More Blog Posts

The 9 Best Apps to Text From Your Computer

Find out why I chose these nine apps to text customers from your computer and which are best for SMS marketing.

Share
Featured image for the article

Texting lets you connect with customers on the go, and it’s often less obtrusive than calling or emailing. 

But texts become less convenient when you’re juggling dozens of conversations and mass text campaigns from a small screen.

How can you enjoy the benefits of SMS marketing without sacrificing convenience?

You need a computer texting app that’s affordable, has business-friendly features, and provides an intuitive user experience. 

Take a look below at the nine most popular small business texting platforms for computers to see which is right for your business.

  1. SimpleTexting
  2. MightyText
  3. Google Messages
  4. Google Voice
  5. OpenPhone
  6. Pulse SMS
  7. mysms
  8. Pushbullet
  9. AirDroid

1. SimpleTexting

composing a campaign in a text app for a computer
With SimpleTexting’s mass texting feature, you can text hundreds of contacts at once from your computer.

SimpleTexting’s business texting software lets you send texts from a computer in seconds. It syncs your messages to the SimpleTexting iOS or Android app so you can send MMS messages, manage text campaigns, and chat with customers on the go. 

We’ll help you text-enable your existing number, if you have one, or set up as many new business text numbers as you need. Each plan comes with three user seats, and you can purchase additional seats if your whole team wants to text customers and sales leads. 

Want to automate tasks and sync customer data? Integrate SimpleTexting with the tools your business relies on, like appointment reminder software, customer relationship management platforms, invoicing apps, email marketing apps, and more.

sending a text from a computer app
Chat one-on-one with customers and see their contact details in SimpleTexting’s Inbox.

Though I’m a tad biased and see SimpleTexting as the best text app for computers, I’m not alone:

  • Over 17,000 businesses and organizations across North America trust our text messaging services to power their communication with customers and prospects.
  • Business.com contributing writer Mark Farlie called SimpleTexting the “ideal text message marketing supplier for small businesses.”
  • G2 awarded SimpleTexting with its 2023 Trust Badges for Easiest to Use, Top 100 Highest Satisfaction Products, and Top 50 Customer Service Products.

Key SimpleTexting features:

Pricing

SimpleTexting has flexible pricing options for businesses of every size, with the lowest plan starting at $29/month for 500 messaging credits. 

If you don’t use all your credits in one month, they’ll roll over to the next month. If you need more credits, you can easily add them anytime using the self-serve billing dashboard.

Try SimpleTexting free for 14 days to see how user-friendly it is for sending texts from your computer.

Download Links

2. MightyText

Have an Android phone number? MightyText’s messaging app allows you to send and receive messages from your Android device, Mac, or PC. The company’s mission is to make it easier to send SMS and MMS messages from multiple devices. 

Customers have reported that the application is slow or glitchy at times, but others say it’s sufficient for sending messages to clients from their desktop. 

Key MightyText features:

On the free version, you can: 

  • Text from your email account
  • View multiple conversations at once
  • Get phone battery alerts

Paid users get access to the features on the free plan, plus:

Pricing

MightyText has a free version with limited functionality, and the MightyText Pro plan is $11.99/month.

Download links

3. Messages by Google

Messages by Google is a sleek, simple app that allows you to send texts from your computer. It’s intended to help you manage conversations with friends and family, but you could use it for business if you only have a handful of customers that you need to connect with.

Like MightyText, you need an Android device and a text-enabled number to use Messages.

Key Messages features:

  • Rich media capabilities
  • MMS and SMS
  • Two-way messaging 

Pricing

Messages by Google is free for all users.

Download links

4. Google Voice

Google Voice for business is another communication app from syncs your calls, text messages, and voicemail across multiple devices. 

I don’t recommend this computer texting service if you plan to send text campaigns. There’s a contact limit for group text messages, and your account can be flagged for spam if you send too many bulk messages. 

If you just need to send one-on-one messages to clients, though, Google Voice is a cost-effective option. Just keep your messages under 160 characters, since the application will larger messages into multiple texts.

Key Google Voice features:

  • Unlimited text messages
  • Voice calls and voicemail
  • Multiple user seats

Pricing

Google Voice for business plans start at $10/month per user, and you’ll need to sign up for Google Workspace for $6/month.

Download links

5. OpenPhone

OpenPhone’s messaging system brings your calls, texts, and contacts together in one multi-device platform. 

One key advantage it has over most other texting platforms is that you can send texts outside of North America. Plus, it integrates with third-party apps so you can connect with other tools your team uses.

