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The Best Text Message Marketing Services of 2024

The best SMS marketing platforms help businesses craft effective campaigns that are tailor-made to reach their target audiences.

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Written by: Max Freedman, Senior AnalystUpdated Aug 26, 2024
Adam Uzialko,Senior Editor
Business News Daily earns compensation from some listed companies. Editorial Guidelines.

Devising an effective text message marketing campaign means making use of the right tools. We chose the best text message marketing software that gives businesses a competitive advantage when trying to engage customers and leads through the short message service (SMS) channel. We’ve tested some of the biggest names in the text message marketing space to find the best software platforms out there. Check out our best picks below for our recommendations.

Sponsored Partners
EZ Texting
Best for Advanced Features
EZ Texting logo
Visit Site
Links to EZ Texting
  • Starting price: $20 per month
  • 4 service plans
  • No phone support
SlickText
Best for Customer Loyalty
SlickText logo
Visit Site
Links to SlickText
  • Starting price: $29 per month
  • 9 service plans
  • Phone support available
Omnisend
Best for Affordability
Omnisend logo
Visit Site
Links to Omnisend
  • Starting price: $0
  • 3 service plans
  • No phone support
ProTexting
Best for Ease of Use
Protexting company logo
Visit Site
Links to ProTexting
  • Starting price: $39 per month
  • 7 service plans
  • Phone support available
Textline
Best for Large Businesses and Teams
Textline logo
  • Starting price: $59.97 per month
  • 3 service plans
  • No phone support
Table Of Contents Icon

Table of Contents

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At Business News Daily, we’ve spent years researching and testing the marketing software and services entrepreneurs need to reach their target audience, generate leads and drive sales. Our team of small business marketing specialists conducts independent evaluations of the best marketing service providers to determine which are the most effective. We also regularly consult with marketing experts, including social media managers, email and text message marketers, SEOs and public relations professionals, to stay on top of the latest marketing trends impacting small businesses. And every review we publish is evaluated by our editorial staff to ensure objectivity, accuracy and fairness are at the core of our decision-making. Learn more about our editorial guidelines.

How We Decided

When choosing the best text message marketing software platforms, our team of small business marketing experts tested the leading solutions to get a firsthand sense of which provide the most value. We conducted live demonstrations and accessed free trials to try out each platform ourselves. During these tests, we looked for the most cost-effective solutions with key features such as SMS/MMS messaging...

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When choosing the best text message marketing software platforms, our team of small business marketing experts tested the leading solutions to get a firsthand sense of which provide the most value. We conducted live demonstrations and accessed free trials to try out each platform ourselves. During these tests, we looked for the most cost-effective solutions with key features such as SMS/MMS messaging caps, automation tools, integrations with third-party software and mass-messaging options. We also looked for platforms that made regulatory compliance easy, from opt-in and unsubscribe messaging to easy-to-understand compliance reporting.

24

considered

18

reviewed

5

selected

When choosing the best text message marketing software platforms, our team of small business marketing experts tested the leading solutions to get a firsthand sense of which provide the most value. We conducted live demonstrations and accessed free trials to try out each platform ourselves. During these tests, we looked for the most cost-effective solutions with key features such as SMS/MMS messaging caps, automation tools, integrations with third-party software and mass-messaging options. We also looked for platforms that made regulatory compliance easy, from opt-in and unsubscribe messaging to easy-to-understand compliance reporting.

24

considered

18

reviewed

5

selected

Connecting with your target audience in a way that is memorable and engaging is a challenge all businesses and marketers face. On every marketing channel, there’s so much competition for users’ attention that it can be a challenge to cut through the clutter and deliver your brand message. Text message marketing can be a powerful tool in this regard, offering you a one-to-one connection with your audience with one of the highest open rates of any marketing channel around.

Textedly platform on multiple devices

The best text message marketing services, such as Textedly, allow administrators and users to access the software on both desktop and mobile devices. Source: Textedly

Compare Our Best Picks

BND Ribbon
Our Top Picks for 2024
EZ Texting
SlickText
Omnisend
ProTexting
Textline
Textedly
Rating8.6/108.4/108.5/109.1/108.8/109.2/10
Best use case

Advanced Features

Customer Loyalty

Affordability

Ease of Use

Large Businesses and Teams

Scalability

Starting price

$20 per month

$29 per month

$0

$39 per month

$59.97 per month

$26 per month

Included text messages per month

500-200,000

500-50,000

60 (one time)

500-35,000

None included

500-240,000

Free incoming messages

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Keywords

Unlimited

2 to 30

Custom

1 to 20

Custom

1 to 50

AI tools

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

Mobile app

Limited functions, iOS only

Fully-funtional, iOS and Android

No

Fully-funtional, iOS and Android

Fully-functional, iOS and Android

No

Review Link
Scroll Table

Our Reviews

EZ Texting logo
Editor's Rating: 8.6/10
Visit Site
Links to EZ Texting

A user-friendly interface and an assortment of features make EZ Texting our selection as the best text message marketing solution for advanced features. Its native Shutterstock integration is a standout among the fantastic selection of tools — it suggests high-quality stock images to add to your multimedia messages in one click automatically. We didn’t encounter anything like it in another service. EZ Texting’s other advanced features include AI tools to compose new messages and reply to others as well as a team inbox that allows for increased collaboration. Plus, unlike competitors, EZ Texting doesn’t charge you when replying to customers. All two-way messages apart from the first sent text are free.

