Top 7 SMS Marketing Solutions for Modern Businesses Looking to Increase Engagement
Are you tired of SMS marketing tools that hit you with hidden fees, deliverability headaches, or clunky interfaces? You’re not alone, modern businesses need more than just basic texting. We tested 7 top SMS marketing solutions to find the best for engagement, compliance, and integrations. Ready? Let’s dive in.
What’s “wrong” with most SMS marketing software?
SMS marketing is a powerful tool, but after analyzing hundreds of reviews from G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and Reddit, these are the most common issues that drive businesses to seek alternatives:
Unpredictable pricing structures and hidden fees make budgeting difficult.
Poor deliverability and messages flagged as spam reduce campaign ROI.
Complex compliance requirements (GDPR, TCPA, opt-outs) add risk and hassle.
Limited integrations with CRMs and marketing tools hinder automation.
Outdated UI/UX and slow, unhelpful customer support frustrate users.
1) Textedly – The #1 SMS Marketing Solution for Engagement & Payments
Textedly is a modern SMS and MMS marketing platform that now includes Text-to-Pay, combining high-volume texting, instant payments, and powerful automation all in one intuitive dashboard. With 98% open rates and real-time payment processing, Textedly is built for businesses that want results, not complexity.
G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (800+ reviews)
Textedly vs. Other SMS Platforms: Key Differences
When comparing Textedly to most competing SMS platforms, several key differences stand out. In terms of pricing transparency, Textedly offers straightforward flat-rate plans with no hidden fees, while many competitors have opaque and unpredictable pricing structures that make budgeting difficult. For payment collection, Textedly includes built-in SMS Text-to-Pay functionality, whereas other platforms rarely offer this feature or require expensive add-ons.
Deliverability is another major advantage, with Textedly boasting a 98% open rate and strong reliability, compared to competitors where deliverability can vary and spam filtering issues are more common. On the compliance front, Textedly simplifies regulations with automated opt-in and opt-out management and a secure portal, while many alternatives rely on manual processes or fragmented compliance tools.
Textedly also provides deep integrations with popular platforms like Salesforce, Shopify, and Zapier, whereas competing tools often offer limited or occasionally buggy integrations. In terms of message length, Textedly supports over 300 characters for SMS and up to 1,600 characters for MMS, while most competitors typically cap messages between 160 and 300 characters.
Customer support is another differentiator. Textedly offers seven-day live chat, phone, and email support, while other providers are often criticized for slow response times or outsourced support teams. From a usability perspective, Textedly features a modern, web-based interface that requires no downloads, in contrast to outdated or bloated user interfaces found elsewhere. Finally, Textedly provides full contract flexibility with no long-term commitments and the option to cancel anytime, while many competitors require contracts or impose minimum commitments.
Key Features:
Bulk SMS/MMS to 1,000,000+ contacts with real-time analytics.
Text-to-Pay: Collect payments instantly via secure SMS link.
Drip campaigns, scheduled texts, and AI message generation.
65+ ready-to-use SMS templates for every industry.
Integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Shopify, Slack, Zapier, and more.
Awards & Accolades:
Used by CottageCare to drive 2–3 extra sales per week/location and streamline operations across 42 branches.
Pricing starts at $29/month (annual)
Textedly’s annual pricing plans are designed to scale with business needs. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month and includes 600 messages, one keyword, unlimited contacts, free incoming messages, MMS support, toll-free and 10DLC numbers, Text-to-Pay functionality, Google Reviews integration, and live customer support. The Bronze plan costs $49 per month and increases the limit to 1,200 messages while including all Basic features.
The Plus plan is priced at $79 per month and offers 2,400 messages and two keywords, along with full platform features. The Enterprise plan starts at $125 per month, providing 4,200 messages and three keywords with all features included. For larger businesses, higher-tier plans are available with up to 240,000 messages per month, up to 50 keywords, and customizable options to meet specific needs.
Free 14-day trial (50 messages, no credit card). Cancel anytime.
What else can you do with Textedly?
Automate payment reminders, recurring billing, and confirmations.
Run SMS surveys, polls, and collect customer feedback.
Export payment and message data in real time.
Use AI to personalize and optimize every campaign.
Testimonial:“Textedly is incredibly easy to use and has a clean, intuitive interface. I love how quickly I can schedule mass text campaigns and track delivery and engagement.” – Danish F., Marketing Manager (G2)
2) SimpleTexting – Best for User-Friendly Mass SMS Campaigns
G2 Rating: 4.6/5 (700+ reviews)
SimpleTexting is known for its intuitive interface and flexible plans. It’s ideal for small businesses and teams that want to launch mass SMS or MMS campaigns without a steep learning curve.
Key Features:
Bulk SMS/MMS, two-way messaging, and drip campaigns.
Rollover credits let you keep unused messages.
Free incoming messages and replies.
AI-powered message generator and detailed analytics.
API and Zapier integrations.
Considerations before going with SimpleTexting:
Lacks built-in payment collection and advanced compliance automation.
Some integrations and advanced workflows may require third-party tools.
Pricing starts at $29/month
SimpleTexting’s pricing starts with the Starter plan at $29 per month, which includes 500 messages along with bulk SMS and MMS, two-way messaging, AI Assist, rollover credits, API access, and analytics. The Plus plan costs $49 per month and increases the limit to 1,000 messages while including all platform features. The Pro plan is priced at $79 per month and offers 2,000 messages with full access to features. For larger businesses, the Enterprise plan provides custom pricing and message volumes, along with dedicated support and tailored features.
