I have managed a variety of SMS programs in various platforms. Some of these were a struggle; some were a breeze and the ease of management had a lot to do with the platform we were using. In this article I will break down the pricing and features of six popular SMS platforms: Attentive, Postscript, Klaviyo, Community, Listrak and MailChimp. I’ll also show you examples of brands using each platform so you can get an idea of what is possible on each one.
1. Attentive
When Attentive first launched it was a specialized platform just for SMS. Now it has expanded to provide email as well. I find their user interface to be easy to use, even when creating a text campaign from my own mobile device. Their White Glove Service is also very helpful if you need assistance building a new journey, customer segment or A/B test.
At Tiny Texts, we have collected texts from some of Attentive’s customers like Urban Outfitters, Coach, and smaller brands like Crown Affair and Blade to give you an idea of what Attentive can do.
Pricing:
If you are a small brand on a tight budget, there are other cheaper options out there for you. Attentive serves smaller brands but is often more cost-effective for mid to large-scale enterprises.
Attentive operates on a custom pricing model, which can be tailored to the size and needs of the business. Pricing typically starts at around $300 per month and scales based on the number of subscribers and features used.
To give you an example, we saw one Attentive contract priced at $0.0175 per SMS and $0.0425 per MMS, including carrier fees, with a minimum commitment of $700 per quarter.
Attentive offers a 30-day free trial. You also may be able to negotiate a 60-day free trial from time to time.
Features:
A common theme you will see throughout this article is that these SMS platforms all incorporate AI to provide real-time individualization, predictive targeting, and automated content generation. Attentive offers Attentive AI™, which leverages machine learning on over two trillion data points and 90 billion messages. Notable features include AI-driven audience segmentation, dynamic message customization, and proactive conversation handling that increases engagement and conversions.
Attentive also offers:
- Advanced audience segmentation
- Robust automation capabilities
- A/B testing tools
- Seamless integrations with major eCommerce platforms
- White-glove customer support and strategic consulting
- Webinars such as ‘Tis the Season: Mobile Messaging Strategies for Your Best Holiday Ever” and “Everything You Need to Get Started with SMS” for best practices
Pros: Exceptional personalization and customer engagement tools; ideal for enterprises seeking tailored support and strategic guidance.
Cons: Price transparency is limited, and smaller businesses may find the custom plans too expensive.
2. Postscript
Postscript specializes in SMS and is competitive on price, especially if you are a small brand and/or you are switching from another platform. Check out our collection of text messages sent by Jones Road, Tula, and Baboon to the Moon to get an idea of what Postscript can do.
Pricing:
Postscript offers a tiered pricing model starting from approximately $25 per month for smaller businesses, with costs scaling based on the number of messages sent. Their mid-tier plans range from $100-$500 per month, depending on message volume and features.
They list their prices as $0.015/SMS and $0.045/MMS + Carrier fees (~$.00287 for SMS and ~$.0065 for MMS) but you may be able to negotiate better rates.
Features:
Postscript has a patent-pending acquisition tool, called Onsite Opt-In which allows new subscribers to confirm their subscription on their mobile devices with autofill, eliminating a few taps and clicks from the confirmation process. Postscript claims this can boost subscription rates by 3X.
Other Postscript features include:
- Comprehensive eCommerce integrations (e.g., Shopify)
- Detailed campaign analytics
- Subscriber segmentation
- Keyword-based sign-ups
- Automated follow-ups and workflows
- Basic AI tools for message optimization
- Access to webinars and educational content, such as “Left on Read: Turn Subscriber Responses into Revenue” and “SMS Marketing Playbook: Mastering List Growth”
Pros: Straightforward pricing, great for small to medium-sized businesses, potentially higher sign-up rates thanks to Onsite Opt-In.
Cons: Lacks some of the more sophisticated data analysis and white-glove support offered by larger platforms like Attentive.
3. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is an Email Service Provider that added SMS services in recent years. Being able to integrate your email and SMS into one platform is great, but if your account is on the smaller side you won’t get much hand holding from Klaviyo. You will get better customer service from other SMS platforms like Attentive or Postscript.
If you want to see what Klaviyo’s SMS program can do, check out the text messages sent by Klaviyo customers like Good American, Andie Swim and Girlfriend Collective.
Pricing:
Klaviyo’s pricing depends on the number of SMS subscribers and the volume of texts you send. Their starter plan begins at around $45 per month for 1,000 contacts, with higher plans that can exceed $1,000 per month as subscriber numbers grow.
