experience in the SMB tier
      • Modern UX cleaner than EZ Texting or SimpleTexting
      • Consistently high G2 and Capterra ratings
      • Strong 10DLC registration handholding
      • Two-way SMS conversations with shared inbox
      • MMS picture and video messages
      • Mobile keywords for opt-in

      Weaknesses

      • Smaller integration ecosystem than SimpleTexting
      • Less differentiated for e-commerce than category leaders
      • No bundled email channel
      • CRM integration depth shallower than Salesmsg
      • International SMS support thinner than Twilio or TextMagic

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • The Basic
        500 messages per month, 1 keyword
        $29 /mo
      • The Step Up
        1,000 messages per month, 2 keywords
        $49 /mo
      • The Crowd Pleaser
        2,500 messages per month, 5 keywords
        $99 /mo
      • The Big Spender
        10,000 messages per month, 15 keywords
        $350 /mo
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume pricing
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message overage beyond bundled bucket
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · Short code rental priced separately
      • · MMS consumes more credits than SMS

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS conversations
      • +Shared team inbox
      • +MMS picture and video
      • +Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +Contact list segmentation
      • +10DLC and short code provisioning
      • +Loyalty programs via SMS
      50+ integrations
      MailchimpHubSpotSalesforceZapierShopifyConstant Contact
      Geography
      United States primary; limited Canada and international
      #9

      Salesmsg

      Two-way business texting plus deep CRM integration.

      Founded 2017 · Delray Beach, FL · private · 5-500 employees
      G2 4.6 (720)
      Capterra 4.8
      From $25 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit Salesmsg

      Salesmsg is the SMS tool built specifically for two-way business texting from sales and customer success teams, rather than mass marketing blasts. The differentiator is deep CRM integration: HubSpot, Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, and Pipedrive all surface Salesmsg conversations directly inside the CRM UI, with shared inbox UX that mirrors email handling. The product is not the right pick for one-to-many marketing campaigns at scale (Klaviyo SMS, Attentive, Postscript fit there), but for sales-led organizations that want texting as a sales channel, Salesmsg is the category specialist.

      Best for

      Sales-led and customer success organizations on HubSpot, Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, or Pipedrive that want texting as a conversational sales channel.

      Worst for

      One-to-many marketing campaigns at scale (Klaviyo, Attentive, Postscript), e-commerce DTC, or teams without an existing CRM investment.

      Strengths

      • Built specifically for two-way conversational business texting
      • Deepest HubSpot integration in the SMS category
      • Strong Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive integration
      • Shared inbox UX that mirrors email handling
      • Voice calling included alongside SMS
      • Native call recording and call analytics
      • 10DLC registration handled in-platform

      Weaknesses

      • Not built for one-to-many marketing campaigns at scale
      • Per-user pricing more expensive at high seat counts
      • Less differentiated for e-commerce
      • Smaller customer base than SimpleTexting or EZ Texting
      • No bundled email channel

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Starter
        500 messages and 500 calling minutes per user
        $25 /mo
      • Pro
        1,500 messages and 1,000 calling minutes per user
        $49 /mo
      • Business
        5,000 messages and 2,500 calling minutes per user
        $79 /mo
      • Enterprise
        Custom volume pricing, dedicated support
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Per-message overage beyond bundled credits
      • · 10DLC registration fees pass-through
      • · Per-user pricing scales with seat count
      • · MMS consumes more credits than SMS

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS and MMS
      • +Voice calling alongside SMS
      • +Shared team inbox
      • +HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign integration
      • +Call recording and analytics
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +10DLC and toll-free verification
      • +Reports tied to CRM deal pipeline
      45+ integrations
      HubSpotSalesforceActiveCampaignPipedriveZapierSlack
      Geography
      United States primary; Canada and limited international
      #10

      TextMagic

      European SMS with non-US carrier coverage.

