After analyzing 20+ tools, I found Attentive, Brevo Marketing Platform, Close, EZ Texting, JustCall, SlickText, and Textedly to be the best free SMS marketing software for small businesses.
The first time I worked on an SMS campaign, I assumed the hard part would be writing the message. It wasn’t. The real work began after that: choosing the right audience, timing the send, handling replies, tracking results, and making sure the campaign stayed compliant. A 160-character message can create a surprisingly long to-do list.
That list becomes even longer when you’re working with a small team. There may be no separate person managing contacts, building automations, monitoring replies, or checking campaign performance — it all lands on the same marketer. I’ve found that the right SMS marketing software brings those moving parts together, so I can spend less time stitching together workflows and more time sending messages customers will actually find useful.
Of course, a free plan only helps when it supports more than a test message and a quick tour of the dashboard. For this guide, I evaluated the top products in G2’s SMS marketing category based on what they offer for free, how easily a small business can run campaigns with them, and where an upgrade becomes necessary. Here’s what I found about the best free SMS marketing software for small businesses for 2027.
*Tools are listed alphabetically. Each platform offers a free trial, free-forever plan, or freemium option that includes SMS sending functionality.
I found that free SMS marketing options differ considerably. Some give you enough access to build and test a real campaign, while others offer a short trial or limited credits that are better suited to exploring the platform. The comparison table below will make those differences easier to spot.
| Tool | G2 rating | What the free plan covers | Paid plan starts at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attentive | 4.5/5 | Free trial available Exact feature limits are not publicly disclosed |
Available upon request from vendor |
| Brevo Marketing Platform | 4.5/5 | Free forever Automation for 2,000 contacts Email and SMS campaign creation |
$8.08 per month |
| Close | 4.7/5 | 14-day free trial Built-in forms, email, calling & SMS AI credits |
$9 per user, per month |
| EZ Texting | 4.5/5 | 14-day Launch trial 120 message credits SMS and MMS testing |
$20 per month |
| JustCall | 4.3/5 | 14-day SalesPro trial Calling and SMS CRM integrations and dialers |
$29 per user, per month |
| SlickText | 4.8/5 | 14-day trial All features of the tool included |
$24.17 per month for 6,000 annual credits |
| Textedly | 4.6/5 | 14-day trial 50 messages One custom keyword |
$29 per month for 600 monthly messages |
*All pricing details are based on publicly available data at the time of publication and are subject to change.
According to a recent SMS marketing market report, the global SMS marketing market was valued at $14.39 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from $15.96 billion in 2026 to $36.62 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 10.93%. That growth reflects how businesses continue to use texting as a direct channel for promotions, reminders, updates, and customer engagement.
For small businesses, that doesn’t mean jumping straight into a paid platform. Starting with free SMS marketing software can help teams test campaign workflows, audience response, and messaging needs before committing to another recurring expense.
I started with the leading free products in G2’s SMS marketing software category and focused on platforms offering a free plan, freemium model, free credits, or free trial. For each tool, I reviewed its official pricing page, plan details, and product documentation to verify what the free access includes and where the restrictions begin.
I evaluated the platforms from a small-business perspective, paying particular attention to message and contact limits, campaign creation, automation, audience segmentation, two-way messaging, reporting, integrations, compliance support, and ease of use. I also analyzed feedback from G2 reviewers, including small-business users, to understand how the software performs in everyday workflows and whether its free offering provides enough value before an upgrade becomes necessary.
This analysis is based on publicly available product information and G2 reviews available in July 2026. I selected the top seven products listed on G2’s free SMS marketing software page at the time of evaluation, though that ranking may change over time as products and reviews are updated. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
The screenshots in this article may come from vendors’ G2 pages or other publicly available materials.
When evaluating free SMS marketing software, I focused less on how many features a platform lists and more on whether a small business could use it to run a real campaign before needing to upgrade.
To be included on this list, a tool must:
*This data was pulled from G2 in 2026. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
Attentive is built specifically for SMS-first marketing, giving ecommerce brands one place to plan, send, and manage customer messaging. Teams can use it for promotional campaigns, product updates, reminders, and other lifecycle communications, making it a focused option for businesses that want texting to play a meaningful role in their marketing mix.
