Best SMS Marketing Platform in 2026: 8 Platforms Compared
How we put this together: we compare official feature and pricing pages, app store listings, privacy policies and public user reviews. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you pay.
Key takeaways
- SimpleTexting and EZ Texting are the easiest starts for small businesses, with clear credit pricing and 14 day trials.
- Klaviyo suits ecommerce brands that want email and SMS in one platform, with a free tier for small lists.
- Attentive suits larger retail brands, but its pricing is custom and needs a sales conversation.
- SlickText stands out for transparency, since every feature is included on every plan and credits roll over.
Quick comparison
| Name | Who it suits | Starting price | Free option | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce email plus SMS | Free | Yes | Visit | |
| Large retail brands | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Small business campaigns | $39 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Quick local campaigns | $25 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Transparent pricing | $29 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Budget bulk texting | $26 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Shopify stores | Free | Yes | Visit | |
| Budget multichannel | $16 per month | Yes | Visit |
The best sms marketing platform
SMS marketing lives or dies on consent, cost per message and deliverability. We compared the leading platforms on starting price, credit systems, automation, compliance tools and who each one suits best.

Klaviyo is the best pick for ecommerce brands that already run email there. SMS joins the same flows, segments and reporting, so a cart abandonment series can move from email to text without rebuilding it, and Shopify data feeds both channels. The free tier covers small lists, which makes testing cheap.
The catch is cost structure. SMS is billed on top of the email plan by message and contact count, so a growing list raises the bill in two places at once. For ecommerce brands with real SMS revenue, that is easy to justify. For non ecommerce businesses, a dedicated SMS tool will usually be simpler and cheaper.
- Email and SMS in one platform
- Strong flows for abandoned carts and post purchase
- Deep Shopify integration
- SMS costs sit on top of email plans
- Pricing by contacts can rise fast as lists grow

Attentive is built for larger retail and ecommerce brands that send at scale. Its list growth tools, segmentation, personalisation and campaign analytics are among the best here, and its team supports large accounts closely, including deliverability and compliance guidance. Brands with big lists and high SMS revenue get the most from it.
Pricing is custom by list size, so we list it as See website, and smaller businesses will find the sales led process heavy for a modest list. Shortlist Attentive when SMS is a major revenue channel. For a first SMS programme, start with SimpleTexting or SlickText instead.
- Strong personalisation and segmentation
- Proven at retail scale
- Good support for large accounts
- Custom pricing by list size
- Long term contracts common on enterprise tiers
- Overkill for small lists

