5 SMS Automation Tools That Deliver Results for Your Business

Reaching customers at the right time with the right message is no longer a challenge with SMS automation tools. These platforms are designed to make communication effortless and help you send bulk text messages without compromising personalization.

Unlike traditional SMS messaging apps, SMS automation tools provide advanced capabilities like scheduling, tailored responses, and performance tracking. These features ensure every message has purpose and impact.

If you’re managing customer appointments, following up on inquiries, or running campaigns, automation allows you to handle communication at scale while keeping it meaningful.

In this article, we will explore the key features of SMS automation tools and what to look for when choosing the right tool for your business. 

Whether you’re developing your SMS marketing strategy or seeking ways to improve customer engagement, this guide will provide the insights you need!

Must-Have Capabilities in SMS Automation Platforms

Choosing the right SMS marketing automation tool depends on understanding the features that will support your business needs. Below are the most important features to consider:

Automation and Scheduling

With automation, you can set up messages to be sent based on specific actions or events. If a customer is making a purchase, it can trigger an order confirmation text or prompt a gentle reminder. This eliminates the need for manual intervention and reduces the risk of missed opportunities.

Scheduling adds another layer of convenience by letting you plan messages in advance. This is useful for recurring tasks like appointment reminders, seasonal promotions, or follow-ups.

Messages can be set to go out at optimal times, such as during lunch breaks or early evenings when customers are more likely to engage.

If you serve global audiences, scheduling helps your messages get delivered at appropriate times in different time zones.

Personalization Features

Personalization turns generic SMS campaigns into conversations that feel relevant to each individual based on their preferences, behavior, or interactions with your business.

When personalization is done well, it can improve how customers perceive your brand. A customer who receives an automated birthday message offering a discount is more likely to feel valued.

Personalized content also helps increase engagement. Customers prefer to open and act on messages that feel tailored to their needs.

If you have an online store, you can send a text about new arrivals in a category the customer has shopped in before, like sneakers or home decor. A targeted approach increases the chances of driving repeat purchases.

Segmentation is another way you can personalize communication. You can group customers into smaller categories based on their age, location, or purchase history.

Integration with Other Tools

Integrating your SMS platform with a customer relationship management (CRM) system allows you to access customer data within the messaging tool. You can use personalized communication, such as sending seasonal greetings or reminders based on past purchases.

For e-commerce businesses, connecting SMS marketing tools with platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce can simplify tasks like sending order confirmations. Customers stay informed about their purchases without requiring manual updates.

Marketing teams also benefit greatly from integration with email platforms like Mailchimp or marketing automation tools like Zapier. These connections allow you to create multi-channel campaigns where SMS and email work together to deliver a cohesive message.

For example, a promotion can start with an email announcement, followed by an SMS reminder closer to the sale date.

Analytics and Reporting

These essential features provide you with a clear picture of how your messages are performing, helping to see what works and where improvements are needed. With the right insights, you can fine-tune your communication strategies for better results.

A good analytics dashboard gives you access to key metrics such as:

• How many of your messages successfully reached your intended recipients
• Helps confirm engagement levels for your audience
• Shows how many recipients clicked the link, indicating interest in your offer or content
• Measures how many people interact and engage with your content

Beyond these basics, advanced platforms offer tools to analyze customer behavior trends. You can determine the best times to send messages, the types of offers that drive the most engagement, or how different customer segments respond to campaigns.

Detailed reporting also helps businesses measure the return on investment (ROI) of their SMS campaigns. If you compare the costs of running a campaign against the revenue generated from conversions, you can assess the effectiveness of your messaging efforts and allocate resources better.

Regulatory Compliance

SMS compliance is an important aspect of using SMS automation tools. You must adhere to communication laws to protect your business from penalties.

In the United States, TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) requires businesses to obtain explicit consent from customers before sending promotional SMS. This includes providing clear opt-in mechanisms, honoring opt-out requests, and avoiding unsolicited or spam messages.