What draws me to Attentive is its focus on subscriber growth and behavior-based messaging. Its two-tap™ sign-up tools, campaign builders, cross-channel journeys, segmentation, analytics, compliance controls, and integrations are included across paid plans. Pricing varies by message volume, list size, channels, and premium AI tools. Attentive scores 93% for both quality of support and ease of doing business with, according to G2 Data. That level of support can matter when a lean team needs help with onboarding, deliverability, or campaign planning.
I would consider a paid Attentive plan once the business is ready to run SMS campaigns consistently and needs ongoing access to its list-growth, segmentation, journey, reporting, compliance, and support capabilities. Pricing is usage-based rather than credit-based, so costs depend on message volume, list size, channels, and premium AI tools. That structure may suit a smaller program initially, but I would model expected sending volumes carefully before seasonal promotions or product launches.
“I like that Attentive is easy to execute and lets me see the results quickly. The initial setup was good, and everything is going smoothly so far.”
- Attentive review, Sathiya M.
Best for: E-commerce businesses that want SMS to play a central role in subscriber growth, customer engagement, and revenue generation.
Not ideal for: Businesses that need transparent flat-rate pricing or want to evaluate a clearly documented free plan without speaking to a sales team.
“One issue we ran into was a few issues with setup and website integration. This cost us extra time when setting up the automated pop-ups. This could be more streamlined and improved a bit. The backend code integration with our webpage was the issue, and while I am not a web developer, I would venture to guess a more 'plug and play' code injection option might be something to consider.”
- Attentive review, Verified User in Health, Wellness, and Fitness
Related: Looking beyond free plans? Compare the best SMS marketing software to see which platforms offer the strongest features, automation, and engagement tools for growing campaigns.
Brevo Marketing Platform gives small businesses a free-forever starting point without forcing an immediate upgrade. The plan supports up to 100,000 contacts, 300 email sends per day, and one user. I see that contact allowance as its biggest advantage for businesses still building an audience, but not messaging everyone at once. SMS and email campaigns are available, although SMS credits are purchased separately based on the destination country.
The free plan also goes beyond one-off broadcasts. It includes multichannel marketing automation for up to 2,000 contacts, basic reporting and analytics, and email support. That gives a small team room to create simple follow-ups, monitor opens and clicks, and evaluate whether automation improves engagement before paying for a higher tier. Brevo earns an 88% G2 Satisfaction Score for reporting, compared with the 86% category average, while ease of use scores 90%.
For me, that combination makes the free plan practical for learning what works without losing visibility into campaign performance.
I would move to the Starter plan at $8.08 per month when the 300-email daily allowance begins delaying campaigns, since that plan supports substantially higher monthly sending volumes. Standard becomes the more relevant upgrade when a business needs unlimited marketing automation, advanced reporting, A/B testing, landing pages, or access for additional users. I would evaluate the expected sending volume and collaboration needs first, rather than upgrading solely because the contact list is growing.
“I use Brevo email marketing because it's very simple to understand, like a plug-and-play. I was new to email marketing, couldn't use other platforms, but when I signed up, it was "Sendinblue." I found it very easy to understand and use.
Since I have been using them without having any need for another platform. The delivery is quick; once I send an email, I get to know in the next minute the click rate, the open rate, and the performance of my email.
It helps me to know which email is performing better. And the type of content my audience prefers. This way, I have been growing my business”
- Brevo Marketing Platform review, Judith R.
Best for: Solopreneurs, nonprofits, and small teams that need a free-forever platform with generous contact storage, basic automation, reporting, and optional SMS campaigns.
Not ideal for: Businesses that need to email large audiences in a single day or require advanced reporting, A/B testing, and multiple user accounts without upgrading.
“Sometimes pasting into text boxes results in unpredictable changes to font size, style, or color, which I would have expected to be consistent with my branding style. However, that is rarer since I switched to the newer editor.”
- Brevo Marketing Platform review, Stphen M.
