Best SMS/Texting App for Business in 2024: How to Choose One?

Even though a lot of businesses still rely on phone calls for sales and support, it’s important to mix things up and use different ways to reach out to customers. SMS, or text messaging, is really effective because almost everyone reads their texts, with more than 90% of them getting opened. But, it’s surprising that not all companies use it as much as they can.

Texting apps are now a key part of how businesses talk to customers and each other. They make it easy to send quick messages, set up meetings, deliver appointment reminders, or answer customer questions.

If you’re thinking about picking a texting app for your business, you should know a bit about what’s out there, like which ones are the best and how to find the right one for your specific needs. With so many options available, it can seem hard to choose the right one.

But don’t worry, this article is here to help. We’re going to take a close look at seven of the best texting apps for businesses and show you what to consider to make the best choice for you.

TL;DR

Want to communicate with your customers more effectively? Texting apps are a fast and reliable solution! Here are the top five picks for business texting apps in 2024, chosen for their ease of use, advanced features, and high user ratings: 1. JustCall: Best value for money with rich features at competitive prices. 2. TextMagic: Best for businesses looking for low-commitment, pay-as-you-go pricing. 3. OpenPhone: Most cost-effective for U.S. and Canadian businesses. 4. SimpleTexting: Easiest to use, great for straightforward SMS campaigns. 5. SlickText: Highest rated on G2 for SMS marketing effectiveness and ease of use.

How can a business use text messaging?

Texting apps are versatile tools for enhancing communication and operational efficiency across various industries. Here are some key business cases:

• Customer Service: Provide quick responses to customer inquiries, enhancing satisfaction.
• Sales and Marketing: Send personalized promotions and updates to prospects, improving engagement and conversion rates.
• Appointment Reminders: Reduce no-shows in service industries by sending automated reminders and confirmations.
• Internal Communications: Ensure immediate receipt and action on time-sensitive information among team members.
• Event Management: Send real-time updates and collect feedback during events to enhance participant experience.
• Emergency Alerts: Distribute urgent alerts and safety instructions instantly in critical situations.
• Logistics Updates: Keep customers informed about their order status from dispatch to delivery, improving transparency.
• Payment and Billing: Facilitate quicker payment processes and send billing reminders directly via SMS.
• Customer Feedback: Easily collect feedback through surveys sent after purchases or services to help improve business offerings.

These examples demonstrate the broad applicability and benefits of texting apps in streamlining business operations and boosting customer engagement.

What should you look for in a text message app for business?

Though many options are available when choosing a text messaging service, making an educated choice is crucial for optimal communication with customers. The below pointers will help you understand if an app meets your business requirements. 

1) Features and functionality

The best business texting apps should offer advanced features and functionality without requiring specialized knowledge to operate them. It should have functions such as:

• Bulk SMS messaging
• Auto texting & forwarding
• Message storage

Additionally, you need to verify if the features align with your objectives. For example, a business that relies on SMS marketing will majorly benefit from bulk SMS features. However, a customer service department focused on client issues will require one-on-one texting.

2) User experience

Though the app is a priority for most businesses, the user experience equally matters. Choosing a vendor that values long-term customer relations, prioritizes customer support, and regularly updates its app will give you the best user experience.

Remember, no matter how good the app is, technical issues will arise, so customer support must be unreachable. 

3) Reviews and credibility

Reviews from authentic sources are one of the best ways to understand the real-time usage of an app. Does the service meet the user’s business requirements? What are the challenges faced by other users? How many users recommend using the app for business text messaging services? Look for reviews from businesses like yours to get a perspective that matches your objectives.

4) Pricing

Most texting services are priced on a subscription basis. But some services also have extra costs for platform maintenance, add-ons, unlimited contacts, and SMS messages themselves after a certain number.

Before choosing the best SMS marketing software for you, estimate the costs according to your requirements. Certain services with a higher base price might give access to more features than cheaper services with add-on costs. 

