The 10 best business texting services, ranked (+ use cases)

Today, many businesses are using SMS texting to communicate with not only other team members, but also customers and prospects.

So, how do you find the best business text messaging app for your specific business or team?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the key features to pay attention to when you’re shopping, along with a breakdown of some of the best business text messaging tools out there today.

What is “business text messaging?”

Most people think of business text messaging services as just SMS/MMS messaging, but we can think of messaging as a medium that covers both internal and external communication.

Internally, text messaging allows colleagues to collaborate with each other, whereas externally, it also lets you interact with your customers and prospects—through a channel that more and more people might actually prefer.

The 2 main types of business texting services

External

Businesses need to be able to reach customers, clients, suppliers, and vendors at all times of the day. The reality is that not every situation or environment is suited to a phone call. External texting lets you reach important people outside the business in a convenient way for both you and the recipient.

Many sales people, for example, find that prospects are more responsive via texting than other channels like email for follow-ups.

Internal

Of course, sometimes you might just need to text your teammates—maybe you’re on good terms or are even friends with a coworker. In these cases, internal business text messaging could be the best tool for the job.

What are the benefits of using a business texting service?

Prospects and customers are more responsive via texting compared to other channels

Sure, live chats, social media, and video meetings can be good ways to handle customer and prospect interactions. But sometimes something as simple, direct, and convenient as a text message is better.

For many businesses, email does the heavy lifting as an external communication channel, but there are other elements to consider. Gartner has found that SMS open and response rates are as high as 98% and 45% respectively—a huge improvement over the corresponding email figures of around 20% and 61%!

It can be automated

With business text messaging services, companies can perform application-to-person messaging, also known as A2P messaging. This technology allows businesses to send automated messages to clients, customers, or employees. This makes it easy for organizations to send out bulk text messages for a variety of needs.

With A2P messaging, SMS marketing campaigns, reminders, important notifications, and more can all be automated. This lets you plan and schedule messages ahead of time and also frees up your team for other more important tasks.

Some will integrate with your existing tools, like your CRM

Many of the best business texting services will integrate with your CRM or other existing business tools.

With a solution like Dialpad, you get hundreds of integrations that connect seamlessly to your other software. Built-in CRM integrations with tools like Salesforce, Zoho CRM, and HubSpot allow for syncing of customer details and automatic logging of activities like calling and SMS messages sent and received:

A few use cases: Texting services for business

Business texting services can be useful in quite a few different ways. Here are some of the most common use cases for text messaging.

Send deals and discounts

Text messaging services are great for sending out bulk SMS discounts en masse to your subscription list. Since mobile phone users spend nearly three hours on their devices daily, there’s no chance they will miss out on a deal they would be interested in.

Offer sneak peeks into new products or services

Sending out a text to your prospects and existing customers can be a great way to keep them updated on new products and service upgrades. You can send out custom links to let a limited number sign up for early sneak peeks or test phases. This makes it easy for you to gauge interest before launch and prepare stock accordingly.

With Dialpad, you get SMS and MMS (multimedia image, sound, and voice) text messaging capabilities:

This means you can send out new product previews with video and audio demonstrations that garner more engagement.

Provide order updates

As shopping continues to shift online, customers are expecting more from order tracking. This includes email updates and live tracking with browser and device apps. But as we discussed earlier, a text is more likely to be open and read. This helps to avoid customer frustration due to a missed update.

Automatic updates sent via text can also help save your CS team from having to handle order status calls. You can also include links to order status emails or live tracking apps for convenience.

Target past customers with news updates

Customer segmentation of your marketing campaigns and messaging isn’t limited solely to email. With business texting, you can send targeted messages specifically to those who have purchased from you in the past. Sending them a short text with news on products relevant to their purchase history can be a great way to gently nudge past customers back into the funnel.

Send appointment or reservation confirmations

Text messaging is an effective and non-intrusive way to gently remind your clients about upcoming appointments and reservations. Links can be sent in the message to make canceling or rescheduling easy.

With Dialpad, for instance, you can send an invite to a screen share or video meeting through an SMS message—and the other person can join from their web browser without downloading anything!

With Dialpad, you can send out reminders for things like scheduled video meetings with only a few clicks. And if your clients don’t want to bother with downloading software, they can simply click on the link to join the meeting when it’s time.

The 10 best business texting services, ranked

There is a seemingly endless supply of texting services for businesses to sift through today. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best solutions for business texting.

We’ve split the 10 into two categories. The first, Category A, consists of robust, versatile platforms with a range of everyday communication features, including video conferencing and even contact center features along with business texting functionality.

The second, Category B, consists of more niche bulk messaging tools that are specifically designed for SMS marketing or other mass communication campaigns.