For group messaging, you’re limited to nine contacts per group, and the feature isn’t available on toll-free numbers

Key OpenPhone features:

Pricing

Try OpenPhone free for seven days. Paid plans start at $17/month per user.

Download links

6. Pulse SMS

With Pulse SMS, you can sync your text conversations on all Android devices, including Android TV, Apple devices, and popular web browsers. I like how clean the platform’s user interface is and the fact that there’s no limit to the number of contacts you can add to a group text. 

The drawback is that, from what I can tell, you can’t organize contacts into lists or send one text to many people at once (without them seeing other contacts’ replies).

Key Pulse SMS features: 

  • Scheduled text messages
  • Message templates 
  • Conversation search function
  • Text backups

Pricing

Pulse SMS is free to use (with ads) on mobile. A subscription for multi-device usage is $99 for lifetime usage, $10.99 per year, or $1.99 per month.

Download links

  • Android app with in-app purchases for multi-device usage

7. Mysms

With its synchronization feature, mysms allows you to access your entire message history across all devices—like your computer, tablet, and phone. The platform also supports multimedia messaging, including pictures and videos. 

Its user-friendly design, reliable delivery, and message encryption make mysms a top choice for multi-device texting. Like Pulse SMS, though, you can’t send mass text messages where contacts can’t see each other’s responses.

Key mysms features:

  • MMS and SMS messaging
  • Message history
  • Theme customizations

Pricing

Mysms is free for multi-device usage and basic messaging features. For scheduled texts, full message history, and other premium features, you’ll pay $9.99/month. You can try the platform’s premium plan free for 14 days.

Download links

8. Pushbullet

Like the other apps on this list, Pushbullet’s platform gives you access to your text messages on your computer and mobile devices. It also lets you send and receive files, share links, and sync your clipboard across devices.

Pushbullet is easy to use, but it lacks advanced features like contact lists, personalization, and message scheduling. This app is better suited for businesses that only need one-on-one messaging features and don’t plan to use it for SMS marketing.

Key Pushbullet features:

  • See your phone’s notifications on your computer
  • File and link sharing
  • API access
  • Universal copy and paste

Pricing

Pushbullet is free with limited features and a sending limit of 100 messages per month. For full access to its features and unlimited messages, subscribe to the Pro plan, which is $4.99/month or $3.33/month paid annually.

Download links

9. AirDroid

AirDroid, an Android device management company, offers tools to connect your calls, texts, and app notifications to your computer. On its Premium plan, you can import contact lists and sync messages across 10 devices (even iOS devices).

Unfortunately, you can’t send MMS or group text messages with AirDroid’s app, but you can message customers one-on-one.

Key AirDroid SMS features:

  • Contact importing
  • Two-way messaging

Pricing

AirDroid Personal is free for basic features and starts at $2.50/month for its Premium plan.

Download links

How I Chose These 9 Text Apps for Computers

The nine apps on this list are the most popular service providers that you’ll come across when you look for an SMS app. I spent hours testing and researching these apps so you can compare their features, pricing, and device support.

Computer Texting App FAQs

What is a text app for computers?
A text app for computers is an online or desktop-based program that you can use to send and receive text messages from your computer. Many texting apps let you send group texts along with one-on-one conversations with your contacts.
Yes, there are dozens of apps that let you text from your computer. Most are for personal use, like texting friends and family. Some, though, are designed specifically with businesses in mind and help you add text messaging to your marketing strategy.
To text from a computer, you’ll need texting software and a list of contacts. Each app is different, but generally they’ll require you to sign up for their service and download software to your computer or open the application in your browser.
There are free texting apps, and I’ve included some in this list of software. But you may find that free software has limited features and often doesn’t include the ability to import contact lists, add multiple users, and send group texts without reply all.
SMS marketing is regulated by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the U.S. and Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). For instance, you must obtain express consent from people before texting them, and you have to provide an easy option for them to opt-out of communications whenever they want. 

For more information on texting rules and regulations, check out our ultimate guide to compliance.

This piece was published June 15, 2023, and was written by Dani Henion.

Dani Henion
Dani Henion

Dani Henion is the content team lead at SimpleTexting and is continuously looking for ways to make text messaging strategies and tips more accessible to SMBs. When she's not writing or planning new SMS content, you'll find her decorating elaborate sugar cookies or thrifting in Atlanta.

More Posts from Dani Henion
Share

Send Your First Message in Minutes

Start a text marketing campaign or have a 1-on-1 conversation today. It's risk free. Sign up for a free 14-day trial today to see SimpleTexting in action.

Try Us Free

No credit card required

Not sure which text marketing tactics will work for YOUR business? Take Quiz.
X