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What is the best mass texting app in 2024?

Choosing a mass texting app can be difficult. This guide will help you pick the best platform to send text messages to everyone you need.

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You already know that you want to message all of your customers at once, and a mass texting app is the way to do it.

But if you open Google and search for “best mass text app,” you’ll see dozens of service providers claiming to be the best.

Who’s got time to go through all of them?

Below, we’ll break down the pros and cons of the top players in the mass texting industry (yes, even alternatives to our platform) and tell you everything to look for in the best mass texting service for your business. 

Even if you decide not to go with SimpleTexting, we hope this guide saves you some time and helps you make an informed decision.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The 7 best mass text apps I tested

Not sure where to start with your search for the best mass texting service? I’ve got you. Here’s a quick rundown of the top 7 mass texting apps in the industry out of 14 I tested (with help from my team).

  1. SimpleTexting – best mass texting app for small business
  2. TextMagic – best mass text app for international texting
  3. Textedly – best budget app for mass texting
  4. SlickText – best mass texting app for loyalty programs
  5. EZ Texting – best quick-start mass texting app
  6. Podium – best mass text app for local business operations
  7. Attentive – best mass text app for midmarket ecommerce businesses

Methodology

To shortlist the best mass texting apps, my team and I spent hours sending texts, creating templates, adding contacts, and testing out advanced features for 14 SMS platforms.

I was specially looking at how easy it is to:

  • Send and receive messages
  • Upload and manage contacts
  • Configure the inbox
  • Create and use templates
  • Integrate with third-party apps
  • Automate and schedule texts

These are core to any mass texting app worth its salt. I know this because besides working in the SMS marketing industry for nearly four years, I have experience owning and marketing a small business. You guessed it: I used text marketing as a tactic to grow that business.

SimpleTexting: Best mass texting app for small business

Screenshot of SimpleTexting app that shows an event reminder text message being sent to a large group of people

Admittedly, I’m a little biased about how amazing SimpleTexting is, but I have the data and testimonials to back it up.

More than 17,000 small- and medium-sized businesses choose our platform because of its flexible pricing, user-friendly platform, and advanced features. From mass text-blasting services to one-on-one texting, we have it all for you.

In an in-depth review of SimpleTexting on Business.com, contributing writer Mark Farlie said that “Having the type of connected system SimpleTexting’s developers created could give your company a competitive edge. That’s why we’ve selected SimpleTexting as the ideal text message marketing supplier for small businesses.”

If you want your SMS marketing strategy to work seamlessly with other tools your business relies on, our team can create custom integrations for your unique needs. We’ve worked with restaurants, healthcare practices, nonprofits, schools, and other organizations to automate mass text message campaigns and sync their contact lists.

Pros

  • Unlimited text-to-join keywords
  • Unlimited contacts
  • Mobile app and web app for desktop
  • Inbound texts are free

Cons

  • No built-in QR code function
  • Only available for businesses in North America

Pricing

SimpleTexting offers flexible pricing plans, with the lowest plan starting at $29/month for 500 messaging credits. Any unused credits in a given month roll over to the next month (but only for one month). You can add more credits at any time through the simple self-serve billing dashboard.

Free trial

To give users a chance to experience the platform’s features, SimpleTexting provides a 14-day free trial without requiring credit card information until you’re ready to upgrade.

Top features

SimpleTexting is best known for its:

Device availability

You can use SimpleTexting to text from your desktop, smartphones, tablets, or any other wifi-enabled device. Our mobile app is available for iOS and Android.

TextMagic: Best mass text app for international texting

Screenshot of TextMagic app that shows a new text message to three contact lists

With its flexible pricing model and international capabilities, TextMagic is great for small businesses and those with customers within and outside the U.S. and Canada.

TextMagic can identify invalid numbers to improve message deliverability, and it has email-to-SMS capabilities that make communication convenient. With TextMagic, you can send audio files via text and use text-to-speech to make phone calls. This means you can communicate beyond just words on a screen.

While most mass SMS apps have pricing tiers, TextMagic charges $0.049 per text, making it a flexible option for businesses with variable sending volume.

Pros

  • Has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, instead of monthly or annual plans
  • Allows you to text contacts in 200 countries

Cons

  • Pricing model may not be cost-effective for companies sending a high volume of texts
  • Inbound SMS costs $0.02 per text

Pricing

TextMagic’s pricing is pay-as-you-go. So, you only pay for the number of messages you send, rather than paying a fixed amount every month or year. 

The cost begins at $0.049 per text to U.S. numbers. If you send more than 100,000 messages every month, you can request custom pricing.

