10 Best SMS Apps for Small Businesses (2024)

In today’s digital era, еffеctivе communication is crucial for the success of any small business.  One of the most convenient and widely used communication methods is SMS or text message marketing. SMS apps are dеsignеd spеcifically for small businеssеs offеr a range of fеaturеs that strеamlinе communication, еnhancе customеr еngagеmеnt, and improvе ovеrall productivity.  

In this article, we will еxplorе thе Top Ten SMS Apps for small businesses, highlighting their uniquе fеaturеs and bеnеfits.  Whеthеr you’rе looking to еnhancе customer service,  streamline marketing campaigns, or simply stay connected with your team, thеsе SMS apps can providе thе pеrfеct solution for your small businеss nееds.

Also, as per the survey, SMS marketing has a read rate of 97% within 15 minutes of delivery. The open rate of texts is 97% whereas the average open rate of emails sits around 33%.

10 Best SMS Apps For Small Businesses

Tools	Pricing	Features
EZtexting	Starts at $19/month	Marketing automation, analytics, integrations
Simple Texting	Starts at $25/month	Scheduling, autoresponders, group messaging
Podium	Starts at $249/month	Customer reviews, messaging, payments
Sakari	Starts at $49/month	Two-way messaging, chatbots, integrations
Textedly	Starts at $19/month	Marketing automation, surveys, landing pages
Text Magic	Starts at $9/month	International messaging, APIs, integrations
Google Voice	Free (limited features)	Basic calling and texting, voicemail transcription
Mobile Text Alerts	Starts at $9.99/month	Mass messaging, alerts, reminders
Twilio	Pay-as-you-go pricing	Flexible APIs, programmable SMS, voice, and video
SlickText	Starts at $29/month	Marketing campaigns, contests, coupons

Best SMS Apps for Small Business (Free and Paid)

There are hundreds of apps offering thousands of features but we narrowed down the list for you. In search of the best text messaging app for business, we came across ten gems and the list goes like this:

1. EZtexting

EZ texting is the best and one-stop solution for all text marketing needs. It offers a variety of features and comes with unlimited inbound messages, phone and chat support, image editing tools, QR codes, and signup forms.

Features

• Supports automation and can be used to send recurring messages.
• Offers free two-way texting.
• You can add unlimited contacts.
• Supports MMS picture messaging.

Pricing

EZtexting comes with a 14-day free trial and offers up to 20% discount on annual plans. Plans range from $25(Launch) to $ 3000(enterprise).

2. Simple Texting

Being considered one of the top business SMS solutions, Simple Texting can handle the tasks of a small business in a jiffy. This user-friendly text marketing application is very convenient to use and with this you can even announce sales, personalize messages, track results, etc.

Features

• Allows two-way conversation
• Provides unlimited contacts and incoming messages
• Give you a free number that you can call on your own
• Provides unlimited keywords and a perk to rollover unused credits

Pricing

• Simple Texting offers 20% off if opting for the annual plan.
• The plans range from $29/month to $23.3/year

3. Podium

Podium is considered best for sending one-way and two-way text messages. It provides AI-powered tools which can be used for response suggestions and automating review invites. With the use of its all-in-one dashboard, you can manage your reputation across multiple sites.

Features

• Offers reporting and analytics which can help in managing customer messages
• Comes with custom messaging templates, chat widgets, and call-to-text
• Features can be personalized based on business and industry.

Pricing

Podium offers a trial period of 14 days without the need for a credit card. Moreover, it provides a comparative chart of plans on its website.

Plans range from $249 (Essentials), Standard $409, and $599 (Professional).

4. Sakari

Sakari is a budget-friendly text message app that doesn’t compromise on features and provides SMS reminders, confirmation, alerts, etc. This text message marketing app enables messaging right out of the box, be it individual or group messages.

Features

• Supports mass texting.
• Integration with popular tools like Zapier, Hubspot, slack, and more.
• Simplifies the automation process with the use of integrations.

Pricing

Sakari offers a free 14-day free trial offer. The pricing is charged based on per country basis. Plans range from $16 for 500 messages to $640 for 25000 messages.