5) Scalability

The scalability of the best instant messenger for business should be a priority, especially if you are a small business. The best texting service for small businesses needs to grow along with the business, so you don’t need to switch to other services to accommodate your newly formed goals. Choosing scalable solutions saves you the time and effort of moving databases in the long run.

6) Reliability 

The primary objective of using a texting app for business is to ensure message delivery with minimal delay or impediments. So, look for a service provider with the highest possible percentage of successful delivery rates.

An economical business texting app with a poor rate of message delivery may ultimately end up costing you a lot more down the line. 

7) Integration

Another key factor to keep in mind when choosing a business texting app is to choose one that seamlessly integrates into your existing CRM and other infrastructure. This factor could be the key difference between a seamless operation or a myriad of headaches and overhead costs in the future. 

8) Industry experience

Industry experience is another essential factor to consider when determining the best messaging apps for business. Some may have good reviews, but if and when not-so-common problems arise, nothing can solve problems more efficiently than pure experience. Look at their clientele and how long they have been working with them. It could say a lot about the service provider. 

17 business text messaging apps you should consider

Selecting the right business texting app can greatly influence your communication strategies and operational efficiency. We’ve carefully reviewed 17 of the best texting apps for businesses as of April 12, 2024, including up-to-date pricing and ratings.

These apps provide a variety of unique features tailored to meet diverse business needs, from enhancing customer service to boosting sales and streamlining internal communications. Whether you’re operating a small startup or managing a large enterprise, our list is designed to help you identify the ideal messaging solution to improve your communication processes.

At the end of our reviews, we’ll provide a summary and offer recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

JustCall

JustCall is a highly-rated texting app for business. It’s designed for sales and customer support teams and offers a variety of call center features, including SMS & MMS inbox, automated text messaging, sales and predictive dialers, multi-level IVR, and conversation intelligence. You can use it from your computer (web and desktop app), but we also offer iOS and Android apps.

It easily scales to meet business needs and integrates seamlessly with over 100 CRM platforms like Hubspot, Salesforce, and Zoho, allowing for direct text communication from these systems. Additionally, it’s straightforward to use, requiring minimal technical knowledge, and staff can be trained quickly.

Features:

• Local or toll-free phone numbers in over 60 countries.
• Customizable IVR (Interactive Voice Response).
• Virtual meetings and web conferencing.
• SMS marketing campaigns (bulk SMS and drip campaigns) with analytics.
• Autoresponders for incoming messages.

Pricing: JustCall offers three pricing plans starting at $19/user/month for the Essentials plan, which includes basic SMS features. The Pro plan is required for advanced features like bulk SMS and Salesforce integration. Additional services, such as tone analysis and live transcription, start at $49/user/month.

User Reviews: 4.2 out of 5 stars from 369 reviews on G2.

EZ Texting

EZ Texting helps businesses proactively engage with customers through text messaging. It serves primarily U.S. and Canadian markets.

This platform is perfect for businesses that need reliable text message marketing tools like bulk SMS and MMS, text polls, and reminder campaigns. It enables personalized and bulk message sending for various purposes like promotions, alerts, and notifications.

Key Features:

• Bulk SMS and MMS capabilities.
• Reminder campaigns and text polls for engagement.
• Text-to-landline functionality to broaden accessibility.
• Delivery reports to track and optimize campaigns.
• Integration with third-party marketing tools such as HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Salesforce.

Pricing: Plans start at $20/month, which includes 500 messages daily at $0.027 per message.

User Reviews: Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 593 reviews on G2, reflecting strong customer satisfaction.

Nextiva

Nextiva is a versatile cloud communications platform that combines multiple communication channels into one integrated solution, enhancing business operations and customer service.

Ideal for businesses seeking to improve customer experiences, Nextiva offers features like SMS, voice, video, and survey tools.

Features:

• Unified communications across devices.
• Comprehensive support for SMS, calls, video, and surveys.
• Virtual numbers and toll-free texting capabilities.
• Analytics for VoIP phone calls, text messages, or team communications.