EZ Texting images

When creating a message in EZ Texting, the software will suggest free images you can include. Source: EZ Texting

PackageFeaturesTexts IncludedCost (Annual payments)
 Launch
  • Unlimited incoming messages, contacts, keywords and two-way texting
  • AI Compose
  • Team inbox with AI Reply
  • QR codes, signup forms
  • Shutterstock images and image editing tool
  • Customer relationship management (CRM)-Lite
  • Local EZ Textable Number
500$20 per month

2.7 cents per additional message

BoostEverything in the Launch package but with Local EZ High-Volume Number500$60 per month

2.25 cents per additional message

ScaleEverything in the Launch package but with Local EZ High-Volume, High-Speed Number500$100 per month

1.8 cents per additional message

EnterpriseEverything in the Launch package but with Dedicated Short Code200,000$3,000 per month

1 cent per additional message

  • EZ Texting's valuable advanced features, including an open API and AI text generation, are available with all plans.
  • The native Shutterstock integration is one-of-a-kind for businesses looking to use multimedia messages in their marketing.
  • Unlimited keywords and unlimited replies make managing customer communications a breeze.
  • EZ Texting can become expensive when sending high-volume messages.
  • The iOS mobile app doesn’t have access to most of EZ Texting’s features.
  • There is no phone support and customer service receives mixed reviews.

Trustpilot rating: After more than 100 reviews, EZ Texting has a TrustScore of 3.8 stars out of 5. One of the testimonials states, “With the advent of the AI portion, making the messages has been AWESOME!!!”

SlickText logo
Editor's Rating: 8.4/10
Visit Site
Links to SlickText

SlickText is a low-cost, quick-setup text message marketing service with customer loyalty tools we haven’t seen elsewhere. You can use SlickText to run text-to-win contests, offer mobile coupons with unique coupon codes and build a full-fledged customer loyalty program. The platform is straightforward, letting you run your loyalty program from right where you execute all your text message marketing campaigns. For both your marketing and loyalty initiatives, SlickText abounds with opportunities to schedule your messages in advance. This way, you can reach your customers at exactly the right time.

SlickText contests

SlickText enables your business to host text-based contests and giveaways with a simple text-to-enter feature. Source: SlickText

Texts IncludedFeaturesCost
500$29
1,000All 500 message plan features and:
  • 4 Textwords
$49
2,000All 500 message plan features and:
  • 6 Textwords
$79
3,600All 500 message plan features and:
  • 8 Textwords
  • Automatic workflows
  • One-on-one onboarding
$139
5,000All 3,600 message plan features and:
  • 14 Textwords
$189
10,000All 3,600 message plan features and:
  • 16 Textwords
$350
25.000All 3,600 message plan features and:
  • 20 Textwords
$750
50,000All 3,600 message plan features and:
  • 30 Textwords
$1,250
100,000All 3,600 message plan features and:
  • 40 Textwords
$1,999

  • SlickText helps businesses build customer loyalty through its text message marketing tools for contests and discounts.
  • The quick, easy setup is ideal for businesses new to SMS marketing.
  • You can send customers customizable mobile coupons with point-of-sale (POS) barcode support.
  • Access to automated workflows requires a plan costing $139 per month or higher.
  • You might need help from a developer to take advantage of the API and Zapier integrations.
  • The three lowest-cost SlickText plans lack one-on-one onboarding.

Trustpilot rating: SlickText has a TrustScore of 3 stars out of 5 based on two reviews. While one customer was unhappy with the service, the other exclaimed, “SlickText platform is very easy to use and their customer service is AMAZING!”

Omnisend logo
Editor's Rating: 8.5/10
Visit Site
Links to Omnisend

We love that Omnisend combines two powerful marketing tactics — text messages and email — in one platform, all at no cost. With the vendor’s free plan, you can send 60 SMS messages for $0. What’s more, you’ll have access to all of the same features as Ominsend’s paid plans; the only limitation is a cap on how many email and text messages you can send and the number of contacts you can have. That makes Omnisend an incredibly affordable solution for businesses with limited marketing needs.

If and when your needs grow, you can add on an SMS credits subscription at only $20 per month or opt for the high-level Pro plan, which includes free SMS credits equal to the price of your package. You can also expand the power of the Omnisend platform by taking advantage of more than 130 pre-built integrations, including Shopify and WordPress. We like how with automated workflows, you can enjoy a seamless marketing experience across applications without breaking the bank.

Omnisend platform

With Omnisend’s omnichannel marketing platform, you can reach consumers via text message, email and push notification. (Source: Omnisend)

Omnisend Costs

PackageFeaturesText Credits IncludedCost
Free
  • 250 contacts
  • 500 emails per month
  • 500 web push notifications per month
  • 50 published reviews
  • Plus: email templates, pre-built workflows, sales and performance reports, list cleaning tool, A/B testing, forms, integrations, 24/7 live chat and email support
60 SMS (one time)$0
StandardAll the features in the Free plan, plus:
  • 500 contacts
  • 6,000 emails per month
  • Unlimited web push notifications
  • 1,000 published reviews
60 SMS (one time)$16 per month
ProAll the features in the Free plan, plus:
  • 2,500 contacts
  • Unlimited emails
  • Unlimited web push notifications
  • Unlimited published reviews
  • Advanced reporting
3,933 SMS (every month)$59 per month

  • Omnisend provides free access to text message and email marketing tools in an all-in-one platform.
  • You can set up automated workflows for both text and email messages.
  • Subscriber opt-in features help ensure TCPA compliance.
  • Businesses looking to ramp up their text message marketing efforts with extensive SMS/MMS campaigns will find the free plan too limiting.
  • You cannot remove Omnisend branding on the Free plan.
  • There is no phone support and access to customer success managers is only available for users paying at least $400 per month.

