10 Best SMS marketing platforms & text software in 2024

Welcome to the vibrant world of SMS marketing, where text messages become powerful for business growth and customer engagement.

In the digital age, SMS marketing platforms stand out by delivering messages straight to your audience’s mobile phone, revolutionizing business communication.

Imagine a platform that not only sends bulk text messages but also manages customer data, send personalized text messages, and executes impactful SMS campaigns.

That’s the power of SMS marketing software—it’s about fostering meaningful conversations and building strong customer relationships.

Businesses of all sizes leverage text message marketing services to connect directly and efficiently with customers.

With features like automated messages, multimedia messaging service (MMS), and detailed analytics, the best SMS marketing tools enhance your strategy, making every message count.

Whether promoting sales, sending appointment reminders, or maintaining contact, SMS marketing services offer a versatile solution.

Advanced features like two-way messaging, opt-out management, and integration with other marketing platforms transform these tools into comprehensive marketing solutions.

In this guide, we’ll explore top SMS marketing platforms, showing how they can turn your campaigns into potent engagement channels.

We’ll delve into leveraging SMS tools for customer loyalty, feedback, and driving business success, setting the stage for a marketing revolution through text messaging.

What do you mean by SMS marketing platforms?

SMS marketing platforms are specially designed to facilitate sending short message service (SMS) texts to large groups of people simultaneously. These platforms provide features for managing contact lists, segmenting audiences, scheduling messages, and analyzing the effectiveness of SMS campaigns.

An SMS messaging app provides a combination of features for sending flash sale notifications, abandoned cart reminders, onboarding SMS messages, and more.

These platforms would allow you to send automated SMS campaigns based on your desired actions, triggers, and conditions. 

So, if you want to take your marketing to the next level, you must immediately find and start using one of the best SMS marketing software to gain an edge over your competitors.

Top SMS marketing platforms in 2024

Based on the features, pricing, unique propositions, and reviews, here are our best SMS marketing platforms recommendations.

1. Salesmate

Salesmate is not just a CRM but a comprehensive sales and marketing suite that integrates SMS marketing seamlessly into its platform.

It offers a holistic view of customer interactions and automates sales processes, making it easier to engage prospects or leads through personalized text messages.

Its robust SMS functionality is integrated with sales pipelines and customer data, providing a powerful tool for nurturing leads and closing deals.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Integrates CRM and SMS marketing seamlessly, offering advanced automation and analytics within a unified system.
• Cons: The extensive suite of features may be more than required for businesses seeking a simple SMS marketing solution.

Best for:

• Businesses seeking an all-in-one CRM and SMS marketing solution.

G2 rating: 4.6/5

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2. Omnisend

Omnisend provides an omnichannel marketing experience, with SMS as a key component.

It allows businesses to create sophisticated, automated marketing campaigns that combine email, SMS, and social media channels.

Omnisend’s strength lies in its ability to use customer data to drive highly targeted campaigns, making it an ideal choice for e-commerce businesses looking to increase their reach and conversion rates.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Provides robust multi-channel marketing capabilities with strong automation and segmentation tools, ideal for e-commerce.
• Cons: The pricing structure may be prohibitive for smaller businesses or those with limited marketing needs.

Best for:

• E-commerce businesses aiming for an integrated marketing approach.

G2 rating:

• 4.6/5

3. SlickText 

SlickText is a user-friendly SMS marketing platform designed to help businesses of all sizes effectively engage with their audience through text messaging.

It offers a range of features from mass texting to detailed analytics, with a focus on simplicity and effectiveness.

SlickText is known for its straightforward setup and operation, making it a great option for businesses new to SMS marketing or those seeking an uncomplicated solution.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: User-friendly with a straightforward approach to SMS marketing, offering essential features like mass texting and two-way messaging.
• Cons: Lacks some of the more advanced features and integrations available in comprehensive marketing platforms.

Best for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses

G2 rating:

• 4.8/5

4. Trumpia

Trumpia offers a more advanced SMS marketing solution, with a comprehensive set of features including automation, smart targeting, and multi-channel messaging.

It’s designed for businesses that need a more sophisticated approach to SMS marketing, with the ability to segment audiences, automate communications based on customer behavior, and integrate with other business systems.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Features advanced automation, smart targeting, and multi-channel messaging, suitable for complex marketing strategies.
• Cons: The platform’s extensive capabilities come with a higher cost and a steeper learning curve.

Best for:

• Medium to large businesses

G2 rating:

• 4.3/5

5. Sakari 

Sakari is a cloud-based SMS marketing service that allows businesses to send personalized and automated text messages globally.

