Guide to Business Text Messaging Software, Services, Platforms & Apps

Business text messaging enables you to connect in fast and personalized ways at scale.

But what’s the best business texting software, service, platform, or app for your business or organization?

In this article, I cover everything:

1. What business text messaging software is
2. Benefits of a business text messaging service 
3. How to get started with business text messaging software
4. Types of business text messaging services
5. The 20 best text messaging services for business
6. Additional things to consider when choosing the best business texting software
7. Answers to frequently asked business text messaging questions

By the end, you'll have all the knowledge you need to confidently text-enable your organization.

Read on for more.

Add SMS Superpowers to Any Business Phone

No switching carriers. Just add texting. Talk to Sales to get started.

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Questions? Watch how to register your phone number and get started.

What is Business Text Messaging Software?

Business text messaging software is a two-way short messaging service (SMS) for business. Business texting software makes it possible for businesses and organizations to text-enable existing phone lines. It also makes it possible to use an SMS number for both one-way mass text messaging and two-way text conversations. Businesses and organizations often send texts for:

1. Marketing via mass text messaging campaigns
2. Sales follow ups
3. Scheduling and reminders
4. Dispatching and logistics
5. Recruitment and staffing
6. Customer service and support
7. Invoicing and payment reminders
8. Feedback and review collection

Benefits of a Business Text Messaging Service

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Business text messaging is one of the most effective ways to connect with contacts, customers, clients, employees, and teammates.

Compared to email and voice, there are some clear advantages to text messaging.

Texting is fast and people read their texts. Which is why text messages have up to a 98% open rate. 

Of course, everyone has a smartphone that’s voice and text-enabled. 

But….

• People don’t answer their phones
• They don’t listen to their voicemail
• And emails often go unread 

However, texts are 7 times more likely to get a response, especially compared to emails. In fact, the average response rates for SMS are around 45%.

Of course, there will always be a place for email and voice calls. Those tools will always have a place in your communications strategy. 

So think of business text messaging as a way to fill the communication gaps that matter the most.

The final benefit of business text messaging software is carrier verified text message delivery. 

In 2021 new carrier regulations began changing how businesses and organizations text. Carriers have since begun cracking down on spam text messages and increasing their messaging fees. 

Carriers now require every business or organization that texts to complete a registration process.

Additionally, you can only complete the carrier registration process through a business text messaging service, like MessageDesk.

More on this below.

How to Get Started with Business Text Messaging Software

You’ll need to know about phone number configuration and carrier registration before getting started with business text messaging.

1. Configure your phone number for business text messaging

The first step in getting started with business text messaging is configuring your phone number. 

You have three options for this. 

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Option 1: Get a new number for business texting

Is your business or organization just getting started? Don’t already have a business phone number? Most business text messaging providers can provide you with a text-enabled SMS phone number. 

Some providers also offer voice services as well. So this is something to consider when selecting a business texting provider or communications platform.

Additionally, providers like MessageDesk can get you a local 10-digit phone number with any area code of your choosing. We can even provide you with a toll-free 800 number for texting.

Option 2: Text-enable an existing business landline or VoIP number

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Already have a business phone line? No problem. Most providers (including MessageDesk) can text-enable your existing landline or VoIP service phone number. This is all without disrupting your existing voice calling functionality or service.

To text-enable an existing number, you’ll need to submit a number hosting request. A number hosting request gives a new platform access to the texting capability of your number. 

This process also requires you to submit a formal letter to your current phone number carrier. 

At MessageDesk, we make this process easy. Just submit a form and we’ll automatically generate the letter for you and then submit it to carriers. The whole process typically takes 3-5 business days. We’ll then let you know once everything is good to go and you can start texting.

Option 3: Port your cell phone number to a VoIP provider and then host it with a texting provider

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Carriers restrict business texting providers from hosting your personal cell phone number for texting. This is a technical limitation with the number type and carrier services.

However, you can port your cell phone number to a VoIP provider.

Once you port your cell phone number, your new VoIP provider will become your voice provider as well. I personally recommend RingCentral for this.

Once you’ve ported your phone number you can then set up hosting for business SMS with any texting service like MessageDesk.

2. Get approved by carriers for business text messaging

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All telecom carriers in the U.S. require businesses and organizations that text to complete A2P 10DLC carrier registration. 

They do this to prevent phishing scams and SPAM messaging from bad actors.

To register with carriers you have to use a business text messaging service, like MessageDesk. You also have to adhere to various standards like opt-in and TCPA regulations. 

But the good news is that most business texting providers come with features that help you manage opt-in, compliance, and registration for you.

Every business texting service has their own way of managing opt-in and carrier registration. But here’s how we do it at MessageDesk:

Step 1: Submit and validate organization info with carriers through MessageDesk

We start the carrier registration process by validating your organization is legitimate. We do this simply by submitting a form that collects the following information:

1. Business identification: You need to provide proof of your business's existence and legality. This includes your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or other tax identification numbers.
2. Business address: The official address registered with your organization.
3. Contact Information: A primary contact within the business, including name, phone number, email address, and website.
4. Messaging purpose and examples: Explain why and how your business uses SMS messaging. This involves providing message examples.
5. Opt-in and opt-out processes: Describe how your contacts opt in and out of receiving messages. This includes how you collect consent and how you manage and honor opt-out requests.
6. Message content and volume: Carriers need to know about the volume and content of the messages you’ll send. This helps carriers understand your messaging patterns. It also ensures that your messages align with anti-spam policies.

Step 2: Publish a carrier-compliant business text messaging policy on your website

You submitted and validated your organization information. Next, the compliance team at MessageDesk will work with you or your web developer. 

Carriers require that you have a website and that you publish a business text messaging privacy policy on it.

Your privacy policy must explain the following:

1. The type of contact and personal information your organization collects
2. How your organization collects information from contacts
3. How your organization uses any information collected
4. How your organization protects contact data
5. That your organization does not share information
6. How contacts can opt-out of receiving text messages

Note: having a website with a privacy policy is an absolute must for business text messaging. Without it, carriers will not approve your organization for texting. 

Add SMS Superpowers to Any Business Phone

No switching carriers. Just add texting. Talk to Sales to get started.