Trustpilot rating: Omnisend has a TrustScore of 4.1 stars out of five based on more than 200 reviews. “Omnisend has truly transformed our e-commerce marketing strategy. Their commitment to delivering personalized messages to our customers at the right time and through the right channels has been instrumental in boosting our sales and customer engagement,” says one user.

Protexting company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.1/10
Visit Site
Links to ProTexting

ProTexting couples a color-coded, clutter-free dashboard with user-friendly tools that show you what your customers will see on their phones. These are the two primary reasons we’ve chosen it as the best text message marketing service for ease of use. You can pull up all the most important ProTexting features from the drop-down menus on the left-hand side, which we found a lot easier than opening a tool that houses a bunch of smaller tools and trying to find the right one. The various functions are easy to use, especially the messaging suite and you can add advanced features as needed. We also love that you can do most tasks from the mobile app easily, which isn’t the case for some competitors.

ProTexting dashboard

The ProTexting dashboard’s visual aesthetics and intuitive navigation make it an easier platform to use than competitors. Source: ProTexting

PackageFeaturesText Credits IncludedCost
StartupEverything in the Essentials package and:
  • 2 keywords
1,000 per month$39 per month (annual)

$49 per month (monthly)

EconomyEverything in the Essentials package and:
  • 4 keywords
2,000 per month$63 per month (annual)

$79 per month (monthly)

StandardEverything in the Essentials package and:
  • 6 keywords
  • 1 additional user
3,500 per month$119 per month (annual)

$149 per month (monthly)

BusinessEverything in the Essentials package and:
  • 8 keywords
  • 2 additional users
7,500 per month$239 per month (annual)

$299 per month (monthly)

CorporateEverything in the Essentials package and:
  • 10 keywords
  • 3 additional users
13,000 per month$399 per month (annual)

$499 per month (monthly)

  • ProTexting provides straightforward basic features without all the bells and whistles.
  • Analytics are straightforward and the mobile app makes messaging on the go a breeze.
  • The platform is so intuitive to navigate and use that you shouldn’t need any help or extra flexibility.
  • Basic functions like customer data capture and drip campaigns require paying extra.
  • You can’t purchase additional message credits if you run out.
  • Activating a local 10DLC number can take longer with ProTexting.

Trustpilot rating: ProTexting has a TrustScore of 3.8 stars out of five but it’s based on only two ratings. There is only one review, which says, “Great service, easy to use. Outstanding customer service and onboarding demos.”

Textline logo
Editor's Rating: 8.8/10

We recommend Textline for large businesses and teams because it offers the flexibility and scope that enterprises need to support communications at scale. We found features like group messaging, the collaborative inbox and mass surveys especially helpful for larger companies. Plus, Textline checks all the boxes when it comes to the core text message marketing features that we looked for in our research. The cost may be a bit higher than other text message marketing services we reviewed, primarily because text messages are not included in the subscription price. However, businesses with larger budgets will find they’re getting value for their dollars.

Textline employee assignments

Businesses with large teams will like being able to categorize employees in the Textline system and assign roles to ensure each worker has access to the tools they need to do their job. Source: Textline

PackageFeaturesCost
Limited
  • One phone number
  • One department
  • 90-day conversation history
  • Standard messaging features
  • Basic support
  • $59.97 per month
  • 3 agents included
  • Message costs not included
Standard
  • Up to 10 agents
  • Multiple phone numbers
  • 3-year conversation history
  • Standard messaging features and preset surveys
  • Application programming interface (API) and standard integrations
  • Multiple departments
  • Custom fields
  • HIPAA compatibility
  • Dedicated priority support
  • $89.97 per month
  • 3 agents included, $29.99 per additional agent
  • $9 per month, per additional number
  • Message costs not included
Pro
  • Up to 50 agents
  • All Standard features
  • Unlimited conversation history
  • Custom surveys
  • Custom roles
  • Time-based automations
  • Unified inbox
  • Dispositions
  • Salesforce integration
  • Smart SMS
  • $249.95 per month
  • 5 agents included, $49.99 per additional agent
  • $9 per month, per additional number
  • Message costs not included

  • Textline offers marketing automation tools that make it easier to create text message marketing campaigns.
  • It prioritizes providing secure communications with HIPAA and SOC 2 compliance, among others.
  • Features like the inbox built for multiple departments, teams and numbers, plus group messaging make team collaboration easy.
  • Your monthly costs will vary based on usage since Textline charges per message in addition to its flat subscription fee.
  • The cost may be prohibitive for small businesses with a tight budget.
  • Complete conversation histories are only available on the most expensive plan.

Trustpilot rating: Textline has a TrustScore of 4.6 stars out of 5. Among the nearly 200 reviews, one user says, “I am often surprised at how easy and fast it is to send a text to hundreds of my Reps!”

Textedly company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.2/10

During our testing, we found Textedly to be an effective SMS marketing tool with flexible, scalable functionality for any type or size of business. It offers features across more than a dozen pricing plans that include 500 to 240,000 monthly messages — always at some of the most affordable prices we’ve seen. Unlike other platforms, instead of a discount, annual payments come with 20 percent more messages. We especially love that you can add advanced features as needed and you only pay a one-time activation fee, helping keep costs down. That means the platform can easily grow alongside your business, making it our top pick for scalability.