Category A: Robust platforms with business texting among other features

1. Dialpad: The most robust unified communications + contact center platform around

Dialpad is more than just a unified communications solution—it’s a fully integrated UCaaS and CCaaS platform powered by its industry-leading AI, Dialpad AI. With calling, video, messaging, and contact center tools built into one app, Dialpad helps businesses simplify workflows, support customers, and scale with ease.

Features

• Unlimited calling and messaging for seamless communication across the US and Canada.

• HD video meetings: Join from any device, no downloads needed.

• AI-powered contact center features including real-time agent coaching, call summaries, sentiment analysis, and keyword tracking.

• Deep integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and more.

• Custom caller ID and number porting to protect your privacy while keeping your existing numbers.

Pros:

• AI-native platform that improves productivity for both employees and supervisors.

• Truly unified communications + contact center solution—no third-party add-ons needed.

• Simple setup that gets teams up and running in minutes.

Cons:

• If you need really sophisticated bulk business texting features, you might need a more specialized SMS marketing platform.

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐4.4/5

“I like that you can text. I like that you can see the whole call history at your fingertips, much like an email thread would be. I like that you can rename someone in your contact list… It's a great alternative to buying everyone mobile phones. They can download the app to their personal phone if they want, which provides cost efficiency. It's very helpful to text on Dialpad, as sometimes that's the only way to get ahold of someone.” — Aubrey C., Human Resources Manager, Small business

Pricing:

2. Podium

Podium helps small and medium businesses manage customer interactions across multiple messaging channels, including SMS, Google, Facebook, and Instagram. Its centralized inbox and mobile-friendly apps make it easy for teams to stay on top of conversations, respond quickly, and maintain a complete message history. The platform also includes tools for automated website chat, reviews, and payments.

Features:

• Centralized inbox: Streamline communication across all channels, so teams never miss a message.

• Mobile and desktop apps: Empower agents to respond from anywhere, improving responsiveness and customer satisfaction.

• Automated website chat: Capture leads and answer questions even outside business hours.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and manage multi-channel messaging.

• Centralized inbox reduces missed conversations and increases team efficiency.

Cons:

• Limited true omnichannel features compared to larger platforms.

• Pricing scales quickly as contacts and team size increase.

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.6/5

“Being able to track and follow-up on conversations, both phone calls and texts, helps keep our documentation in order… There are a few "technical glitches" here and there as far as search history, notifications, etc., but we see the constant improvements and have been pleased with customer service when we've had any issues.” — Nicole W., Office Manager, Small business

Pricing:

3. Nextiva: Best for SMS + VoIP needs

Taking a more similar approach to Dialpad than Podium, Nextiva is a cloud-based UCaaS platform that brings phone, messaging, video, and collaboration tools into a single platform. It helps small businesses streamline communications, manage remote teams, and scale easily while keeping all channels connected.

Features:

• Unlimited calling & messaging: Connect teams and clients across the US and Canada.
  HD video meetings: Host professional-quality video calls with team members and clients.

• Team messaging & collaboration: Share files, create channels, and communicate in real time.

Pros:

• Centralized platform for managing high volumes of client interactions.

• Scalable for growing teams and remote workforces.

Cons:

• Limited in terms of SMS marketing features.

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5

“The cost savings for a single user platform is excellent… If you want to add more lines or more users then there is additional fees.” — Joshua C., Principal Broker/Owner Park Hill Realty Group, Small business 

Pricing:

Category B: Bulk messaging tools

Now, let's look at tools for other SMS use cases. (Note that many SMS marketing services operate on credits and pay-as-you-go pricing plans.)

4. SlickText: Best for mass SMS marketing

SlickText is a platform that is primarily designed for marketing via text messages, and also holds the distinction of having the highest customer rating on G2 out of all the bulk business texting solutions on this list. The service features a user-friendly UI, and the company also provides step-by-step video tutorials to hand-hold new and unsure users.

Features:

• Mass text campaigns: Reach large audiences quickly.

• Subscriber segmentation: Organize contacts with custom fields.

• Surveys, contests, and coupons: Engage customers with interactive campaigns.

Pros:

• Multiple opt-in methods for subscriber growth

• Affordable entry-level plan for small businesses

Cons:

• Limited omnichannel capabilities

• Best suited for SMS marketing, not broader communications

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.8/5

“It's super intuitive. Whether you're setting up a campaign, creating autoresponders, or managing contacts, it doesn’t feel overwhelming… Pricing tiers can scale quickly – If your contact list grows or you need advanced features (like automations, integrations, or API access), the cost can ramp up fast.” — Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

Pricing:

5. SimpleTexting: Best for flexible SMS marketing

SimpleTexting is a cloud-based messaging platform designed for businesses that want to combine one-to-one texting with full SMS marketing campaigns. It’s ideal for small businesses seeking flexible pricing and the ability to send messages from toll-free or existing business numbers.