Talk to Sales

Questions? Watch how to register your phone number and get started.

Types of Business Text Messaging Services

I’ve covered what business text messaging is, outlined its benefits, and explained how to get started.

Next, let’s cover the various types of business text messaging services and what they’re best for.

Many business texting services offer a range of features and services that often overlap. But broadly speaking all texting providers fall into three main categories.

1. Shared team SMS inboxes

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Shared team SMS inboxes are designed for collaborative team style communication. Business texting providers in this category give you an inbox interface. This makes it possible to manage multiple 1-on-1 text message threads across your entire organization. 

They also come with conversation management features for assigning, routing, sharing, and organizing text message threads. Most providers also make it possible to set up multiple inboxes with multiple business phone numbers.

Shared team inboxes are best suited for organizations that need to:

• Text and collaborate across conversation threads as a team
• Communicate 1:1 with leads, contacts, customers, clients etc.
• Route, organize and assign conversation to the right people at the right time

Many organizations use shared team SMS inboxes for things like:

• Customer service and support
• Sales and nurturing leads
• Dispatch and logistics purposes
• Scheduling, reminders and follow-ups
• Staffing and recruitment
• Communicating with employees or contractors

Some examples of texting providers with shared team SMS inboxes are:

1. MessageDesk
2. Heymarket
3. OpenPhone
4. SalesMsg
5. Avochato

2. Mass text messaging services

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The next category of business texting services focus on large-scale text message broadcasts and text message marketing. 

These texting platforms work well for 1-to-many style messaging workflows. That means scheduling and automating text message blasts to a large groups of people at the same time.

Some of these text messaging services also have inboxes. But these inboxes often aren’t as focused on team and collaborative features. They don’t excel at routing and organizing text threads and responses.

Bulk SMS services are best suited for organizations that have a marketing type function that needs to:

• Advertise products or services via text message
• Send large-scale text alerts and emergency messages
• Use keyword-based autoresponders to automatically send texts

Examples of texting providers in this category include:

1. SimpleTexting
2. EZ Texting
3. SlickText
4. Textedly
5. PostScript

3. Non-dedicated business text messaging providers

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This third category of business texting services offer text messaging as a secondary channel. These providers don’t exclusively focus on providing texting. Instead, they offer a suite of communication channels, products and services.

This category is vast and varies widely. The only thing to keep in mind is that business text messaging isn’t their primary offering. This means that their texting features and capabilities may seem limited when compared to dedicated business text messaging services.

The advantage of these platforms is that you get an all-in-one experience. They’re great because they also offer features like voice or ticketing in conjunction with SMS as a channel.

Using this type of software all comes down to your needs and communication preferences.

Examples of texting providers in this category include:

1. Podium
2. Weave
3. Zendesk
4. RingCentral
5. Sender

Add SMS Superpowers to Any Business Phone

No switching carriers. Just add texting. Talk to Sales to get started.

Talk to Sales

Questions? Watch how to register your phone number and get started.

Best Text Messaging Services for Business

1. MessageDesk
2. SimpleTexting
3. Heymarket
4. OpenPhone
5. EZ Texting
6. SalesMsg
7. Podium
8. Weave
9. Zendesk
10. Avochato
11. Textedly
12. SlickText
13. Postscript
14. TextMagic
15. ClickSend
16. Sender
17. Messente
18. RingCentral
19. Google Voice
20. Twilio

Note: this list is not exhaustive and is not ranked in any particular order.

1. MessageDesk

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Who MessageDesk is best for:

MessageDesk is best for those who need to organize, route, share or assign text conversations as a team. It works well for communicating reminders, follow ups, logistics, dispatching, support, service, recruitment, staffing and more.

MessageDesk overview:

MessageDesk is a comprehensive texting service for business designed to enhance communication efficiency and customer service. It consolidates text conversations into a single, shared inbox, allowing teams to manage and respond to messages effectively.

MessageDesk features:

• Shared Team Inbox: MessageDesk centralized all text conversations, providing visibility and collaboration for team members.
• Text-Enable Existing Numbers: Allows businesses to use their current phone numbers for sending and receiving texts.
• Bulk Messaging: Send personalized bulk text messages to multiple recipients simultaneously.
• Message Templates: Use pre-saved templates for common responses to save time.
• Automated Messages: Schedule and automate text messages for reminders, updates, and notifications.
• MMS Support: Send and receive images.
• Contact Management: Organize and segment contacts for targeted messaging.‍
• Compliance: Ensures compliance with carrier regulations and improves message delivery rates.

What users say:

Sylvia L.

Programmatic Account Manager

"MesageDesk is great for sending mass texts for the staff or communicating with returning clients. We have sent promotional deals to our returning clients. We can also group clients if need be based on categories."

Joylyn O.

Marketing Consultant

"MessageDesk is an effective texting app with excellent customer service. The templates are customizable with tagging features to personalize messages. MessageDesk also has fantastic customer service where real people answer your questions."

2. SimpleTexting

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SimpleTexting is best for: 

SimpleTexting is best for text message marketing and two-way texting for support.

SimpleTexting overview:

SimpleTexting is a leading SMS marketing platform that provides tools for mass SMS marketing campaigns and 1-on-1 customer service. It allows businesses to send automated messages, manage customer interactions, and integrate with other applications for a seamless communication experience.

SimpleTexting features:

• Mass Text Messaging: Send bulk SMS campaigns to large groups.
• Two-Way Messaging: Engage in conversations with customers through SMS.
• Automation: Set up automated messages, including drip campaigns, recurring texts, and scheduled messages.
• API Access: Integrate SimpleTexting with other platforms using its API.
• Data Collection: Use tools to gather information from contacts and personalize messages.
• Templates: Create and use pre-saved message templates.
• Contact Management: Organize contacts into segments for targeted messaging.
• MMS Support: Send and receive MMS messages, including images and videos.
• Compliance Tools: opt-in management ensures optimal delivery rates.
• Analytics: Track message performance with reporting and analytics features.
• Integrations: Connect with popular apps like Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Calendar.
• Team Collaboration: Assign conversations, leave notes, and manage multiple users under one account.

What SimpleTexting customers say:

Andrew S.