Textedly message editor

Textedly’s message editor lets you customize your text message for one or multiple recipients. Source: Textedly

PackageFeaturesTexts Included with Annual BillingCost
 Basic
  • 1 custom keyword
  • Free incoming messages
  • Unlimited contacts
  • Picture messaging
  • 1 toll-free phone number
  • 1 10DLC phone number
  • 1 user seat
  • Live chat support
600$26 per month
BronzeEverything in the Basic plan1,200$38 per month
PlusEverything in the Basic plan and:

 

  • 2 custom keywords
  • Text-to-pay payments
  • Google Business Reviews
  • Premium support
2,400$69 per month
EnterpriseEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 3 custom keywords
4,200$99 per month
EliteEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 4 custom keywords
6,000$139 per month
BusinessEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 6 custom keywords
12,000$249 per month
SilverEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 7 custom keywords
18,000$349 per month
PremiumEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 10 custom keywords
30,000$449 per month
ProEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 13 custom keywords
42,000$599 per month
GoldEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 15 custom keywords
60,000$849 per month
PlatinumEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 20 custom keywords
120,000$1,599 per month
DiamondEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 20 custom keywords
180,000$2,299 per month
ChampionEverything in the Plus plan and:
  • 50 custom keywords
240,000$2,999 per month

  • Textedly is great for businesses that want their text message marketing service to grow with them.
  • You can schedule campaigns in advance with the intuitive calendar feature.
  • You can add tools as needed and only pay a one-time fee.
  • Even with hundreds of thousands of messages included in the top-tier Champion plan, you only get 50 keywords — a very small amount in comparison.
  • Unlike many rivals, Textedly doesn’t offer a mobile app.
  • SMS payments aren't available on the two lowest service plans.

Trustpilot rating: Textedly earned a TrustScore of 4.6 stars out of 5 after racking up thousands of reviews. “Easy to use, effective, great customer support, amazing UI [user interface] … our business has skyrocketed profits after switching to Textedly … Highly recommended,” reads one of the many testimonials.

Costs of Text Message Marketing Services

There are several factors to consider when it comes to text message marketing service costs. The first is your message volume. Most providers offer tiered plans based on how many messages you plan to send and how many keywords you’ll use. Many offer lower rates for extra messages with higher-tier plans. Additionally, most will roll over any unused messages to the next month.

SMS texts — a standard word-based message of up to 160 characters — typically costs one credit, while multimedia messaging service (MMS) texts — a message that contains images or video and up to 1,600 characters — cost two or three. Plans start around $20 monthly and can go up to $3,000 per month depending on the package. However, some providers, such as Textline, don’t include messaging costs in their plans while others, such as TextMagic use a pay-as-you-go pricing structure.

You’ll also have to take into account how you plan to use your messages. If you plan on carrying out frequent two-way conversations with customers, you’ll want to make sure incoming messages are free, something most, but not all, providers offer. A few, such as Podium, allow unlimited one-to-one messaging but can be expensive for sending bulk marketing texts.

The next thing to consider is the number you’ll be texting from. Most platforms set you up with a 10DLC or a toll-free number. You may be able to text-enable your current landline, but that usually comes with a fee. Most platforms offer additional numbers for a small fee, between $5 to $25 per month. Businesses with high-volume messaging needs should consider a dedicated short code, which usually costs about $1,000 per month and might be charged separately or included in the plan price.

There may be additional charges depending on the vendor. Some, such as ProTexting, try to keep costs down by only including basic features in their plans. You’ll have to pay to add advanced tools. Access for additional team members will also come with an extra monthly cost. In general, most services don’t charge for customer support, although sometimes priority customer service is given with higher-tier plans. That being said, some like Thryv, charge for onboarding and you also might need to pay extra for developer support with APIs.

Key TakeawayKey takeaway
Between subscription-based, pay-as-you-go and hybrid plans, there are text message marketing packages and pricing models to suit any business’s marketing budget.

Features of Text Message Marketing Services

Text message marketing services are more than a way to send text messages. They are full-scale marketing solutions that help you engage with your audience, track results and improve your customer service.

When you’re looking for a text message marketing platform, it can be challenging to know which of the many features you need — and even what they all do. Here are the features we think are the most valuable for businesses to look for in a service, in alphabetical order.

AI Assistance

Many text message marketing services have begun to incorporate AI generation for quick and reliable text generation. AI tools can generate bulk marketing messages in the right tone and many offer multiple options so you can choose the best one. It can also be leveraged to respond to incoming customer questions, create personalized recommendations and maintain security.

Analytics and Reports

A metrics component is a vital part of text message marketing. These numbers tell you which campaigns were successful and which ones were not. Analytics can also provide insight into why specific messages performed the way they did.

SlickText analytics

Analytics tools, such as those provided by SlickText, can help determine whether your text message marketing efforts are paying off. Source: SlickText

Automation

Automation tools allow you to program messages to send automatically at the same time every day, week or month. You can also create auto-replies for when customers first text or for messages received after hours. Trigger words can be set up to send automatic responses to common questions, such as opening hours or menu options and can even be used to create automated workflows for certain interactions.

Bulk Messages

Bulk messages, also known as mass texting, are at the heart of text message marketing. You can send promotional messages or announcements to your list of opt-in contacts but, unlike with group texts, recipients won’t see other customer numbers and replies will only go to you. Most platforms let you personalize bulk messages by using custom fields.

Compliance

Text message marketing is subject to serious regulations but, thankfully, the best SMS messaging services make compliance a breeze. They will get your numbers registered so you can start sending mass texts and many do it right from the platform. They will also provide you with solid opt-in and opt-out tools. Some even boast HIPAA compliance, which is important if you are texting sensitive health information.

Did You Know?Did you know
Spam texts are a serious problem with over 19 billion being sent to Americans in March 2024 alone, according to SlickText. Using a text message marketing service and following texting best practices can help you avoid sending spam text messages to customers.