It stands out for its international reach and its integration capabilities with various CRM systems, allowing businesses to manage their SMS campaigns and customer data in one place.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Offers global SMS capabilities and strong CRM integration, making it ideal for businesses with international communication needs.
• Cons: International messaging and advanced features can lead to higher costs.

Best for:

• Businesses requiring international SMS capabilities with CRM integration.

G2 rating:

• 4.5/5

6. TextMagic

TextMagic is a straightforward, effective SMS marketing service that caters to businesses of all sizes.

It provides a comprehensive set of tools for bulk SMS, two-way messaging, and SMS gateway API, making it suitable for businesses looking for a reliable and scalable text messaging solution.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Simple and effective, with a clear pricing model and essential features for straightforward SMS marketing campaigns.
• Cons: May not offer the depth of automation and analytics features found in more specialized SMS marketing tools.

Best for:

• Businesses of all sizes needing a straightforward SMS service.

G2 rating:

• 4.4/5

7. EZ Texting 

EZ Texting is known for its ease of use and powerful SMS marketing features. It provides businesses with the tools they need to create and manage successful SMS marketing campaigns, including mass texting, MMS, keyword campaigns, and detailed reporting, all within a user-friendly interface.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Easy to use with various effective SMS marketing tools, including keyword campaigns and integrations.
• Cons: Costs can increase significantly with higher volume usage, which may affect budget-conscious businesses.

Best for:

• Businesses looking for a user-friendly and effective SMS marketing platform.

G2 rating:

• 4.5/5

8. ClickSend

ClickSend is a multi-channel communication platform offering SMS, email, and voice services. It’s designed for businesses that need a comprehensive solution for their communication needs, providing a robust platform for managing and executing marketing campaigns across different channels.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Provides a versatile range of communication services beyond SMS, including email and voice, with global reach.
• Cons: Managing multiple communication channels through one platform can be complex and may require more resources.

Best for:

Businesses needing a comprehensive multi-channel communication solution.

G2 rating:

4.1/5

9. Podium 

Podium is an innovative platform that combines text messaging with other customer interaction tools like online reviews and payment processing.

It’s designed to enhance the customer experience by facilitating easy communication and giving businesses insights into customer satisfaction and behavior.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: Combines SMS marketing with online reviews and payment processing, offering a comprehensive tool for customer interaction.
• Cons: The platform’s broad range of features can make it costly, especially for smaller businesses that need simpler solutions.

Best for:

Service-oriented businesses focusing on customer interaction and feedback.

G2 rating:

4.5/5

10. Birdeye

Birdeye is an all-encompassing customer experience platform that includes SMS marketing as part of its suite of services.

It helps businesses manage their online reputation, gather customer feedback, and engage with customers through various channels, including text messaging, making it a comprehensive tool for customer experience management.

Pros and cons:

• Pros: An all-encompassing platform for managing customer experience, including SMS marketing, review management, and surveys.
• Cons: The extensive features and capabilities can come at a premium price, potentially making it less accessible for smaller operations.

Best for:

Businesses looking for a comprehensive customer experience and reputation management platform.

G2 rating:

4.8/5

Related read: SMS Marketing: Statistics, benefits, automation, and best practices

How to choose the best automated texting software?

Choosing the best automated texting software for your business involves considering several factors to ensure the tool meets your communication needs, budget, and integration requirements.

Here are key steps and considerations to help you select the best automated texting software:

1. Define your objectives

• Determine what you want to achieve with automated texting. Is it for marketing, customer service, alerts, or reminders?
• Understand who your recipients are and their preferences for receiving text messages.

2. Evaluate key features

• Look for software that offers robust automation features, such as scheduled texts, auto-replies, and triggered messages based on specific actions or events.
• The ability to segment your audience and personalize messages is crucial for effective engagement.
• Ensure the software can integrate seamlessly with your existing CRM, marketing, or sales platforms to streamline workflows.
• The software should comply with legal standards like TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for text messaging.

3. Consider usability

• The platform should be user-friendly, with a straightforward interface that allows you to set up and manage campaigns efficiently.
• Check if the provider offers adequate training and support services to help you utilize the software effectively.

4. Assess scalability

• Ensure the software can handle the volume of messages you plan to send, both currently and as your business grows.
• The platform should be flexible enough to scale up or down based on your changing business needs.

5. Review pricing and ROI

• Compare pricing plans to find one that fits your budget while meeting your needs. Consider the cost per message, monthly fees, and any additional charges for extra features.
• Evaluate the potential return on investment by considering how the software can improve engagement, customer satisfaction, and sales.

6. Read reviews and get references

• Look for reviews and testimonials from other users to gauge their experiences with the software’s performance, reliability, and customer service.
• Review case studies or ask for references to understand how the software has benefited similar businesses in your industry.

7. Test the software

• Take advantage of free trials or request demos to test the software’s functionality, ease of use, and compatibility with your business processes.