Features:

• Two-way messaging and mass campaigns: Communicate with individual customers or large groups from the same interface.

• Toll-free number included: Use for SMS messaging without additional costs.

• Credit-based pricing model: Pay monthly for message credits. Incoming SMS is free.

Pros:

• Flexible credit-based pricing for varying message volumes

• Easy to manage both one-to-one and mass campaigns

Cons:

• Pricing can get complicated for higher message volumes

• Some hidden fees may apply

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.7/5

“We primarily use SimpleTexting through their API which we call from our CRM. API response time has improved significantly over the last year or two… The cost seems to be a bit higher than the competition, particularly for MMS. My biggest issue is that numbers seem to get marked as "Invalid" for no apparent reason. I understand that they need to comply with laws and stop requests, but we have had our own executive staff numbers randomly get marked as invalid. This causes them to miss critical communications and alerts.” — Mike M., Lead Software Developer, Small business 

Pricing:

6. TextMarks: Best for transit agencies

TextMarks is a cloud-based SMS marketing platform built for transit agencies that need flexibility via APIs. It’s well-suited for companies that want bulk messaging, alerts, or reminders for communicating with riders.

Features:

• Bulk SMS and alerts: Send large volumes of text messages to riders.

• Easy subscription: Users can sign up for alerts via texting or website form signup

Pros:

• Works well for high-volume messaging

• Supports scheduled and segmented campaigns

Cons:

• Very niche use case

• Basic UI compared to competitors

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5

“The website's text messaging service is easy to use and simple to setup… The character limit for text messages needs improvement. It's sometimes difficult to fit everything into one message and it would be helpful to get a higher character limit.” — Kevin M., Chief Operations Officer, Small business

Pricing:

7. EZ Texting: Best for visual MMS campaigns

EZ Texting is a business texting solution with a heavy focus on visual marketing. You can create engaging MMS campaigns with things like mobile coupons to boost sales and campaign performance.

Features:

• MMS campaigns with images: Create branded visual promotions.

• Image editor and Shutterstock integration: Build campaigns quickly with royalty-free images.

• Text templates: Streamline repetitive campaigns.

Pros:

• Strong visual marketing tools for MMS campaigns

• Easy-to-use templates and image editing

• Affordable entry-level plan

Cons:

• Limited to SMS/MMS—lacks other communication channels

• Keyword customization and segmentation are basic

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5

“Perhaps we use EZ Texting in a non-traditional manner, but it has been great to divert customers from filling up our phone lines and instead have been texting us their questions… Sometimes texts seem to go missing or don't show up for quite some time. Also don't seem to consistently "auto refresh." Meaning I'll log in and even though I thought I'm caught up, I refresh and there all of the sudden I have multiple unread messages.” — Ben O., Manager, Small business

Pricing:

8. Medallia Concierge: Best for customer messaging portals

Medallia Concierge is a customer messaging portal solution for businesses, which comes with a range of both basic and advanced features that will appeal to various industries, but especially healthcare and hospitality.

Features:

• Two-way SMS and messaging channels: Connect with customers via multiple platforms.

• Scheduling and automation tools: Streamline workflows and recurring messages.

• Customer surveys and review prompts: Drive reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor.

Pros:

• Supports multiple messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and WeChat

• Flexible API for integration with CRMs

Cons:

• Not a lot of recent customer reviews on third-party sites like G2

• Pricing not transparent—you have to request a quote

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.6/5

“Easy, quick communication with guests and owners… Bogs down and is slow to respond at times and you have to wait for your message to actually send.” — Ruby L., Mid-market company

Pricing:

9. Tatango: Best for large-scale nonprofit SMS campaigns

Another business texting service with a very specific use case, Tatango is built for political groups, charities, and other non-profit organizations. The app helps businesses send out text messages on a massive scale for tasks such as fundraising and gaining actionable support for things like voting.

Features:

• High-volume messaging: Deliver messages in less than a minute.

• Campaign tracking: Monitor open rates, clicks, donations, and engagement.

• Scheduled and immediate messages: Full control over message timing.

Pros:

• Handles extremely large subscriber lists

• Comprehensive analytics for campaign performance

• Supports custom integrations and white-label setups

Cons:

• Focused on nonprofit and political messaging—not ideal for general business use

• Limited additional communication features beyond SMS

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.5/5

“The support team at Tatango is exceptional – always prompt, professional, and knowledgeable. They’ve been invaluable in helping us optimize our campaigns and achieve outstanding results… While we initially felt misled about the capabilities of the NXT interface, the Tatango team quickly made up for it with their outstanding customer service.” — Nicole L., Mid-market company

Pricing:

10. Textedly: Best for SMS marketing campaigns

Textedly is a cloud-based platform designed to help small businesses and marketers manage and optimize text messaging campaigns. It’s ideal for businesses that want to engage customers via SMS, run drip campaigns, and segment subscriber lists without needing complex setup or IT resources.

