SMS vs. MMS
What's the difference between SMS and MMS text messaging?
Which one should you use for business texting?
Learn more below and how businesses can send and receive text messages using Dialpad's communications platform.
What is SMS?
SMS stands for “short messaging service,” and is a text messaging service. You’re probably no stranger to it if you’ve ever sent text messages to your friends or coworkers.
Most people use their mobile phones to send SMS texts, but it actually works across computers and mobile devices (like tablets). What you need is a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
What is MMS?
MMS stands for “multimedia messaging service,” and is a type of texting technology similar to SMS messaging. You can probably tell from the acronym that the difference is MMS messaging lets you include multimedia content, like graphics, GIFs, and rich media.
SMS messages are text-only—you can use emoji, but otherwise, an SMS message only includes text. MMS messages can include multimedia content such as images, video, and audio.
In Dialpad’s communications platform, you can use business text messaging within the desktop or mobile app.
📱 Fun fact:
If you’re sending iMessages on an iPhone, that’s not a text message. Unlike SMS texts, it requires you to be on Wi-Fi or some kind of internet connection. Also, Android users can’t receive iMessages (they’ll receive them as text messages) because they’re not using an Apple device.
What are the differences between SMS and MMS?
SMS and MMS text messaging are quite similar, and you’ll often see them referred to together, but there are some key differences between the two.
Character limits
A single SMS text message can be no longer than 160 characters. If you send more than 160 characters, your carrier or platform automatically sends it as multiple concatenated SMS segments that get reassembled on the recipient's phone.
MMS messages can be much longer than SMS messages, with a maximum length of 1,600 characters. This means a single MMS message is able to hold much more information than an SMS message.
Deliverability
If you’re planning a text marketing campaign, in terms of deliverability MMS messages need cellular data to be delivered, are more likely to be blocked by carriers than SMS messages because MMS messages are often larger in size, and carriers may have limits on the size of messages that can be delivered. So, you may want to double check the details before you dive headfirst into an MMS marketing campaign.
Costs
MMS messages require a data connection, so they may incur data charges. And because MMS messages are often larger in size, and carriers may charge more for messages that are over a certain size, MMS messages typically cost more to send than SMS messages.
Supported content
Compared to plain-text SMS messages, MMS supports a wider range of content types than SMS, including images, videos, and audio files.
📱 A quick note on other types of messaging:
If you’re trying to reach customers or prospects on their mobile devices, you might also consider other messaging apps or communication channels like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. These will require Wi-Fi or cellular data, but they may be more popular with consumers depending on demographics and where they’re based.
When to use SMS vs. MMS for business texting
When to use SMS messaging
In most cases, SMS marketing is great for short, timely communications with existing customers or clients like notifications, appointment reminders, order confirmations, and one-time passwords (OTPs). When you’re sending SMS text messages to existing customers, you’re also likely to see higher open rates because they know who you are and expect to hear from you.
If you don’t want to be restrained by cellular data requirements, SMS messaging would also be a better fit.
When to use MMS messaging
MMS comes in handy when you need to exceed the 160-character limit and/or include multimedia content in your messages, such as pictures, videos, or audio files. The best MMS use cases are for visual messages, like holiday cards or sending a coupon in the form of a QR code, for example.
💡 Did You Know?
In the U.S., all business texting is now regulated under A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging rules. Before a company can send business texts—even from a VoIP number—it needs to complete A2P 10DLC registration. This process verifies your business with mobile carriers, improves message deliverability, and helps protect customers from spam. Once registered, your number is approved for compliant business SMS and MMS messaging.
SMS and MMS: Which is more beneficial for your business communications?
In conclusion, SMS and MMS messaging are both forms of instant messaging for business. SMS is the more basic option, while MMS offers more features but tends to be more expensive.
If you want to reach an audience that’s on their cell phones all the time, either option might come in handy. When you’re deciding which option to use, consider the character limit, deliverability, cost, and supported content.
If you’re looking for the best business texting service and want something that’s integrated into a larger communications platform, learn more about Dialpad’s AI-powered collaboration platform.
At just $15 per user per month, it gives you an advanced solution that lets you make phone calls, have video meetings, and send SMS/MMS messages, all from a beautifully designed desktop or mobile app.
See how easy Dialpad is to use
Let our team walk you through Dialpad's communications platform and show you how you can get started with business text messaging.
SMS vs. MMS FAQ
Yes, VoIP phone systems can both receive and send SMS and MMS messages.
To send an SMS or MMS text message with a VoIP service, you'll need to have a VoIP phone number and have an account with a provider, like Dialpad. You can either use a VoIP app on your smartphone or computer—and what's unique about Dialpad is you can also just log in on a web browser to use it, no downloads needed. Once you have a VoIP phone number, you can use it to send SMS and MMS messages.
In the U.S., business texting now falls under A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging regulations. This means that before you can send business texts, even from a VoIP number, your company must complete A2P 10DLC registration. This registration verifies your business and its use cases with mobile carriers, ensuring better deliverability and helping prevent spam. Once approved, your VoIP number will be fully enabled for compliant business SMS and MMS messaging.
For business texting, MMS messages generally cost more than SMS messages because they can include richer content such as images, videos, and audio files. Pricing varies by provider and region, but on average, SMS messages cost around $0.01 per message, while MMS messages range from $0.02 to $0.05 per message. Many business communication platforms now offer bundled or volume-based plans that include a set number of SMS and MMS messages each month, helping companies manage messaging costs more efficiently.
Android phones can send both SMS and MMS messages. SMS is used for regular text messages, and MMS is used when you send pictures, videos, or other media.
Most new Android phones also support RCS, which is a newer type of messaging that works over Wi-Fi or mobile data and lets you send higher-quality photos, see when someone’s typing, and get read receipts. If the person you’re messaging doesn’t have RCS, your phone will automatically switch back to SMS or MMS so your message still goes through.
iPhones can send both SMS and MMS messages through your mobile carrier. SMS is used for regular text messages, and MMS is used when you send photos, videos, or other media.
iPhones also have iMessage, which is Apple’s own messaging service. iMessages are sent over Wi-Fi or mobile data instead of your carrier’s network, and they only work between Apple devices. These messages appear as blue bubbles in your Messages app, while SMS and MMS messages appear as green bubbles.