Moreover, compliant practices make your business appear more professional and trustworthy. Customers are more likely to engage with messages when they know their privacy is respected and their consent is valued.

Scalability

A growing customer base means more messages to send. A scalable platform can handle increased volumes, new customer segments, and more complex workflows without compromising performance.

As your business expands, you may have different teams, such as sales, marketing, and customer support, that are using the same SMS platform. A flexible tool should be able to support multiple users and workflows without downtime.

Two-Way Communication

Unlike one-way SMS, where messages are sent without expecting a reply, two-way communication lets customers respond directly.

Customers can ask questions, provide feedback, or request support through SMS. Quick responses create a satisfactory customer experience.

Two-way messaging makes it easy to gather customer opinions through surveys, polls, or ratings to improve your services. A conversational approach shows customers that their input matters, which builds loyalty and trust.

User-Friendly Interface

Clear menus and logical layouts help users locate features like scheduling, analytics, or message templates in no time.

Some platforms include drag-and-drop functionality for creating workflows, which makes it simple to visualize and organize automated messages. Ready-made templates for common SMS tasks, such as appointment reminders or promotional messages, can also save time and effort.

Multi-Channel Capabilities

Multi-channel tools provide flexibility that lets your customers choose how they interact with your business.

Combining SMS with other channels increases the chances of your message being seen. Sending a promotional email followed by an SMS reminder can drive higher conversions.

Cost-Effectiveness

While cost is important, it’s equally essential to focus on the value offered by the platform in terms of features, scalability, and overall impact on your operations.

The pricing model of an SMS tool plays a huge role in determining its cost-effectiveness. Some platforms charge on a pay-as-you-go basis, which is suitable for businesses with occasional messaging needs.

Others offer subscription-based plans that work better for consistent messaging requirements. Understanding your business’s messaging volume and frequency helps you choose the most economical option.

An affordable SMS tool should also offer a balance of basic and advanced features. This includes automation, scheduling, and analytics without the need for costly add-ons.

5 Best SMS Automation Tools for Your Business

Each tool offers unique features tailored to various needs. Whether you’re a small business looking for simplicity or a growing enterprise needing advanced features, there’s a solution designed for you.

Here’s a look at five of the SMS marketing services tools and how they can help your business:

1. Textellent

Textellent offers everything businesses need to manage SMS communication better. Unlike other SMS marketing services, it focuses on helping you stay connected with customers in a personal and professional way.

Here’s what makes Textellent the best SMS automation tool:

Text-Enable Your Existing Phone Numbers

This SMS platform allows you to text-enable your existing phone numbers so customers can easily recognize who the messages are from. It keeps communication consistent and personal, unlike platforms that rely on shortcodes, which can feel impersonal.

Better Engagement with MMS and Real Phone Numbers

Textellent supports MMS, which allows you to send pictures and other media to engage customers more effectively. While not all platforms offer this, Textellent ensures you can include visuals to make messages more impactful.

Unmatched Appointment Management

Textellent’s appointment management features are leagues ahead of traditional tools. With texting integrated at every stage, you can send pre-appointment intake forms, reminders, and post-appointment follow-ups to request reviews or schedule additional appointments.

These capabilities drive efficiency while creating new revenue opportunities by keeping customers engaged.

Flexible Integrations

While many platforms require integrations to access advanced features, Textellent doesn’t. It offers robust integration options with CRMs and other tools but is fully functional on its own. It caters to businesses of all sizes without unnecessary setup headaches.

Advanced Segmentation for Personalization

Textellent makes it easy to group customers based on their preferences, actions, or history. You can send messages that feel personalized and relevant, which can lead to better engagement and stronger relationships.

Lead Nurturing That Drives Results

While many platforms stop at basic messaging, Textellent offers automated lead nurturing tools. The platform can send personalized follow-ups after an inquiry and keep leads engaged with drip campaigns triggered by customer actions, new preferences, or purchases.

Comprehensive Tracking and Insights

Other than sending personalized messages, Textellent also provides valuable data. You can track response rates and measure conversions when links are included in messages. 

