Pricing Guide

What group texting and SMS services really cost

How is group texting priced?

Most SMS platforms price by the message sent, typically ranging from fractions of a cent to a few cents per SMS depending on volume. Monthly plans may bundle a message allowance with a flat fee. Short codes and toll-free numbers add a monthly rental cost. Free tiers exist for very low volumes but usually cap at a few hundred messages per month.

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Per-message versus subscription pricing

SMS platforms generally use one of two pricing models or a combination of both. Per-message pricing charges a rate for each text you send, typically lower for higher volumes. Subscription plans charge a flat monthly fee for a bundle of messages, with overage charges for messages beyond the included amount.

Per-message pricing suits unpredictable or seasonal sending where volume fluctuates significantly. Monthly plans suit predictable, regular sending where you have a good sense of your monthly volume. Many platforms offer both options and let you switch based on your usage.

What drives SMS costs up

Several factors increase the cost beyond the base per-message rate. Short codes carry a monthly rental fee of several hundred to over a thousand dollars per month, on top of message costs. MMS messages (those with images or media) typically cost more than plain SMS. International messages are more expensive than domestic sends, sometimes significantly so depending on the destination country.

Dedicated toll-free numbers and branded sender IDs also carry additional monthly costs on some platforms. Setup fees, onboarding costs, and add-on features like API access or advanced analytics may add to the base price. Always read the full pricing page, not just the headline number.

Free versus paid tiers: where the line is

Free tiers exist on several platforms and typically allow 50 to a few hundred messages per month from a shared number with limited features. They are sufficient for testing or for very small, occasional use cases. Once you need more than a few hundred messages, a dedicated number, compliance tools, or integrations with other software, a paid plan is necessary.

The cheapest paid plans typically start at a few dollars to around twenty dollars per month for basic packages. Business-grade plans with higher volumes, dedicated numbers, and team inbox features run higher. Enterprise pricing is custom and based on volume commitments.

Hidden fees to watch for

Beyond the headline message rate, watch for number rental fees (separate charges for the phone number used for sending), carrier surcharges (some platforms pass through fees carriers charge for A2P message delivery), setup or onboarding fees, overage rates (the per-message rate that applies when you exceed your plan), and contract cancellation fees.

Also review whether the platform charges separately for inbound messages (replies you receive) or whether those are included. Some platforms count each segment of a multi-part message as a separate message for billing, which matters if you regularly send messages longer than 160 characters.

What to know

Key things to consider

Per-message rates drop with volume. The more you send, the lower your per-message rate on most platforms. High-volume senders should negotiate or look for volume pricing tiers.
Short codes add significant fixed cost. A dedicated short code can cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars per month in rental fees, before any message costs.
International sends cost more. Pricing for international SMS varies by country and can be several times the domestic rate. Verify per-country pricing before sending internationally.
Read the overage rate. Exceeding your monthly message allowance can be expensive if the overage rate is not clearly stated. Confirm it before choosing a plan.
Free trials are worth using. Most platforms offer free trials that let you test the full feature set before choosing a plan. Use them to evaluate fit before committing.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to send a mass text to 1,000 people?

At typical per-message rates, sending one SMS to 1,000 people costs roughly a few dollars to around ten dollars, depending on the platform and your pricing tier. At higher volumes, per-message rates drop. Add number rental costs and any platform fees to get your total.

Is there a free SMS service for small businesses?

Several platforms offer free tiers with limited message volumes, typically 50 to a couple hundred messages per month. For a very small business with infrequent messaging needs, a free tier may be enough. For regular customer communication, a paid plan is usually more practical.

Why are short code numbers so expensive?

Short codes require leasing from carriers and the CTIA, plus dedicated infrastructure. The costs reflect the provisioning, maintenance, and high-throughput capacity of short codes. For businesses sending millions of messages per month, the economics make sense. For lower volumes, long codes or toll-free numbers are more cost-effective.

Are there setup fees for SMS platforms?

Some platforms charge a one-time setup fee, especially for short code provisioning or custom integrations. Others have no setup fee and offer free accounts. Ask about setup fees before signing up, and factor them into your total cost comparison.

How do I estimate my monthly SMS costs?

Estimate your average monthly message volume (contacts multiplied by messages per contact per month). Multiply by the per-message rate at that volume tier on the platform you are considering. Add monthly fixed costs (number rental, platform fee). That gives you a reasonable estimate to compare across platforms.

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