Associate Missions Pastor

"SimpleTexting is so easy to use. I created the account, and within a few minutes, I scheduled my first SMS reminder. The interface is simple, and that's what I was looking for in an SMS reminder product."

Sam M.

Marketing Coordinator

"I do wish there wasn't a character count on the replies for our automatic messages since that's not really a "thing" anymore with iPhones and newer phones these days. I wish it would all just send as one message even if they needed to count it as multiple credits from our account."

3. Heymarket

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Heymarket is best for:

Heymarket is best for businesses and organizations looking to enhance their customer communication through various messaging channels.

Heymarket overview:

Heymarket offers texting software for business with teams. It allows individuals to manage SMS, MMS, and other messaging channels from a shared inbox. It also facilitates seamless communication with customers, enhances team productivity, and integrates with popular business applications.

Heymarket features:

• Shared Inboxes: Manage all messages in a unified inbox accessible by the entire team.
• Omnichannel Messaging: Communicate via SMS, MMS, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Messenger, WhatsApp, Apple Messages for Business, and web chat.
• Automated Messaging: Set up drip campaigns, scheduled messages, and auto-replies.
• Templates: Use pre-saved message templates to save time on repetitive responses.
• Integrations: Integrate with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Zapier, and more.
• Contact Management: Organize and segment contacts for targeted messaging.
• Team Collaboration: Assign messages, leave private comments, and route messages to the appropriate team member.
• Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into messaging performance with detailed analytics.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: SOC 2 Type 2, TCPA, and HIPAA compliance for secure messaging.
• Custom Fields: Personalize messages with custom data fields for each contact.
• Mobile and Web Access: Use Heymarket on iOS, Android, and web browsers.

What Heymarket customers say:

Michael S.

Small Business Owner

"HeyMarket has exactly the product we need for a price we can afford. And I have seldom seen better customer service. Every time I have reached out, I get a quick response and they are always helpful."

Michelle G.

Small Business Owner

"There are only two features we would like to have. One would be the ability to send a group message out of Heymarket or the app. The second thing would be to have the ability to have multiple phone numbers for one contact."

4. OpenPhone

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Who OpenPhone is Best for:

OpenPhone is best for tech-savvy small to medium-sized businesses with teams. It offers a versatile and affordable communication solution that integrates calling, texting, and collaboration tools into one platform.

OpenPhone overview:

OpenPhone is a modern business phone system and business texting app. It combines VoIP calling, SMS, and team collaboration to streamline communication. 

OpenPhone offers seamless integration across devices. It also supports both local and toll-free numbers. This makes it a flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.

OpenPhone features:

• VoIP Phone System: Unlimited calling in the US and Canada, with call management features like recording and IVR.
• Shared Multichannel Inboxes: Centralized inbox for phone calls, voicemails, and texts, ensuring team visibility and collaboration.
• SMS Texting: Unlimited SMS and MMS, with support for automated text responses.
• Team Collaboration: Internal messaging, call transfer, and shared numbers for collaborative communication.
• Integrations: Connect with tools like HubSpot, Slack, Zapier, and Google Contacts.
• Contact Management: Built-in CRM for managing customer profiles and interactions.
• Analytics and Reporting: Track call and messaging performance with detailed analytics.
• Business Hours: Set custom business hours to manage availability and call routing.
• Global Virtual Numbers: Choose local, toll-free, or vanity numbers to establish a global presence.‍
• Number Porting: Easily port existing numbers and contacts from other systems.

What OpenPhone customers say:

Diana K.

Mortgage Loan Processor

"I use the web version and it is very organized. I can easily locate and add contacts, make phone calls and text from the application. The lay out is aeshetically pleasing, and the options of how you want the information to appear is nice. With this being a separate app, you don't have to go between your internet tabs constantly across the top, you just click on the little icon saved in your pins, makes it so much easier."

Julia T.

Small Business Owner

"The program is easy to use, straight to the point. The only time I had a problem they reached out under a day and I was able to fix my issue quickly. I am fairly new to Openphone but I recommend it. I have a toll-free number included in the plan which is why I decided to go with them. Other companies charge per minute for toll-free numbers. Openphone does not. It can't get any better than that. I left a different dialer company for this one!"

5. EZ Texting

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Who EZ Texting is best for: 

EZ Texting is best for businesses and organizations that want to do mass SMS marketing.

EZTexting Overview: 

EZ Texting is a powerful SMS marketing platform. It offers tools for sending mass texts, two-way communication, and automated messaging. It also supports various industries with features that drive engagement, grow contact lists, and analyze campaign effectiveness.

EZ Texting features:

• Group Texting: Send bulk SMS to all contacts or targeted groups.
• Two-Way Texting: Engage in real-time, one-to-one conversations with customers.
• MMS Messaging: Send MMS messages including images, videos, and GIFs.
• Text Forwarding: Automatically forward incoming text messages to phone or email.
• Text Automation: Automate responses and schedule messages.
• Drip Campaigns: Send a series of automated messages over time.
• Recurring Texts: Schedule regular messages to stay top of mind.
• Contact Management: Organize and segment contacts for targeted messaging.
• Integrations: Connect with platforms like Zapier, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Squarespace.
• Analytics & Reporting: Track campaign performance with real-time metrics.
• Compliance Tools: Ensure text messaging compliance with built-in safety features.

What EZ Texting customers say:

Ryan B.

Programmatic Account Manager

"I had to stop using the EZ Texting App. The App functionality was very poor and did not allow the same functionality as the web. I would have liked more helpful notifications about message replies so I could respond quickly to customer needs."

Luis B.

Human Resources Manager

"We have been using EZ Texting for employee communication for 2-3 years, the website is easy to use and set up. Support responds to inquiries in a timely manner. Pricing is reasonable for the amount of use we can get out of it.The organization has been able to send mass texts during shutdowns due to weather. The link shortener tool is very convenient to use when sending long website likes, and also can see how many have clicked on it."

6. SalesMsg

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Best for:

SalesMsg is an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses aiming to improve customer engagement and streamline operations.

SalesMsg overview:

SalesMsg is a robust calling and business SMS service. It streamlines business communication through two-way texting, call management, and integrations with popular CRM systems. 