Pricing: Begins at $18.95 per user/month for the Essential package, scaling up for more extensive enterprise needs.

User Reviews: Has a strong rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 3,115 reviews on G2, indicating widespread user approval.

SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is known for being particularly user-friendly. It features a straightforward interface that makes it easy for users to set up and manage their SMS campaigns, automate messages, and analyze results without needing advanced technical skills.

This SMS marketing app is designed to help users quickly navigate through creating campaigns, sending messages, and viewing reports, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes to effectively communicate with their audience via text.

Features:

• Mass text alerts and automated campaign capabilities.
• Group messaging and scheduled sends.
• Mobile app for convenient on-the-go communication.
• Extensive analytics to monitor and optimize efforts.
• Integration with apps like Mailchimp and Zapier.

Pricing: Base pricing starts at $29 per month with 500 credits and a toll-free number. Additional texts and services are available at variable rates.

User Reviews: Excellent user feedback with a 4.7 out of 5 stars from 626 reviews on G2, suggesting high effectiveness and satisfaction.

TextMagic

TextMagic is a global SMS service provider that supports a wide range of business communication needs, from bulk SMS to personalized customer service solutions. The platform is designed for businesses requiring a reliable, scalable, and flexible tool to reach international audiences.

Features:

• Facilitates mass communication and interactive dialogue via bulk SMS and two-way messaging.
• Enhances communication efficiency with streamlined, automatic replies.
• Offers seamless integration with business systems using a customizable API.
• Connects effortlessly to over 1,000 apps, streamlining communication workflows.
• Reduces manual processes by simplifying communication management.

Pricing: Cost-effective at $0.049 per message, with discounts available on pre-paid plans.

User Reviews: Holds a strong G2 rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 93 reviews, indicating solid performance and global utility.

Salesmsg

Salesmsg is a streamlined and effective text messaging tool designed for businesses that want to communicate directly with their customers via SMS. It’s ideal for sending quick updates, answering inquiries, and engaging with clients in real-time.

Key Features:

• Two-way SMS and MMS messaging allows for rich, engaging conversations.
• Integrates easily with CRM systems to keep customer information synced and up-to-date.
• Features such as auto-replies and scheduled messaging to automate communications.
• Local phone numbers available, which can help in personalizing the customer experience

Pricing: Starts reasonably at $25/month for a plan including 500 messages, with options available for higher volumes.

User Reviews: A quite strong user base has rated it 4.6 out of 5 stars from 201 reviews on G2, showcasing its reliability and effectiveness in the market.

Podium

Podium is a versatile platform that helps businesses manage their customer communications more efficiently. It combines multiple messaging tools into one easy-to-use interface, making it simpler to handle customer interactions across various channels.

Key Features:

• Combines texts, emails, and social media messages in one place.
• Helps manage online reviews to improve business reputation.
• Includes payment processing within the communication platform.
• Offers webchat tools to turn website visitors into leads.

Pricing: Podium’s pricing plans start at 399 USD per month. That includes five phone numbers and 250 messages/month for mass SMS campaigns.

User Reviews: Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 1,536 reviews on G2, indicating strong performance in helping local businesses connect with their communities.

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo offers a multi-channel marketing automation platform that blends email, SMS, and chat functionalities to foster enhanced customer relationships across various sectors. It’s ideal for businesses looking for an all-encompassing tool to drive their digital marketing efforts.

Key Features:

• Integrated email and SMS marketing.
• Automated marketing workflows.
• Tools for building landing pages.
• Targeted campaigns by segmenting customers.
• Detailed analytics and real-time reports.

Pricing: Provides a flexible range of plans from a free basic package to customized pricing for more advanced features.

User Reviews: Holds a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 700 reviews on G2, praised for its comprehensive feature set and ease of use.

Textedly

Textedly is a powerful SMS and MMS service provider specializing in high-volume messaging capabilities. This platform is perfect for businesses needing robust tools to manage extensive text message campaigns effectively.

