Best SMS Marketing Platforms Comparison in 2026: 9 Platforms Compared
Compare the best SMS marketing platforms for 2026, with pricing, compliance tools, and picks for Shopify stores, local businesses, and growing brands.

- Editor's choice
KlaviyoEmail and SMS together
Starts atFreeVisit klaviyo.comFull review - Great alternative
AttentiveLarger ecommerce brands
Starts atSee websiteVisit attentive.comFull review - Also consider
PostscriptShopify SMS first
Starts atFreeVisit postscript.ioFull review
TL;DR:
- Klaviyo is the strongest pick when email and SMS need to work from one customer profile.
- Postscript is the most focused choice for Shopify stores that want SMS first.
- Attentive suits larger brands that need two way messaging and dedicated support, but pricing is less transparent.
- SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, and SlickText are easier starting points for local businesses and small teams.
- SMS costs are never just the monthly plan: add per message rates, carrier fees, and MMS charges before you compare.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free plan? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email and SMS together | Free | Yes | Visit | |
| Larger ecommerce brands | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Shopify SMS first | Free | Yes | Visit | |
| Small teams and simple campaigns | $29 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Local businesses | $25 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Transparent credit pricing | $29 per month | Free trial | Visit | |
| Budget multichannel stores | Free | Yes | Visit | |
| Low cost mass texting | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Teams that need SMS plus CRM links | See website | Free trial | Visit |
The best SMS marketing platforms
SMS marketing works because texts get read fast, but that same power makes compliance and cost control essential. Every platform here supports opt in lists, opt out handling, and campaign or automated messages. The differences lie in ecommerce integrations, two way conversation tools, and how clearly they price each message.

Klaviyo starts free for up to 250 profiles, and paid email plans start at $20 per month. SMS is charged at per message dollar rates, with a small amount of mobile message value included on the free plan. That model rewards careful targeting: you can build flows for abandoned carts, post purchase follow up, and back in stock alerts that use email first and SMS only when it adds value.
The strength of Klaviyo is data. Segments can combine purchase history, browsing, and past message engagement, so a text goes to people who are likely to act rather than to the whole list. The weakness is complexity. Small teams may need time to set up flows, consent collection, and quiet hours correctly, and SMS bills can climb if you send frequent broadcasts to a large list.
- One profile for email and SMS behavior
- Strong segmentation and flows
- Deep Shopify integration
- Learning curve is steep for new users
- SMS message costs sit on top of plan pricing

Attentive is built for brands that treat SMS as a major revenue channel, not a side channel. It supports sign up units, two way conversations, triggered journeys, and AI assisted personalization, with tools for TCPA compliance, quiet hours, and opt out handling. Larger accounts get onboarding and strategy support, which matters when list growth and deliverability need close attention.
The honest catch is price transparency. Attentive does not publish a simple starter price, and reports put entry costs well above budget tools, with per message fees on top. That can still be worth it for a brand sending high volume campaigns with strong returns, but a small store should start with a free or low cost plan elsewhere and move up when SMS revenue justifies a dedicated platform.
- Strong two way messaging and personalization
- Good deliverability and compliance tooling
- Dedicated support for larger accounts
- Pricing is custom and can be costly
- May be more than a small store needs