Switching between a CRM, dialer, email client, and SMS tool mid-conversation is the kind of friction I would rather avoid in a lean sales workflow. That is what makes Close interesting to me. Its 14-day free trial lets you evaluate calling, email, SMS, workflows, and Chloe, its AI sales teammate, with calling and AI credits included. I also like that Close starts as a CRM, with communication built in rather than bolted on, so you are not stitching together four tools just to follow up with one lead.
G2 feedback from small-business users reinforces that appeal for me. Close scores 96% for ease of doing business with on G2, three points above the category average, and reviewers frequently describe moving from heavier CRMs into a simpler workflow. I find the automatic activity logging particularly useful: calls, emails, and texts stay attached to the right lead, while text scheduler and two-way text messaging both score 94% on G2. For a founder or lean sales team, I see that as less time playing detective across tabs and more time actually following up.
I would choose Solo at $9 per user per month, billed annually, if you are a founder or solo rep who needs CRM, calling, email, and SMS in one place. It supports one user and up to 10,000 leads but does not include automated workflows. Essentials, at $35 per user, adds unlimited leads, team collaboration, and shared visibility. Growth, at $99 per user, becomes the meaningful step up when you need automated email, call, and SMS workflows, text scheduling, or a Power Dialer.
“I really like the new AI feature in Close, especially the chat function that analyzes all my call transcripts. It helps me understand what works and what doesn't, making it easier to schedule meetings and enhance my performance. This feature allows me to hone in on the areas I need to improve to perform at my best. It's a standout feature for me. Furthermore, after using its insights to revise my scripts, I managed to schedule a meeting, which has been really awesome.”
- Close review, Temei F.
Best for: Founders and lean sales teams that want calling, email, SMS, and lead management inside one CRM.
Not ideal for: Businesses that primarily need large-scale promotional SMS campaigns rather than sales-focused conversations and follow-ups.
“The reporting features could be more customizable, and the pricing may be high for smaller teams. More flexible report filters, custom dashboards, and deeper analytics would make reporting more useful and actionable.”
- Close review, Rajneesh M.
Related: Need inspiration for pages that turn visitors into leads? Explore G2’s guide to landing page examples to see how effective layouts, messaging, and calls to action support different marketing goals.
There’s a version of SMS marketing software that asks you to become a power user before you send your first message. EZ Texting isn’t that, which is what I find appealing about it. It focuses on helping businesses and organizations start texting quickly without crowding the experience with email builders, CRM dashboards, or channels you may never use. You can even evaluate it through a 14-day free trial tied to the Launch option, with 120 message credits.
What stands out to me in G2 reviews is how many small-business use cases EZ Texting supports without making the workflow feel complicated. I found examples ranging from brokers sending appointment confirmations to churches sharing weekly updates and nonprofits coordinating volunteers. Keyword opt-ins also caught my attention because subscribers can join by texting a word, saving lean teams from manually adding every contact.
Ease of admin scores 94% on G2, above the 92% category average, which reinforces my impression that the platform mostly stays out of your way.
I would upgrade once the 120 trial credits are no longer enough to cover a representative campaign, or when you need to keep sending after the 14-day trial ends. That point can come quickly if you have a larger contact list or send multiple campaigns. Launch starts at $25 per month, or $20 per month when billed annually, and includes 500 monthly credits, one user, and a local textable number. EZ Texting recommends it for businesses with up to 500 contacts, although contact uploads are unlimited. You will also need to account for the $5 monthly Telecom Fee.
“I love that EZ Texting is cost-effective and allows me to save time in my day. One of the most valuable tools for me is the mass texting feature. I'm able to customize messages with just a click of a button, inserting names or other specific details, which personalizes each text for the recipient. The process of sending out messages is streamlined, letting me import a list of contacts and send messages to each one with ease. EZ Texting makes the setup easy peasy, lemon squeezy.”
- EZ Texting review, Rachel B.
Best for: Small businesses and organizations that want an easy-to-manage SMS platform for campaigns, reminders, and two-way communication.
Not ideal for: Teams that need built-in email marketing, broader multichannel tools, or high-volume texting at the entry-level price.
“The one thing was our first year, we didn't understand the full benefits that we would get out of it. We lost a lot of credits because we didn't use them enough. It doesn't actually integrate with our CRM, so we have to put things in manually”
- EZ Texting review, Scott S.