These insights let you refine your campaigns and maximize results, which gives you a clear picture of your ROI.

Built for the Entire Customer Journey

Textellent is a solution designed to support your business at every stage of the customer journey. From the first touchpoint to ongoing retention, its features help you build lasting relationships and grow revenue.

Textellent Pricing Plans

Textellent offers flexible plans to suit businesses of all sizes, with a 14-day free trial to explore its features. The trial includes 25 SMS credits and access for one user.

• Essentials Plan: $49/month, includes 750 SMS credits, ideal for small businesses with moderate messaging needs
• Standard Plan: $99/month, including 2,000 SMS credits and designed for growing businesses with larger campaigns
• Premium Plan: Custom pricing for businesses with specific requirements

Additional costs include a $49 one-time activation fee per line, extra users for $10/month, and opt-in keywords for $10/month. The Book Me A Time Scheduler is $25/month for the first user, with additional users at $10/month.

Sign up for a free trial or request a demo consultation to see how Textellent can improve your SMS marketing efforts!

2. Twilio

Twilio is an SMS platform that offers an API-based approach where you can integrate SMS into your existing systems and customize workflows. This is beneficial for developers building tailored solutions.

This text message marketing software supports messaging in over 180 countries and provides delivery tracking. However, its developer-first focus can make it less accessible for non-technical teams. Setting up and managing campaigns may require coding knowledge.

Image Source: twilio.com

Textellent focuses on user-friendly tools, providing ready-to-use templates, advanced automation workflows, and direct CRM integrations without needing technical expertise.

Pricing

Twilio uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, charging $0.0079 per message for both incoming and outgoing texts. Businesses sending large volumes of messages can also benefit from available discounts.

3. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting offers features like contact segmentation, two-way messaging, and scheduling, which are helpful for basic marketing campaigns. The platform’s automation features simplify repetitive tasks, which makes communication with clients less time-consuming.

Image Source: simpletexting.com

However, uploading new contacts on SimpleTexting can occasionally cause issues, with contacts getting disorganized during the process. Group texts can be costly due to the platform’s credit system, and the inability to purchase smaller credit packages limits flexibility for users with varying needs.

These limitations may affect overall user satisfaction, particularly for businesses needing consistent and seamless functionality.

Pricing

SimpleTexting’s pricing begins at $39 per month, which covers up to 500 messages and includes a dedicated phone number. 

4. EZ Texting

EZ Texting offers a simple interface that makes managing messages quick and hassle-free. Users appreciate its affordable pricing and helpful AI assistant for creating messages.

Image Source: eztexting.com

Features like scheduling texts, having two-way conversations, and sending messages to groups are convenient, especially when done from a mobile device. The ability to create groups and schedule recurring messages adds flexibility for organizing campaigns.

However, some users find it challenging to build marketing lists due to limited tools. Transferring data, like emails, from Excel spreadsheets can be difficult and time-consuming.

The approval process for campaigns also takes longer than expected, and charging extra credits for certain characters adds to costs. Also, some users report the extra fee for adding user logins feels unnecessary since message credits are already being paid for.

Pricing

• Launch Plan: $25/month for up to 500 contacts, suitable for smaller campaigns
• Boost Plan: Starts at $75/month, designed for managing 500–2,000 contacts
• Scale Plan: Begins at $125/month, perfect for businesses handling 2,000–50,000 contacts
• Enterprise Plan: Starting at $3,000/month, customized for businesses with over 50,000 contacts

5. Textedly

Textedly is an SMS automation tool that suits startups and small businesses. The platform provides a virtual phone number, so users don’t need to text from their personal numbers. It’s also easy to send bulk messages to large groups with just one click.

Image Source: textedly.com

However, some users report that the approval process for bulk uploads can take time, and only ten contacts can be added manually until approval is complete.

The limited character counts for messages and the high costs of sending to large groups are additional concerns, especially for businesses handling high-volume texting.