SalesMsg enhances customer engagement and team efficiency with its user-friendly interface and powerful automation tools.

SalesMsg features:

• Two-Way Texting: Engage in real-time conversations with customers.
• Outbound and Inbound Calling: Make and receive calls on your SalesMsg numbers across all devices.
• Call Recording: Record calls on-demand or automatically.
• Shared Inboxes: Collaborate with team members using shared text and call inboxes.
• AI Texting Assistant: Use AI to craft and improve text responses.
• Ringless Voicemail: Drop voicemails directly into contacts' inboxes without ringing their phones.
• IVR (Interactive Voice Response): Set up phone menus for professional call management.
• Automations and Workflows: Automate SMS campaigns, reminders, and responses based on triggers and conditions.
• Dynamic Segmentation: Filter and create contact segments based on various criteria.
• Analytics and Reporting: Access real-time analytics on messaging and call performance.‍
• Integrations: Connect with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign, and Zapier.

What SalesMsg customers say:

Devon P.

Small Business Owner

"Salesmsg is most helpful for quick, easy startup of business to consumer texting. We were able to get our business landline as a text line and easily add contacts for broadcast messages. I also really like that Salesmsg is on the up and up when it comes to compliance with new regulations on B2C texting. They make it incredibly easy to learn about these updates and also comply with the laws and regulations."

Roth B.

Small Business Owner

"It is super easy to use and set up, and is integral to our sales team being able to follow up with prospects and keep everything organized within our CRM ecosystem. The one time I had to use their support channel, they were prompt and attentive. "

7. Podium

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Who Podium is Best for:

Podium is best for local businesses that want to improve customer engagement, streamline communication, and get more online reviews.

Podium overview:

Podium is a comprehensive communication and reputation management platform. It helps businesses interact with customers through various channels such as SMS, webchat, and social media. It consolidates customer interactions, reviews, and payments into a single dashboard, enabling businesses to efficiently manage and respond to customer inquiries and feedback.

Podium features:

• Messaging Inbox: Manage two-way texting, automated messages, and internal team chats from a single inbox.
• Webchat: Engage website visitors with a webchat widget that converts chats into text conversations.
• Customer Feedback: Collect Net Promoter Score (NPS) feedback via SMS to gauge customer satisfaction.
• Online Reviews: Generate and manage reviews across platforms like Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor.
• Payments: Collect payments via text, supporting various payment methods including credit/debit cards and mobile wallets.
• Analytics: Access business insights and competitive benchmarking through an analytics dashboard.
• Mobile Application: Communicate with customers on-the-go using Podium’s highly-rated mobile app.
• Surveys: Gather customer feedback through customized surveys sent via SMS.
• Teamchat: Facilitate internal communication with 1:1 and group messaging features.‍
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with CRM, ERP, and POS systems for automated review invitations and messaging.

What Podium customers say:

William P.

Small Business Owner

"I think there is a higher learning curve than people may think unless you really are thorough with everything and bring it up during onboarding. It is very limited in the way you can't move the chat widget, change the appearance of landing page designs (not fields), and other issues like you're set with only x amount of sms texts. There are many other services out there that are cheaper than what you pay for Podium."

Stephanie M.

Small Business Owner

"I like that we are able to text our clients and have a record of all our conversations without having to worry about them being accidentally deleted. I also like that it provides an instant way to communicate with our clients and syncs with our social media and google accounts. It was easy to get all of our team members set up and ready to text our clients. I like that our clients are able to text us as well to one central number and our entire team is able to see it and keep track of the conversations. We use it every day."

8. Weave

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Who Weave is Best for:

Weave is best for dental and medical practices that need a platform to manage patient interactions. It’s also best for streamlining office operations, and enhancing patient engagement.

Weave overview:

Weave is an all-in-one communication platform designed to improve patient and customer interactions. It does this through features like automated reminders, online scheduling, integrated payment processing, and review management. 

Weave integrates seamlessly with various practice management systems. The platform provides a unified solution for office management and patient communication.

Weave features:

• Patient Communication: Automated reminders, confirmations, and personalized communications via text, phone, and email.
• Appointment Management: Efficient scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellations with automated reminders to reduce no-shows.
• Reviews and Reputation Management: Send review requests and manage online reviews across multiple platforms.
• Payment Processing: Secure and efficient transactions, including text-to-pay and payment plans.
• Two-Way Texting: Real-time text conversations with patients for inquiries and information sharing.
• Analytics: Track key performance indicators, patient satisfaction metrics, and financial data.
• Patient Information Management: Centralized patient profiles, treatment history, and contact details.
• Team Collaboration: Internal messaging system for streamlined communication among staff.‍
• Automated Marketing Campaigns: Targeted outreach, promotions, and announcements to engage patients.

What Weave customers say:

Janet D.

Small Business Owner

"I think Weave is a fantastic platform for office use and patient communication. Our office uses the interoffice text/instant message communication feature to communicate with each other during the work day. We also use the text feature to quickly and efficiently communicate with our patients multiple times a day."

Craig E.

Small Business Owner

"Very unreiable automessaging. Weekly failures of the system requiring calls to get support to restore functionality. Very time consuming and frustrating. No explanation from Weave about why the problems are fixed and then repeatedly fail week after week. In addition, the desk app interface is very small, the size of a cell phone screen. We've requested that this be increase and made scalable since we started using Weave, but they haven't changed it."

9. Zendesk

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Who Zendesk is Best for:

Zendesk is best for businesses and organizations looking to improve their customer service operations. It’s particularly effective for companies that need a scalable, omnichannel support solution that integrates with other business tools.

Zendesk overview:

Zendesk is a comprehensive customer service platform. It streamlines customer interactions and improves support efficiency.

It offers a suite of tools for managing support tickets, live chats, voice calls, and more, all within a single, unified interface. 

Zendesk also supports robust automation, AI-powered responses, and detailed analytics to enhance customer experience and support team productivity.

