Comparison · SMS Marketing
Best SMS marketing tools
Six tools, honest pricing, and the compliance details that actually get businesses in trouble.
- 6 tools compared
- Real prices
- Compliance notes
Best SMS marketing tools: which one should you pick?
Klaviyo SMS and Postscript are the strongest picks for ecommerce brands wanting SMS tied to purchase behavior, Attentive suits larger brands wanting managed campaign strategy, and SimpleTexting or EZ Texting are simpler, cheaper options for local businesses sending appointment reminders and promotions.
Last updated 3 August 2026
| Tool | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Klaviyo SMS | Ecommerce brands already using Klaviyo for email | Add-on pricing based on message volume, typically starting around $20 a month |
| Postscript | Shopify stores wanting a dedicated SMS specialist | From about $100 a month plus per-message costs |
| Attentive | Larger ecommerce brands wanting managed strategy support | Custom pricing, typically several hundred dollars a month and up |
| SimpleTexting | Local businesses sending reminders and simple promotions | From about $39 a month |
| EZ Texting | Small businesses wanting an easy-to-learn interface | From about $25 a month |
| Twilio | Technical teams wanting to build a fully custom SMS system | Pay-as-you-go, typically a few cents per message |
SMS marketing gets strong engagement — open rates well above email — but it comes with strict opt-in and compliance rules, and message costs add up fast at volume. The tools here mostly differ on ecommerce integration depth, compliance handling, and whether you're billed per message or on a flat plan.
Start by checking your local regulations (TCPA in the US, and equivalents elsewhere) — getting consent and opt-out handling wrong exposes you to real fines regardless of which tool you use.
How we judged them
What matters when you're small.
Compliance and consent management
Look for built-in double opt-in flows, automatic opt-out handling on 'STOP' replies, and consent record-keeping. This isn't optional — it's a legal requirement in most markets.
Ecommerce platform integration
For ecommerce, integration with your store's abandoned cart, order and shipping events determines how automated your SMS flows can be without manual triggering.
Pricing model — per message vs plan
Per-message pricing can spike unexpectedly during a big promotional send. Check the cost at your peak sending volume, not your average month.
Two-way messaging and support handling
If customers reply to your texts, check whether the tool routes replies to a real inbox your team can answer, or just logs them with no easy way to respond.
The picks
What each one is actually good at.
Klaviyo SMS
Add-on pricing based on message volume, typically starting around $20 a monthBest for: Ecommerce brands already using Klaviyo for email
The most seamless integration with email and store data if you're already on Klaviyo, letting you build combined email/SMS flows. Not worth adopting SMS alone here if you're not using Klaviyo for email.
Postscript
From about $100 a month plus per-message costsBest for: Shopify stores wanting a dedicated SMS specialist
Deep Shopify-specific features and strong compliance tooling built specifically for ecommerce SMS. Less useful outside Shopify, where integration is shallower.
Attentive
Custom pricing, typically several hundred dollars a month and upBest for: Larger ecommerce brands wanting managed strategy support
Comes with account management and campaign strategy support, which suits brands sending high volumes but is priced well beyond what a small store needs.
SimpleTexting
From about $39 a monthBest for: Local businesses sending reminders and simple promotions
Straightforward, affordable option for appointment reminders, promotions and two-way customer texting outside ecommerce. Automation is basic compared to the ecommerce-focused tools.
EZ Texting
From about $25 a monthBest for: Small businesses wanting an easy-to-learn interface
One of the simplest tools to set up for basic broadcast texting and keyword opt-ins. Not built for complex automated flows tied to purchase behavior.
Twilio
Pay-as-you-go, typically a few cents per messageBest for: Technical teams wanting to build a fully custom SMS system
The cheapest at scale if you have engineering resources to build your own sending and compliance logic. Not a marketing tool out of the box — it's infrastructure.
Skip
What we'd leave alone.
- Any tool or list provider selling pre-scraped phone number lists — sending to numbers without explicit opt-in is both illegal in most jurisdictions and destroys deliverability.
- Flat 'unlimited messages' plans with no mention of carrier filtering or compliance support — these often get flagged and blocked by carriers at scale.
- SMS-only tools if you're ecommerce and already invested in an email platform with an SMS add-on — combined flows outperform disconnected channels.
Questions
Common questions.
Do I need explicit consent before texting customers?
Yes — in the US, TCPA requires clear opt-in consent before sending marketing texts, and similar rules exist in the EU and elsewhere. Checkout opt-in checkboxes and keyword opt-ins (texting a word to a number) are the common compliant methods.
How much does SMS marketing typically cost per message?
Costs vary by country and carrier but are usually a few cents per message in the US, higher for MMS or international sends. High-volume promotional blasts can add up quickly — budget accordingly.
What's a reasonable opt-out rate to expect?
Some opt-outs after every campaign are normal; a spike in opt-outs usually signals you're sending too frequently or the content isn't relevant enough to the list.
Can SMS replace email marketing?
No — SMS works best for time-sensitive, high-urgency messages (flash sales, shipping updates) sent sparingly. Email remains better for longer-form content and higher message frequency.
Is it worth combining email and SMS in one platform?
If you're ecommerce, yes — combined flows let you fall back to SMS for customers who don't open email, and vice versa, which most dedicated single-channel tools can't coordinate.
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