Should I be using a cheap online SMS service?

Online SMS is an easy way to send an SMS from a computer without the need for any special software. It’s just a matter of logging into a website and provide a target audience list via CSV to the bulk SMS provider. By simply sending your required 160 word text message through means of a standard email process, the bulk SMS provider will do the rest for you. This makes online text messaging service perfect for organisations wanting to communicate a message or for a notification or for an appointment and payment reminder or do a marketing pitches, all can be done so easily and effortlessly.

Online SMS providers in UK will manage your text message distribution as well as handle user-replies. By documenting the responses to an original message means knowing immediately what is going on, which is valuable for companies and organisations wanting immediate answers to matters like staff roistering or appointment reminders. It is a fast, efficient solution to an online Email to SMS delivery system.

Cheap Online SMS services

 

Cheap versus Premium Online SMS Service

In UK, there are two forms of SMS gateway networks that you can engage. One is termed Premium which means that you will be using a top, efficient telecommunication network system, which large companies use to ensure their messages are guaranteed to be received by the end users from this network t the specified time required.  In the case of financial institutions, they use such SMS gateway services with regard to internet banking, which needs secure, instantaneous and reliable messaging system. A premium charge is paid per SMS sent through such well established network systems but you have the guarantee and reliability that your customers will receive the text almost instantly with near 100% reliability. Premium SMS providers usually will not deal with businesses who distribute SMS in small volumes per month.

However, many businesses do not require such type of premium SMS service. They require just a range for online SMS gateway services for their marketing needs such as reminders that need to be  distribute in bulk. In such instances, SMS providers use a Hybrid carriers which are usually overseas telecommunication ones where reliability and urgency is not a priority but are cheaper to use. The SMS is received by the user with a possible minimal delay of possibly minutes and this is viewed as quite acceptable. Then such interested businesses should consider this cheaper form of distribution based simply on price. =Cheap Online SMS services3

A number of cheap online SMS providers use overseas network systems or use a lower tier in the British network system. It can be shown that sending an SMS using an overseas network system from UK is surprisingly reliable. The main downside is the slower distribution time which can be less than 15 minutes but other time longer (dependent on travel distance). The reporting system is still good and is generally reliable even though their response rates may be lower.

What do cheap online SMS providers offer

Based on the SMS Bulk Comparison Table provided, the best value online SMS providers offer:

  • Cheap SMS rates overall
  • Option of two-way SMS at no extra charge
  • Real time status
  • Message personalisation
  • Full integration with client’s email
  • 2-way discussion ability so as to view sent and received messages
  • No set up fees, contracts or ongoing fees
  • Gateway system for fast message delivery

WholesaleSMS and SMS Broadcast have become relatively significant players in the online SMS British market over the past few years. ClickSend is a cloud based SMS organisation focusing on sending and receiving SMS platform, email & voice services. They have operated in UK over the past decade.

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Features of cheap online providers

There are many good features that cheap online SMS providers have to offer.

Firstly, SMS distribution is a two way communication process. The business needs to recognize that the online SMS system will send a text from a computer to a specific target audience nominated and if required, they can receive replies back for viewing on the web. This latter part can be forwarded to the business’s specific email address if requested. Therefore, the business can analyse and assess the responses to the message that was originally distributed. This means that the provider can totally track text messaging from start on the mobile phone. Recording is an excellent way of measuring the success of the campaign distribution through their analysis via delivery tracking system.

These online SMS distribution companies outlined do provide high speed connections to network suppliers for low, medium or high volume clients that need text messaging to be disseminated promptly.

Another great feature is that many of these online SMS companies investigated ensure they are anti-SPAM and are General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant for security and privacy matters. They have a means of ‘cleaning’ their SMS contact list when imported and reformatted.

As can be seen below in the graphical format, SMS Broadcast has the best rating of all the online SMS competitors. This is followed by ClickSend with similar high quality features. The other competitors rate lower but should not be excluded from your decision as they too offer a good range of valued features.

Price Comparison of Cheap Online Providers

WholesaleSMS has become a relatively significant player in the online SMS British market for over half a decade. It is one of the few cheap online providers to provide a price matching conditions.

Some drawbacks of WholesaleSMS are their lack of offer of monthly plans and their credits only last for 12 months. For small volumes of SMS distributed on a monthly basis you may want to consider SMS Broadcast or ClickSend. Their rate for this range is cheaper than Wholesale SMS and there is no credit expiry. If you require a virtual number then you will incur a monthly charge.

Comparing charges of each cheap online SMS provider, the review found that there is a significant difference in charges and costing dependent on the volume of text messaging distributed every month. For low, medium and significant volume of SMS texts sent out, WholesaleSMS offered the cheapest rates. This is followed by SMS Broadcast and ClickSend being reasonably cheap in terms of SMS charges. The others are significantly more expensive with a variation of up to 45% in some categories between the cheapest online provider and the most expensive one.

For lower volumes of text messages distributed, WholesaleSMS offers the cheapest rates. This is followed closely by ClickSend and SMSBroadcast with an approximate 10% increase in charges. The other providers namely DirectSMS and SMSTech offer at more expensive rates.

Take the mid volumes of text messages on a monthly basis, WholesaleSMS offers the cheapest rate. ClickSend and SMS Broadcast are still offer cheap pricing but still 10% above the cheapest provider. The other charge much more.

On the basis of the largest volume distribution, again WholesaleSMS offers the cheapest rate. ClickSend and SMS Broadcast charges are 18% more expensive than WholesaleSMS while DirectSMS and SMSTech are around 30% to 40% dearer.

Therefore, Wholesale SMS ranks No. 1 followed by SMS Broadcast and ClickSend.  If you are a client or prospective client please check to ensure the pricing schedules and charges have not changed.

Reliability of Online Cheap SMS Providers in UK

With any UK business, one needs to be reassured that these cheap, online SMS bulk companies are both reliable and reputable when they send online text messages to your customers, or clients, or staff or to any specific groups. You need to be assured that your instructions and content can be scheduled for transmission at any set times, which is particularly relevant for reminders and for appointments or any important dates.

Many of the online SMS providers investigated do have an up-time guarantee of 99% or better as part of their reliability assurance. All the five major providers also have good customer service whether it is phone support during business hours, email support, or the option of a free trial to see how the system works.

The reliability chart below shows that three of the major online SMS services are regarded as providing a reliable level when it comes to distributing text messages. SMS Broadcast and ClickSend are considered the most reliable closely followed by Clickatell and Text It.

About the Cheap Online SMS UK Comparison Table

The cheap online SMS UK comparison table has been prepared after extensive reviews and analysis of the important features offered by each cheap SMS Provider. The authors have worked with leading SMS UK providers in the past, and understand these businesses extensively. Therefore they have the capability, understanding, and knowledge to independently judge a number of pertinent features which they consider any business should use to compare SMS providers. Because the authors don not work anymore in the SMS arena, they have provided you with a fair, unbiased and independent overview of the text messaging services in UK.

smsTech Website

The SMS Comparison Table is continually reviewed. However the cheap SMS providers in UK can alter their charges and products without notice. It is advisable to always check prices and features prior to engaging an online SMS provider. If any information is inaccurate or requires updating, please let the authors of this site and table know. Any changes required will be immediately made.

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The Comparison Table is free to readers. A commission may be requested from the selected SMS provider should you click onto their website and then engage their services. Intentionally, no advertising has been placed on this site.

 

This page was last updated on 31 August 2020.

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