Free trial

Try TextMagic free for 30 days with $0.40 in messaging credits.

Top features

TextMagic is best known for its:

  • Ability to send SMS via email
  • SMS surveys 

Device availability

TextMagic offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that performs many of the same functions as its desktop app.

Textedly: Best budget app for mass texting

Screenshot of Textedly's home page in Q1 2024

Textedly is a simple, yet effective, mass texting platform for businesses on a budget that are looking for a simple suite of features. If you’re looking for a straightforward SMS platform with a low price, add this one to your list.

When I was testing out Textedly, I noticed some of its features are add-ons. While most platforms include things like automated texts and personalization in their monthly subscriptions, Textedly offers them a la carte for a one-time fee. 

Because its pricing tiers are so inexpensive, these add-on fees may not be a problem for businesses that need basic SMS functionality.

Pros

  • One of the least expensive SMS platforms
  • Simple and user-friendly

Cons 

  • No mobile app
  • No API (just Zapier-powered integrations)
  • Limited contact segmentation capabilities

Pricing

Textedly’s seven pricing tiers range from a $26/month plan for 600 text messages and one custom keyword to the $349/month plan, which includes 18,000 text messages/month and seven keywords. 

Free trial

Textedly’s 14-day free trial comes with 50 text messages.

Top features

Popular Textedly features include:

  • Data collection
  • Voice services
  • Instagram texting button
  • MMS

Device availability

Textedly has a standard desktop app, but they don’t have a mobile app for iOS or Android as of January 2024.

SlickText: Best mass texting app for loyalty programs

Screenshot of SlickText's home page in Q1 2024

With its free onboarding session, SlickText is an excellent choice for business owners who want a personalized onboarding experience.

In addition to standard features like two-way messaging, mass texting, MMS, and keywords, SlickText provides advanced capabilities like automated workflows, personalization, and loyalty program software. 

This last feature is helpful for retail companies, restaurants, and service-based businesses that want to keep customers coming back on a regular basis.

Pros

  • Offers a mobile app
  • Free one-on-one onboarding session for $139/month plans or higher

Cons

  • Keyword amounts are limited

Pricing

Like SimpleTexting, SlickText’s plans start as low as $29/month for 500 messaging credits. This plan comes with two keywords but doesn’t include automated workflows. Its top-level plan — the Monstro — includes 50,000 messages for $1,250/month.

Free trial

Try SlickText out free for 14 days with 50 messaging credits.

Top features

SlickText offers its users:

  • SMS polls and surveys
  • Website popups
  • Loyalty rewards
  • URL shortener
  • QR codes
  • MMS

Device availability

You can use SlickText on its iOS or Android apps, in addition to desktop.

EZ Texting: Best quick-start mass texting app

Screenshot of EZ Texting's home page in Q1 2024

EZ Texting is best for business owners with limited marketing experience who are looking for a robust, easy-to-use platform. 

Customers rave about EZ Texting beginner’s guide, which helps you get up and running quickly without feeling overwhelmed. It’s not the cheapest platform on the market, but it’s built with busy marketers and business owners in mind. The ease of use could save you time and, ultimately, money.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Provides a wealth of industry-specific educational content

Cons

  • More expensive than similar platforms
  • Unused credits don’t roll over month-to-month or annually
  • Limited number of keywords allowed for plans under $299/month
  • U.S. and Canada only

Pricing

EZ Texting’s pricing plans range from $20/month for 500 credits and 500 contacts to $3,000/month for 60,000 credits and 50,000 contacts when paid annually.

Free trial

You can try EZ Texting free for 14 days with 50 messages and one keyword.

Top features

Popular EZ Texting features include:

  • MMS
  • Shutterstock media library
  • Text forwarding
  • SafeSTOP® compliance

Device availability

In addition to its desktop app, EZ Texting has an iOS app that lets you review campaign performance and delivery, send and receive texts, and manage your contacts.

Podium: Best mass text app for local business operations

Screenshot of Podium's home page in Q1 2024

Podium is excellent if you’re serving local markets and need a reliable mass texting platform. Beyond texting, I like how its reputation management system simplifies the collection and tracking of customer reviews. Podium also lets you respond to reviews from Google My Business and Facebook.

While Podium users like their ability to request and collect customer reviews via SMS, the catch is, Podium isn’t cheap. Its steep basic plan costs $249/month for 1,000 contacts. Other budget-friendly alternatives with similar features are DialMyCalls and MessageMedia. 

