Best SMS Marketing Platforms
Cut through inbox noise with messages that actually get read—98% open rates
By Toolradar Editorial Team · Updated
Klaviyo is best for e-commerce brands wanting SMS integrated with email marketing. Attentive specializes in conversational SMS for retail and DTC. Twilio offers maximum flexibility for developers building custom solutions. For small businesses starting out, SimpleTexting provides easy entry with good features.
SMS marketing has 98% open rates compared to email's 20%. Messages are read within minutes, not hours. For time-sensitive offers, abandoned cart recovery, and transactional updates, nothing else comes close. But SMS also carries risk—annoying customers means instant unsubscribes and potential legal issues. Here's how to choose the right platform for effective, compliant SMS marketing.
What is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing platforms send text messages to customers for promotions, updates, and engagement. They handle subscriber management, message composition, segmentation, automation, compliance (TCPA, GDPR), and analytics. Modern platforms go beyond blast messages to include two-way conversations, MMS, and integration with broader marketing automation.
Why SMS Marketing Matters
SMS cuts through the noise that email can't. With 98% open rates and 90% of messages read within 3 minutes, it's the most direct channel available. For flash sales, appointment reminders, shipping updates, and cart recovery, SMS significantly outperforms email. But it requires respect—abuse the channel and customers opt out permanently.
Key Features to Look For
Built-in TCPA compliance, opt-in/opt-out handling, quiet hours
Target messages based on behavior, purchase history, preferences
Triggered messages for cart abandonment, welcome series, etc.
Conversational SMS where customers can reply
Send images and rich media, not just text
Connect with Shopify, Klaviyo, etc. for triggered campaigns
Track deliverability, clicks, conversions, and revenue attribution
Test message variations to optimize performance
Key Factors to Consider
Evaluation Checklist
Pricing Overview
Klaviyo SMS $15/mo (1,250 credits), SimpleTexting $29/mo (500 credits)
Klaviyo email+SMS $45/mo, Postscript Growth $100/mo, SimpleTexting $99/mo (2,500)
Attentive custom pricing, Postscript Professional $500/mo
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
E-commerce brands on Shopify wanting email and SMS in a single platform
Larger DTC brands wanting two-way conversational SMS with AI-powered optimization
Small businesses wanting straightforward SMS marketing without complexity
Mistakes to Avoid
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Sending more than 4-6 messages per month — SMS tolerance is much lower than email. Industry data shows unsubscribe rates spike above 6 messages/month. Each message must deliver clear value—exclusive offers, time-sensitive restocks, or personalized alerts
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Skipping proper opt-in consent — TCPA violations carry penalties of $500-1,500 per non-compliant message. A class action against a brand sending 10,000 unconsented messages = $5M-15M exposure. Use double opt-in and maintain timestamp records of every consent
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Ignoring quiet hours — Messages between 9pm-9am in the recipient's timezone violate TCPA and annoy customers. All three platforms enforce quiet hours, but verify they use recipient timezone, not your timezone
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Treating SMS like email — SMS has 160-character limit for standard messages. Long messages split into multiple SMS (each costing separately). Write concise, action-oriented copy with one clear CTA. MMS allows images but costs 2-3x more
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No clear opt-out in every message — 'Reply STOP to opt out' is legally required in every marketing SMS. Platforms handle this automatically, but verify it works on test messages. Slow opt-out processing leads to complaints and carrier filtering
Expert Tips
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Use SMS for time-sensitive, high-value messages only — Flash sales (2-hour window), back-in-stock alerts, and abandoned cart recovery (within 1 hour) are the highest-ROI SMS use cases. Average SMS campaign revenue: $0.25-0.50 per message sent
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Combine SMS + email strategically — Send email first with full details, then follow up with SMS for urgency: 'Sale ends in 2 hours. Shop now: [link].' Klaviyo's unified platform makes this easy to orchestrate
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Segment by purchase behavior, not just demographics — Send restock reminders to customers who bought consumable products 30-60 days ago. This personalization drives 3-5x higher conversion than blast campaigns
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Calculate true cost per conversion — Track revenue per SMS sent, not just clicks. If you spend $0.012/message with 5% conversion and $50 AOV, each sale costs $0.24 in SMS—exceptional ROI. SimpleTexting and Klaviyo both offer revenue attribution
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Register your number for 10DLC immediately — Since 2023, US carriers require A2P (application-to-person) registration for business SMS. Unregistered numbers face throttling and higher filtering. Registration takes 2-4 weeks—start before your first campaign
Red Flags to Watch For
- !No built-in TCPA compliance—platforms without automatic quiet hours, opt-out handling, and consent tracking expose you to $500-1,500 fines per non-compliant message
- !Shared short code instead of dedicated number—messages from shared codes have higher spam filter rates and less brand recognition
- !No carrier registration (10DLC/A2P)—unregistered numbers face throttling (1 message/second) and higher filtering rates since 2023 carrier regulations
- !Message costs significantly above $0.03/SMS—some platforms markup carrier costs by 2-3x. Compare raw per-message pricing across platforms
The Bottom Line
Klaviyo (SMS from $15/month) is the clear choice for e-commerce brands wanting unified email + SMS with deep Shopify integration. Attentive (from ~$500/month) offers the most sophisticated conversational SMS for larger DTC brands with budget for enterprise tools. SimpleTexting ($29/month) provides the easiest entry for small businesses wanting straightforward SMS without complexity. Postscript ($100/month Growth) is a strong Klaviyo alternative specifically built for Shopify SMS. Remember: SMS delivers 98% open rates but zero tolerance for spam—respect the channel or lose subscribers permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good SMS opt-in rate?
2-5% of website visitors or email subscribers is typical. Incentives (discounts, exclusive access) can push this higher. Quality matters more than quantity—engaged subscribers drive revenue; disengaged ones will opt out.
How much does SMS marketing cost per message?
Typically $0.01-$0.03 per SMS in the US, more for MMS ($0.02-$0.05). International rates vary significantly. Plus platform fees. Budget $50-500/month for a program of 5,000-50,000 messages.
How do I stay TCPA compliant?
Get explicit opt-in consent (not implied), honor opt-outs immediately, respect quiet hours (typically 8am-9pm), identify yourself in messages, and maintain consent records. Good platforms handle most of this automatically.
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