No two e-commerce SMS tools are alike. While SimpleTexting and Postscript are two of the most popular, let us help you compare several alternative SMS platforms for your e-commerce store.
E-commerce is best with SMS.
Your online store is thriving and orders are flowing in–but if your customers can’t get easy updates on things like order confirmations, status updates, and shipping notifications, you may find your momentum slowing down.
That’s where texts come in. SMS allows you to send instant updates to your customers at every step of their shopping experience.
The question is, in a world full of SMS platforms for e-commerce businesses, which platform is right for you?
You may have heard of Postscript before (it’s a popular choice), but you’d be wise to explore all your options.
In this article, we’ll take a look at six Postscript alternatives to help you make an informed decision.
Before we get into comparing platforms and features, let’s lay out some questions you need to consider as you start your search for the perfect SMS add-on for your online store.
Ask yourself:
No two tools offer the same set of solutions, so take time to get clear on your needs before you make a decision.
Sometimes, the most obvious answer isn’t the right answer for you. Postscript and some of its contemporaries are popular, of course, but beware of choosing one of these tools off the bat.
Here are a few other industry hits you may not have considered.
As the name suggests, OmniSend is a tool that aims to give ecommerce pros easy, automated use of multiple marketing channels–chiefly, email and SMS.
Pros: The tool offers pre-built, automated messaging flows and targeting tools to help you keep your messages specific.
Other helpful features include store integrations, 24/7 support, and straightforward analytics and reports.
Cons: The biggest drawback? If you have large lists of SMS contacts, you’re pretty much limited to the highest-priced plan OmniSend offers.
Bias aside, there’s a reason SimpleTexting consistently shows up among the top names in texting–especially when it comes to e-commerce.
Pros: SimpleTexting offers the ideal trifecta for ecommerce stores. That is:
Cons: Fans of QR codes may be disappointed to learn that SimpleTexting doesn’t have QR code creation capabilities (you can still use QR codes to attract new contacts, you’ll just need to create them elsewhere).
Among SMS and ecommerce marketing platforms, Octane stands out with one unique feature: its quizzes.
Pros: This platform allows users to build a customized product quiz to feature on your site or in ads or popups–anywhere your audience will see it.
Each quiz serves to bring in important data on your customers, including shopping preferences, contact information, and personal needs that your products can help them with.
From there, you can use all that data to create ultra-targeted SMS and email flows, so your audience only gets the offers and information they’ll take action on. Octane also offers plenty of integrations to fit in with your store’s existing workflows.
Cons: The most notable downside with Octane is the cost (plans start at $50/month).
The software comes with a relatively high price tag among ecommerce platforms, and if quiz-making isn’t a priority for you, you may get more value elsewhere.
SMSBump is a classic SMS/email software tool for ecommerce stores. It features the usual segmentation options, email and SMS automations, and performance analytics.
Pros: The main perk of SMSBump that helps it stand out is a focus on diverse, convenient opt-in methods.
The platform advertises opt-ins ranging from keywords to QR codes to web forms and more, meaning users have numerous ways to attract new contacts.
Cons: In looking at SMSBump, the main thing the platform lacks is a strong selection of integrations.
While it does integrate with a handful of helpful ecommerce tools, when compared with other similar platforms, users may find themselves limited in terms of available tools to link with.
If you’ve ever looked into SMS tools online, you’ve probably seen EZTexting listed among the most popular platforms in its industry. That’s for good reason.
Pros: EZTexting brings an impressive array of features to the table, including:
Cons: Users have reported a lack of flexibility in sending campaigns–namely, that campaigns can’t be sent on certain number types. Other reviewers note significant support issues when using the product.
Lovers of Shopify may be drawn toward Privy because of their easy integration with the platform.
Privy also specializes in mobile-friendly shopping setups and simple, easy-to-follow SMS flows.
Pros: The site offers straightforward, accessible guides to Privy’s tools and features, and costs are low–the most basic Privy plan is free.
Cons: Looking for the catch? Privy keeps their message-sending caps set fairly low. An FAQ on the homepage states that users can send up to 6x the number of contacts they have per month.
If you plan to be a frequent texter, or simply don’t want your messages limited, that may be a bit of a stumbling block.
SendinBlue is a favorite among those looking for an all-in-one tool.
Pros: The platform advertises:
If you don’t want to source all of your online store’s tasks out to different tools, having a comprehensive tool like SendinBlue could be your solution.
Cons: SendinBlue’s one big Achilles heel is the lack of accessible multi-user features. Although the platform offers logins for multiple users and logins, you’ll have to be signed up on one of their higher-tier plans to access those features.
No two businesses are alike, and you likely have a good idea of what you want your customers to see and experience when they shop with you.
Hopefully, this comparison has given you a good idea of which platforms might serve your needs and bring you SMS success.
Lily Norton is a copywriter at SimpleTexting. She is focused on helping you connect and communicate with your audience with more ease and efficiency than ever through text messaging.
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