How we make this list: we compare vendor pricing pages, product documentation and plan limits, and print the month we checked each price. We don’t accept payment for rankings.
QUICK ANSWER
Klaviyo is the best SMS marketing software for small business in 2026 because it pairs SMS with email in one account and starts free for up to 250 profiles. Omnisend is the cheapest paid pick at $16 a month, and SimpleTexting is the best pick if you only need SMS.
Key takeaways
3 of 8 shortlisted tools have a free plan; lowest listed paid start: $9 a month (Brevo) (Nov 2026).
Klaviyo ranks first because it pairs SMS with email in one account and starts free for up to 250 profiles.
Omnisend is the cheapest paid pick at $16 a month, but SMS needs the Pro plan at $59 a month.
SimpleTexting and SlickText include every feature on every plan, so the entry tier is not stripped down.
Carrier fees and telecom surcharges sit on top of every plan price, so price your real message volume before you pick.
The best SMS marketing software for small business keeps the monthly bill low while your list is small, sets up in a day, and gives you a human to call when a campaign stalls. Every tool below was priced at 500 messages a month and judged on setup time and included support.
Klaviyo suits a small business that wants one account for email and text. The free plan covers 250 profiles, 500 emails and $5 of mobile messages a month, so a new shop can run welcome texts and abandoned-cart reminders before paying anything. The paid Email plan starts at $20 a month for 251 to 500 profiles, and Email plus SMS starts at $35 a month, with SMS billed as credits on top.
The catch is that the bill climbs with your list. Klaviyo charges by active profiles, so every new subscriber raises the price, and SMS credits cost extra on every tier. Email support on the free plan also ends after 60 days. A shop with a fast-growing list should model the price at 1,000 and 5,000 profiles before committing.
What we like
Free plan covers 250 profiles with $5 of mobile messages a month.
Email and SMS share one list, so flows can switch channels.
Deep store data powers abandoned-cart and post-purchase texts.
Starting price$16/month billed monthly (Standard, up to …
Free planYes
Free trialNot confirmed
PlatformsWeb, API
Omnisend is the cheapest paid pick for a small business that wants email and SMS together. Standard starts at $16 a month for up to 500 contacts with 6,000 emails, and the free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month. Every plan includes automation, segmentation and A/B testing, so the entry tier is not stripped of the tools that make SMS work.
The catch is that SMS is not a Standard feature for new accounts. Plans started after May 4, 2026 need Pro at $59 a month to buy SMS credits, which start at $0.007 per message in the US. A business that only wants SMS will pay $59 a month here, while a business that wants email plus SMS gets a fair deal.
What we like
Standard starts at $16 a month for up to 500 contacts.
Automation, segmentation and A/B testing on every plan.
Free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
Watch out for
SMS needs Pro at $59 a month for new accounts.
SMS credits cost extra, from $0.007 per message.
Paid price rises automatically with your contact count.
Starting price$29/month (toll-free, 500 credits) or $39/…
Free planNo
Free trialFree trial (no credit card)
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
SimpleTexting is the best pick for a small business that only needs SMS and wants no surprises. It starts at $39 a month for 500 credits with a local number included, and every feature ships on every plan: automations, API access, AI writing help and unlimited keywords. Three user seats are included, and unused credits roll over for one month.
The catch is the price for a small sender. At $39 a month, it costs more than EZ Texting or Textedly for the same 500 messages, and extra credits cost 5.5 cents each. Carrier fees of about $0.0025 per message sit on top, plus a $4 one-time carrier registration fee. A business sending under 500 texts a month pays more here than on a pay-as-you-go tool.
What we like
Every feature ships on every plan, with no tier gating.
Three user seats included at no extra cost.
Unused credits roll over for one month.
Watch out for
At $39 a month, it costs more than rivals for 500 messages.
Extra credits cost 5.5 cents each.
Carrier fees and a $4 registration fee sit on top.
Starting price$25/month (Launch), or $20/month billed an…
Free planNo
Free trial14 days
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
EZ Texting is the cheapest monthly SMS plan in this list. Launch costs $25 a month, or $20 a month billed annually, for 500 credits with a local number included. The setup flow is short, the interface is plain, and every plan includes the core tools a small business needs: keywords, scheduled sends and two-way texting.
The catch is the fees around the headline price. Launch adds a $5 a month telecom fee, MMS costs 3 credits per message, and extra users cost $10 a month each. A business that sends picture messages will burn through 500 credits fast. Check the real monthly total with the telecom fee included before you compare it with SlickText at $29 a month.