Running a small sales team means being on calls—and spending the rest updating your CRM, sending follow-up texts, and trying to remember what was said three conversations ago. That is the kind of friction I see JustCall helping reduce. Its 14-day free trial gives you access to nearly all SalesPro features, making it one of the more generous trial scopes on this list. I like that you can evaluate calling, SMS, dialers, workflows, integrations, and AI assistance before deciding whether the platform fits your team.
One thing that comes through in G2 feedback is how strongly small-business users connect JustCall with smoother CRM workflows. Calls, texts, dispositions, and notes can sync with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho, and 100+ integrations, cutting down the manual updates that eat into your day. G2 Data reinforces that strength: Multi-step planning scores 90%, nine points above the 81% category average.
For a two- or three-person sales team, I see that as a practical way to bring more structure to follow-ups without appointing someone to the unofficial CRM reminder department.
I would choose Team, starting at $29 per user monthly when billed annually, if you mainly need calling, two-way messaging, CRM integrations, IVR, and team reporting. Pro, at $49 per user monthly, makes more sense when you need a power dialer, bulk SMS campaigns, intelligent routing, and 1,000 included SMS segments per user. Pro Plus, at $89, adds deeper AI coaching and performance tools. SalesPro remains custom-priced and is the better fit when multi-line predictive or dynamic dialing is central to your workflow. All standard plans require at least two licenses.
“I like the options in JustCall, like the AI assistants, SMS campaigns, CRM options, and the Dashboard. These features make my team's job easier, so I don't need to guide them every few minutes.”
- JustCall review, Kevin I.
Best for: Small sales and customer-facing teams that want calls, texts, and CRM activity connected in one workflow.
Not ideal for: Solo operators or businesses that only need a simple SMS marketing tool without calling features.
“I've only been using JustCall for a little over a month, so I haven't encountered any major issues so far. The platform has performed well, the features have worked as expected, and the overall experience has been positive. If I had to point to an area for improvement, it would simply be continuing to expand AI capabilities and reporting features as the product evolves. At this stage, though, I don't have any significant complaints or drawbacks to highlight based on my experience.”
- JustCall review, Richard L.
Ask most small business owners what they dislike about software companies, and the answer is usually the same: great product, terrible support. SlickText has built its reputation on getting both right. It offers a 14-day free trial with access to all the features included in its several plans. Every paid tier includes live phone, chat, and email support. G2 reviewers notice: quality of support scores 97%, five points above the 92% category average, with users praising quick callbacks and fast resolutions.
Small-business reviewers on G2 include hobby shops, nonprofits, party businesses, and event hosts, and a consistent theme is how quickly SlickText fits into their regular workflows. Reviewers praise the clear interface and automations that take repetitive tasks off their plate, from replacing WhatsApp groups and bulk emails with team texts to launching flash-sale campaigns in minutes. SlickText’s 94% ease of use score, three points above the category average, reflects that day-to-day practicality.
I would upgrade once the 14-day trial ends and you need to keep sending campaigns regularly, especially if your monthly volume approaches or exceeds 500 credits. The $24.17 monthly plan includes 500 monthly credits, unlimited contacts, free incoming texts, rollover credits, live phone, chat, and email support, and one premium sending number. Annual billing includes two free months of credits and lets you use the allowance across the year, which can be helpful when your sends arrive in seasonal bursts rather than neat monthly packages. Carrier fees apply separately.
“We use SlickText mainly for internal team updates, and the mass texting feature makes it really easy to send messages to the whole team at once. The keyword campaigns are pretty clever too—team members can simply text a keyword and they’re automatically added to the right group. The automations also save a lot of time; once you set everything up, it runs on its own with little to no manual work.”
- SlickText review, Nitin V.
Best for: Small businesses and nonprofits that want focused SMS marketing, approachable automation, and responsive customer support.
Not ideal for: Businesses outside the US and Canada, or teams that need email marketing built into the same platform.
“Not enough rollover credits for the next month.”
- SlickText review, Tamecka C.
Related: Looking for a better way to manage leads, conversations, and sales activity? Explore G2’s guide to the best CRM software to compare leading tools for organizing customer data, streamlining follow-ups, and improving team visibility.
