ProTexting Review

Why ProTexting is Best for Ease of Use

ProTexting is easy to use and navigate from the moment you first log into the platform. We were impressed with the clean, color-coded dashboard. Each metric is in the same color as the related hub up top, helping you easily see important data. For example, the red color coding links your opt-out rate to your campaigns clearly. We also like how easily you can create a new campaign from the dashboard and see your included toll-free number at the top right.

Admittedly, most of the text message marketing services we reviewed are easy to use. However, ProTexting takes the cake because it couples simple tools with easy access. The drop-down features menu on the left lets you access specific tools with one click. There’s no need to open a tool and then look for a second menu. This feature elevates the ProTexting user experience above the competition.

We found ProTexting’s standard onboarding and its Learning Center especially useful. The Learning Center explains the platform and everything you need to know about text messaging in straightforward language, so novices can learn quickly how short message service (SMS) marketing benefits small businesses. As advanced features must be added on, the platform will only ever be as complicated as you need it to be. 

Usability

While most text message marketing services we reviewed are user-friendly, ProTexting leads the pack. From its color-coded, uncrowded dashboard to the simplicity of each tool, ProTexting scores the highest on user interface and navigability.

All ProTexting features are accessible from the drop-down menus on the left-hand side and quite easy to use. The messaging suite stands out in particular. You can quickly add data tags, emojis and links to your texts and see exactly how they’ll appear to customers. While other text message marketing platforms have similar features, we found ProTexting’s to be the clearest.

You won’t encounter distracting clutter with ProTexting. In our guided demo with ProTexting’s CEO, he mentioned that ProTexting’s philosophy is “not to give a tank to someone who wants a car.” The platform comes with only the basics, and you can keep things simple by adding on only the extra features you need. You can also integrate with a handful of external business software solutions, including Zapier, however, we would have liked to see more available through ProTexting.

Its analytics tool is crisp and clean and, in our research, we found most competitors’ analytics views to be cluttered. The platform is so intuitive to navigate that you probably won’t need any help getting started, but we love that ProTexting provides all subscribers with an hour of onboarding assistance. 

There’s also a useful learning center with tutorial videos for every feature and a ton of articles covering all aspects of messaging. We found these tools especially useful for businesses new to text message marketing. 

From adding emojis to scheduling messages for later, everything is a click away with ProTexting’s foolproof messaging interface. Source: ProTexting

ProTexting Features

Color-coded Dashboard

Intuitive navigation is important to any good text message marketing service and that experience starts with what you see upon login. ProTexting excels on this front, thanks to its color-coded dashboard. Each metric in the bottom row is the same color as a tool in the top row. Should any of these metrics trigger an urge to dive deeper, you can click on the tool of the same color for more information. Linking metrics and tools this way puts ProTexting a step ahead of the game in terms of usability.

Drop-down Navigation Panel

ProTexting’s navigability impressed us the most out of any platform. That’s due to the dashboard’s drop-down navigation panel. Click on a drop-down from the dashboard to see some of the most important tools in your wheelhouse. From there, you’ll see how to add contacts, send group messages or reserve keywords.

Robust App Tools

Many text message marketing platforms include a library of apps you can add to improve your experience. We found ProTexting’s library to be the best organized of them all. You’ll see all your installed apps on top. Below you’ll see apps that you can add based on category, such as growing subscribers, running campaigns and developer tools. However, we were disappointed that many of these tools come at an additional monthly cost. There’s also a section for integrating external business solutions, such as Mailchimp, Shopify and Salesforce CRM.

ProTexting offers access to a wide range of apps and integrations. Source: ProTexting

Clean, Varied Analytics 

Some text message marketing platforms include far fewer analytics than an email marketing service would but not ProTexting. Analytics include the familiar (messaging activity) and the niche (contacts by state and city). Even the most complex of these are easy to understand, given ProTexting’s clear graphics and colors and abundant white space, no matter how granular you get with your data.

ProTexting lets you easily see in-depth analytics related to opt-out rates, engagement, keywords and campaigns. Source: ProTexting

Compliance Tools

When you first add contacts to ProTexting, you’ll need to confirm that you’ve obtained permission to text them. Although this process can delay your setup, it’s an important step toward keeping your text message marketing operation legally compliant. You’ll fill out a relatively short opt-in procedure detailing how you plan to use ProTexting. You’ll include a brief opt-in guarantee alongside this form. ProTexting will review your forms and will let you add contacts after approval.

Mobile App

We appreciate that ProTexting can be used just as easily from the iOS or Android mobile app. Unlike some apps that only let you access your inbox and reply to messages, ProTexting gives you the ability to add keywords, manage contacts and send group messages. Managing your text messaging is just as painless on the go as it is in the office.

ProTexting’s iOS and Android app lets you manage contacts and send one-on-one or group messages easily. Source: ProTexting

ProTexting Costs

ProTexting offers a 14-day free trial. You can test out the platform with 50 credits and one keyword. An SMS message costs one credit and a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, which includes media, costs three credits, which is the industry standard. All plans include free incoming messages, MMS messaging, unlimited contacts and access to basic ProTexting features. We especially love that all plans get a free onboarding session: 

• Startup: $49 per month, 1,000 credits and two keywords
• Economy: $79 per month, 2,000 credits and four keywords
• Standard: $149 per month, 3,500 credits, six keywords and one additional user
• Business: $299 per month, 7,500 credits, eight keywords and two additional users
• Corporate: $499 per month, 13,000 credits, 10 keywords and three additional users

All prices listed are for monthly payments. Customers who pay annually get a 20% discount. Credit limits displayed are per month. All plans come with a toll-free number, or you can opt for a local 10DLC. Dedicated short codes can be activated for $750 a month, which is cheaper than most competitors. Custom plans are also available.

