More Blog Posts
The Top 8 Ways to Send a Text From Your Computer
Tired of typing on a tiny screen? Follow our step-by-step instructions for sending texts from your computer. Make texting more efficient and comfortable.
Tired of typing on a tiny screen? Follow our step-by-step instructions for sending texts from your computer. Make texting more efficient and comfortable.
Wondering how you can send a text message from your computer? Sending a text from a computer is easy with text messaging apps like Google’s Messages for Web and Apple’s iMessage. Texting from a computer allows you to send text messages without your phone and lets you type faster and use a larger screen for greater convenience and accessibility.
There are still people out there who miss the Blackberry. Seriously, I’m not kidding.
And I get it. Big keyboards are comfortable to type on. But to those people, I say — you know you can text from your computer, right?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
There are a few different ways you can turn your laptop or desktop into an SMS messenger, the most important of which I’ll lay out for you today.
You can use SimpleTexting to send text messages from a computer to one or more phone numbers. This is convenient if you want to mass text your clients or want to respond to text message conversations quickly.
Online platforms like ours are used by businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations to send texts to individuals and large groups.
Our platform allows you to use SMS for customer support, recruiting, sales, and more from your computer or laptop.
You can also send and receive messages and create autoresponders, track and collect data, and even segment your audience by their common interests.
With most business texting platforms, you can also use third-party integrations to send texts from your computer.
First things first, you’ll want to choose a platform that integrates with Zapier.
With Zapier, you can set up custom triggers that send out a text to your contacts, like anytime a customer fills out your web form or buys a product from your online store.
As long as you have an email address and know the phone service provider relevant to who you’d like to text, you can send a text through email.
Here’s how it works:
Here are the necessary carrier codes to complete your emails:
| T-Mobile | AT&T | Sprint | Verizon | |
| SMS | @tmomail.net | @text.att.net | @messaging.sprintpcs.com | @vtext.com |
| MMS | @tmomail.net | @mms.att.net | @pm.sprint.com | @vzwpix.com |
In the end, it will end up looking a little something like this:
Since tools like iMessage have evolved to send texts through an internet connection, wireless carriers have recognized the ability to use the web to send messages.
Just remember, unless you choose to use an SMS marketing platform (see tip #3), then you need a cellphone plan to text from a laptop. Here’s how it works:
If you have an iPhone, you can send texts to other iPhones (and non iOS users) using the iMessage app. All you have to do is login to iCloud on both devices. You’ll be able to text other iPhones and Android users. (Though the messages to Android users will appear in the dreaded green bubble. 😉)
Android users, don’t despair. We’re here for you too. Messages for Web is Google’s answer to the iMessage app. If you already use Google’s “Messages” app, getting set up is easy, just head to this site and scan the QR code.
Then, as long as both your Android phone and computer are connected to the internet, you can send text messages from your browser.
Sending texts with Google Voice is a great option if you’re specifically looking to have one-on-one text conversations using your computer.
All you need to do to get started is navigate to voice.google.com and open the Messages tab.
From there, click “Send a message” at the top of your screen, enter your contact’s phone number (you can even text small groups of up to 7 numbers), type out your message, and hit “Send.”
Google Voice also lets you read and respond to incoming messages through the same Messages tab you just used. You can even spice up your texts with images or GIFs as long as they stay under the 2 MB limit.
There are also a number of websites out there that will let you send SMS messages for free.
Sites like OpenTestingOnline and Text’em will allow you to send text messages directly from their website to recipients with a cell phone at no charge.
A word of caution, though: These websites do come with some limitations. OpenTestingOnline, for example, does not support group messages and Text’em requires the sender to have an email account if they want to receive replies.
All that to say, do some research on your free SMS site to make sure it has all the features you need, and, as with anything free, read some reviews to make sure the site is secure and spam-free.
Did you know some major wireless service providers allow you to text directly from their website?
Carriers like Verizon and AT&T have online portals that make sending texts to other users in your network and receiving text messages right from your laptop easy.
If you navigate to your user account on your carrier’s website ー this would be your “My Verizon” or “My AT&T” page ー you can send and receive texts from other users on the same carrier. T-Mobile users also have the option to use the DIGITS site or desktop app.
Some carriers even have a desktop application like DIGITS that you can download to make the process faster.
There’s lots more to explore about text marketing. We suggest you start your journey by reading our ultimate guide to SMS marketing.
Carrier sites’ ability to send text blasts puts them in a different category than the previous two solutions, which are built for more individual use.
Microsoft also offers a handy dandy way to access texting from your computer with their Phone Link app. You’ll just need the companion Link to Windows app on your phone.
If you use a device that runs Android 9.0 or later, you already have the Link to Windows app installed on your phone. If you use Android 7.0-9.0, you’ll likely need to download it.
Note: Although you can use this app with non-Samsung devices and iPhones with limited functionality, this method works best for Samsung users.
Let’s go through it.
You can even add emojis, GIFs, or photos to your message using the media buttons under the message box.
You now have a lot of solid options for sending texts with your computer, but the question remains: Is one of these options better than the others?
Not to sound biased, but yes. An online SMS platform (business texting software) is the best way to go for businesses that want to run an effective texting strategy on the computer.
Why is a business texting platform superior to these other options? Here are a few reasons.
Yes! Solutions like business texting platforms, Google Voice, and email allow you to send texts without a physical cell phone.
Definitely. You can easily send iMessages using iCloud.
Yes, again. All you’ll need is an email address, a phone number to text, and the proper service carrier domain to plug in.
Yes, sending texts through email, or using carrier messaging websites does not require a smartphone.
Yes, many business text messaging platforms offer the ability to create text messages ahead of time and then schedule when you want them to be sent.
Yes, texting from a computer is safe as long as you are using a trustworthy and secure texting platform. It’s also important to be cautious of potential phishing scams while texting.
While some online texting platforms and business text messaging services do have costs associated with them, there are a number of ways to send text messages for free from your computer such as iMessage or Messages for Web.
Year after year, texting grows in popularity. It’s only natural that the ways to send and receive these messages grow and change as well.
Texting from your computer is especially helpful for businesses who want to do more than just send the occasional message, whether that means managing opt-in methods, organizing contacts, or scheduling texts in advance.
Want to try streamlined business texting for yourself? Try out SimpleTexting for 14 days, totally free.
Meghan Tocci is a content strategist at SimpleTexting. When she’s not writing about SaaS, she’s trying to teach her puppy Lou how to code. So far, not so good.
More Posts from Meghan TocciWant a three-day weekend every week? We asked Americans how they really feel about the traditional work week.
ReadTake the guess work out of customer satisfaction surveys. Learn how to properly utilize this tool to get the most accurate customer feedback.
Read
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.
No credit card required