Picture this: you’re running a small business, you’ve signed up for an SMS platform, and carrier registration goes sideways before you can send a single message. With most tools, that means opening a ticket and waiting. Textedly users on G2 describe a different experience: support reps who call proactively, follow up, and help resolve approval issues quickly. I see that kind of hands-on help as especially useful when you do not have a dedicated marketing ops person to troubleshoot the setup. Textedly also offers a 14-day free trial with 50 messages and one custom keyword.
What stands out to me in G2 feedback is how easily small businesses can fit Textedly into everyday communication. Reviewers describe using it for flash sales, open bookings, appointment reminders, and customer replies without turning each send into a project. Bulk SMS scores 94% on G2, three points above the category average, while two-way text messaging scores 88% against an 86% average. For a lean team, I see that as a useful combination: you can get messages out quickly and still keep customer replies in the same workflow.
I would upgrade once the 50 free messages and one custom keyword start limiting how often or how widely you want to send. Paid plans start at $29 per month and mainly increase your monthly message and keyword allowances, since every account gets access to all Textedly features. Annual billing also gives you 20% more texts per month, which can make sense if SMS becomes a regular part of your outreach.
“I like using Textedly as it helps manage inquiries from clients, both current and future. I appreciate the AI agents in Textedly because I'm building a full protocol for them to handle routine inquiries, which saves me several hours, especially since I'm a massage therapist who needs more time in the treatment room. I find it easy to add clients, and the initial setup went smoothly, though I'm still learning the ins and outs. Switching from Google Messages to Textedly has been beneficial because Textedly is more robust.”
- Textedly review, Tressa K.
Best for: Small businesses and service teams that want fast mass texting, two-way communication, and guided setup support.
Not ideal for: Teams that need self-service subscription changes or highly detailed contact-level delivery reporting.
“The biggest challenge has been navigating the A2P/10DLC carrier registration requirements. While Textedly provides guidance, the carrier approval process can be difficult to interpret, especially for organizations with websites that are part of a larger institution. More detailed examples, clearer validation before submission and more specific error messages would make onboarding much smoother. Once the platform is set up, it's very easy to use.”
- Textedly review, Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
Beyond the seven tools I evaluated above, I’d also consider these options for more specialized SMS workflows. Their free access varies, though, and not every trial or free credit includes SMS sending.
I found free SMS marketing software most useful for small teams that want to test texting before adding another subscription. It works well for:
Message volume is usually the first limit. Textedly includes 50 trial messages, while EZ Texting provides 120 trial credits. SlickText offers broader feature access for 14 days, and Brevo lets you buy SMS credits separately while remaining on its free plan.
An upgrade also makes sense when you need:
My rule is simple: upgrade when free limits start forcing you to delay campaigns, reduce your audience, or manage follow-ups manually.
Have more questions? Find more answers below.
Free SMS marketing uses no-cost plans, trials, or credits to send promotional, transactional, or engagement-focused text messages. Small businesses can use it to test bulk messaging, reminders, opt-in campaigns, and two-way conversations before paying. Tools like Brevo, EZ Texting, SlickText, Textedly, and JustCall offer different types of free access.
Start by checking whether the free plan supports both email and SMS, audience segmentation, automation, reporting, and integrations. Brevo is the strongest fit when you want email and optional pay-as-you-go SMS in one platform. Close is worth considering when you want email, SMS, calling, and CRM activity connected in one sales workflow.
The best SMS marketing software for small businesses depends on how you plan to text customers. Brevo offers a useful free-forever plan with optional SMS credits. SlickText and Textedly provide short trials for dedicated SMS marketing, while EZ Texting suits straightforward campaigns. Sales-focused teams may prefer JustCall when they also need calling, CRM integrations, and outreach workflows.
Based on G2 user reviews, SlickText, Textedly, EZ Texting, and Brevo are among the most trusted free SMS marketing platforms for customer communication and engagement. SlickText leads at 4.8/5 from 1,900+ reviews, followed by Textedly at 4.6/5 from 1,400+, while EZ Texting and Brevo both score 4.5/5. Textedly also scores 94% for bulk SMS and 88% for two-way messaging, supporting its fit for ongoing customer communication.