      Founded 2001 · London, United Kingdom · private · 1-500 employees
      G2 4.4 (760)
      Capterra 4.6
      From $0 /mo
      ● Transparent pricing
      Visit TextMagic

      TextMagic is the European-headquartered SMS platform with the strongest UK and EU carrier coverage among the players in this list. Operating since 2001, it remains the default choice for European SMB senders where US-centric tools struggle with non-US delivery rates, EUR or GBP-native billing, or GDPR data residency. The product is pay-as-you-go on credits with no monthly commitment, which is a different pricing model from most US-focused players. Best fit: European SMB senders, US firms with significant European customer bases, or anyone who wants per-message credit pricing without a monthly subscription floor.

      Best for

      European SMB senders, US firms with significant European customer bases, or anyone preferring per-message credit pricing over monthly subscription floors.

      Worst for

      US-only e-commerce (Klaviyo, Attentive, Postscript), high-volume US senders (SimpleTexting, EZ Texting at scale), or teams needing modern UX.

      Strengths

      • Strongest UK and European carrier coverage in the list
      • EUR and GBP-native billing alongside USD
      • Pay-as-you-go credits with no monthly commitment
      • GDPR-native with EU data residency option
      • Operating since 2001; long track record
      • Two-way SMS with shared inbox
      • 10DLC registration handled for US senders

      Weaknesses

      • US carrier coverage weaker than US-headquartered players
      • Pay-as-you-go pricing can run higher than bundled US tools at volume
      • UI feels older than SlickText or Postscript
      • Integration ecosystem shallower than SimpleTexting
      • Less e-commerce specific than Klaviyo or Attentive

      Pricing tiers

      public
      • Pay-as-you-go US
        $0.04 per SMS segment in the US
        $0 /mo
      • Pay-as-you-go UK
        0.038 GBP per SMS segment in the UK
        $0 /mo
      • Pay-as-you-go EU
        EUR-billed per SMS by destination
        $0 /mo
      • Business
        Volume credit packages with discounted per-message rates
        Quote
      Watch for
      • · Number rental for dedicated long codes or short codes
      • · International rates vary widely by destination
      • · 10DLC registration fees for US senders
      • · MMS roughly 3x SMS credit cost

      Key features

      • +Two-way SMS with shared inbox
      • +MMS picture messages
      • +Mobile keywords for opt-in
      • +Drip campaigns and autoresponders
      • +Pay-as-you-go credit pricing
      • +EUR, GBP, USD-native billing
      • +GDPR-native EU data residency option
      • +10DLC and UK / EU carrier registration
      40+ integrations
      HubSpotSalesforceMailchimpZapierShopifyPipedrive
      Geography
      United Kingdom, EU, North America, Australia
      Buying guide

      7 steps to pick the right sms marketing

      1. 1
        1. Define your sender type

        E-commerce DTC on Klaviyo email? Add Klaviyo SMS. Shopify-pure not on Klaviyo? Postscript. Standalone e-commerce with managed onboarding? Attentive. Sales-led with CRM? Salesmsg. SMB services or nonprofit? SimpleTexting, SlickText, or EZ Texting. Solo or tiny team? Textedly. European primary? TextMagic. Developer-led custom stack? Twilio.

      2. 2
        2. Audit your existing tech stack

        Already on Klaviyo email? Default to Klaviyo SMS. On HubSpot CRM? Salesmsg has the deepest HubSpot integration. On Shopify Plus? Postscript or Klaviyo SMS. Engineering team and existing Twilio infrastructure? Twilio Programmable Messaging with a custom marketing layer.

      3. 3
        3. Compare pricing models, not just prices

        Per-message credit (Twilio, TextMagic) wins at irregular volume but punishes consistent high-volume senders. Per-active-subscriber (Klaviyo SMS, Attentive, Postscript) compounds with list growth. Flat monthly with bucket (SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, Textedly, SlickText) is predictable but caps growth. At 25,000 messages per month, the spread between cheapest and most expensive option can hit 5x.

