Research guide
Best SMS Marketing Software in 2026
Texting tools price in credits, carrier fees and registration fees that email tools never mention. Here is what five options actually charge, from official pricing pages checked on Oct 10, 2026, and which kind of business each one fits.
SMS is not priced like email. You pay per message segment, MMS costs more than SMS, U.S. carriers add pass-through fees, and sending from a local 10-digit number requires 10DLC registration with its own fees. Below are two dedicated texting platforms and three email platforms with SMS built in, compared on what each vendor publishes. We have not tested these tools hands-on, and the order below is by use case, not a ranking.
Already comparing email platforms with SMS? Start with our Sender review.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | From | Free plan | Rating | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleTextingTop pick | Local and retail businesses texting customers in the U.S. and Canada | $29/mo for 500 credits (plus $10/mo for a local number) | 14-day free trial, no card | Not yet rated | Visit → |
| Salesmsg | Sales and support teams that text and call leads alongside a CRM | $25/mo for 500 credits (Basic) | 14-day free trial (25 credits) | Not yet rated | Visit → |
| Sender | Small businesses that want email and SMS campaigns in one inexpensive platform | Standard from $15/mo (email); SMS credits by country | Free email plan (no SMS) | 4.1 | Visit → |
| Klaviyo | Online stores that want SMS flows tied to order and browsing data | Mobile Messaging plans priced in dollars per month | Free plan includes $5/mo of SMS/MMS | 4.3 | Visit → |
| Campaigner | Email marketers who send occasional SMS and want no monthly texting plan | $0.009 per SMS; email from $14/mo | 30-day free trial | Not yet rated | Visit → |
What we love · what we don't
What we love
- Dedicated texting tools publish clear credit tables
- Several tools pass U.S. carrier fees through without markup
- Free trials are common, most without a card
What we don't
- Registration and carrier fees are easy to miss
- Incoming texts are billed on some tools and free on others
- Most dedicated texting tools are U.S. and Canada only
Compared by use case
SimpleTexting
SimpleTexting is a texting platform for SMS campaigns, keyword opt-ins, two-way conversations and automated drip texts. Plans are sized by monthly credits rather than contacts: 500 credits for $29 a month, 1,000 for $49, 2,000 for $79, scaling to 50,000 for $899, with 20% off on annual billing. Every plan includes unlimited contacts and 3 users.
A 160-character SMS uses 1 credit, a longer message up to 306 characters uses 2, and an MMS uses 3. Incoming SMS is free. A local (10DLC) number costs $10 a month plus a one-time $4 registration fee; SimpleTexting says a toll-free number carries no additional fee. U.S. carrier fees are passed through without markup.
It is U.S. and Canada only. If you text internationally, or you want SMS inside your email platform instead of a separate tool, look at Sender or Klaviyo below.
Not yet rated: research preview from SimpleTexting’s official pricing and help pages.
Pros
- Unlimited contacts on every plan
- Incoming SMS is free
- Unused monthly credits roll over
- 14-day trial with no card, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- U.S. and Canada only
- Phone number billed separately
- MMS costs 3 credits
Who it's for
Businesses that want a dedicated texting tool for promotions, reminders and two-way replies.
Skip it if
Your customers are outside the U.S. and Canada, or you want SMS inside your email platform.
Salesmsg
Salesmsg is a business texting and calling platform built to work inside your CRM. It covers two-way SMS and MMS, broadcasts and drips, a shared team inbox, inbound and outbound calling with recording and transcription, and AI agents. Integrations named by Salesmsg include HubSpot, Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive, Keap and Zapier.
Basic plans run from $25 a month for 500 credits to $249 for 7,500; Pro starts at $329 for 10,000 credits, and Enterprise is priced through sales. The first seat and first number are included; extra seats are $10 a month and extra numbers $5 a month. An SMS uses 1 credit, an MMS 2, and a calling minute 1.
Two cost details matter: incoming texts also use credits, and 10DLC registration carries fees (a one-time $4.50 brand registration, a $15 campaign verification and a $10 monthly campaign fee, per Salesmsg). Plan credits do not roll over.
Not yet rated: research preview from Salesmsg’s official pricing and help pages.
Pros
- Texting and calling in one tool
- Deep CRM integrations
- First seat and number included
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Incoming texts use credits
- Monthly 10DLC campaign fee
- Plan credits do not roll over
Who it's for
Sales-led teams that already live in a CRM and want texting and calling attached to each contact.
Skip it if
You mainly send marketing broadcasts to a large list; credit-based marketing tools are cheaper for that.