Key Features:

• Bulk messaging and scheduled SMS delivery.
• Opt-in subscriber list management.
• Advanced message delivery tracking.

Pricing: Plans start at $26 per month for 600 messages, scaling up to $349 per month for 18,000 messages.

User Reviews: Scores 4.7 out of 5 stars from 443 reviews on G2, demonstrating its effectiveness in large-scale SMS campaign management. Based on the reviews, it’s definitely a great SMS app.

Textla

Textla is a newcomer in the SMS industry, providing a straightforward, cost-effective messaging solution built on the robust Twilio platform. They seem to be doing a god joob based on the reviews, though.

This SMS app is especially suited for small businesses and startups that value budget-friendly options without sacrificing functionality.

Key Features:

• Campaign management.
• Keyword opt-ins for audience building.
• Efficient SMS inbox and contact management.

Pricing: From $25 per month and $0.005 price per text.

User Reviews: Received a perfect 5.0 out of 5 stars on G2 from 28 reviews, highlighting its value and reliability for budget-conscious businesses.

Sakari

Sakari is next on our list of SMS marketing apps. It’s designed for businesses focusing on outbound SMS marketing. It offers competitive pricing and robust features for sending bulk texts, making it ideal for booking confirmations, delivery notifications, and promotional updates.

Key Features:

• SMS and MMS capabilities, with MMS available in the U.S. and Canada.
• Bulk texting and individual message functionality.
• Customizable text message templates for various business needs.
• Integration capabilities with marketing campaigns.

Pricing: Starts at $16 per month for the Starter plan, which includes 500 messages. Additional plans cater to higher volume needs, scaling up to $640 per month for 25,000 messages.

User Reviews: Sakari only has 15 reviews on G2 currently, but a great score of 4.5 our of 5.

TextMagic

TextMagic is a versatile tool that excels in providing a comprehensive suite of SMS services for businesses operating globally. It supports everything from bulk SMS campaigns to personalized messages for customer service.

Key Features:

• Bulk SMS and two-way messaging.
• Automation features and segmentation for targeted communication.
• Easy integration with CRM systems and APIs.
• Pay-as-you-go pricing model, suitable for businesses seeking flexibility.

Pricing: Offers a competitive pay-as-you-go rate starting at $0.04 per outbound text. Dedicated virtual numbers are available from $10 per month.

User Reviews: Highly rated for its intuitive web app and ease of use, it has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 on G2 based on 93 reviews.

Twilio MessagingX

Twilio MessagingX offers a comprehensive communication solution that includes texts, calls, and videos. It’s designed to accommodate all your messaging needs, making it ideal for businesses that require versatile communication options.

Key Features:

• Multifunctional messaging (SMS, calls, video).
• Easy customization with various tools.
• Clear voice chats and dependable connections.
• Advanced security for customer information.

Pricing: SMS services start at $0.0079 per message. Pricing varies based on usage, with volume discounts available.

User Reviews: Twilio as a whole has a G2 rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 467 reviews.

RingCentral

RingCentral offers a robust platform for omnichannel customer engagement, integrating phone, email, and chat functionalities into a comprehensive communication suite.

Key Features:

• Multi-device compatibility.
• Advanced call handling features like multi-level IVR.
• Video conferencing and international calling.
• Integration with business tools for efficient workflow.

Pricing: Starts at $20 per user per month for the Core Plan (billed annually, $30 when paid monthly). The Ultra Plan costs $35 per user per month (annually), providing a complete suite of communication tools.

User Reviews: RingCentral has a lower score than most tools on this list, but it’s still very decent, with 4 out of 5 stars on G2 based on 127 reviews.

TextRequest

TextRequest is tailored for service-based businesses, featuring tools like web chat conversion to SMS, group messaging, and two-way texting. It’s great for mass text messaging campaigns and can segment your contact lists based on keywords from incoming messages.

Key Features:

• SMS scheduling and lead generation.
• Unlimited users and contacts.
• Advanced texting options based on the selected plan.
• Message analytics to gather relevant customer data.