SimpleTexting is the easiest dedicated SMS platform for a small business to run. Campaigns, two way inbox, keywords, autoresponders and integrations are all straightforward, and every plan includes three users. At $39 a month for 500 credits on the entry tier, it is fairly priced for regular small campaigns.
The credit maths needs attention. One SMS costs one credit, but one MMS with a picture costs three, and carrier fees come on top of the plan price. Picture heavy campaigns will cost far more than the headline price suggests. For plain text campaigns and two way service messages, SimpleTexting is excellent.
- Very easy to use
- Two way messaging and automation included
- 14 day trial
- MMS costs three credits per message
- Carrier fees sit on top of plan prices
EZ Texting wins on speed. A local business can set up, register its number, import contacts and send a first campaign in a day, with carrier registration included at no extra cost and compliance tools like double opt in and automatic opt outs built in. The $25 entry plan covers 500 contacts, which suits small local lists.
The limits are scale and flexibility. Bigger lists move to higher tiers quickly, unused credits expire at month end, and automation is basic compared with Klaviyo or Attentive. For a restaurant, salon or shop sending regular local offers, that simplicity is a feature, not a flaw.
- Fastest setup here
- Carrier registration included
- Double opt in and opt out tools built in
- Entry plan fits 500 contacts
- Unused credits expire monthly
- Automation is basic
SlickText is the transparency pick. Every plan includes all features, including workflows, popups and automations, prices are published from $29 a month for 500 credits up to high volume tiers, credits roll over instead of expiring, and there are no long term contracts. Live phone, chat and email support come on every plan.
The trade off is integrations. SlickText connects to fewer native platforms than Klaviyo or Attentive, so teams with complex stacks should check the integration list first. For teams that value clear pricing and full features at every tier, SlickText is the most honest platform here.
- Every feature on every plan
- Credits roll over
- No long term contracts
- Live phone support
- Fewer native integrations than Klaviyo
- Carrier fees passed through
Textedly is a budget option for businesses that mainly need bulk texting without fuss. At $26 a month, it undercuts most rivals, and sending a campaign to a list is quick and simple. It suits appointment reminders, announcements and simple promotions where advanced automation is not needed.
The feature set is thinner than SimpleTexting or SlickText, and the interface is plain rather than polished. Businesses that need flows, segmentation depth or ecommerce triggers should look elsewhere. Businesses that need cheap, reliable bulk texts will find Textedly does the job.
- Low entry price
- Simple bulk campaigns
- 14 day trial
- Fewer automation features than rivals
- Interface is plain
Postscript is the SMS platform for Shopify stores. It is built around Shopify data, with flows for cart recovery, browse abandonment, post purchase follow up and back in stock alerts, plus list growth tools tuned for storefronts. The free starter tier makes it easy to test on a small store.
The limit is scope. It works with Shopify only, so non Shopify businesses cannot use it at all, and paid use carries a minimum spend. For a Shopify store that wants SMS done properly, Postscript is the best fit on this list. For everyone else, it is simply not an option.
- Built for Shopify
- Strong automation for cart recovery and post purchase
- Free starter tier
- Shopify only, so useless elsewhere
- Minimum spend applies on paid use
- SMS focused, not multichannel
Omnisend suits small ecommerce brands that want email, SMS and push notifications on one bill. The free plan covers small lists, paid plans start at $16 a month, and automation for welcome series, cart recovery and post purchase flows is strong for the price. It is the cheapest multichannel route here.
SMS depth is thinner than a dedicated platform, and SMS credits cost extra on top of the plan, with rates varying by country. For a small store that sends mostly email with some SMS, Omnisend is excellent value. For an SMS first programme, a dedicated tool will serve you better.
- Email, SMS and push in one platform
- Free plan for small lists
- Good ecommerce automation
- SMS is an add on to email plans
- Credit costs vary by country
- Less SMS depth than dedicated tools
How we picked these
We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, privacy policies and public reviews for SMS marketing platforms available in October 2026. We checked starting prices, credit systems, free plans, automation depth, compliance tools such as opt in handling and 10DLC registration, and ecommerce integrations. Platforms were dropped when pricing could not be verified, when they were mainly business texting inboxes rather than marketing platforms, or when compliance tools were unclear.
How to run SMS marketing without trouble
Get consent first, every time
SMS marketing needs explicit opt in, and carriers enforce it through 10DLC registration in the US. Use double opt in on sign up forms, keep records, and honour STOP replies automatically.
Price the message, not just the plan
A $25 plan can cost far more once MMS credits, carrier fees and overages are added. Model your real monthly volume, including picture messages, before comparing headline prices.
Start with one flow that earns
Abandoned cart recovery for stores, or appointment reminders for services, proves SMS value fast. Add broadcast campaigns only after one flow works and unsubscribes stay low.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SMS marketing platform?
Klaviyo suits ecommerce brands, Attentive suits large retailers, and SimpleTexting or SlickText suit small businesses. Postscript is best for Shopify stores specifically.
What is the best SMS marketing software for small business?
SimpleTexting at $39 a month and EZ Texting at $25 a month are the easiest starts, with SlickText at $29 a month the most transparent on pricing. All three offer 14 day trials.
What is the best business texting app?
For marketing, use a platform on this list rather than a plain inbox app. For two way service messaging, SimpleTexting and EZ Texting both include team inboxes alongside campaigns.
How much does SMS marketing cost?
Entry plans here run from free to $39 a month, plus per message credits, MMS multiples and carrier fees. A small business sending 1,000 plain texts should budget $26 to $59 a month before fees.
Is SMS marketing legal?
Yes, with consent. Get explicit opt in, register your number under 10DLC rules in the US, include opt out instructions, and never buy lists. Platforms on this list include tools for all of these steps.
Can I use SMS marketing without Shopify?
Yes. Only Postscript here is Shopify only. Klaviyo, SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, SlickText, Textedly and Omnisend all work for non Shopify businesses.
Sources we checked (8)
Keep reading
All postsBest White Label SEO Companies
We compare the best white label SEO companies and tools in 2026 for agencies, from fulfilment services to branded reporting platforms, margins and prices.
Best Webinar Software
We compared the best webinar software for 2026 on price, attendee limits, automation and ease of use, to help you host better live sessions with confidence.
Best Web Scraping Tools
Compare the best web scraping tools in 2026, from no-code Octoparse and Browse AI to Apify, Firecrawl, Bright Data, Zyte, ScraperAPI and free Scrapy, with prices.