Contact Management

You can’t have a successful text message marketing campaign without a strong base of subscribers to receive them. Contact management features keep your contacts organized, fresh and easy to access. The best services store past interaction history alongside customer data, so you have all the relevant information on hand when communicating.

Textline address book

A high-quality text messaging platform will have robust address book functionality, such as Textline does, for contact management. Source: Textline

Custom Fields

Most texting solutions capture customer data through custom fields, such as the person’s full name, birthday and ZIP code, which opens up new possibilities for your message targeting. By personalizing messages, you can increase engagement. For example, you could send a customer deals on their birthday or alert them to your sales in their area to show your appreciation for their repeat business. Some services allow you to collect unlimited customer data, so you can get specific information that is relevant to your business.

Customer Engagement

Beyond getting your message out to a wide audience, text message marketing can be used to boost customer engagement. Some platforms offer tools to create text-to-win contests, which not only get customers interested, it can also grow your contact list. You can also text out coupons and promos to drive sales and build loyalty. Some even let you request and respond to online reviews.

Drip Campaigns

With this feature, you can send automated messages based on conditions you set using if-then commands. Each step of the customer journey can trigger its own message, such as a greeting upon opt-in, a confirmation for each purchase or a request for feedback after a customer service encounter.

Integrations

Some text message solutions integrate with other platforms, such as email marketing programs, CRM systems and accounting software. These integrations can increase your productivity and capabilities significantly, letting you import and sync data automatically across all your business software. [Learn more about email marketing services in our roundup of the best email marketing software and our Constant Contact review.]

Keywords

You can build your contact list with keywords, allowing customers to opt into your messages by texting you a single word. The best solutions allow you to choose custom keywords and track their usage. Some services offer unlimited keywords. Others, however, are limited and require you to pay more if you want additional keywords.

Link Shortener

SMS messages typically allow no more than 160 characters. This limit can pose challenges when you need to include links — how can you send a compelling message when half of it is a URL? Some text message marketing platforms offer link shorteners that solve this problem, reducing any link to 15 characters at most. Plus, you can get detailed analytics, such as click rate, for each link.

Message Templates

If you send the same text message frequently, look for a solution that lets you create and save templates so you can send messages faster. You may also prefer a platform that comes with ready-made templates.

Mobile App

The benefit of communicating with customers via text is that response times are much quicker and a fully functional mobile app allows your business to provide timely responses even when out of the office. Not all services provide dedicated apps and others only include the ability to conduct one-to-one texts, which might be an issue for small business owners who work on the go.

MMS

Most services allow you to send pictures, videos and audio clips to make your messages stand out and be more engaging. Some provide access to GIF libraries or stock images. Sending MMS messages usually uses three message credits, so if you plan on texting a lot of media, look for a high-volume messaging plan.

Omnichannel Messaging

SMS marketing is successful because people spend a lot of time on their phones. While texting is one of the most effective ways to communicate with customers, many people prefer messaging over other platforms, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Many solutions now include omnichannel messaging, allowing you to reach out to customers in the places they prefer to communicate.

QR Codes

Small businesses often print QR codes on flyers and other physical materials to automate the customer’s text message subscription process. Customers can scan the QR code to load the marketing numbers and keywords into their text messaging apps. This feature is increasingly common but not yet universal among SMS marketing platforms.

TipTip
The next time you print out ads to hand to people at events, include a QR code for your text message marketing list. This way, potential customers can sign up in a few seconds — and you can keep engaging them after that. Learn other ways to use QR codes in marketing.

Segmentation

An essential part of any marketing campaign is customer segmentation. Most services we reviewed help you segment contacts so you can tailor targeted campaigns to the right audience, whether that’s based on location, engagement history or customer preference. Some platforms only let you segment by keyword, while others also use custom fields or tags to create lists.

Scheduling

Scheduling text messages in advance can increase your productivity because you won’t have to remember to send texts out manually at certain times. The timing of text messages is important, especially if you have customers in various time zones as you only should text during business hours, so it helps to automate this function.

Surveys

You can gather customer feedback with text message surveys and polls. The best solutions make it easy to gather responses and adjust your campaigns or analytics accordingly. Some offer preset net promoter score and customer satisfaction score surveys while others allow you to create your own using ratings or open-ended responses.

Text-to-Landline

A text-to-landline feature lets you send and receive text messages through your business landline phone number with no changes to your voice service. This avoids confusion for customers who already know your number, but only some services will text-enable your landline.

Two-Way Messaging

Only offering one-way communication is an SMS marketing mistake to avoid as consumers want to feel valued by your business. Most services let you carry out two-way conversations easily, so you can answer questions, provide support and make the sale. The best text message marketing companies offer complimentary incoming text messages, allowing your customers to reply to you without increasing your costs.

Unified Inbox

A key feature of any text message marketing platform is a unified inbox. The best solutions allow you to handle two-way messages and omnichannel communications all from the same place seamlessly. Filters let you manage your inbox by number, department or team member and collaboration tools make it easy for your team to provide the best service.

Web Signup Forms

Engaging customers via text can start with getting them to subscribe while they’re engaged with your brand in other ways. Web signup forms are a great example. You can embed them on your website or e-commerce store to generate text message marketing leads for people already interested in your business.

Benefits of a Text Message Marketing Service

There are many ways you can use text message marketing to benefit your company. It’s an easy way to communicate directly with your customers and you learn more about what your audience wants from you based on campaign performance.