5. Textedly

Textedly provides the cleanest web interface and is preferred by most businesses. Some big names on Textedly’s client list are Walmart and Godaddy. The aesthetic dashboard makes it easy to use and can be managed either through the web or the app.

Features

• Simple business review invitations.
• Optimized for quick response
• Supports long text messages with 160 character limit.
• Provides comprehensive analytics.

Pricing

• It offers a no-credit card required, 14 days free trial with 50 text messages.
• The plans range from $26 for Basic to $2999 for Champion.

6. Text Magic

The TextMagic message app aims to provide a great customer support and marketing experience. Just by signing up, you can use all the premium text message marketing features of this tool. 

Features

• Can use the existing customer list to update the contacts using its app or web portal
• Offers analytics features like SMS distribution lists and long text messages
• Includes features like automation, number validation, and secure text messaging

Pricing

The best thing about it is the 30 days free trial with no credit card required. It offers a pay-per-text pricing module that charges $0.049 per text.

7. Google Voice

The simplicity and ease of use act as its strengths and are the prime reason for the popularity of this SMS marketing application. Though Google Voice has limited use in the business ecosystem but even with limited use it is considered perfect for small businesses.

Features

• Supports SMS and MMS facility(only in the US)
• Offers video meetings with up to 100 participants.
• Provides voicemail facility

Pricing

It has a different kind of pricing mechanism that charges you on a per-user per-month basis. Plans range from $6 to $18.

8. Mobile Text Alerts

Mobile Text Alerts offer a no-hassle setup that can get you started with sending mass text messages in less than 5 minutes. The intuitive platform makes managing messages easier. You can enjoy various premium features like automated reply options, drip campaign facilities, and delivery status reporting.

Features

• It can accommodate unlimited users
• Reports and analytics help you monitor texting campaigns and evaluate their performance
• Message schedule, so you don’t have to be tied to your system.

Pricing

Offers a 14-day free trial and plans range from $25 for 500 messages to $1074 for 50,000 messages.

9. Twilio

Twilio is a code-based SMS marketing solution. A developer can make a text message app using the programming language of your choice. With Twilio’s advanced features, you can tackle challenges before they make it into your error logs.

Features

• Provides an advanced marketing analytics tool.
• Lots of customization due to the “code your own app” phenomenon
• Offers a programmable voice for making and receiving calls.

Pricing

• Twilio has pay-as-you-go pricing and offers a 14 days free trial with no credit card required.
• The pricing for the US is $0.0079 for each inbound and outbound text message.

10. SlickText

SlickText for business offers services that include automatic URL shortening, bulk SMS, and a text scheduler. It is most suitable for text message marketing where the focus is on growth as they can use its text-to-join.

Features

• Comes with unused texts rollover facility
• You can add unlimited contacts
• Supports MMS, picture messaging, and two-way sms.

Pricing

Offers a free 14 days trial. Comes with a number of plans and pricing varies based on your country and the text words. Plans range from The CA Basic- $29 (2 Textwords) to The CA Monstro-$2399 (30 Textwords)

What to Look For in a Messaging App?

In the ocean of text messaging apps on the internet, choosing the one that is suitable for your business is a tedious task. While choosing you have to keep a few things in mind, like the requirements of your business and the budget. Here are some of the criteria that can help you shortlist the best text apps:

1. Seamless Login and Operation

It’s an obvious fact that login ad operational features are often overlooked by the developers. A messaging app that is loaded with a lot of quality features but has a buggy login and lags while operating can result in discontent.

2. User Interface

Who doesn’t want to use an app that is easy to operate and well-designed? As a basic requirement, text apps have to be loaded with features, which also can confuse users while navigating. A clean user interface makes navigating easier and saves users from getting lost in an ocean of tools. 

3. Automation

For any business, irrespective of its size and industry, automation in text messaging apps is essential for efficient working. It can reduce the workload and increase efficiency by automating monotonous operations like order confirmations, festival offers, and greetings. With an automation-integrated message app, a business can schedule messages based on triggers. This saves two of the most scarce resources – Time and Money.

4. Security

The Internet is not a safe place, one has to be aware of the threats it poses. This makes security an essential aspect of a text message app. The ecosystem must be secured enough to not expose the business or its customers to hackers and the dark web.