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8. Security and data privacy

• Ensure the software provides robust security measures to protect your data and the privacy of your message recipients.

By carefully considering these factors, you can choose an automated texting software that not only meets your immediate needs but also supports your long-term business goals.

What are the features of best SMS marketing platform?

The best SMS marketing platforms offer a range of features designed to enhance communication, improve engagement, and facilitate the management of SMS campaigns.

Here are some key features to look for in a top SMS marketing platform:

1. Easy-to-use interface

An intuitive and user-friendly interface is crucial for efficient campaign setup, message drafting, and contact management.

This ease of navigation reduces the need for extensive training and enables quick management of SMS campaigns, enhancing productivity.

2. Contact management

Effective contact management involves segmenting contacts into targeted groups based on demographics, behavior, or criteria.

This facilitates the management of large contact databases, ensuring accurate targeting and messaging in sms marketing platforms.

3. Message personalization

Message personalization allows for dynamic insertion of recipient-specific content, enhancing message relevance and engagement.

This is a cornerstone of automated text message services, improving engagement rates and the effectiveness of campaigns.

4. Automation and scheduling

Automation and scheduling in automated texting software enable sending SMS messages at optimal times or in response to specific triggers.

This saves time and resources, ensuring timely communication and consistent engagement with the audience.

5. Two-way messaging

Two-way messaging enables interactive conversations, allowing businesses to gather feedback and provide support.

This fosters a two-way dialogue and immediate response, enhancing customer service and engagement in text message marketing software.

6. Campaign analytics and reporting

Comprehensive campaign analytics and reporting provide insights into campaign performance, including engagement and ROI metrics.

This functionality helps businesses make data-driven decisions to refine and improve future SMS marketing strategies.

7. Compliance management

Compliance management in SMS marketing platforms adheres to standards like GDPR, TCPA, and A2P 10DLC, differentiating between messaging types.

Incorporating A2P 10DLC ensures legal compliance and enhances trust in SMS marketing solutions.

8. Integration capabilities

The ability to integrate with other marketing and sales tools offers a unified customer engagement approach.

This enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing campaigns by leveraging existing customer data in SMS marketing systems.

9. MMS capabilities

MMS capabilities allow for sending rich media content, such as images and videos, making messages more engaging.

This enhances the impact and appeal of messages, leading to higher engagement and response rates in the best SMS marketing platforms.

10. Customizable templates

Customizable templates provide pre-designed message formats that can be tailored to fit brand and campaign needs.

This speeds up the campaign creation process and ensures brand consistency across communications in text marketing platforms.

11. Keyword and short code support

Using memorable keywords and short codes facilitates easy participation in promotions and data collection.

This simplifies the process for customers to interact with campaigns and is crucial for tracking engagement in best text marketing platforms.

12. Scalability

Scalability ensures the platform can handle increasing volumes of messages and contacts, supporting business growth.

This is critical for SMS marketing apps, allowing them to adapt to changing business needs and market dynamics.

13. Customer support

Comprehensive customer support services include live assistance, documentation, and training resources.

They ensure quick resolution of issues, minimizing downtime and operational disruptions in sms marketing tools.

14. Security and data protection

Robust security protocols safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

This instills confidence among users and customers about the safety and privacy of their data in sms marketing providers.

15. Campaign management

Campaign management tools for planning, executing, and monitoring SMS marketing campaigns streamline the process.

This allows for a more effective allocation of marketing efforts and resources, ensuring successful campaign outcomes in SMS marketing solutions.

16. Bulk messaging

The capability to send messages to large numbers of recipients simultaneously is essential for bulk messaging.

This ensures efficient dissemination of information, especially for time-sensitive announcements or promotions in SMS marketing platforms.

Choosing an SMS marketing platform with these key features enables effective audience engagement and streamlined communication management, driving better marketing outcomes and customer relationships.

17. List and segments

Advanced list management and segmentation tools allow for precise targeting and personalized messaging.

This feature enables marketers to categorize contacts into distinct groups based on specific criteria, enhancing the relevance and impact of each campaign.

18. Text pilot

The Text Pilot feature allows for testing and previewing messages before a full-scale send-out, ensuring content accuracy and effectiveness.

This tool helps in optimizing the messaging strategy by allowing real-time adjustments based on feedback and performance metrics.

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What are best practices for using SMS marketing software?

Using SMS marketing platforms effectively requires adherence to best practices that ensure compliance, engagement, and positive ROI. Here are some of the best practices for using SMS marketing software:

1. Obtain consent

Always get explicit consent from recipients before sending them SMS messages. This is not only a legal requirement but also builds trust with your audience on SMS marketing platforms.