Zendesk features:

• Ticketing System: Automated ticket management across multiple channels like email, web, phone, chat, and social media.
• Omnichannel Support: Seamless customer interactions across various channels, with integrated voice support.
• AI and Automation: AI-driven bots and automated workflows to handle repetitive tasks and provide 24/7 support.
• Knowledge Base and Self-Service: Create internal and external knowledge bases, community forums, and self-service portals.
• Reporting and Analytics: Rich analytics and reporting tools to track customer satisfaction, agent performance, and team efficiency.
• Integrations: Over 1,200 integrations with third-party apps, including CRM, e-commerce, and project management tools.
• Open API: makes integration with existing business workflows easy.
• Mobile Support: Mobile apps for iOS and Android to manage support on the go.‍
• Agent Workspace: Unified workspace for agents to manage all customer interactions and collaborate with team members.

What Zendesk customers say:

Oliver I.

Customer Services Supervisor

"As a user what I like the best about ZenDesk is its comprehensive feature that allows Customer support and has capabilities of integration with other systems like Google Suite (Google Sheets), frequency use, and automation systems for responding to some tickets. Additionally, due to its advanced features, it allows customization according to the company's specific needs and is easy to set up."

Truman M.

Small Business Owner

"Customer service, customer service and customer service. We've purchased their top tier plan and their services teams could care less. It takes days/weeks to get a reply and the answer is typically no helpful. We've had the phone system randomly go down and had to pull teeth to get in touch with anyone who could assist. Recently, we entered a trial on an add-on and chose not to use it. Bad idea. We emailed their team to stop it and it still charges monthly. They keep sending a guide on self-cancellation even though our account isn't allowing us to do so."

10. Avochato

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Avochato is best for:

Avochato is best for businesses and organizations that need an efficient and versatile communication platform. It’s especially beneficial for teams looking to enhance customer engagement through SMS, live chat, and WhatsApp messaging.

Avocahto overview:

Avochato is a text messaging platform for businesses designed to facilitate seamless communication between businesses and their customers. 

They offer a great shared team inbox and a host of internal team communication tools like tags and templates. Additionally, Avochato allows you to set up text message drip campaigns.

Avochato supports SMS, live chat, and WhatsApp conversations. It offers features like automation, surveys, and integrations with popular business tools to streamline operations and improve customer interactions.

Avochato features:

• SMS and MMS Messaging: Send and receive text messages and MMS messages.
• Live Chat: Manage live chat conversations from your website.
• WhatsApp Integration: Communicate with customers on WhatsApp.
• Automated Responses: Use keywords to trigger auto-responses.
• Campaigns: Set up SMS drip campaigns similar to email marketing.
• Broadcasts: Send mass messages with personalized variables.
• Surveys: Conduct customer surveys via text.
• Templates: Use pre-saved message templates for consistency.
• Shared Inboxes: Centralize all communications in one inbox, with team collaboration features.
• Integrations: Connect with Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and more.
• Analytics: Access real-time analytics and reporting.
• Custom Fields: Personalize messages using customer data.
• Auto Assignment: Automatically assign new conversations to team members.

What Avochato customers say:

Nick H.

Co-Founder, Go-To-Market

"I cannot recommend Avochato enough. If I was forced to only use one channel to communicate with customers between email, phone calls and SMS, I would go with Avochato. Our engagement rates with Avochato are higher than email and phone calls combined - and our engagement rates were already quite strong."

Joshua G.

Crisis Response Chaplain

"Apart from having a simplistic and intuitive design, many issues arose. You don't only pay for the number of messages sent."

11. Textedly

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Textedly is best for:

Textedly is best for businesses and organizations looking to enhance their marketing efforts. It's ideal for those who need to send mass text messages, interact with customers, and automate responses.

Textedly overview:

Textedly is a comprehensive SMS marketing platform designed to help businesses communicate effectively with their audience through text messaging. 

It offers a range of features to manage text campaigns, automate responses, and track performance.

Textedly features:

• Mass Text Messaging: Send bulk SMS and MMS messages to large groups.
• Two-Way Messaging: Engage in real-time conversations with customers.
• Automated Responses: Use keywords to trigger automatic replies.
• Scheduled Messages: Plan and schedule texts for future delivery.
• Drip Campaigns: Create and manage automated SMS campaigns.
• Picture Messaging: Send MMS messages with up to 1,600 characters.
• Analytics: Real-time data on message delivery and engagement.
• Contact Management: Unlimited contacts with custom data fields.
• Integrations: Connect with apps like Zapier for enhanced functionality.
• Mobile Access: Manage campaigns and send messages from mobile devices.
• Compliance Tools: Built-in tools to ensure SMS marketing compliance.

What Textedly customers say:

Lindsay G.

Marketing Coordinator

"We use this texting service to market our courses and events, and the service is very user-friendly! Anytime I have ever needed assistance or help, the customer service team has always been very prompt with their response time. I would recommend this service to other business owners!"

Kate S.

Recruiting Coordinator

"I wish I could send a message right after adding a new subscriber. I could get to the message board just after making a new user; it would eliminate three clicks in the system. In addition, it would be nice to have two users when setting up an account. It's a bummer that we would have to purchase a new seat."

12. SlickText

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Who is SlickText Best for:

SlickText is best for those who want to leverage SMS marketing.

Overview:

SlickText is a comprehensive SMS marketing platform. It enables businesses to manage text message campaigns, automate customer interactions, and gather valuable insights through detailed analytics. The interface is user-friendly and it offers a variety of tools for customer engagement.

Features:

• Mass Text Messaging: Send bulk SMS messages to large groups efficiently.
• Two-Way Messaging: Engage in real-time conversations with customers.
• Automation: Automate text workflows, drip campaigns, and recurring messages.
• Loyalty Programs: Create and manage customer loyalty rewards programs.
• Mobile Coupons: Build custom, redeemable mobile coupons.
• Text-to-Win Contests: Run automated text message contests.
• Surveys and Polls: Collect feedback through text message surveys.
• Message Scheduling: Schedule text messages to send at specific times.
• List Segmentation: Create targeted lists based on subscriber data.
• Custom Fields: Store and use personalized subscriber data.
• Detailed Analytics: Access comprehensive reports on campaign performance.
• Integrations: Connect with platforms like Zapier, Mailchimp, HubSpot, and Shopify.
• Mobile App: Manage SMS campaigns from iOS and Android devices.‍
• Rollover Messages: Unused message credits roll over for up to three month

What SlickText customers say:

Gia E.

