SimpleTexting is the best text marketing platform for most small businesses because it starts at $39 per month for 500 credits, includes two-way texting, and offers a 14-day trial. Textedly and SlickText both start at $29 per month for 500 messages or credits, which makes them strong low-cost options for a first text list. EZ Texting is the best low-cost annual option in this guide, at $20 per month on annual billing for its Launch plan.
A text marketing platform lets a business send bulk SMS and MMS, collect opt-ins, run automated flows, and track replies, while staying inside carrier and consent rules. The best choice depends on list size, monthly volume, whether you need two-way replies, and whether SMS sits beside email in the same tool. The seven tools below cover low-cost credit plans, pay-as-you-go sending, ecommerce bundles, and enterprise SMS.
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What is the best text marketing platform: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SimpleTexting | Small business two-way texting | $39 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 2 | Textedly | Low-cost mass texting | $29 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 3 | EZ Texting | Low-cost annual plan | $20 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 4 | SlickText | Growing retail text lists | $29 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 5 | TextMagic | Irregular pay-as-you-go sending | $0.049 per SMS | No | Visit |
| 6 | Klaviyo | Ecommerce email and SMS together | $35 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Attentive | Large ecommerce SMS campaigns | quote only | No | Visit |
The 7 best what is the best text marketing platforms, in detail
SimpleTexting
Best for: Small business two-way texting
SimpleTexting is a credit based SMS platform built for small and mid-size teams that want straightforward text marketing without enterprise complexity. Its pricing starts at $29 per month for a toll-free number and $39 per month for a local 10DLC number, with 500 credits included. A 14-day free trial lets a team test campaigns, autoresponders, and two-way texting before paying.
- The platform includes unlimited keywords, three user seats, and rollover credits, plus integrations with Shopify, HubSpot, and Salesforce.
- The credit model is simple to follow.
- One SMS segment usually costs one credit, while a longer message over 160 characters or an MMS with an image costs more credits.
- Extra credits cost 5.5 cents each at the entry tier, a local number costs $10 per month, and each extra teammate costs $20 per month.
Pros
- Single plan with all core features included
- Rollover credits and unlimited keywords on the plan
Cons
- Credits are spent on sent and received messages, so two-way chats cost more
- No free plan after the trial ends
Textedly
Best for: Low-cost mass texting
Textedly is a cloud based mass text messaging service that offers bulk SMS, two-way texting, scheduling, auto-reply texts, and analytics. Its Basic plan costs $29 per month for 500 messages, and higher plans run to $5,520 per month for 300,000 messages across 14 tiers. Annual billing does not cut the monthly price, but it gives 20 percent more messages for the same monthly cost.
- A 14-day free trial includes 50 messages and one keyword, with no card required.
- Textedly includes free incoming messages on every plan, and it covers the first 10DLC registration fee.
- The platform also offers AI features, workflow automation, and social media messaging on its plans.
- That breadth makes it a practical pick for a business that wants mass texting plus automation without moving to a higher tier for each feature.
Pros
- Low entry price with full feature access on every plan
- Free incoming messages and free toll-free and 10DLC number
Cons
- A flat $8 per month telecom surcharge applies on every plan
- Extra credits cost $0.06 each with a $30 minimum spend
EZ Texting
Best for: Low-cost annual plan
EZ Texting is an all-in-one text marketing platform for SMS and MMS, with contact management, message templates, QR codes, signup forms, and workflow automation. Its Launch plan starts at $25 per month on monthly billing, or $20 per month on annual billing, and includes 500 monthly credits, or 6,000 yearly credits on the annual plan. It covers up to 500 contacts and includes one user.
- Higher plans include Boost at $60 per month on annual billing and Scale at $100 per month on annual billing.
- The Launch plan adds a $5 per month telecom fee, so the real monthly figure on monthly billing is $30 rather than $25.
- Overage credits cost $0.04 each on Launch, $0.035 each on Boost, and $0.03 each on Scale.
- Each extra user seat costs $10 per month.