Sender
Sender is an email marketing platform that adds SMS on paid plans. SMS campaigns start on Standard; SMS automation needs Professional or above, and Professional includes free SMS credits equal to your monthly subscription fee.
Beyond those credits, you buy SMS credits as needed, and the price depends on the destination country, which helps if your list is international. Sender’s free plan covers email only.
If email is your main channel and SMS is a supporting one, this is the cheapest way on this list to run both from the same contacts.
Pros
- Email and SMS from one contact list
- Free SMS credits on Professional
- International SMS pricing by country
Cons
- No SMS on the free plan
- SMS automation needs Professional
Who it's for
Email-first businesses adding SMS reminders and promotions.
Skip it if
Texting is your main channel; a dedicated tool has better two-way and keyword features.
Klaviyo
Klaviyo sells SMS as Mobile Messaging, separate from its email plans. Since July 13, 2026 those plans are dollar amounts per month rather than credits; the per-message rate depends on channel, country and number type, carrier fees are included, and larger plans get a lower rate. Unused spend does not roll over.
Klaviyo bills campaign, flow and outbound conversation messages, including failed deliveries, but not inbound messages, opt-in confirmations or STOP/HELP replies. A toll-free number is included; short codes cost extra.
The free plan includes a $5 monthly SMS/MMS allowance, which is enough to try flows. Klaviyo has no affiliate program with us; the link below is a plain link.
Pros
- SMS flows use Shopify and order data
- Inbound messages are not billed
- Toll-free number included
Cons
- Separate plan on top of email pricing
- Failed deliveries are billed
- Unused spend does not roll over
Who it's for
Ecommerce brands already on Klaviyo email, or planning to be.
Skip it if
You are not an online store; the data model is built around shopping behavior.
Campaigner
Campaigner is an email marketing automation platform with SMS billed pay-as-you-go: $0.009 per outbound or inbound SMS on 10DLC and toll-free numbers, MMS at $0.027 on 10DLC or $0.040 on toll-free (U.S. only), with carrier fees included and no number rental fees, according to Campaigner.
Email plans start at $14 a month for 1,000 contacts (Essentials), with workflows on Advanced from $35. That makes it a fit for teams that text occasionally and do not want a fixed monthly SMS commitment.
It is a newer addition to our coverage; see our research-preview review for its email features.
Not yet rated: research preview from Campaigner’s official pricing pages.
Pros
- Pay-as-you-go SMS
- Carrier fees included
- No number rental fees
Cons
- Inbound SMS is billed
- MMS is U.S. only
Who it's for
Email-first marketers adding occasional texts.
Skip it if
You send high SMS volume every month; a credit plan may work out cheaper.
How we chose these platforms
Best for...
Best for Dedicated SMS marketing (U.S./Canada)
SimpleTexting
Credit plans, free incoming texts, unlimited contacts.
Best for Sales teams texting from a CRM
Salesmsg
Texting and calling synced to HubSpot, Salesforce and more.
Best for Email-first small business
Sender
SMS campaigns on paid plans, free credits on Professional.
Best for Ecommerce brands
Klaviyo
SMS flows built on order data.
Best for Occasional texting
Campaigner
Pay per message, no monthly SMS plan.
Sources
How each tool charges for texts
From each vendor’s official pricing page, checked Oct 10, 2026. Carrier fees and number or registration fees are listed in each section above.
| Tool | Entry price | Unit | Incoming texts |
|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleTexting | $29/mo | 500 credits (1 SMS = 1 credit) | Free (SMS) |
| Salesmsg (Basic) | $25/mo | 500 credits (1 SMS = 1 credit) | Use credits |
| Sender | Standard from $15/mo | SMS credits priced by country | Not stated |
| Klaviyo | Mobile Messaging plan (dollar amount) | Rate by channel and country | Not billed |
| Campaigner | Pay as you go | $0.009 per SMS | $0.009 per SMS |
Frequently asked questions
10DLC is the U.S. system for sending business texts from a standard 10-digit local number. Carriers require the business and its messaging campaign to be registered, and texting platforms pass on registration fees: SimpleTexting lists a one-time $4 fee, and Salesmsg lists a one-time $4.50 brand registration, a $15 campaign verification and a $10 monthly campaign fee.
Keep reading
Our top pick
SimpleTexting leads our ranking
Evaluated using verified product information, documented hands-on evidence where available, pricing research, and editorial judgment.
Still deciding?
Put any two platforms head-to-head on price, automation, and deliverability.
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About the Author
Carlos Gil is the bestselling author of The End of Marketing, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and founder of The Best Network. He brings 15+ years in marketing to practical reviews of AI, SaaS, email marketing, creator, and ecommerce software.
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