Director of Marketing

"Zachary with SlickText Support has been amazing. I have been fortunate enough to have very little issues as a new user! The tool is super user friendly. However the couple of tickets submitted have been sent to Zachary. WOW! He replied quickly and had a resolution witthin minutes. Zach is a huge asset to this company and I hope to have him in the future! We love SlickText so far and happy with all SMS solutions."

Don M.

Business Growth Coach

"With the limits on the number of textwords, I find myself needing to be creative in how I create groups of clients. I'd love to be able to tag subscribers based on the cohort or course they're currently attending, then send messages to that group. At the moment, custom fields and segments seem to work, but that may change as my course offerings grow."

13. Postscript

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Postscript is best for:

Postscript is best for e-commerce businesses, particularly those using Shopify. It enhances customer engagement and drives revenue through SMS marketing. It's ideal for brands in beauty, health and wellness, fashion, and food industries.

Overview:

Postscript is an advanced SMS marketing platform specifically designed for Shopify stores. 

It provides tools to build and manage SMS campaigns, automate customer interactions, and gain insights through detailed analytics. 

Postscript helps brands to effectively reach their audience, drive sales, and improve customer retention.

Features:

• List Building: Grow your subscriber list with desktop and mobile popups, checkout collection, landing pages, and QR codes.
• Campaign Builder: Create and schedule SMS campaigns tailored to your audience.
• Automation: Set up automated workflows for various customer journey stages, including welcome series, abandoned cart, and post-purchase messages.
• Segmentation: Target messages using over 45 segmentation filters based on subscriber attributes and behaviors.
• Two-Way Messaging: Engage in personalized conversations with subscribers.
• Analytics: Access detailed reports on campaign performance, subscriber behavior, and revenue.
• Integrations: Connect with Shopify, Klaviyo, Zapier, and many other platforms.
• Compliance: Built-in compliance tools ensure adherence to SMS marketing regulations.‍
• Postscript Plus: Access a team of SMS experts for strategic guidance and optimization.

What Postscript customers say:

Alacia M.

Small Business Owner

"We really appreciate how Postscript took our wish list and goals and came to us with strategy and plan. We really love how quick they are to respond when we have questions or need help of any sort and we really like how easy to work with everyone is!"

Eva D.

Assocaite Marketing Manager

"The segmentation feature could be built out more to include multiple list exclusions. At the moment, you're only able to include one list and exclude one list, but I would love to be able to exclude multiple lists."

14. TextMagic

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Who TextMagic is best for:

TextMagic is best for businesses and organizations that need a reliable and versatile SMS marketing platform. It works well for sending notifications, alerts, reminders, and engaging in two-way text messaging.

Overview:

TextMagic is a comprehensive text messaging service designed to enhance business communication through SMS. 

It offers tools for sending bulk messages, automating texts, and integrating with various CRM and marketing platforms. 

TextMagic comes with a user-friendly interface and robust feature set. This makes it ideal for businesses looking to streamline their SMS marketing efforts and improve customer engagement.

Features:

• Bulk SMS: Send mass text messages to a large group of recipients.
• Two-Way Messaging: Engage in real-time conversations with customers through SMS.
• Automations: Set up automated messages, including drip campaigns and recurring messages.
• Email to SMS: Send SMS messages directly from your email.
• SMS Gateway API: Integrate SMS capabilities into your applications via API.
• Dedicated Virtual Numbers: Use virtual numbers for sending and receiving texts in over 30 countries.
• Scheduled Messaging: send scheduled messages at specific times.
• Contact Management: Import and manage contacts from CSV and Excel files.
• Mobile Apps: Manage your SMS campaigns on the go with iOS and Android apps.
• Detailed Reporting: Access comprehensive analytics on message delivery and engagement.
• Integrations: Connect with platforms like Zapier, Salesforce, and various CRM tools.‍
• Security: SOC2-certified and GDPR-compliant for secure text messaging.

What TextMagic customers say:

Ray M.

Research Assistant

"It's simplicity. Sending a message is incredibly simple. Just input the number (which autoformats), type your message and hit send. Programming messages and scheduling them to be sent at a later date/time, is also very easy. What is most useful, is the ability to upload pre-written messages that are saved in a library. These messages are then easily sent to new contacts or those in our Saved Contacts. Finally, its very inexpensive and doesn't require any contracts!"

Daryl S.

Sales Manager

"I am unable to connect new landline phone numbers. However, that may be more of a regulatory issue than an issue with Text Magic."

15. ClickSend

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Who is ClickSend best for:

ClickSend is best for businesses and organizations looking for a platform with SMS, MMS, email, and more.

It’s particularly effective for organizations that need to manage marketing campaigns, transactional messages, and automated notifications.

Overview:

ClickSend is a comprehensive communication platform. It provides businesses with tools to send and receive SMS, MMS, voice calls, emails, and direct mail.

It streamlines communication workflows, enhances customer engagement, and improves messaging efficiency through a single, unified interface.

Features:

• SMS and MMS Messaging: Send and receive bulk SMS and MMS messages.
• Voice Calls: Text-to-speech calls for automated voice messaging.
• Email Marketing: Send marketing and transactional emails.
• Direct Mail: Automate the sending of letters and postcards.
• Automations: Create workflows for automated messaging.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with platforms like Zapier, ActiveCampaign, and many more.
• API: Use ClickSend’s API to integrate SMS, MMS, and other services into your applications.
• Contact Management: Manage contacts with easy import and list management.
• Reporting and Analytics: Detailed analytics for message tracking and campaign performance.‍
• 24/7 Support: Around-the-clock customer support through various channels.

What ClickSend customers say:

Fred S.

Small Business Owner

"It is missing basic features. If you get a reply, there's no flag in the Messenger to let you know there's a new text reply. The interface is odd sometimes, not sure why there's a difference between Quick SMS and a Campaign. The Camapign is actually more restrictive and it doesnt allow you to select multiple lists, like the Quick SMS option does. It's odd. There's a delay in sending a message as they reivewed somehow. Other services just send out your message."