Pros
- Low annual entry price for up to 500 contacts
- AI Compose and workflow automation included on the entry plan
Cons
- A $5 per month telecom fee applies on the Launch plan
- MMS costs more than SMS and the entry plan is limited to 500 credits
SlickText
Best for: Growing retail text lists
SlickText is an SMS marketing platform built for retail and ecommerce brands, with workflows triggered by Shopify browsing and cart activity, text keywords, a scheduler, and automatic URL shortening. Plans start at $29 per month for 500 credits and scale to $939 per month for 50,000 credits. A 14-day free trial is available with no card required, and nonprofits receive 20 percent off any standard plan.
- The platform includes one premium sending number, and it helps with 10DLC and toll-free registration.
- SlickText includes unlimited contacts on every plan, which is a real advantage for a retail list that grows fast.
- Free incoming messages also help a store that replies to customers by text.
- The platform offers bulk SMS, two-way messaging, and live chat support on all plans, so a small team does not need to upgrade to get core support.
Pros
- Free incoming messages and unlimited contacts on every plan
- Picture messaging and live chat support on all plans
Cons
- Carrier fees of $0.0042 per SMS and $0.0087 per MMS add to the plan price
- A picture message counts as three credits
TextMagic
Best for: Irregular pay-as-you-go sending
TextMagic is a pay-as-you-go SMS service for businesses with unpredictable text volume. It charges $0.049 per SMS in the United States on its pay-as-you-go rate, with advance credit bought in bundles starting at 20 credits. The credit never expires, which suits a business that sends in bursts, such as a seasonal shop, a clinic with appointment reminders, or a service firm with irregular alerts.
- The platform includes two-way texting, automation, segmentation, bulk texting, and scheduling.
- A number is required to send, and a local or toll-free number costs $10 per month, plus $10 per month for 10DLC campaign registration.
- Voice calling is also available on a pay-as-you-go basis.
- Optional monthly subscription plans are available for customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, but pricing for those
Pros
- Advance credit never expires
- No monthly plan to pick or cancel for pay-as-you-go sending
Cons
- Per-message price is high at volume compared with a monthly plan
- A number costs $10 per month and a 10DLC campaign costs $10 per month
Klaviyo
Best for: Ecommerce email and SMS together
Klaviyo is a B2C marketing platform built around a customer data layer, with email as its strongest channel and SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and mobile push layered on top. The Email and SMS plan starts at $35 per month for 251 to 500 active profiles, with 1,250 SMS and MMS credits included. Email alone starts at $20 per month for up to 500 profiles.
- The free plan covers up to 250 active profiles, up to 500 emails per month, and 150 SMS and MMS credits per month.
- SMS in Klaviyo runs on credits.
- A standard SMS up to 160 characters uses one credit, while longer messages split into segments that each cost a credit, and MMS costs more units than
- Extra SMS credit packs start at $15 for 1,250 credits in the United States, and the rate per credit falls as the pack size grows.
Pros
- Email and SMS share one customer data layer
- Free plan covers up to 250 active profiles
Cons
- SMS costs rise with profile count and message volume
- Unused SMS credits do not roll over to the next month
Attentive
Best for: Large ecommerce SMS campaigns
Attentive is an SMS and email marketing platform for consumer brands, known for its two-tap opt-in flow that turns website visitors into subscribers. It is built almost entirely around one-to-many ecommerce broadcast campaigns, such as product launches, sales, and seasonal promotions, rather than two-way conversations. That focus suits a large brand with a big subscriber list and a regular campaign calendar.
- Attentive does not list prices publicly.
- It uses custom pricing instead of published rates, and most contracts include quarterly spending minimums.