Features:

• Bulk messaging. Send mass text messages to your audience with a single click.

• Subscriber segmentation via keywords. Automatically categorize contacts based on custom keyword responses.

• Scheduled & automated texts. Plan one-time or recurring messages, including drip campaigns with time delays.

Pros:

• Supports automated drip campaigns and keyword-based segmentation.

• Multimedia messaging for richer customer engagement.

Cons:

• Limited to SMS; no internal team messaging or collaboration tools.

• Pricing scales quickly with higher message volumes.

What users are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.6/5

“I love being able to create templates and schedule texts ahead of time. Tags make it simple to create different groups, which keeps everything organized… The only thing I dislike is that once I create tags, they’re permanent. I wish there were an option to delete tags I no longer need—or maybe I’m just missing how to do it.” — Laura Z., HR Generalist, Mid-market company 

Pricing:

Challenges of business texting services

Business texting can be a powerful channel—but only if it’s done right. Here are some of the most common challenges SMBs face, and how a solution like Dialpad Connect helps you solve them.

Challenge: Lack of integrations with your tech stack

Not all texting platforms connect smoothly with the tools your team already uses, which leads to repetitive data entry work and wasted time.

Solution: Choose a platform that integrates natively with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and more. For example, Dialpad integrates with all of these tools to make sure your contacts, calendars, and conversations sync automatically.

Challenge: Scaling without adding overhead

As your customer base grows, some platforms make it costly or technically complex to add new numbers, users, or locations.

Solution: Choose a system that lets you expand on-demand—whether it’s adding a line for a new employee or rolling out to a second office. The less IT involvement required, the smoother your growth will be as your business grows.

Challenge: Adoption and ease of use

Overly complex platforms can slow down rollout and frustrate teams, especially without dedicated IT support.

Solution: Choose a tool that makes it easy for your users to start texting from their computers and cell phones without too steep of a learning curve.

Challenge: Controlling costs

Hidden fees for MMS, overages, or rigid contracts can turn an affordable service into an unpredictable expense.

Solution: Review pricing models carefully and run scenarios against your expected usage. Look for vendors that provide transparent, flat-rate pricing—this will help you avoid surprises and make budgeting easier as your messaging volume increases over time.

How to choose the best business texting service

The right texting platform can improve customer communication, reduce no-shows, and even generate new business. But not every service will fit your needs. Here’s a framework that’ll help you evaluate different business texting tools:

1. Define your messaging goals

Decide whether texting will be used mainly for reminders, two-way support conversations, or large-scale marketing campaigns. Your use case will determine whether you need a lightweight reminder tool or a more advanced platform with segmentation and automation.

2. Check integrations with your existing tools

Look for texting services that connect directly to your CRM, scheduling software, or productivity apps. Native integrations with tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Salesforce make it easier to centralize customer interactions and reduce manual work:

3. Evaluate compliance and opt-in management 

Texting laws like TCPA require you to manage permissions carefully. Make sure your texting service includes features like automatic opt-in/opt-out handling, message archiving, and audit trails. This keeps you compliant (while protecting customer trust).

4. Test usability for both staff and customers 

Your team needs an interface that’s easy to learn, and your customers should be able to reply without friction. During trials, check how simple it is to send, receive, and track conversations from desktop and mobile.

5. Assess scalability and message volume handling 

Can the platform handle both one-to-one conversations and bulk campaigns? Consider whether it supports multiple numbers, departments, or higher message volumes as your texting needs change.

Looking for the best business texting service?

If your business only needs a simple way to send SMS, there are plenty of standalone texting tools out there. But most growing teams quickly run into limits: lack of integrations, extra costs for scaling, or having to juggle too many separate apps.

With Dialpad, you don’t just get a texting tool—you get the future-proof communications platform your business needs.

It gives you business texting plus a complete communications platform—calls, video meetings, team chat, and even a cloud contact center if you need it. That means fewer vendors to manage, lower long-term costs, and a system that scales as your business grows.

Every plan includes essentials like unlimited calling, number porting, and custom routing, plus advanced features like AI-powered call transcription and analytics. Whether you’re sending appointment reminders or running a support team, Dialpad equips you with reliable, flexible tools in one place.

Want to test-drive Dialpad? Start a free trial today.

Related reading:

• An overview of AI-powered messaging

• How Parkway Solutions uses business texting in a clever way

• A guide to SMS vs MMS

¹podium.com/pricing/

²nextiva.com/nextiva-pricing

³slicktext.com/pricing

⁴simpletexting.com/pricing/

⁵eztexting.com/pricing

⁶textedly.com/pricing/