ProTexting offers a wide range of add-on apps and many of them require additional monthly fees. That includes tools for capturing basic customer data, running drip campaigns and sending coupons, features that are included standard with most other platforms. These fees range from $5 per month for ZIP code capture to $199 per month for the web survey and rating app. Other add-ons, such as ProTexting’s quick response code generator, trackable short links and appointment reminders, are free.

ProTexting’s prices aren’t the most expensive around, but they are a bit high for what you get. You can get more messages per month at a similar price point with Textedly and most of the features ProTexting charges for come standard. You can read more in our Textedly review, a great choice for a low-cost, scalable solution.

ProTexting Setup

ProTexting arrives mostly ready to go and since it’s our top pick for ease of use, you’ll have almost no trouble using it right away. That said, we identified one major drawback in the setup process: You can’t add, upload or import contacts until you verify that you have these subscribers’ permission to contact them.

When you first try to add contacts, ProTexting will present you with two documents. The opt-in procedures brief takes about 15 minutes to complete, and the opt-in guarantee should take under a minute. You’ll have to wait for ProTexting to approve these documents before you start uploading contacts. A ProTexting customer support representative told us that this process takes no more than an hour if you submit your forms during business hours. Nevertheless, it can delay the setup process.

As you wait for ProTexting approval, you can manually activate all your apps since the process can be time-consuming. You also might need to wait for approval of a dedicated short code or 10DLC number, which can take longer with ProTexting than other services. Other than that, setting up ProTexting is simple and despite ProTexting’s compliance-approval process, you can send one-on-one messages as soon as your numbers are activated.

The only costs associated with ProTexting’s setup are the monthly fees you’ll pay for certain apps. Once you get through the compliance process, you won’t pay any extra fees to upload your data. There’s nothing to customize in ProTexting, so you’ll get some time back on setup in that regard too. Overall, you’re looking at an hour for basic setup, plus however long you’ll wait for your line to be activated and for compliance approval.

ProTexting Customer Service

You can reach the ProTexting customer support team through the live chat widget in the bottom-right corner of your dashboard. Additional help is available from the Contact Us link in the menu, which gives you ProTexting’s customer service phone number, some common frequently asked questions (FAQs) and an email contact form. All customer support is included in your pricing plan at no extra cost.

A ProTexting customer support representative told us that its customer service team is reachable from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays. These hours are standard, though other brands also offer weekend support. Alternatively, you can use the FAQs and detailed Learning Center articles and videos to troubleshoot problems on your own.

We tested out ProTexting’s live chat tool to ask questions that came up in our research. We heard back from an agent and had answers within minutes. This response and problem resolution time is on the faster side for text message marketing platforms’ live chat tools.

The live chat tool is available directly on the ProTexting platform. Source: ProTexting

ProTexting Drawbacks

For all its ease of use and no-frills basics, ProTexting might not be the most budget-friendly option. While the app is well-stacked in terms of extra add-ons, many of these come at an additional cost. We were disappointed that you have to pay extra for many basic features, such as capturing basic customer data and creating drip campaigns. If you want to run segmented campaigns with granular customer data affordably, consider reading our SimpleTexting review.

Additionally, once you run out of monthly message credits, which are relatively limited for the brand’s price points, ProTexting doesn’t give you the option to purchase additional credits. Every other product we reviewed makes adding credits simple and relatively affordable. Instead of blocking message delivery, ProTexting will charge you automatically for an entire month of service, which means you might pay double some months. If you need inexpensive message volume flexibility, read our review of EZ Texting.

Unlike most solutions we reviewed, ProTexting sets you up with a toll-free number when you sign up. While this isn’t necessarily a downside, we understand that many small businesses prefer a number with a local area code. ProTexting can provide a 10DLC for free, but activation can take between four to eight days, which is significantly longer than other providers. 

Methodology

To help us research ProTexting, the platform’s CEO gave us a guided demo and access to a free trial. We also sat down for free demos and used free trials for a handful of other text message marketing platforms. We browsed every nook and cranny of all the vendors’ websites as well. We also contacted ProTexting’s customer support team to test its service and answer certain questions that our research raised. To determine the best service for ease of use, we looked at the platform’s navigability, how easy it is to set up and use basic features and whether the platform provides any assistance. 

Overall Value

We recommend ProTexting for …

• Small businesses that want easy-to-use text messaging marketing basics with the option to add high-level features.
• Small businesses that want quick access to basic text message marketing features right from their dashboards.
• Small businesses that are focused on compliance and willing to slow down their setup to get everything in order.

We don’t recommend ProTexting for … 

• Small businesses that need robust messaging features and customer data collection at an affordable price.
• Small businesses that need flexibility in their monthly messaging limits.
• Small businesses that need to start texting immediately from a local number, without any setup delays.

Max Freedman contributed to this article.