SlickText and Textedly are strong choices for engagement-focused campaigns. SlickText combines workflows, keyword opt-ins, and responsive support, while Textedly makes bulk sends and two-way conversations easy to manage. Attentive is more commerce-focused and can support revenue-driving SMS, but its free trial details are not publicly disclosed, and pricing is custom.
Platforms with segmentation, automation, keyword opt-ins, and two-way messaging are better positioned to support engagement and conversions. SlickText, Textedly, Attentive, and Brevo fit that profile. SlickText and Textedly help small teams launch quickly, Attentive focuses on e-commerce behavior, and Brevo adds email and automation for broader nurturing campaigns over time.
SlickText, Textedly, EZ Texting, and JustCall receive positive reviewer feedback for different aspects of the experience. SlickText is praised for support, Textedly for setup assistance, and EZ Texting for straightforward bulk messaging. JustCall stands out for connecting calling, SMS, and CRM workflows, particularly for small sales and customer-facing teams.
For SMS marketing software with e-commerce and CRM integrations, I would consider Brevo, Attentive, Close, JustCall, and EZ Texting. Brevo connects email, SMS, automation, and customer data, while Attentive is especially relevant to ecommerce teams. Close and JustCall connect communication with CRM workflows. EZ Texting supports popular systems, although some G2 reviewers report that certain CRM syncs require manual work.
Attentive offers strong compliance, deliverability guidance, and onboarding for ecommerce messaging, although its trial scope is not publicly detailed. JustCall combines SMS with structured outreach and CRM workflows for sales teams. For smaller campaigns, SlickText, Textedly, and EZ Texting provide guided setup, carrier registration support, and practical list-management tools.
For SMS marketing with high engagement without fatigue, I’d prioritize segmentation, behavioral triggers, automation, and targeted workflows rather than sending every message to the entire list. Attentive, Brevo, SlickText, and Close offer useful targeting or workflow capabilities. Their free access varies, but each lets businesses evaluate more relevant customer communication before committing to a paid plan.
Among the top SMS marketing platforms with compliance and segmentation, I would consider Attentive, Brevo, SlickText, and Textedly. Attentive provides e-commerce-focused identity and compliance tools, while Brevo combines segmentation with automation. SlickText supports dynamic segments and opt-in tools, while Textedly offers keywords and list-management capabilities for building permission-based SMS audiences.
Brevo is a practical free-forever starting point for businesses combining email and SMS. SlickText, Textedly, and EZ Texting offer trials for dedicated texting workflows, including campaigns and two-way communication. JustCall suits customer-facing teams that need calls, texts, and CRM logging together, while Close is better suited to sales-led communication inside a CRM.
For the best SMS marketing software for personalized campaigns, I would consider SlickText, Brevo, Attentive, and Close for different workflows. SlickText supports segments and automated journeys, while Brevo combines contact data with multichannel automation. Attentive specializes in e-commerce behavior, and Close connects SMS with CRM data, email, calling, and sales activity for more contextual follow-ups.
For a SimpleTexting vs. EZ Texting comparison for small businesses, I’d look at message allowances, two-way texting, automation, integrations, ease of use, and upgrade costs. I evaluated EZ Texting for this guide, but not SimpleTexting, so I wouldn’t name a winner here. EZ Texting’s 14-day trial gives small teams a practical way to evaluate its SMS workflow before paying.
After evaluating these tools, I found that the best free SMS marketing software is the one that matches how you plan to communicate. Brevo works well for combining email and SMS, SlickText and Textedly offer approachable dedicated texting tools, and EZ Texting keeps mass campaigns simple. JustCall suits teams connecting calls and texts to a CRM, while Attentive and Close serve more specialized e-commerce and sales-led use cases.
My advice is to test one real workflow — an appointment reminder, promotion, or opt-in campaign — before upgrading. A long feature list looks impressive, but an easy send, clear reporting, and manageable replies will matter more once customers start texting back.
Looking to automate more of the customer journey? Explore the best marketing automation software for managing email, SMS, lead nurturing, and follow-ups in one place.