10 Best SMS Apps For Small Businesses iphone

You’re looking for the best SMS apps for small businesses on iPhone. Here are 10 highly-rated options to consider, each with its own strengths and features:

1. EZ Texting (Affordable, marketing automation, integrations)
2. Simple Texting (Reliable, user-friendly, scheduling)
3. Podium (All-in-one, customer reviews, payments)
4. Sakari (Customer service focus, chatbots, integrations)
5. Textedly (Marketing-focused, surveys, landing pages)
6. TextMagic (Flexible pricing, international coverage, APIs)
7. Google Voice (Free, basic features, personal & business use)
8. Mobile Text Alerts (Affordable, mass alerts, reminders)
9. Twilio (Highly customizable, developer-friendly, pay-as-you-go)
10. SlickText (Marketing campaigns, contests, coupons)

10 Best SMS Apps For Small Businesses Android

Here are 10 highly-rated SMS apps for small businesses on Android, catering to various needs and budgets:

Marketing & Communication:

1. EZ Texting: Affordable plans, robust marketing features like automation and analytics, user-friendly interface. (Pricing starts at $19/month)
2. Simple Texting: Reliable platform with scheduling, autoresponders, and group messaging, good value for basic communication needs. (Pricing starts at $25/month)
3. Textedly: Strong marketing features like surveys and landing pages, easy to use, good customer support. (Pricing starts at $19/month)
4. SlickText: Ideal for marketing campaigns with contests and coupons, easy to use, offers reporting and integrations. (Pricing starts at $29/month)

Customer Service & Support:

1. Podium: All-in-one platform with messaging, payments, and customer reviews, great for businesses with physical locations. (Pricing starts at $249/month)
2. Sakari: Focuses on customer service with chatbots and two-way messaging, integrates with popular tools, good value for support-heavy businesses. (Pricing starts at $49/month)

Budget-Friendly & Feature-Specific:

1. Mobile Text Alerts: Affordable option for mass alerts and reminders, offers two-way communication and basic features. (Pricing starts at $9.99/month)
2. TextMagic: Flexible pricing plans, good for international messaging and developer-friendly features, basic marketing tools included. (Pricing starts at $9/month)

Advanced & Developer-Friendly:

1. Twilio: Highly customizable with programmable SMS, voice, and video, pay-as-you-go model, requires technical expertise. (Pricing varies based on usage)

Unique Offering:

1. Google Voice: Free option with basic calling and texting, voicemail transcription, convenient for personal and business use, limited features compared to paid options.

Conclusion

Sеlеcting the right SMS app for your small business can significantly impact your communication strategies and overall success. The 10 Best SMS Apps for Small Businesses that are highlighted in this article offer a range of features and functionalitiеs designed to catеr to the specific needs of small businesses.  From robust customer engagement tools to seamless intеgration with other business applications, these apps provide a powerful platform for effective communication.

10 Best SMS Apps for Small Businesses

How to send 1,000 SMS at once?

For 1,000 SMS at once, try GetItSMS, WhatsApp Broadcast, or TextMagic.

Why 100 SMS per day?

In India, telecom operators like Jio, Airtel, or Vodafone-Idea used to cap SMS at 100 per SIM daily. But as of October 2023, TRAI removed this limit. So, it might not apply anymore, depending on your location and operator.

What is the maximum SMS per day?

SMS limits differ by location and provider. In India, TRAI lifted the 100 SMS per SIM cap in October 2023. Other countries have varied rules. Some plans allow unlimited SMS, while apps and spam controls may restrict usage.

What is the best text messaging service for business?

• For marketing: SlickText, SimpleTexting, Podium, EZ Texting
• For customer service: Zendesk Chat, Twilio, TextMagic, Salesmsg
• For internal communication: ContactMonkey, EZ Texting, Salesmsg, GroupMe
• For large businesses: Twilio, MessageBird, Plivo

How do businesses send text messages?

Businesses send text messages through SMS marketing platforms, API integration, SMS gateways, mobile apps, CRM software, or email-to-SMS gateways, depending on their communication needs and preferences.