Pricing

• The Basic Plan is available at $26 per month with 500 text messages
• The Bronze Plan costs $38 per month and includes 1,000 text messages
• The Plus Plan, designed for higher-volume needs, offers 2,000 text messages for $69 per month

The Smart Way to Choose Your Ideal SMS Automation Tool

Choosing the right SMS automation tool doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If you focus on your business needs and compare key features, you can find a platform that fits into your communication strategy. Here’s how to make the best choice:

Start with Your Business Objectives

What are you hoping to achieve with SMS automation? Is it boosting sales or managing appointments?

Once you know your priorities, it helps narrow down the options. Tools like Textellent, with robust automation and personalization capabilities, are great at supporting a range of business goals.

Match the Features to Your Workflow

Not all SMS marketing software is created equal. Therefore, you should look for features like MMS support for sending images, drip campaigns for lead nurturing, or integrations with your existing CRM.

With Textellent, you can send highly personalized and timely messages to engage prospects and convert them into customers. Drip campaigns and follow-ups triggered by customer actions guarantee no lead is overlooked and that you’re driving consistent revenue.

Plan for Growth with Scalable Pricing

Find a tool that fits your current budget while leaving room to grow. You should look for platforms with scalable pricing plans that adapt as your messaging needs increase.

If scheduling and managing appointments is part of your workflow, Textellent’s appointment management system is a perfect fit.

Unlike basic reminders offered by other platforms, Textellent provides pre-appointment intake forms, follow-ups for reviews, and even automated rescheduling messages. It keeps your calendar full while minimizing manual effort.

Ease of Use and Expert Support Matter

A user-friendly interface is key to saving time and reducing technical headaches. You should opt for platforms that offer intuitive dashboards and pre-built templates.

Textellent is designed with simplicity in mind, which makes it accessible even for teams with minimal technical expertise. This SMS marketing platform features a clear, user-friendly dashboard that allows you to quickly set up campaigns, automate workflows, and manage customer segmentation.

Also, don’t underestimate the value of reliable customer support, which can make a big difference during onboarding or when resolving issues.

Test the Platform Before Committing

Most platforms offer free trials or demos, so take advantage of these opportunities. Make the most of the trial by simulating real scenarios and analyzing the results.

You can send test messages to see how customers respond and review the tracking features to understand campaign performance.

Textellent makes this easy by offering a 14-day free trial, where you can explore its capabilities risk-free. During this trial period, you’ll get 25 SMS credits and full access for one user.

Grow Your Business with Smarter SMS Automation

Staying connected with your customers is key to growing your business. 

Textellent’s SMS automation tools make it simple to send personalized messages, manage appointments, and run campaigns that get results. You stay connected with your audience and keep communication consistent.

This SMS marketing solution stands out with features like personalized messaging, MMS support for images, and automation for follow-ups. You can text-enable your existing phone number to make sure customers recognize your messages.

It’s time to simplify your messaging and focus on growing your business. Sign up for a free trial or book a demo today!

FAQs About SMS Automation Tools

How to automate SMS messages?

Automating SMS messages involves using platforms that let you schedule and send texts automatically based on triggers or specific timelines. These tools can set up workflows, such as sending appointment reminders, follow-up messages, or promotional texts, without manual effort.

Is there an app that will send automatic text messages?

There are many apps and platforms designed for automated texting. Tools like Textellent allow users to create automated workflows for messages, from simple reminders to complex marketing campaigns.

SMS automation tools can send messages based on time schedules or triggers, such as customer actions or preferences.

Is SMS by Zapier free?

SMS by Zapier offers some free functionality but is limited to those who have an existing Zapier subscription. Users can set up basic workflows for sending messages; however, advanced features, higher message limits, or more complex automation often require a paid plan.

Is it legal to send automated text messages?

Sending automated text messages is legal as long as you comply with regulations like the TCPA in the U.S. You must obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending messages, and every text must include an option to opt out.

Compliance with these guidelines keeps your automated texting lawful and maintains customer trust.