What we like
Launch at $25 a month is the cheapest monthly plan here.
Setup takes under a day with a local number included.
Plain interface that a non-technical owner can run.
Textedly suits a small business that sends a steady number of texts each month and wants one flat price. Basic costs $29 a month for 500 messages, or 600 messages billed annually, and every plan includes all features: two-way texting, MMS, text-to-pay, review requests and AI writing help. There is no contract, and inbound messages are always free.
The catch is the surcharge. Every account pays an $8 a month telecom surcharge, so the real entry cost is $37 a month, not $29. Extra texts cost $30 for 500, and extra teammates cost $10 a month each. There is also no free plan, only a 14-day trial with 50 messages, so you cannot run a small list free here.
What we like
All features on every plan, priced by volume only.
No contract, with month-to-month or annual billing.
Inbound messages are always free.
Watch out for
An $8 a month telecom surcharge lifts the real cost to $37.
No free plan, only a 14-day trial with 50 messages.
SlickText is the best pick for a small business that wants flexible credits and a growing team. It starts at $29 a month for 500 credits, and every plan includes unlimited users, unlimited contacts, rollover credits, all automation features and every integration. Unused credits carry to next month, so a quiet month is not wasted money.
The catch is that SlickText is SMS-only, with no email channel in the same account. MMS costs 3 credits per message, and carrier fees sit on top of the plan price. A business that also wants email will need a second tool, which wipes out the savings from the low plan price.
What we like
Unused credits roll over to the next month.
Unlimited users and contacts on every plan.
Every feature and integration ships on the $29 tier.
Brevo suits a small business that sends email most days and texts only now and then. Starter costs $9 a month for 5,000 emails, and the free plan sends 300 emails a day. SMS credits are sold separately on a pay-as-you-go basis, so a business that texts rarely pays only for the messages it sends, with no SMS subscription to carry.
The catch is that SMS is a side channel here, not the main product. The SMS tools are thinner than on a dedicated SMS platform, with fewer templates and no SMS-first automation library. Automation and A/B testing also need Standard at $18 a month, and the Brevo logo stays on Starter emails unless you pay for removal.
What we like
Lowest paid start in this list at $9 a month.
Free plan sends 300 emails a day.
SMS credits are pay-as-you-go, so rare senders pay little.
Watch out for
SMS tools are thinner than on a dedicated SMS platform.
Automation and A/B testing need Standard at $18 a month.
Starter keeps Brevo branding unless you pay for removal.
Starting price$0.049 per SMS in the US (pay-as-you-go)
Free planNo
Free trialFree test balance
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
TextMagic is the best pick for a small business that texts rarely and wants no monthly bill. It charges $0.049 per SMS in the US on a pay-as-you-go basis, with credits that never expire, so a business that sends 100 texts a month pays about $5. It covers 190 countries, which suits businesses with customers abroad, and it includes two-way chat and scheduling.
The catch is the number rent. A virtual number costs $10 a month, and 10DLC campaign registration costs another $10 a month, so the real floor is about $20 a month before you send a single text. The per-message rate is also high: at 500 texts a month, TextMagic costs about $25, the same as EZ Texting, with fewer marketing features.
What we like
No monthly fee, and credits never expire.
Covers 190 countries for international texting.
Two-way chat and scheduling are included.
Watch out for
A number costs $10 a month and 10DLC registration $10 a month.
At $0.049 per SMS, heavy senders pay more than on a plan.
Fewer marketing templates than the SMS-first tools.
Sources used: vendor pricing pages, docs, changelogs. Prices and limits were checked against each vendor's own pricing page in Nov 2026.
Criterion
Weight
What we looked at
Price at small-business scale
40%
We priced each tool at 500 messages a month and noted the free plan limits, since a small list is where the cost gap is widest.
Setup time
30%
We favored tools a small team can launch in a day, with a number, keywords and templates included rather than added on.
Included support
30%
We checked which support channels come with the entry plan, since a small business rarely has a specialist to call on.
What is the best SMS marketing software for small business?
Klaviyo is the best SMS marketing software for small business in 2026 because it pairs SMS with email in one account and starts free for up to 250 profiles. Omnisend is the best budget pick at $16 a month, and SimpleTexting is the best pick if you only want SMS and want every feature on every plan.
How much does SMS marketing software for small business cost?