2. Personalize messages

Use the data you have about your customers to personalize messages. Personalization can significantly increase engagement rates by making the message more relevant to the recipient on text message marketing platforms.

3. Keep it concise

SMS messages should be short and to the point. You have limited characters to convey your message, so make every word count.

4. Timing is key

Send SMS messages at appropriate times when recipients are more likely to read and act on them. Avoid early mornings, late nights, and other times when messages might be intrusive.

5. Include a clear all-to-action (CTA)

Every SMS message should have a clear and concise call-to-action. This tells the recipient exactly what you want them to do next, whether it’s visiting a website, calling a phone number, or replying to the message.

6. Segment your audience

Use segmentation to send targeted messages to specific groups within your audience. This can improve the relevance of your messages and increase engagement rates on best SMS marketing platforms.

7. Test and optimize

Regularly test different messages, timings, and strategies to see what works best with your audience. Use the data and analytics provided by your SMS marketing tools to optimize your campaigns continually.

8. Respect opt-out requests

Make it easy for recipients to opt out of receiving SMS messages and promptly honor these requests. This will not only comply with legal requirements but also respect customer preferences.

9. Integrate with other channels

Combine SMS marketing with other channels like email, social media, and direct mail for a cohesive marketing strategy. This multi-channel approach can enhance the overall impact of your marketing efforts.

10. Monitor and comply with regulations

Stay updated with SMS marketing regulations such as the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) in the U.S. and GDPR in Europe to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues.

By following these best practices, businesses can use SMS marketing platforms effectively to engage with their customers, drive sales, and build lasting relationships while maintaining compliance with legal standards.

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Who uses text messaging software?

Text messaging software is used by various organizations across different sectors to enhance communication and engagement. Here’s how it benefits specific teams:

1. Marketing teams

Marketing teams use text messaging platform to send targeted promotional messages, special offers, and event notifications, increasing campaign relevance and effectiveness on SMS marketing platforms.

It enables personalized communication, building brand awareness and loyalty by engaging customers with relevant content on SMS marketing platforms.

The software provides analytics on message delivery, open rates, and conversion rates, helping marketing teams measure campaign success and optimize strategies on text marketing platforms.

2. Sales teams

Sales teams utilize text messaging software for lead generation and nurturing, using timely follow-ups and personalized messages to effectively move prospects through the sales funnel on the best SMS marketing platforms.

It facilitates immediate communication with potential customers, allowing sales representatives to quickly respond to inquiries and close deals faster on SMS marketing platforms.

Sales teams can schedule appointments and send reminders via text, reducing no-shows and keeping prospects engaged and informed on SMS marketing solutions.

3. Customer service teams

The customer support team uses text message marketing platform to provide support, resolve issues, and quickly answer customer inquiries, enhancing the customer experience on SMS marketing platforms.

It is an effective tool for collecting customer feedback through surveys and polls, providing insights into customer satisfaction and areas for improvement in SMS marketing solutions.

Customer service can proactively send updates about order status, shipping information, and any anticipated service changes, keeping customers informed and reducing inbound inquiry volumes on SMS marketing systems.

Text messaging software is a versatile tool that significantly benefits marketing, sales, and customer service teams by enabling efficient, direct, and personalized communication with customers, leading to improved engagement, sales, and customer satisfaction on SMS marketing platforms.

What types of SMS marketing software exist?

In the evolving landscape of digital marketing, SMS marketing platforms have become a pivotal tool for businesses aiming to enhance customer engagement and communication. These platforms vary in complexity and integration capabilities, catering to diverse marketing needs.

1. Advanced SMS service providers or legacy systems

Often considered the best SMS marketing platforms, these platforms offer comprehensive text messaging capabilities, with advanced features and integrations.

They are typically more robust and include legacy systems that have been in the market for a long time.

2. Dedicated SMS solutions

Specialized tools focused solely on SMS messaging, providing straightforward functionalities for sending and managing SMS campaigns without additional marketing channels. These are ideal for businesses looking for point SMS solutions.

3. Integrated marketing platforms with SMS and email

These platforms provide a unified solution for managing both SMS and email marketing campaigns, allowing businesses to coordinate and streamline their communication strategies across multiple channels, often seen as the best email and SMS marketing software.

4. CRM software with SMS integration

Combining customer relationship management (CRM) functionalities with SMS capabilities, these systems enable businesses to manage customer interactions, sales, and marketing campaigns directly from a single platform.

This integration facilitates seamless communication and enhanced customer engagement through personalized text messaging based on customer data and interactions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the right text message marketing platform type depends on a business’s specific needs and goals.

Whether it’s a standalone text message marketing solution, a comprehensive marketing platform, or a CRM integrated with SMS, each type offers unique benefits to streamline communication processes and bolster marketing efforts.