17 Texting Platforms for SMS Marketing & How to Choose

Most of the day, your audience is probably not at their computer, but they probably have their cell phone on them. Roughly 90% of cell phones in the U.S. have unlimited texting and 97% of US adults text (Pew Research, 2015 SMS stats, and 2018 stats). That's why SMS is such an important channel to invest in because it reaches people whenever and wherever they are. Luckily, that investment doesn't have to be huge to get started in SMS marketing.

Here are our favorite free (and cheap) mass texting tools for nonprofits. Plus, how to choose an SMS platform for your organization!

2. ExpertTexting
Pricing based on $0.0083 per message – so $8.30 for 1,000 messages, unlimited keywords (pending availability). No cost to receive texts.

3. MoboMobix
Pricing starts at $50/month for 2,000 messages, 1 keyword. No cost to receive texts

4. Textmarks
Low-cost texting, simple web interface with pricing starting at $199/month for 3,500 messages, includes 10 keywords. Credits are used to send and receive messages.

5. Eztext
Free messaging tier up to 250 messages per month, then $49/month for 1,000 messages, 1 keyword included. No cost to receive texts.

6. SimpleTexting
Low-cost texting platform starting at $45/month for 1,000 messages, unlimited keywords. No cost to receive texts.

7. Burst SMS
Pricing volume discounts available, $0.016 per message sent, 3 keywords for a shared short code included and free to receive messages.

Text-to-give/Text-to-donate/Text-to-pledge tools
These tools are narrow focused tools that let nonprofits collect donations through texting either via pledge, mobile webform or through direct from mobile bill. Note that giving through cell phone carrier is organized through the Mobile Giving Foundation. Organized by pricing.

FREE. This is not a typo, they offer free text-to-donate tool with keywords against the shortcode 44321. We didn’t believe this so we did a podcast interview with the CEO of Give Lively.

2. Give by Cell
Allows for text-to-give through the Mobile Giving Foundation ($675 fee) that deducts from the user’s phone bill. Pricing starts at $149/month for just this service.

3. @Pay
Pricing starts at $0/yr and 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. They focus on a seamless and efficient giving experience that lets donors give with two clicks, one to send a text with the donation amount and the other to confirm the payment.

4. Txt2Give
Pricing starts at $25/month + 1% donations or $60/month + 0% fee.

5. Qgive
Pricing starts at $0/yr + 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction.

6. mGive
Pricing starts at $499/year + 2.9% donation + $0.30 per transaction.

7. SecureGive
Pricing starts at $69/month + “competitive processing fees”.

High-End SMS Services
These providers allow for more dynamic segmenting, messaging, and tools for advocacy. Note that carriers do not charge platforms to receive messages so any cost associated with receiving messages is being added by the vendor.

Visual interface for structuring texts, pricing starts at $20 for 1,000 credits. Note that credits count for sent AND received texts, most platforms are free to receive messages.

2. Trumpia
Pricing starts at $250/month for 10,000 credits (sent and received count as credits).

3. CitizenInsights
Offers guided surveying for organizations. Has fixed $99/month for 2,500 sent messages, with customizable message flows.

4. Smart as a Fox
Pricing starts $450/month for 5,000 sent messages and includes unlimited keywords for a shared shortcode (free to receive). They also have great activism click-to-call, VoIP #s and segmentation for message targetting.

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[nieciabullock]

This video was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you so much for your help. I look forward to learning more from you.

[derrickbranch]

This is exactly what people were looking for

[YOURETHINKINGIT]

Super helpful and loved the questions at the end. Would have never thought of some of these and the consultation/training would be super helpful and needed for my job.

[designhubcustomapparel]

Thank you so much for this. I been going crazy researching all week.

[a-pro-peau-beauty-co.]

Any suggestions for a NEW new small business that wants to start with something realistically affordable to begin with.... and in Canada?

[martinscoffeeandbakery]

Which vendor would you use for a coffee shop with around 10, 000 phone numbers that wants to update by weekly through text?

[desertundergroundx]

Great video thank you for all the detailed information with graphics 👌

[ScottDieken]

hopefully, you can update this since its two years old. I expect much has changed in two years.

[NUCLEARSG]

Sir, which is the best sms sending site, best and cheapest . Please share your opinion

[Soulflosociety]

I’m looking to send motivational quotes everyday to my audience. I don’t have a business yet but looking to do so soon but right now it’s just the sending motivational quotes. Which source do you think I should use? Thank you!

[anonymousf]

This is great. Do any of them alow you to send out the initial opt in message?

[allindia]

What if I send 100 random sms as advertisement to any no. In US from my US mobile. Will i be penalised by FCC

[mcafeeinstallation]

which service provider allow us to sign up without putting up many credential like website, address and GST VAT? Please help me

[davidhazen]

What a bulk texting to work with my voip phone number. Do you know any services that allows that offers voip and mass texting?.

[shankardas]

I want to have a console from where I can control my customers SMS marketing.

[jugg]

Best sms platform in the uk that changes sender ID?

[waseembukhari]

Sir plz tell me about iprns sms wark how to find app

[brichmon]

Is there a platform/website that lets me send automated text messages from my own cell phone number? Everything I see is sent from a generic number which is not ideal for me.

[searchbug]

Hi, guys! Just wanna share that you can actually do SMS marketing for free. You only need to have the SMS email of the phone numbers and send the SMS as a regular email. It will still be sent as a text message. There's a tool to get that kind of info, which we provide to people who want to try it.

[ravibhindiprec-realtorinsurrey]

Any text messaging sms platform have AI?