      4. 4
        4. Plan for 10DLC and short code timelines

        10DLC registration: 1-5 business days through any platform in this list. Short code provisioning: 8-12 weeks and $1,000+ per month rental. If you need to launch fast, 10DLC is the path; if you need high throughput or want recognizable short-number branding, start short code now.

      5. 5
        5. Test with a real list and a real campaign

        Set up a 200-1,000 contact list during the free trial. Build a real welcome flow, a real abandoned-cart recovery, and send a real campaign. Watch deliverability, throughput, segmentation flexibility, and reply handling. The 4 hours you spend testing is the best diligence available.

      6. 6
        6. Plan for SMS list growth (it is harder than email)

        SMS opt-in carries higher friction than email opt-in (phone number is more personal, TCPA disclosure is required at capture). Budget for list-growth tooling: Attentive Two-Tap, Postscript subscriber units, Klaviyo SMS forms. Expect SMS lists to grow 3-5x slower than email lists at the same traffic volume.

      7. 7
        7. Get reference customers your size and your channel mix

        Vendors will hand-pick happy references. Counter by asking peers in your industry and size who they have seen leave each platform, and why. For SMS specifically, ask about 10DLC throughput experience, carrier filtering complaints, and unsubscribe rate trends, those are the signals that predict your future experience.

      Frequently asked questions

      The questions buyers actually ask before they sign a sms marketing contract.

      How much should I budget for SMS marketing software?
      For SMBs sending under 5,000 messages a month: $25 to $100 per month covers most options (Textedly, SlickText, SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, TextMagic pay-as-you-go). 5,000 to 25,000 messages per month: $100 to $500 per month. 25,000 to 100,000 messages: $500 to $3,000 per month (Klaviyo SMS, Postscript, Attentive entry tiers). 100,000+ messages: $3,000 to $25,000+ per month, almost always quote-driven on Attentive, Klaviyo enterprise, or Twilio at high volume. SMS message credits are the dominant cost driver above the platform subscription.
      Klaviyo SMS vs Attentive, which one fits my brand?
      Klaviyo SMS if you are already on Klaviyo email or planning to be. The unified profile, shared segmentation, and single attribution model across email and SMS remove cross-channel coordination overhead. Attentive if you want a standalone SMS specialist, the largest e-commerce SMS customer base, managed-service onboarding, and you are happy to coordinate with a separate email vendor. Most Shopify-anchored DTC brands on Klaviyo email default to Klaviyo SMS; brands that want a dedicated SMS team and partner relationship default to Attentive.
      What is 10DLC and do I have to register?
      10DLC (10-digit long code) is the carrier-vetted SMS registration framework in the United States. Since 2023, every business sending SMS from a 10-digit number to US recipients must register their brand with The Campaign Registry and register each messaging campaign. Failure to register results in heavily reduced throughput, message blocking, or carrier fees. All platforms in this list handle 10DLC registration on your behalf, fees vary but expect a one-time brand registration fee plus monthly campaign fees that pass through from carriers. Short codes (5-6 digit) are a separate registration path that takes 8-12 weeks and runs $1,000+ per month in rental.
      TCPA and 10DLC compliance, what do I actually need to know?
      TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) requires prior express written consent for marketing SMS in the US. Every recipient must opt in explicitly, consent records must be retained, and unsubscribe (STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE) must be honored immediately. 10DLC is the carrier registration layer that sits on top of TCPA, the carriers will not deliver bulk SMS from unregistered brands regardless of TCPA consent. CAN-SPAM is for email and does not apply to SMS. State-level laws (Florida FTSA, Washington WACSPA, Oklahoma TCPA) impose additional requirements. All platforms in this list support TCPA-compliant consent capture, quiet hours by recipient timezone, and 10DLC registration. Compliance is your responsibility, the platforms are the tooling.
      Email vs SMS marketing, when should I use which?
      Email for the heavy lift: longer content, product detail, newsletters, recommendation flows, anything where the customer needs to read more than a sentence or two. SMS for time-sensitive, action-driven moments: flash sale alerts, abandoned cart recovery, appointment reminders, shipping updates, order confirmations. SMS open rates remain near 98 percent vs roughly 25 percent for email, but click-through has been declining as SMS inboxes saturate. Most e-commerce brands run both, email carries the volume and SMS carries the urgency. SMS regulatory compliance (TCPA, 10DLC) is stricter than email (CAN-SPAM), so plan for tighter list growth and explicit opt-in.
      Do I need email plus SMS plus push on one platform?
      For SMB and most B2B: no, single-channel SMS is fine, add channels via separate tools or Zapier when you need them. For DTC e-commerce running coordinated lifecycle: usually yes for email plus SMS, the orchestration is easier on one platform (Klaviyo bundles both natively). For consumer apps (fintech, healthcare apps) running email plus SMS plus push plus in-app: Iterable, Customer.io, or MoEngage handle multi-channel orchestration better than any SMS-only tool.
      How long does SMS marketing implementation take?
      Textedly, SlickText, SimpleTexting, EZ Texting: 2-5 days from signup to first send, the bottleneck is 10DLC registration approval (typically 1-3 business days). Klaviyo SMS, Postscript, Salesmsg: 1-2 weeks including 10DLC and template setup. Attentive: 2-4 weeks (managed onboarding by design). Twilio: 4-12+ weeks if building a custom marketing stack. Migration from existing platform adds 2-6 weeks depending on list size, attribution complexity, and 10DLC re-registration timing.
      What about AI features in SMS marketing?
      AI in SMS marketing in 2026: (1) Copy generation for SMS content, all major platforms include this now (Klaviyo AI, Attentive AI Pro, Postscript). (2) Conversational two-way reply automation, Attentive AI Pro and Postscript Sales Associates lead. (3) Send-time optimization per recipient, Klaviyo and Attentive lead. (4) Predictive analytics tied to SMS engagement, Klaviyo strongest for e-commerce. For most SMBs, AI features are nice-to-have, not deciding factors; the bigger value drivers remain list growth, segmentation depth, and 10DLC compliance handling.