EZ Texting inboxesThe inboxes offered by services like EZ Texting keep customer communications organized. Source: EZ Texting

Here are some of the advantages you can enjoy with text message marketing services:

  • Send messages that will be seen: Think about it — aren’t you always on your phone and isn’t your email inbox always so clogged you just mass-delete emails? Every platform cites that texts have the highest open rate at around 98%, so when you send a text, you’re pretty much guaranteed customers will see it.
  • Build loyalty with exclusive deals and discounts: The promise of special deals and discounts is why many people opt to receive text messages from companies. These texts make customers feel appreciated and incentivize repeat purchases. They also give you an easy way to attract new customers.
  • Personalize your communications: Most text messaging services help you collect and organize customer data, letting you access basic information like name and location as well as more granular items related to your business. You can leverage this information easily to segment your messaging and send personalized texts.
  • Get information out quickly: Unlike other channels, you can send out bulk texts with lightning speed. Whether you are running a new promotion or need to get out an important announcement, your audience will be sure to receive the message on time. It’s also an efficient way to respond to questions from customers.
  • Offer sneak peeks at new products or services: To drum up excitement for a new product or service, you can text sneak peeks or free trials to your subscribers, keeping your business fresh in their minds.
  • Target past customers with news updates: If you have customers who haven’t done business with you in a while, texting can be a great way to draw them back in. You can send news about company goings-on or updates on your products and services.
  • Send appointment or reservation confirmations: If reservations or appointments are part of your business, this service is a no-brainer. Texting is a faster, easier way to confirm appointments with customers than calling or emailing. It’s also an easy way for customers to reference their appointment information, making them less likely to forget or show up at the wrong time.
  • Provide order updates: If a customer orders something from you, you can send notifications or updates by text rather than email to keep them in the loop. These updates also provide buyers with a direct line of communication with your business should anything go wrong with their order.

[Related article: Reasons to Try Text Message Marketing for Your Small Business]

Key TakeawayKey takeaway
No matter how you plan to use text message marketing, it’s a great way to effectively manage customer relationships. By sending personalized messages that are both timely and relevant, you’ll be sure to win over customers and keep them coming back.

How to Choose a Text Message Marketing Service

Follow these steps to find the right text message marketing service for your business.

1. Think about what you need.

Do you want to use a text message marketing platform to send customers exclusive offers or will you use it for reminders and fielding inquiries? Do you work in an industry with highly specific text message use cases, such as hospitality or healthcare? How many messages do you expect to send each month and will those volumes fluctuate? How many keywords and custom fields do you need to segment contacts effectively? Answer these questions to give yourself the context you need to determine which text message marketing solutions do and don’t make sense for your business.

ProTexting auto-reply

Before choosing a text message marketing service, you need to consider which features you want, such as the ability to set up auto-reply messages like ProTexting offers. Source: ProTexting

2. Identify leading brands (especially for your industry, if applicable).

All of our best picks above for text message marketing and additional recommendations below are from leading companies — some of them with solutions tailored to certain sectors. Medallia Concierge is designed for hospitality use, for instance, and Tatango is ideal for nonprofit and political use. Add any reputable brands that specialize in your industry to your list of vendor possibilities.

3. Consider whether a broad or narrow use case matters more to you.

Is usability in a healthcare setting more important to you than the ability to expand your texting operations as your business grows? Would you rather have a platform with just the basics or one with advanced tools that are a bit tougher to use? The answers to these questions will further help you determine what to prioritize.

4. Read customer reviews.

Customer reviews, such as the Trustpilot testimonials featured above, can give you some of the truest possible insights on a certain platform. They’re a particularly great way to determine what current and past clients think of a brand’s customer service. They can also help you determine whether a system typically is easy to use or a more complicated proposition.

TipTip
Always read a brand’s customer reviews before signing up for its service. There could be a stark difference between what the vendor advertises on its website and what customers experience.

5. Evaluate pricing.

Some text message marketing services, such as Textedly, offer highly affordable monthly plans. Others, such as Textline and Podium, can be quite expensive, though their advanced features may justify their prices. While some services, such as TextMagic, let you pay as you go for ultimate cost flexibility. Consider whether flexible pricing or monthly rates are better for your budget and determine the maximum amount you can afford per month. Pay attention to other costs, such as add-on features, extra messages and additional numbers or team members as these can impact the final price.

6. Sign up for a free trial.

Based on the business needs you identified, the customer reviews you read and the price points you evaluated, narrow down the platforms you’re considering and pick a few to test. Most text message marketing providers offer a free trial, which is the fastest way to see for yourself whether a platform fits your needs. Due to regulations, you’ll only be allowed to text yourself, but you can get a feel for the platform and start setting up features and uploading contacts. Keep note of when the trial ends and whether you’ll have to start paying the moment it does.

7. Compare your options and sign up for your chosen service.

After your free trials, compare your experience with each software you tried. Then, sign up for one that checks all your boxes, budget included. You can typically reach out to customer support via the live chat tool in the platform’s dashboard to start the formal purchase and implementation process.

Additional Text Message Marketing Services to Consider

Our recommended services above aren’t the only worthwhile text message marketing platforms on the market. We also researched and evaluated the vendors listed below, all of which have attractive features and tools.

Twilio

Twilio is designed for developers to build a custom messaging solution that includes everything you need customized to your business. With extensive APIs, you can use any feature in Twilio’s platform or build it into your own custom app. Plus, unlike other services, there are no flat monthly fees. You only pay for what you use, but that includes all incoming and outgoing messages. We especially love that Twilio lets you provide a complete customer communications platform, with tools for flexible analytics, omnichannel communications, including voice, email and social media and excellent CRM features. Get all the details in our full Twilio review.

SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting sets itself apart from its peers by offering a flexible solution that can adapt to your messaging needs. With unlimited keywords and custom fields, something not all rivals offer, you can segment your customers as you like and it’s easy to change the lists contacts are associated with. AI marketing text generation lets you create compelling copy that fits your brand with a click. The unified inbox is a standout feature to help your team manage customer communications better and you get three seats with all plans. We especially love that you can do everything just as easily from the mobile app. See pricing in our comprehensive SimpleTexting review.

Thryv

Thryv’s Business Center lets businesses communicate effectively in the office and on the go, which is why it is our choice for service providers. Its straightforward yet dynamic platform is capable of automating workflows while driving business growth. An uncomplicated interface puts all of your inbound and outbound messages in one place, integrating across services such as Instagram and Facebook. Beyond messaging, you can use the platform to create and send invoices, schedule appointments and manage customer relationships. We were impressed that you can even request payments through Thryv’s bill pay portal and that the platform doubles as an online reputation management service thanks to automatic review requests and new comment notifications on over 40 listing sites. Find out more in our review of Thryv.

Podium

Podium is a robust omnichannel communication platform for improving customer engagement and driving conversions that provides excellent tools for text message marketing and staying in contact with your customers via text message. AI tools generate responses to customers automatically, reducing wait times and can be used to request text-based payments. From the inbox, you can text customers links to leave reviews, bolstering your online reputation. Podium is extremely easy to use and learn, so it takes minimal training to get your team up and running. It’s best for small businesses that want straightforward tools for CRM. Our review of Podium breaks down the three plan options.

TextMarks

TextMarks recently rebranded itself as an SMS solution focused solely on transit agencies and companies. While the service won’t be the right choice for most businesses, it does offer businesses in the transportation industry a great way to communicate with riders while keeping costs down. TextMarks employs a single short code but allows you to create unique keywords for your company. When riders text in your keyword, they get instant information like schedules and notifications. You can also broadcast alerts, such as schedule changes or service interruptions, to anyone who has opted in via your website or text.

Tatango

Tatango is one of the best text message marketing services for high-volume messaging, thanks to its impressive performance with mass messages. The vendor offers impactful, real-time text messaging designed to help nonprofits and political campaigns reach their audience and solicit donations. The software’s straightforward interface facilitates two-way messaging, advanced workflows, A/B testing, message analytics and segmentation for effective engagement. Tatango provides a short code and handles your compliance setup, all from a secure platform with a SOC 2 certification. We also appreciate that the platform integrates with major political and donation platforms as well as some of the best CRM providers, making it simple to share contacts and communicate across platforms.

Medallia Concierge

Medallia Concierge, formally known as Zingle, is a stellar text message marketing platform geared towards the hospitality and travel industries. It offers a brand-differentiated messaging portal meant to boost your client satisfaction and online reputation. Powerful AI tools can generate personalized promotions and send automated responses to guest queries. Soliciting feedback is simple over text or other channels. Plus, robust analytics help you leverage customer data to improve segmentation. You can work to retain current customers and reach new audiences in one easy-to-use interface.

Salesmsg

Offering simple and scalable two-way messaging, calling and text marketing for companies across industries, Salesmsg — one of the few texting platforms we’ve reviewed with built-in voice calling — helps you put your customers first. The cloud-based platform allows you to manage messages and calls from both a web interface and a mobile app, ideal for remote teams on the go. Besides offering essential messaging features like AI assistance and unlimited keywords, Salesmsg is unique in offering both shared and private inboxes and for only charging two credits for MMS messages. Salesmsg is a fantastic pick for businesses looking to text and call from the same number, providing reliable results in real time.

TextMagic

TextMagic is one of the most trusted text message marketing providers on our list. Because this solution offers mass messaging, two-way texting, segmentation and automation, it’s well-suited for businesses of all types that want a simple yet effective communication tool. We love that the recent interface redesign makes using TextMagic easier than ever. With voice calling and the email-to-text feature, the platform lets you handle omnichannel communications. Subaccounts allow entire teams to access and manage messaging and you can reach clients in over 200 countries, making this service ideal for multinational organizations in particular. Similar to Twilio, TextMagic has a pay-as-you-go structure, making it a budget-friendly service.

Methodology

At Business News Daily, our team of small business marketing experts has been researching and testing text message marketing services for years, comparing some of the leading solutions across more than 25 key metrics. We considered 24 text message marketing solutions to start and closely reviewed and tested 18 of them before selecting our five best picks above.

Below are the factors we examined when deciding our top recommendations. Each is weighted according to how much the criteria typically influences business owners’ buying decisions.

  • Pricing (30%): To determine which vendor provides the most value per dollar, we analyzed not just the base costs of the software used in each text message marketing service but also the number of pricing plans available, amounts of text messages, agents and keywords allowed, and whether there were high fees for additional phone numbers and shortcodes or services like onboarding and API access.
  • Features (25%): In particular, we evaluated and tested each system’s message composers, automated workflows, bulk messaging, customer segmentation and inbox tools. We also looked at the integrations available for connecting each program to other popular business software, such as email marketing services.
  • Usability (20%): We paid close attention to the ease with which the service could be set up, how intuitive we found the platform’s navigation and use of key features, and the training and informational resources available to new users. We also investigated whether the system could be customized and had a fully functional mobile app.
  • Customer Support (15%): We examined the different ways customers could contact the vendor’s customer service team if in need of help. We also reviewed customer feedback to assess how well each company’s customer support representatives meet the needs of existing customers.
  • Expert Insight (10%): Our product reviews are conducted by software and industry experts who are deeply familiar with text message marketing services. Given their institutional knowledge of different solutions and firsthand experiences using this technology, we took their personal judgment into account when choosing our best picks.