SMS marketing software for small business costs $9 to $39 a month at the entry tier in Nov 2026, plus per-message charges. Brevo starts at $9 a month for email with SMS credits sold separately, Omnisend at $16 a month, Klaviyo at $20 a month, EZ Texting at $25 a month, Textedly and SlickText at $29 a month, SimpleTexting at $39 a month, and TextMagic charges $0.049 per SMS with no monthly fee.
Is there a free SMS marketing software for small business?
Yes, free SMS marketing software exists for small business, and 3 of the 8 tools in this list have a free plan. Klaviyo covers 250 profiles, 500 emails and $5 of mobile messages a month free, Omnisend covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month free, and Brevo sends 300 emails a day free with SMS credits sold separately. Textedly, SlickText, SimpleTexting and EZ Texting offer a free trial, not a free plan.
Which SMS marketing software is easiest to set up for a small business?
SimpleTexting and SlickText are the easiest SMS tools for a small business to set up. Both include every feature on every plan, so there is no tier to puzzle over, and both give you a number and a keyword the same day. EZ Texting and Textedly are also quick to launch, with templates and a short setup flow. Klaviyo and Omnisend take longer because they pair SMS with email and store data.
How should I run a best SMS marketing software for small business comparison?
Run a best SMS marketing software for small business comparison at your real message volume, not at the headline price. Pick your monthly message count, note the plan price, the per-message rate, the number rent and any telecom surcharge, then check whether two-way texting and automation cost extra. The best cheap SMS marketing software guide applies the same check to the lowest-cost tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SMS marketing software for a small business with under 500 contacts?
Klaviyo is the best SMS marketing software for a small business with under 500 contacts because the free plan covers 250 profiles, 500 emails and $5 of mobile messages a month, and the paid Email plan starts at $20 a month. Omnisend at $16 a month is the cheapest paid pick if you also want email, and SimpleTexting at $39 a month is the best pick if you only need SMS.
What is the top SMS marketing software for small business 2026?
The top SMS marketing software for small business 2026 is Klaviyo, based on price at small list sizes, setup time and included support. Omnisend ranks second for the lowest paid price, SimpleTexting ranks third for including every feature on every plan, and EZ Texting ranks fourth for the cheapest monthly SMS plan at $25 a month.
Can I use SMS marketing software for free?
Yes, you can use SMS marketing software for free. Klaviyo covers 250 profiles with $5 of mobile messages a month, Omnisend covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, and Brevo sends 300 emails a day free. Free plans are small, so a growing list moves to a paid tier fast, and SMS credits usually cost extra.
What should a small business pay for SMS marketing in 2026?
A small business should pay $16 to $39 a month for SMS marketing in 2026 if it sends a few hundred texts a month. Omnisend starts at $16 a month, Klaviyo at $20 a month, EZ Texting at $25 a month, Textedly and SlickText at $29 a month, and SimpleTexting at $39 a month. Add the per-message rate and any telecom surcharge to the plan price before you compare.
Which SMS tools include every feature on the cheapest plan?
SimpleTexting and SlickText include every feature on every plan, so you never pay more to open automation or integrations. Textedly also includes all features on every plan, with the price set by message volume only. Klaviyo and Omnisend gate some features by tier, so check what the entry plan leaves out.
Does Textedly have a free plan?
No, Textedly has no free plan as of Nov 2026. It offers a 14-day free trial with 50 text messages, then paid plans start at $29 a month for 500 messages. Every account also pays an $8 a month telecom surcharge, so the real entry cost is $37 a month.
Are there extra fees on top of the monthly SMS plan price?
Yes, but budget for the extras. US carriers require A2P 10DLC registration, which most tools charge for once, and carrier fees of about $0.0025 to $0.0045 per message sit on top of the plan rate. A $25 a month plan can cost $30 or more a month once fees and overage credits are added.
Final verdict
Pick Klaviyo if you want email and SMS in one account.
Pick Omnisend if you want email and SMS on a tight budget.
Pick SimpleTexting if you only need SMS and want every feature included.
Pick EZ Texting if you want the cheapest monthly SMS plan.
Pick Textedly if you send a steady volume and want flat pricing.
Pick SlickText if you want rollover credits and unlimited users.
Pick Brevo if you want email plus occasional SMS in one account.
Pick TextMagic if you text rarely and hate monthly fees.
Looking for the best SMS marketing software? We compared 10 options on pricing, free plans, key features and trade-offs so you can pick the right one fast.