Allen E.

President/CEO Small Business

"Clicksend is a swiss army knife of marketing. I've used it to send text campaigns, one-off text messages, postcards, and letters all priced great. The print quality is great and mail times fast. It can also do text-to-speech calls, fax, and emails. I love that I can plug it into my CRM (ActiveCampaign) and trigger different actions based on different triggers."

17. Messente

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Who Messente is best for: 

Messente is best for businesses and organizations that work in highly regulated industries that require reliable, secure, and efficient messaging solutions. This includes fintech, banking, insurance, and IT.

Overview: 

Messente is a cloud-based messaging platform designed to deliver critical messages globally. 

It offers robust features for SMS, Viber messaging, two-factor auth, and more. This ensures high delivery rates and security. 

Features:

• Global SMS and Viber Messaging: Send and receive SMS and Viber messages worldwide.
• High Throughput: Capable of sending up to 9,000 messages per minute.
• SMS Gateway API and Key Management: Generate multiple API keys and set up IP-based permissions.
• Roles and Permissions: Assign different access levels to team members.
• Zapier Integrations: Connect with over 2,000 apps via Zapier.
• Adaptive Routing: Intelligent routing to ensure the best delivery performance.
• Fraud Detection: Enterprise-grade fraud detection and alerts.
• Detailed Analytics: Access delivery reports and message performance analytics.
• Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: Transparent and flexible pricing structure.
• Auto-Topup: Automatically replenish credits to avoid service interruptions.‍
• Free Support: Access to real-time support from dedicated account managers.

What Messente customers say:

Nitin K.

Student Success Manager

"The best part about using Messente is its global application to send messages. Unlike other alternatives, it helps us decide the right type of message for every situation. It can be used with the platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, etc."

Mursal A.

Information Technology and Services

"Cost is one of the main problems, as it's really expensive to send SMS messages, especially if your business includes sending large volumes of SMS like ours. There is also an issue with mobile networks. SMS messages sent through Messente are reliant on the recipient's mobile network and device. This can result in potential delivery issues, delays, or failed message deliveries, especially in areas with weak or unreliable mobile network coverage."

18. RingCentral

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Who RingCentral is Best for:

RingCentral is best for businesses and organizations looking for a comprehensive communication platform. 

It’s particularly useful for organizations seeking to integrate voice, messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration tools into a single, unified system.

RingCentral overview:

RingCentral is a cloud-based unified communications platform. It offers a wide range of features, including VoIP calling, SMS, video conferencing, team messaging, and contact center solutions. 

It enhances business communications with reliable, scalable, and flexible solutions that integrate seamlessly with other applications.

RingCentral features:

• VoIP Phone System: High-quality voice calls with global PSTN coverage.
• Video Conferencing: Host HD video meetings with screen sharing and interactive features.
• Business SMS: Unlimited SMS and MMS messaging capabilities.
• Team Messaging: Integrated team messaging for real-time collaboration.
• Cloud PBX: Comprehensive cloud-based PBX system with call routing, extensions, and voicemail.
• Call Management: Advanced call forwarding, call recording, and auto-receptionist.
• Internet Fax: Send and receive faxes without the need for a fax machine.
• Mobile & Desktop Apps: Access RingCentral features on iOS, Android, and desktop devices.
• Integrations: Seamless integration with Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, and over 350 other apps.
• Analytics and Reporting: Detailed analytics and reporting for call performance and usage.
• Call Center Solutions: Omni-channel contact center with features like IVR, call scripting, and dynamic reply assistance.

What RingCentral customers say:

Carloz Z.

Small Business Owner

"I recently started using RingCentral for my business communication needs and I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed! The platform is incredibly user-friendly and has all the features I need to stay connected with my team and clients. The call quality is excellent and the video conferencing feature has been a game-changer for us. I also appreciate the ability to access the platform from anywhere on any device. The customer support team has been very helpful and responsive whenever I've had questions or needed assistance. Overall, I highly recommend RingCentral to anyone looking for a reliable and robust communication solution for their business."

Jean B.

Real Estate

"The initial setup does not include the text message feature and requires additional steps in order to use it."

19. Google Voice

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Who Google Voice is best for:

Google Voice is the best text messaging service for small businesses and individual freelancers. It’s cost-effective, easy-to-use, solution that works well for those using the Google Workspace ecosystem.

Google Voice overview:

Google Voice is a cloud-based VoIP phone service that provides users with a single phone number for calls, messages, and voicemail. 

You can send texts with Google Voice. However, its stronger features are call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and integration with Google Workspace apps. This makes it a convenient and flexible communication tool for both personal and business use.

Features:

• Unified Phone Number: Use one phone number across multiple devices for calls, texts, and voicemails.
• Call Forwarding: Automatically forward calls to multiple devices.
• Voicemail Transcription: Convert voicemail messages to text.
• Spam Filtering: Block spam calls and messages.
• Call Screening: Identify callers and screen calls before answering.
• Integration with Google Workspace: Seamless integration with Google Meet, Calendar, and Gmail.
• Multi-Device Access: Available on web, iOS, and Android devices.‍
• Affordable Plans: Cost-effective plans starting at $10 per user per month.

What Google Voice customers say:

Emma M.

Teacher

"I like using a Google Voice number to contact people without giving my cell phone number. It is also very convenient to access phone calls from a variety of devices."

Brittany V.

School Counselor

"Sometimes there are some technical issues, including not always ringing or sending a notification to my phone when someone messages me. I often won't know until I check my email."

20. Twilio

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Who Twilio is best for:

Twilio is best for developers looking for a flexible and scalable communication platform. 

It’s great for developers and companies that need to integrate communication capabilities such as SMS, voice, email, and video into their applications.

Twilio overview:

Twilio is a cloud-based platform. It provides communication APIs that enable businesses to build and manage various communication services. 

These APIs cover a wide range of functionalities, including SMS, voice, email, video, and 2FA. Each feature makes it possible for companies to create personalized and efficient customer engagement solutions.