Pricing: Basic plan starts at $59 per month for 1,000 texts. The Enterprise plan is $549 per month for 20,000 texts, with additional texts priced lower.

User Reviews: TextRequest is highly effective for business SMS needs — it got 4.6 out of 5 stars on G2. That’s based on 813 reviews.

OpenPhone

OpenPhone is an all-round business communication platform that allows teams to manage SMS, phone calls, and contacts all in one place. It supports sending a variety of multimedia, such as photos, videos, audio files, gifs, and documents, ensuring comprehensive communication needs are met.

Designed for high-impact teams from fast-growing startups to world-class institutions, OpenPhone enhances collaboration with features like group messaging, auto-replies, and internal threads.

Key Features:

• Unified inbox for calls, texts, and voicemails.
• Customizable numbers and team collaboration features.
• Auto-replies, scheduled messages, and internal threads to streamline communication.
• Integrates call logs, recordings, and transcribed voicemails with text conversations.
• Automatic text replies for texts, missed calls, or voicemails to maintain responsiveness.
• Messaging anywhere in the world without roaming fees.

Pricing: Starting at $15 per user per month for the Starter Plan, which allows for messaging in the U.S. and Canada. The Enterprise Plan offers custom pricing for comprehensive communication solutions.

User Reviews: OpenPhone is one of the best SMS apps, and its rating is proof. 4.7 out of 5 based on 1723 G2 reviews. Good job!

SlickText

SlickText is a powerful tool for SMS marketing and mass communication, designed to help businesses effectively engage with their audience through text messages. This platform is particularly useful for marketers looking to execute targeted campaigns, promotional alerts, and automated responses.

Key Features:

• Text message marketing with autoresponders.
• Detailed analytics to track engagement and ROI.
• Segmentation capabilities to target specific audiences.
• Mobile keywords for opt-in campaigns.
• Integration with popular marketing tools and CRM systems.

Pricing: SlickText offers a variety of plans to suit different business sizes and needs. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month for up to 500 texts. Custom enterprise solutions are also available.

User Reviews: SlickText is highly praised for its ease of use and effective features, with an impressive G2 rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 1222 reviews. This makes it the best-rated mainstream SMS app on this list.

The best SMS apps at a glance — our top choices

Given the detailed evaluations of 17 business text messaging apps, we’ve categorized them based on criteria like user reviews, value for money, feature richness, and suitability for small businesses. Here’s our curated breakdown:

If you need a cheap tool for basic SMS:

• TextMagic: Offers a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model, making it ideal for businesses that prefer a low-commitment solution.

• OpenPhone: At $15 per user per month, this platform provides a cost-effective solution for U.S. and Canadian businesses.

If you need something easy to use:

• SimpleTexting: Known for its straightforward interface, it’s perfect for those who want to manage SMS campaigns without complexity.

If you want the best value for money:

• JustCall: Provides a rich set of features at a competitive price, making it excellent for businesses that need deep CRM integrations and multifunctional communication tools.

If you want the most comprehensive suite:

• Podium: This platform not only handles SMS but also integrates emails, social media messages, online review management, and payment processing, offering a robust solution for managing customer interactions across various channels.

Highest reviews (based on G2):

• SlickText: With the highest user ratings on G2, scoring 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 1200 reviews, SlickText is highly praised for its effectiveness and ease of use in SMS marketing.

This segmentation allows you to select a messaging app that aligns with your specific business needs, ensuring you get the most out of your investment and choose the best business text messaging app for your team.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right text messaging app for your business in 2024 means knowing what you need and finding an app that has those features. A complete platform like JustCall could be a good choice because it can meet various needs.

Whether you want better customer service, more sales, or smoother team communication, it’s important to pick an app that’s reliable, easy to use, and works well with the tools you already have. Also, always try out the apps that look good to you before you pay for any of them.

You can try JustCall for free for 14 days, no credit card required.