Buyer’s guide · Marketing
Best SMS Marketing Software in 2026: Pricing & Comparison
We compared four SMS marketing platforms on public pricing models, per-message rates, free options and ecommerce fit so you can match volume and compliance needs.
Twilio if you need pure pay-as-you-go API rates starting at $0.0083 per US segment. Postscript if you want Shopify SMS with published platform + per-message pricing. Klaviyo if you already use it for email and want unified SMS credits. Attentive if you need quote-based enterprise messaging with advanced list growth.
SMS marketing software helps brands send compliant text campaigns, automations and two-way conversations, usually with carrier fees and segment-based billing.
We used the same fields for every vendor: published pricing, free plan or trial, core focus, and main limitation. Order is not a quality ranking. We sorted public $0 or published price first, quote-led last.
Compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Free plan or trial | Best for | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio | From $0.0083 per US SMS segment + carrier fees | Free trial credits | API pay-as-you-go | Visit → |
| Postscript | Starter $0 + $49 min; $0.009/SMS + carrier | Trial / Starter | Shopify SMS with transparent rates | Visit → |
| Klaviyo | Free with $5 mobile credit; paid per-message rates | Free plan | Unified email + SMS for ecommerce | Visit → |
| Attentive | Custom quote by volume and channels | Demo | Enterprise list growth and multi-channel | Visit → |
Prices are public list rates or stated as custom, checked 17 October 2026; carrier fees and segments affect final cost — confirm on the vendor’s pricing page.
The 4 companies in detail
Twilio
Best for pay-as-you-go API
Best for: developers and teams that want usage-based SMS without platform minimums.
| Published pricing | US SMS $0.0083 per segment outbound/inbound + carrier fees (long code, toll-free, short code) |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Trial credits; no ongoing free plan |
| Core focus | Programmable SMS, MMS, RCS API with global coverage |
| Main limitation | No built-in marketing UI or compliance suite; carrier fees extra |
- Transparent per-segment rates starting at $0.0083 for US SMS.
- No monthly platform fee; pay only for what you send.
- Requires integration work; marketing features are not included out of the box.
Postscript
Best for Shopify SMS transparency
Best for: ecommerce brands that want published per-message rates and Shopify-native tools.
| Published pricing | Starter $0/mo + $49 monthly minimum; $0.009/SMS + carrier fees; Growth $100/mo; Professional $500/mo |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Starter with minimum spend after trial |
| Core focus | Shopify SMS campaigns, automations, subscriber growth, RCS |
| Main limitation | Monthly minimum on Starter; rates plus separate carrier fees |
- Published platform fees and per-SMS rates that decrease on higher plans.
- Carrier fees passed through at cost and shown separately.
- Best for Shopify; less general for non-ecommerce use cases.
Klaviyo
Best for unified email + SMS
Best for: brands already on Klaviyo email that want to add SMS in the same flows.
| Published pricing | Free plan includes $5 mobile credit; paid plans use per-message rates (carrier fees included in calculator) |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Free plan |
| Core focus | Ecommerce SMS + email, segmentation, revenue attribution |
| Main limitation | SMS rates vary by country and number type; credit or per-message model |
- Free plan lets you test SMS with included credit.
- Unified data and flows with email.
- Pricing is usage-based and best checked in the live calculator for your volume.
Attentive
Best for enterprise quote-based
Best for: larger brands that want managed list growth and multi-channel messaging.
| Published pricing | Custom quote based on message volume, list size, channels and AI tools |
|---|---|
| Free plan or trial | Demo / sales conversation |
| Core focus | SMS, MMS, RCS, email, list growth tools, compliance |
| Main limitation | No public list prices; typically contracted minimums |
- Strong list-growth and two-tap tools.
- Modular channels and AI add-ons.
- Quote-only pricing with no self-serve rates.
Kurums Match
I want pure usage-based API rates
Twilio starts at $0.0083 per US SMS segment plus carrier fees.
I run a Shopify store and want published SMS rates
Postscript publishes Starter with $0 platform fee, $49 minimum and $0.009/SMS.
I already use Klaviyo for email
Add SMS in the same platform; free plan includes limited mobile credit.
I need enterprise list growth and managed support
Attentive requires a quote based on volume and channels.
Buying tip
Always add carrier fees and multi-segment costs. A $0.0083 base rate can become $0.012–$0.020 all-in depending on carrier and message length.
FAQ
Which SMS tools publish per-message rates?
Twilio and Postscript publish specific US rates. Klaviyo has a calculator. Attentive is quote-only.
Do carrier fees apply?
Yes on most platforms. Some pass them through separately (Twilio, Postscript); others include them in the displayed rate.
Is there a free way to start?
Klaviyo free plan includes limited SMS credit. Postscript has a low-minimum Starter. Twilio offers trial credits.
Disclosure: Kurums is reader-supported. Some links may be affiliate or sponsored links, marked as such; they never affect rankings or order.
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