In addition to evaluating each text message marketing service based on these criteria, we also determined the best use-case scenarios for each. No two businesses are exactly alike, so we put ourselves in the shoes of different types of small business owners to identify the best text message marketing solutions for a variety of needs.

To learn more about how we review and test sales technology products and services for small businesses, read about our editorial process

Text Message Marketing FAQs

Businesses should use text message marketing because it’s a great way to connect with customers personally and provide custom marketing. Texting boasts higher open rates than other channels and is also faster than other communication methods, allowing you to resolve issues and connect with customers without making them wait long.

Business owners should use text message marketing when they want to share news, provide order updates, launch promotions or collect feedback. In terms of specific timing, always abide by standard business communications etiquette. Limit your messaging to business hours, such as weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Be mindful of different time zones where your subscribers live and avoid sending too many messages at once.

Virtually all industries can benefit from text message marketing depending on how the service is used. Any business that needs or wants to communicate directly with customers should take advantage of SMS and MMS messaging as it’s a great way to connect with your consumer base and add a personal touch to your business communications and customer support. Some specific types of companies that can benefit from texting customers are those in the hospitality and service industries, appointment-based businesses and retailers that run frequent sales and special deals.

Yes, text message marketing can be a highly effective way to reach your customers and connect with them on a personal level because most people check their text messages far more often than their email. It is also cost-effective, allowing you to reach a large number of customers for a generally low monthly or annual fee.

You can send bulk text messages by using a text message marketing service that facilitates group texts and mass messaging. While the exact method for sending bulk text messages varies by platform, generally, you must import the list of opted-in contacts you want to message, draft a text message to be sent to this contact list and schedule it for the appropriate time.

Yes, but only if recipients have consented to receiving texts from your business. To send marketing texts legally, businesses must follow practices outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the CAN-SPAM Act. Enforced by the Federal Communications Commission, these laws prevent businesses from sending marketing messages to consumers who don’t want to receive them. Businesses can be fined up to $1,500 per willful violation if they don’t adhere to laws like TCPA.

The TCPA requires companies to get express written consent to send text messages to any customer. The best way to obtain consent is by spelling out your communication terms in a clear and conspicuous manner on a form or advertisement and giving the customer the opportunity to provide their phone number (either directly on the form or by texting a number listed on your ad) with the intention of giving permission to be contacted by your company.

Generally speaking, 98 percent of SMS messages are opened, according to SlickText. This is great news for small businesses’ text message marketing strategies as this data suggests a high success rate. Even better, Podium found that 74 percent of consumers prefer text message marketing offers to online ads.

The best way to track the results of text message marketing campaigns is to use the analytics built into your text message marketing portal. The best software will automatically track deliverability, open rates, click-throughs and other metrics. This data can tell you how successful your campaign was.

One of the biggest risks associated with text message marketing campaigns is the possibility recipients will consider your messages spam. With the rise in deceptive SMS schemes, some consumers may view your texts skeptically, negatively impacting your business’s perception or leading to a loss in customers. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure you have the recipient’s explicit consent before sending any promotional content. Additionally, every message you send should adhere to data privacy norms and e-commerce rules, which mandate that the sender’s identity is evident and the message is unmistakably identified as a commercial communication.

You should read up on the TCPA and CAN-SPAM Act to make sure you understand text messaging compliance, but here are some quick tips: To ensure your messages are compliant with regulations, have clear program details listed at opt-in as well as a simple opt-out process, such as texting “STOP” to unsubscribe. Before sending any messages, obtain prior express written permission as well as confirmation of opt-in. Lastly, don’t send messages before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

SMS text messages are a secure form of communication when sent from a text message marketing platform as these systems include safeguards to protect businesses and their customers’ data. Standard SMS text messages sent outside of these platforms are not end-to-end encrypted and are only subject to weak encryption by mobile carriers.

What To Expect In Text Message Marketing in 2024

As text message marketing continues to grow in 2024, it’s more important than ever for businesses to take advantage of this effective form of marketing and the ways in which it is evolving as technology advances.

With AI in the spotlight this year, we expect an increasing number of businesses to add AI-driven automation and personalization tools into their marketing plans in 2024. We suggest companies leverage AI by adopting the automation features that many text message marketing vendors like EZ Texting are now providing. These tools can make messaging tasks more efficient, meeting business demands to do more faster. We also expect to see AI leveraged to conduct interactive messaging, responding to customer messages in real time.

As people increasingly use additional platforms to message from their phones, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram, we expect to see more platforms expand their service to include additional messaging channels. While some providers, such as Textedly, already include additional types of messaging, we expect it will become the norm. From a unified inbox, businesses will be able to message customers in the places they are more likely to use.

To streamline operations further, we also predict an increase in interoperability. We expect more vendors to invest in native integrations that can connect business software seamlessly. That way, companies can sync their related services, such as text message marketing, email marketing software and POS systems. This connectivity will give business owners and leaders greater insights into company performance and fuel strategic decisions regarding modern digital marketing.

Max Freedman contributed to this article.

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Written by: Max Freedman, Senior Analyst
Max Freedman has spent nearly a decade providing entrepreneurs and business operators with actionable advice they can use to launch and grow their businesses. Max has direct experience helping run a small business, performs hands-on reviews and has real-world experience with business technology. At Business News Daily, Max covers accounting software, POS systems and digital payroll solutions, as well as leading medical software and text message marketing services. Max has written hundreds of articles for Business News Daily on a range of valuable topics, including small business funding, time and attendance, marketing and human resources.
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