Pros

  • Get reviews easily from GMB, Yelp, and other local business listings
  • Offers custom payment solutions 
  • Intuitive user interface 
  • Audience segmentation

Cons

  • Costly for small businesses on a budget 
  • Does not integrate with Yelp

Pricing

Podium has the essential, standard, and professional pricing packages. The essential plan costs $249/month for managing 1,000 contacts. This plan allows you to integrate 100+ apps and send up to 100 bulk messages monthly. 

Free trial

None. Interested users have to book a demo to get started.

Top features

Podium has some brilliant functionalities, like: 

  • Custom-built integrations and APIs
  • Intuitive user interface
  • SMS and review management on one platform
  • Custom payment processing 
  • Audience segmentation 
  • Auto-responses to FAQs
  • Campaign analytics dashboard 

Device availability

Podium is available on Android, iOS, and desktop apps.

Attentive: Best mass text app for midmarket ecommerce businesses

Screenshot of Attentive's home page in Q1 2024

Attentive is a conversational marketing platform with tools like SMS for e-commerce businesses. Their platform has responsive templates and integrates with eCommerce bigwigs like BigCommerce, Shopify, Gorgias, etc. Recently, they partnered with Stamped, a review management platform that enables you to request customer reviews via SMS.

Besides the regular features of any SMS marketing software, Attentive has AI capabilities for creating personalized SMS and email campaigns quickly. That’s why, among other reasons, business owners like Paul Goodman recommend it.

However, users like Dave Rekuc claim Attentive isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. What Dave says:

Pros

  • Integrates with Shopify and Salesforce
  • Simple user interface
  • Syncs customer and product data across platforms
  • Campaigns are easy to set up and manage 

Cons

  • No mobile app
  • Email platform needs improvement
  • Switching providers may require manual SMS list workarounds

Pricing

Attentive pricing packages are available on request. 

Free trial

Attentive SMS doesn’t offer a free trial. This is limiting because even a demo may be insufficient for you to understand how a platform works. 

Top features

  • Email and SMS opt-in list
  • One-on-one onboarding sessions
  • Predesigned flows 
  • Concierge facilities 
  • 2-in-1 email and SMS signup units
  • AMCA SPAM regulations 

Device availability

Attentive, unlike other apps listed here, is only available on desktop.

7 things the best mass text apps have in common

Everyone promises their group messaging service or text message marketing platform is the best in the industry. And there are certainly several great ones out there.

To ensure you’re signing up for the best mass text app that’d give you a positive ROI, look out for this seven elements:

  1. Affordability for SMBs. Look for an app that offers competitive pricing, and compare how many credits you get in each pricing tier.
  2. Ease of use. Test the app with a free trial to make sure it’s user-friendly and easy to navigate.
  3. Automation. Look for features such as autoresponders and scheduled messages to save time and respond to your contacts faster. 
  4. Security. Ensure the app is secure and encrypted.
  5. Personalization. Look for features that allow for personalization, such as custom fields and the ability to segment contacts. 
  6. Responsive support. Search its ratings on third-party sites for “support” to see what customers have to say about the app’s customer service.
  7. Analytics. Check if the app provides detailed reports and analytics so you can see if your mass text campaigns are performing.

7 non-negotiable mass texting app features

Every mass text app can send SMS messages to large groups of people at once. If you’re using text messaging for your business or organization, you probably want an app that goes beyond mass texting.

Before you sign up for a texting service, make sure it can deliver to multiple recipients and has the following features:

  1. Number options: Depending on how you plan to use SMS, for mass or one-on-one messaging, you’ll want the option of selecting a phone number to fit your needs. Your app should help you choose a standard 10-digit local number, a memorable dedicated short code, or a toll-free number unique to your business.
  2. Text-to-join keywords: Before sending a bulk text message, you need contacts. Keywords help with that. Simply set up a word or phrase that customers can text to your number to subscribe to your SMS texts.
  3. Lists and segments: Lists and dynamic segments let you organize your contacts and send the right messages to the right people. 
  4. Scheduled texts and autoresponders: Sometimes you don’t want to send a text right away. Scheduled texts let you specify a future date and time for your SMS. And with autoresponders, you can set up group texts that go out at a set period of time after someone joins your list.
  5. MMS messaging: A good mass text messaging app lets you send more than just SMS texts. MMS allows you to include photos, videos, and other files in your messages.
  6. Link tracking and analytics: You shouldn’t be guessing if your SMS campaigns are working. Link tracking and easy-to-understand analytics let you know if your mass text messaging app is bringing value to your business.
  7. Custom fields: Texting should feel personal. The best mass texting service gives users the ability to include Custom Fields such as first name and last name when sending messages.