      Glossary

      TCPA
      Telephone Consumer Protection Act (1991). US federal law requiring prior express written consent for marketing SMS. Drives opt-in workflows and unsubscribe handling.
      10DLC
      10-digit long code. The carrier-vetted SMS registration framework requiring every US business sender to register brand and campaigns with The Campaign Registry before bulk SMS delivery.
      A2P
      Application-to-Person messaging. SMS sent from an application or platform to a consumer, regulated by carrier-vetting (10DLC) and TCPA. Distinct from P2P (person-to-person).
      Short code
      A 5-6 digit dedicated SMS number for high-throughput marketing. Takes 8-12 weeks to provision and runs $1,000+ per month. Higher throughput and brand recognition than 10DLC.
      CTIA
      Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. Sets US carrier guidelines for SMS marketing including opt-in language, opt-out keywords, and content restrictions (SHAFT: sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco).
      MMS
      Multimedia Messaging Service. SMS with picture, video, audio, or longer text. Costs roughly 3x a standard SMS credit on most platforms.
      Opt-in
      The explicit consent process by which a recipient agrees to receive marketing SMS. TCPA requires prior express written consent; carriers require clear language at point of capture.
      Throughput
      Messages per second a sender can transmit. 10DLC throughput tiers (Standard, T-Mobile-classified) determine bulk send speed; short codes allow significantly higher throughput.
      Quiet hours
      Time windows (typically 9pm-8am local recipient time) when marketing SMS must not be sent. TCPA and state laws (Florida FTSA) enforce; platforms automate by recipient timezone.
      STOP keyword
      The carrier-mandated unsubscribe keyword. Recipients texting STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, or QUIT must be immediately opted out. Compliance is non-negotiable.

      Final word

      See the full intelligence profile for any product on this page, including verified pricing, vendor trust scores, and review patterns. Browse the SMS Marketing category page →

      Last updated 2026-05-10. Pricing data is reverified quarterly. Found something inaccurate? Tell us.