- Independent pricing trackers report monthly costs from roughly $500 to $5,000 or more, with a median annual contract value near $37,700 based on verif
- Platform fees, per-message costs, carrier fees, and short code costs can all add to the total, so a buyer needs a written quote for their own list siz
Pros
- Strong two-tap opt-in flow for ecommerce sites
- Built for large one-to-many broadcast campaigns
Cons
- Pricing is not published and contracts can include quarterly minimums
- Two-way messaging is not the central focus
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and feature lists for each tool, and we checked the starting price on the vendor site on 2026-11-12. We looked for SMS and MMS support, opt-in tools, automation, two-way messaging, compliance support, and clear pricing, and we gave weight to a free plan or trial. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not use review scores, awards, or customer counts to rank the tools. Prices change, and carrier fees can add to the total, so check the pricing page linked in Sources before you buy.
Decision table by monthly volume and budget
| Monthly volume and budget | Best pick | Why it fits | Monthly cost to plan for | | Under 500 texts, under $30 per month | Textedly or SlickText | Low entry price, 500 messages or credits | $29 per month, plus telecom or carrier fees | | Under 500 texts, annual billing | EZ Texting | Lowest annual entry price in this guide | $20 per month on annual billing, plus $5 telecom fee on Launch | | 500 texts, simple two-way texting | SimpleTexting | All core features, rollover credits | $39 per month for a local number, 500 credits | | Irregular volume, no monthly plan | TextMagic | Pay-as-you-go credit never expires | $0.049 per SMS, plus $10 per month for a number | | Ecommerce, email plus SMS | Klaviyo | Shared data layer, one dashboard | $35 per month for up to 500 profiles, email and SMS | | Large ecommerce, frequent broadcasts | Attentive | Two-tap opt-in, broadcast tools | Quote only, ask for minimums and per-message costs |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best text marketing platform for a small business?
SimpleTexting is the best pick for most small businesses because it starts at $39 per month for 500 credits, includes two-way texting, and offers a 14-day trial. Textedly and SlickText start lower, at $29 per month, and EZ Texting costs $20 per month on annual billing. Choose SimpleTexting for two-way chats, and Textedly or SlickText for low-cost bulk campaigns.
How much does text marketing cost per month?
Entry prices in this guide run from $20 per month for EZ Texting on annual billing to $39 per month for SimpleTexting, with Textedly and SlickText at $29 per month. TextMagic charges $0.049 per SMS with no monthly plan, and Klaviyo starts at $35 per month for email and SMS. Add telecom fees, carrier fees, and number rental to the headline price.
Do I need a short code to send marketing texts?
No, most small businesses use a local 10DLC number or a toll-free number, which are cheaper and faster to set up than a short code. A dedicated short code can cost $1,000 per month or more, and it suits large brands with very high volume. A local number also looks more familiar to customers, and it supports two-way replies.
What is 10DLC and why does it matter?
10DLC is the system that lets businesses send application-to-person texts from a standard 10-digit local number in the United States. Carriers require brand and campaign registration before a business can send, and unregistered traffic can be filtered or blocked. Registration also helps carriers trust the sender, which can improve delivery for legitimate marketing messages.
Can I send MMS with pictures and links?
Yes, all the tools in this guide support MMS, but a picture message usually costs more credits than a plain SMS. On SlickText, a picture message counts as three credits, and on SimpleTexting, MMS costs more credits than a single SMS segment. Check the MMS credit cost before you plan a campaign with images, because it can triple the cost of a send.
How do I grow a text list without breaking consent rules?
Use a clear opt-in form, a keyword, or a QR code, and state what the subscriber will receive and how often. Send a confirmation message, include an opt-out instruction in each campaign, and never add a phone number without consent. Keep a record of when and how each person opted in, and remove anyone who opts out at once.
Sources
- https://simpletexting.com/
- https://simpletexting.com/pricing
- https://www.textedly.com/
- https://www.textedly.com/pricing
- https://www.eztexting.com/
- https://www.eztexting.com/pricing
- https://www.slicktext.com/
- https://www.slicktext.com/pricing
- https://textmagic.com/
- https://textmagic.com/pricing
- https://www.klaviyo.com/
- https://www.klaviyo.com/pricing
- https://www.attentive.com/
- https://www.attentive.com/pricing
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.