Features:
- Unified SMS and email marketing capabilities
- Advanced automation and customization options
- Pre-built templates and workflows
- Seamless integrations with eCommerce and CRM platforms
- Powerful data analytics and reporting tools
- AI-driven recommendations for content and timing
- Webinars, tutorials, and an extensive knowledge base, including “Mastering SMS and Email Integrations” and “Data-Driven Campaign Strategies”
Pros: Ideal for businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing platform with both email and SMS; strong analytical tools and robust AI capabilities.
Cons: The learning curve can be steep for new users; pricing can increase rapidly as your contact list grows, service isn’t great if you are a small brand.
4. Community
Community connects organizations, brands, political & public figures, celebrities, musicians, and creators to their audiences at scale. Dua Lipa, McDonald’s and the LA Dodgers are some of the brands using Community.
All of their SMS programs are far more focused on brand engagement than driving conversions, and Community is ideal for brands emphasizing personal engagement and 2-way conversations. Recently Community rolled out functionality to send media flows including voice notes. It also integrates with Whatsapp.
Pricing:
Community’s pricing starts at approximately $99 per month for basic plans, with more comprehensive packages reaching $500 or more monthly, depending on the number of contacts you will be messaging.
Features:
- One-to-one texting capabilities
- Direct communication with personalized responses
- High engagement potential for brand-building
- Customizable phone numbers
- Strong support for personal outreach and connection
- AI tools for message insights and engagement tracking
- White-glove onboarding and support for premium plans
- Webinars and training resources
Pros: Uniquely positioned for creators, public figures, and brands that prioritize personalized engagement.
Cons: Higher cost relative to some features; not as robust for automated marketing campaigns.
5. Listrak
Listrak is another provider that offers integrated email and SMS capabilities. Last year it announced a new offering, AI Assistant, powered by OpenAI and integrated into Listrak’s SMS editor. Paste a link into the editor and the platform will read the content on the linked page and generate context-specific message recommendations.
If you want to get an idea of what Listrak can do, take a glance at the texts companies like Biossance, Minnetonka and Bare Necessities are sending. These all use Listrak for their SMS programs.
Pricing:
Listrak offers custom pricing based on the features and services chosen, typically catering to mid-sized and large enterprises. Pricing can start around $500 per month and scale upwards depending on usage and advanced feature sets.
Features:
- Integrated SMS, email, and multichannel marketing capabilities
- Advanced customer journey mapping and automation tools
- Personalization powered by AI-driven insights
- Detailed performance analytics and real-time data tracking
- Integrations with major eCommerce platforms
- Webinars and events
Pros: Excellent for businesses that need multichannel marketing with comprehensive customer journey mapping and robust automation tools.
Cons: Higher entry cost
6. MailChimp
MailChimp serves many small businesses with its inexpensive email plans. If you are a small organization using MailChimp as your ESP (email service provider), their SMS add-on might be a good fit for you.
Joyeria Daisy and CityPickle are two MailChimp clients we track at Tiny Texts.
Pricing:
SMS is only available as an add-on to MailChimp paid plans. Those paid plans start at $13 / month and then SMS credits start at $20 for a package of 1,000 credits. One credit will allow you to send one text to one subscriber, not accounting for images, gifs, emojis or lengthy copy.
Features:
- Integrated SMS and email marketing
- Automated customer journeys and triggers
- Advanced audience segmentation
- Pre-built templates and customizable campaigns
- AI-assisted recommendations for optimizing campaigns
- In-depth analytics and reporting tools
- Educational resources, including webinars like “Build Stronger Relationships with SMS Marketing”
Pros: Good for small to medium businesses looking for an integrated marketing suite; strong educational support.
Cons: Limited SMS features compared to specialized platforms; pricing can increase as contact lists grow.
Conclusion
Selecting the right SMS platform depends on the specific needs, budget, and goals of your business. Attentive is excellent for medium and larger enterprises seeking comprehensive AI-driven personalization and multichannel capabilities. Postscript provides strong eCommerce features suitable for small to medium businesses. Klaviyo integrates SMS with email for an all-in-one marketing solution, while Community is ideal for brands emphasizing engagement. Listrak excels in cross-channel strategies, and MailChimp offers solid SMS capabilities for small businesses. Evaluating these aspects can guide you to the best fit for your SMS strategy.