Use the features above as a rule of thumb to assess mass texting apps that make the cut. In some instances, you may need fewer features, and in others, you may need more. Check out everything you can do with SimpleTexting’s mass text messaging app here.

Mass text campaign examples

We’ve covered the how, the why, and the who. Now let’s review some real-life examples of companies who have seen success with a mass text message app.

All of the customers below used SimpleTexting (yes, that’s us.) You can download our app for free on the App Store or Google Play.

Delta Sonic car wash

Delta Sonic is one of the largest car wash and convenience store chains in the U.S.

They use a mass text message app to communicate with thousands of customers every week. During slow seasons, they send out text blasts about promotions and services. Their text club was so well received by customers that they grew their list from zero to tens of thousands of subscribers in just a few years.

Get all the details about how Delta Sonic uses SMS.

Honey + Thyme food delivery

Honey + Thyme is changing the way people think about food delivery services.

Their menu highlights local, in-season ingredients and changes every week. Text messages help them keep customers up-to-date on the latest items that are available to order. Read more about how they drive orders with text messages.

South Arkansas Community College

As we explained in this article, a mass text message app should do more than just send messages to lists of people.South Arkansas Community College uses the 2-way messaging feature of SimpleTexting to connect with current and prospective students. Check out their success story to see how they use texts for recruitment and organizing campus tours.

Mass texting app FAQs

How can I use SMS to market my business?

You can use SMS to market your business by sending targeted promotions, event reminders, and exclusive offers to your customers or prospects. Before you start sending marketing text messages, though, you have to get explicit permission from your customers. You can do this through opt-in forms, where customers voluntarily provide their mobile numbers and agree to receive promotional messages from your business.
SMS — which stands for Short Message Service — is a text messaging service that allows users to send short texts to other mobile phones. SMS messages are 160 characters or fewer and can be sent between any two mobile phones that support the service. It’s also a cost-effective method of communication for both businesses and individuals.
MMS (or Multimedia Messaging Service) is a type of text message that contains multimedia content like photos, videos, and audio messages. While an SMS message (a text-only message) is limited to 160 characters, an MMS message can be up to 1,600 characters long.
A text message keyword is a word or phrase that your contacts can text to your number to sign up for your messaging program. For example, a sandwich shop owner might invite their audience to text SUBDEALS to receive deals and updates.
You can use QR codes to make it easier for your audience to sign up for your mass texting lists. When someone scans your QR code, it’ll open their text messaging app with your number and SMS keyword already entered. It’s a quick and convenient way to build your contact list. Learn how to set up QR codes for text messages.
Email-to-SMS is a messaging service that allows users to send texts to mobile devices from their email account. With this service, you can send a message via an email address that’s designed to convert into the email into a text message format. This might be a useful option for someone who wants to send a text from a device that’s not SMS-enabled, but you can send mass texts more easily from a text messaging service provider that’s available on desktop and mobile.
Text forwarding is a feature that allows you to receive text messages on multiple devices. Here’s an example: If you want to receive all texts from your mass texting software to your email or mobile device, you can set up text forwarding so you never miss a message.
A mass texting inbox is a dashboard in your SMS software where you can have one-on-one conversations with your contacts and see replies to your text campaigns. In SimpleTexting’s mass texting inbox, you can organize messages, assign them to team members, snooze them for later, and see contact details.
A mass texting app API allows developers to integrate mass texting functionality into their own software programs. Many of our customers use our API to integrate other business tools they depend on with SimpleTexting.

To use an API, developers sign up for an account and obtain an API key, write code to integrate the API into their application, and send a request to the API with the necessary information to send text messages to a recipient list.

The API then processes the request and sends the text message to the recipient list using the SMS gateway provided by the mass texting app provider, and the API returns a response to the developer’s application indicating the success or failure of the message sending operation.
Bulk texting software can be secure if used properly and by reputable companies. It’s important to learn about potential security risks, like unauthorized access to customer data or non-compliance with data privacy regulations. To keep your customers’ data safe, research and select a reputable SMS service provider with proper security measures in place.

Download the best mass text message app

After working together with thousands of customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, we’ve learned exactly what makes a text message app the best.

We’re confident in our app, which is why we let anyone try it completely free for 14 days. No credit card needed.

Precious Oboidhe and Nathan Ellering contributed to this article.

Alfredo Salkeld
Alfredo Salkeld

Alfredo is SimpleTexting's brand manager. He's passionate about using his 10+ years of marketing experience to help small businesses grow.

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