Postscript offers a free starter tier with a minimum monthly spend, and paid growth plans from around $100 per month in published comparisons. SMS is priced per message, with MMS at a higher rate, plus carrier fees. The platform is Shopify native, so order data, discounts, and customer tags flow in without custom work.
Postscript stands out for conversation. Two way messaging, smart replies, and live chat style inboxes help a store answer questions and close sales by text, not just broadcast offers. The limit is scope: if you leave Shopify or need email in the same tool, you will need a second platform. For a Shopify store that wants SMS done well, that focus is a benefit, not a flaw.
- Built only for Shopify SMS
- Strong two way chat and flows
- Fast setup for Shopify stores
- Shopify only, so it does not fit other platforms
- Minimum spend applies on the free starter tier
SimpleTexting starts at $29 per month in published comparisons, with a trial available. It covers mass texting, scheduled campaigns, keywords for list growth, two way replies, and simple automations. That makes it a good fit for clinics, gyms, churches, schools, and local service businesses that need reminders and announcements more than complex purchase flows.
SimpleTexting is easy to learn, which is its main advantage over ecommerce heavy platforms. The trade off is depth. You will not get the same purchase based segmentation or Shopify flow library as Klaviyo or Postscript, and credit based plans mean you should model your monthly send volume before choosing a tier. Unused credits and rollover rules vary, so check the plan terms.
- Easy campaign builder and contact tools
- Two way messaging and autoresponders
- Good for non ecommerce teams
- Plans are credit based, so heavy senders must watch usage
- Fewer deep ecommerce features than Klaviyo or Postscript
EZ Texting starts at $25 per month in published comparisons, with credits for messages. It is designed for businesses that want to announce sales, send reminders, and grow a list from a storefront, event, or website form. Keywords, short codes or toll free numbers, and simple scheduling cover most local use cases without a long setup.
The platform is less suited to a store that needs deep order based flows or AI driven product recommendations. For a restaurant, salon, or retail shop, that simplicity is often the right trade. Watch MMS costs, since image messages use more credits, and confirm carrier registration requirements for your sending number before your first campaign.
- Simple setup for local campaigns
- Text to join keywords and QR codes
- Useful reporting for small teams
- Credit based pricing needs volume planning
- Advanced automation is lighter than ecommerce platforms
SlickText starts at $29 per month for 500 credits, with a 14 day trial. One SMS equals one credit and MMS uses three credits in published descriptions, and all features are included on every plan rather than gated by tier. Paid plans include unlimited contacts and rollover credits, which helps seasonal businesses that send heavily in some months and lightly in others.
SlickText is a good pick for teams that value clear pricing and direct support. Live phone, chat, and email support are part of the offer, which is not true for every budget tool. The limit is integration depth: if you need complex Shopify or CRM automation, you may still need Zapier or a second tool. For straightforward campaigns, polls, and list growth, SlickText covers the job well.
- Published pricing with no long term contract
- All features on every plan
- Rollover credits on paid plans
- Fewer native ecommerce integrations than Klaviyo
- No push notification channel
Omnisend offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts in many descriptions, with paid Standard plans from around $16 per month. It combines email, SMS, and web push, with prebuilt flows for welcome series, cart recovery, and order follow up. That makes it a strong low cost alternative to Klaviyo for a new store that wants one tool for several channels.
SMS is the constraint. Free and low tier plans include limited SMS sends, and international SMS rates vary, so a store that plans to lean on texting should price the Standard or Pro plan with its expected volume. Omnisend still wins on value for email heavy stores that add SMS for key moments, such as cart recovery and shipping updates, rather than daily broadcasts.
- Free plan for small stores
- Email, SMS, and push in one tool
- Ready made ecommerce automations
- SMS volume on low tiers is limited
- Advanced features need the Standard or Pro plan
Textedly focuses on mass texting for businesses, nonprofits, and community groups. Users can import contacts, schedule campaigns, set up keywords, and track delivery and replies from a simple dashboard. A free trial lets teams test list import and sending before committing.
Textedly is best for straightforward broadcast use: event updates, appointment reminders, and promotions to an opted in list. It is not the strongest choice for a store that needs deep purchase segmentation or two way sales conversations at scale. Because published pricing for Textedly varies across sources, we list starting price as See website and recommend checking the current plan page with your expected monthly volume.
- Simple mass texting and scheduling
- Affordable entry for small lists
- Useful for announcements and reminders
- Pricing and plan details change, so confirm before buying
- Fewer advanced ecommerce flows
Sakari is useful when SMS is part of sales and service work, not only marketing blasts. Teams get shared inboxes, contact management, scheduled messages, and integrations that sync conversations with a CRM. That helps a service business follow up on leads, confirm appointments, and keep a record of text conversations alongside email and calls.
Sakari is less focused on large promotional campaigns than Klaviyo, Attentive, or Postscript, so a high volume ecommerce brand may find its campaign tools lighter. For a B2B or service team that already uses HubSpot or a similar CRM, Sakari fills a gap that a pure marketing platform leaves open. Confirm pricing on the current plan page, since Sakari sells by plan and message volume.
- Two way business texting with team inboxes
- Integrations with HubSpot and other tools
- Good for service and sales teams
- More of a business messaging tool than a pure marketing platform
- Pricing requires a quote or plan check
How we picked these
We compared official pricing and feature pages, plus published pricing comparisons, for platforms that support compliant opt in SMS marketing in the US. We favored tools with clear consent and opt out handling, two way messaging or automation, and integrations that match their target user, whether that is a Shopify store, a local business, or a sales team. We excluded bulk SMS resellers with no campaign or compliance tooling.
What to check before you choose
SMS compliance is not optional. In the US, marketing texts need prior express written consent, a clear opt out in every message, and respect for quiet hours and carrier rules. A platform should help you collect consent, store proof, and handle STOP replies automatically.
Price the whole send, not just the plan
Add the monthly plan, per SMS and MMS rates, carrier fees, and any dedicated number or short code costs. A $29 plan that charges per message can cost more than a $100 plan with a larger allowance if you send often. Model three months of real volume, including MMS and replies, before you sign.
Match the tool to your store or CRM
Shopify stores get the most from Postscript, Klaviyo, or Omnisend. Local and service businesses get more value from SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, or SlickText. Sales and service teams that need CRM sync should look at Sakari or a CRM native SMS add on. The wrong fit costs more in workarounds than the right plan costs in fees.
Start narrow, then expand
Begin with one or two high value flows, such as welcome texts and cart recovery, and measure replies, unsubscribes, and revenue per send. Avoid daily broadcasts to a cold list. A smaller, engaged list will outperform a large list that opts out after the first week.
FAQ
What is the best SMS marketing platform for Shopify?
Postscript is the most SMS focused Shopify choice, while Klaviyo is better if you want email and SMS from one profile. Omnisend is a strong budget option for new Shopify stores that need email first and SMS for key flows.
How much does SMS marketing cost per month?
Budget tools start around $25 to $29 per month before message fees, while ecommerce platforms may start free or at $20 per month plus per message rates. High volume brands on Attentive or Postscript growth plans should budget for plan fees, message rates, carrier fees, and MMS separately.
Is SMS marketing legal without consent?
No, marketing texts in the US need prior express written consent from each recipient, and every message must offer a simple opt out. Platforms help with consent forms and STOP handling, but the business remains responsible for how its list was built.
What is the difference between SMS and MMS marketing?
SMS is text only and usually costs less per message, while MMS includes images, longer text, or video and costs more. MMS can lift engagement for product launches and visual offers, but it should be used sparingly so costs and opt outs stay under control.
Can I send SMS from my existing business number?
Many platforms support toll free numbers, local long codes, or short codes, and some support text enabling an existing voice number, subject to carrier approval. Confirm number type, registration, and throughput limits before promising delivery speed to customers.
Which SMS platform is best for small businesses?
SimpleTexting, EZ Texting, and SlickText are strong small business picks because setup is fast and pricing is published. Klaviyo or Omnisend make more sense if the business is an online store that also needs email automation.