Twilio features:

• Messaging APIs: Send and receive SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and other messages.
• Voice API: Make, receive, and manage voice calls with advanced call controls.
• Email API (SendGrid): Send and manage high-volume emails with delivery insights.
• Video API: Integrate video conferencing and recording capabilities into your apps.
• Twilio Verify: Implement secure two-factor auth.
• Conversations API: Enable two-way messaging across various channels.
• Programmable Chat: Build chat applications with rich features like media messaging.
• Call Tracking: Monitor and analyze call performance.
• API for Integrations: Integrate with CRM, marketing platforms, and other business tools.
• Developer Tools: Use Twilio Studio, a drag-and-drop builder, and serverless environments for quick app development.

What Twilio customers say:

Ramon C.

Co-Founder and CMO

"Twilio is one of the most reliable API for SMS and messages in the market, also the prices are pretty competitive and it lets you perform code validation through SMS and Calls and for Whatsapp it already has a complete API."

Chrissy M.

Director of Business Development

"There was a slightly higher learner curve with using Twilio that we had seen with other options; however, this was easily overcome and we now have a firm understanding of how to best utilize the program."

Add SMS Superpowers to Any Business Phone

No switching carriers. Just add texting. Talk to Sales to get started.

Talk to Sales

Questions? Watch how to register your phone number and get started.

Additional Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Business Texting Software or Services

You now have a list of the best text messaging software for business.

But before you choose a business text messaging platform, you’ll want to consider the following:

1. Text message CRM integrations
2. Text message automation
3. Team size and user permission requirements
4. Desktop, tablet and mobile access

1. Text message CRM integrations

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Integrations help you and your team save time and scale operations.

But your needs will differ depending on your daily messaging workflows and how you operate your business or organization.

Are you a car dealership looking for car dealership text messaging for your sales team? Then CRM SMS integrations will most likely be important.

Are you looking for text messaging marketing? Then integrations with email providers and other marketing tools might be valuable.

For medical, dental, and clinical offices EHR integrations and HIPAA compliance will be important. 

Are you an HR department or staffing agency that needs to text job candidates or message employees? Then you may require a company text messaging service with HRIS or HRMS integrations.

Real estate agents may need MLS integrations for real estate texting.

And if you regularly book appointments you may want to integrate with an appointment or meeting scheduler.

Integrations also make it possible to create workflows. Examples might include text-to-pay, invoicing and payment reminders, and review collection.

And for those specialty workflows, many business text messaging apps also integrate with Zapier. Zapier is a slick tool that allows you to set up SMS message automation based on triggers.

Zapier is often the ideal integration for small businesses with specialty day-to-day workflows.

2. Text message automation

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If integrations are your first concern, then text message automation is your second. SMS automation breaks down into two main categories.

1. Basic text message scheduling: scheduling one-time, individual, text messages
2. Advanced text message automation: using autoresponders and other text message automation features as part of a campaign

Most all business texting platforms offer basic text message scheduling. This means sending scheduled messages one at a time, to one person.

More advanced text message automation, like keyword-based text message autoresponders, requires more robust business texting software.

3. Team size and user permission requirements

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Are you a one-person operation? Then you may not need a shared team inbox with features like conversation assignments or multiple users.

But what if you have a team of people texting contacts, customers, or clients? 

Then you’ll need a business texting service with a shared team inbox and conversation assignment features.

A shared team inbox is what makes texting work a unified communication platform. It allows you to manage multiple conversations across multiple teammates in one view. 

It helps you: 

1. See all inbound and outbound messages
2. Know who’s assigned to a conversation
3. Understand at a glance which conversations require action

Check out the example below from MessageDesk. You can clearly see which conversations are “new”, “waiting”, “replied” or “closed”. You can also set an assignee for each conversation.

4. Desktop, tablet and mobile access

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You might need a texting app for business that works from a desktop computer, tablet, and mobile device.

Do you run a service or trades-based business with staff working in the field? Then choosing a business texting app with a strong mobile experience might be useful for you.

But be aware. Some business texting services are almost exclusively for desktop computers. 

Other texting platforms for business like MessageDesk support texting from all devices. This includes desktop computers and downloadable mobile apps for iPhone and Android and tablets as well.

Frequently Asked Business Text Messaging Questions (FAQ)

Below is a list of answers to frequently asked business text messaging questions.

Are there any free business text messaging services?

No, business text messaging isn’t free. Several factors affect this, including: carrier phone number registration fees and carrier campaign compliance fees. Business texting providers often subsume these costs as part of their own fees.

Can you send and receive business text messages from a computer?

Yes, you can send and receive text messages from a computer with business text messaging software. Many business text messaging services like MessageDesk also offer support for business text messaging on tablets and mobile devices.

Can you use business text messaging with an existing business landline?

Yes, you can set up your business landline to receive text messages. Many business text messaging services make it easy to host or port an existing phone number for business texting.

Can a business text a customer? Can a customer text a business?

Yes, your organization or business can text contacts, customers, and clients. The regulations and restrictions for business texting are all centered around opt-in and out-controls and consent. You can send a text message for business purposes once you register with carriers and adhere to consent policies.

Can you use phone number extensions with business text messaging?

Yes, you can use business texting software to text-enable phone number extensions. Shared team SMS inboxes and conversation assignments make this possible.

Is business text messaging HIPAA compliant? SOC2 compliant etc.?

Yes, some business text messaging services are HIPAA and SOC2-compliant. Be sure to ask a business texting provider if they offer HIPAA-compliant text messaging.

How much does a text message cost?

SMS text message cost will vary depending on your text messaging provider. Some business text messaging platforms offer unlimited person-to-person (P2P) text messaging. Other texting platforms charge between $0.01 and $0.05 per message for application-to-person (A2P) text messages.

Do text messages use data?

SMS text messages normally don’t count toward your data plan on your personal phone. Using a business texting service on your personal phone does require the use of data. Text messages sent using a business text messaging service use data.

Add SMS Superpowers to Any Business Phone

No switching carriers. Just add texting. Talk to Sales to get started.

Talk to Sales

Questions? Watch how to register your phone number and get started.

Ready for business texting software?

Ready to start texting? Your next step is to meet with a MessageDesk messaging expert. 

MessageDesk is here to help you configure your business phone number. We make carrier registration simple, easy and transparent. 

Start texting with MessageDesk today!