3) TextMagic – Best for Omnichannel Messaging & Versatility
G2 Rating: 4.6/5 (400+ reviews)
TextMagic combines SMS, email, chat, and voice in one platform, making it a strong choice for businesses that want multi-channel reach without juggling multiple tools.
Key Features:
Pay-as-you-go SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, email, and chat.
Two-way messaging, bulk campaigns, and auto-responders.
Omnichannel chat widget for websites.
API, Zapier, and CRM integrations.
SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance.
Considerations before going with TextMagic:
Lacks built-in payment features and some advanced AI automation.
Pay-as-you-go pricing may be less predictable for high-volume senders.
Pricing starts at $0.04/SMS (US)
TextMagic offers a flexible pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pricing model starting at $0.04 per SMS. This plan includes bulk SMS and MMS, WhatsApp messaging, chat and email capabilities, API access, integrations, analytics, and compliance with SOC 2 and GDPR standards. For businesses with higher volume needs, the Enterprise plan provides custom pricing, volume discounts, and dedicated support.
4) Heymarket – Best for Team Collaboration & Compliance
G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (250+ reviews)
Heymarket is built for teams that need shared inboxes, omnichannel messaging, and advanced compliance tools. It supports SMS, MMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, and more from one dashboard.
Key Features:
Shared inbox with roles, assignments, and private comments.
Omnichannel: SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Email (Beta).
Advanced automation, AI-powered replies, and usage reporting.
Compliance: 10DLC registration, opt-in/out, SAML SSO, HIPAA-enabled.
Considerations before going with Heymarket:
Group messaging capped at 10 participants (use broadcasts for larger lists).
Some email features and analytics are in beta/coming soon.
Pricing starts at $29/month
Heymarket’s pricing starts with the Essentials plan at $29 per month, which includes a shared inbox, SMS and MMS messaging, Facebook and WhatsApp integration, automation tools, compliance features, and reporting. The Pro plan costs $59 per month and adds advanced AI capabilities, deeper integrations, single sign-on (SSO), and support for additional channels. For larger organizations, the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing along with tailored compliance solutions, onboarding assistance, and dedicated support.
5) SlickText – Best for List Growth & Advanced Automation
G2 Rating: 4.8/5 (400+ reviews)
SlickText excels at growing compliant SMS lists and automating customer journeys with powerful workflows and segmentation.
Key Features:
Mass texting, unlimited custom fields, and advanced segmentation.
Visual workflow builder, A/B testing, and revenue attribution.
Built-in compliance tools (TCPA, CTIA), double opt-in, opt-out AI.
Native integrations: Shopify, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Zapier.
Considerations before going with SlickText:
No built-in payment collection or Text-to-Pay.
Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans.
Pricing starts at $29/month
SlickText’s pricing begins with the Basic plan at $29 per month, which includes 500 messages along with mass texting, workflow automation, compliance tools, audience segmentation, and integrations. The Standard plan costs $49 per month and increases the limit to 1,000 messages while unlocking all features. The Pro plan is priced at $79 per month and provides 2,000 messages with full platform capabilities. For larger businesses, the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing, flexible message volumes, dedicated support, and tailored workflow solutions.
6) EZ Texting – Best for Bulk Messaging & Compliance
G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (650+ reviews)
EZ Texting is a veteran in the SMS space, known for fast bulk messaging and robust compliance tools for regulated industries.
Key Features:
Bulk SMS/MMS, two-way texting, and short codes.
Visual campaign calendar and scheduling.
Advanced reporting, compliance safeguards, and AI Compose.
API and integrations for CRM/eCommerce.
Considerations before going with EZ Texting:
Payment collection and deep automation may require third-party tools.
Some advanced features are plan-dependent.
Pricing starts at $24/month
EZ Texting’s pricing starts with the Value plan at $24 per month,ा, which includes 500 messages along with bulk SMS and MMS, short codes, compliance tools, scheduling, and analytics. The Essentials plan costs $36 per month and increases the limit to 1,000 messages while providing access to all features. The Premium plan is priced at $54 per month and offers 2,000 messages with full platform capabilities. For larger organizations, the Custom plan provides tailored pricing, flexible message volumes, dedicated support, and personalized features.
7) Podium – Best for AI-Powered Engagement & Reviews
G2 Rating: 4.6/5 (900+ reviews)
Podium is an AI-powered platform combining SMS, reviews, payments, and webchat. It’s ideal for businesses wanting 24/7 AI assistance and multi-channel engagement.
Key Features:
AI Employee: 24/7 lead response, booking, and follow-ups.
SMS campaigns, review requests, and payment collection.
Centralized inbox for SMS, webchat, email, and social.
Automated compliance for opt-ins/outs, analytics, and reporting.
Considerations before going with Podium:
Pricing is custom/quote-based and may be higher than pure SMS tools.
Some advanced features may require onboarding or training.
Pricing: Custom/Quote-based
Podium offers custom, quote-based pricing tailored to each business’s needs. Its plan includes SMS marketing, an AI-powered agent for automated responses and lead engagement, review management tools, payment collection, a centralized messaging inbox, analytics, and built-in compliance features. Businesses receive a customized package based on their required features, volume, and level of support.
The Verdict: Which SMS Marketing Solution Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)
Textedly – The best all-in-one SMS platform for engagement, payments, and automation. Transparent pricing, instant payments, and unbeatable ease of use.
SlickText – Best for advanced automation, list growth, and compliance-minded marketers.
Podium – Ideal for businesses wanting AI-powered engagement, reviews, and payments in a single solution.
Whichever you choose, focus on platforms that combine transparent pricing, robust compliance, and integrations to support your growth. For most modern businesses, Textedly stands out as the no-brainer choice for SMS marketing in 2026.
