The 3 best SMS marketing platforms for 2026

Disclaimer: this blog was written in collaboration with Prismfly. No compensation was exchanged for this collaboration.

As we head into 2026, shoppers expect more than messages. They expect conversations. The brands that win will be the ones that build genuine, two-way connections through text.

Based on my 8 years as a lifecycle marketer and my current position as lifecycle marketing lead at Prismfly, and Platinum Klaviyo Partner, here’s everything I guide brands through when choosing a text message marketing platform.

8 key criteria for choosing an SMS platform

1. Deliverability and carrier reliability

• Why it matters: If your messages don’t reach your audience, nothing else matters.
• What to look for in a platform: direct carrier connections, high throughput, and real-time deliverability reporting

2. Will keep you informed about compliance and security

• Why it matters: SMS marketing is tightly regulated (TCPA, GDPR, etc.), and violations can be costly.
• What to look for in a platform: built-in compliance tools like opt-in management, double opt-in flows, and audit trails
• Bonus: Look for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications for data security.

“With state-level compliance regulations rolling out in the US (like Texas’s mini TCPA), it’s important to find a provider that helps you stay up to date,” says Ashley Ismailovski, director of email marketing at SmartSites. “Even something as simple as quiet hours can help you future-proof your SMS marketing strategy.”

3. Segmentation and personalization

• Why it matters: Blasting generic messages is a fast track to opt-outs.
• What to look for in a platform: dynamic fields, behavioral triggers, and robust audience segmentation to tailor messages that convert

4. Automation and workflow capabilities

• Why it matters: Manual campaigns don’t scale.
• What to look for in a platform: Drip campaign support, event-based triggers (e.g., cart abandonment), better campaign function such as multi-message, multi-channel campaigns, and integrations with your CRM or ecommerce stack

5. Two-way messaging and inbox management

• Why it matters: Text message marketing should be a conversation, not a monologue.
• What to look for in a platform: conversational capabilities, shared inboxes, and AI support to manage replies at scale

Two-way messaging tip: Quick and easy access to your customer data when replying to subscribers’ messages can make personalization easier and save a lot of time (which you can do on a CRM like Klaviyo). Having all of your customer data centralized also makes it easier for an AI agent (like Klaviyo’s Customer Agent) to handle conversations across channels without losing context.

6. Analytics and reporting

• Why it matters: You can’t optimize what you don’t measure.
• What to look for in a platform: real-time dashboards, A/B testing tools, flexible attribution windows, and conversion tracking, all of which are essential for ROI-driven marketers

“Platforms that offer the flexibility to change your attribution window are a huge plus when it comes to reporting,” says Ismailovski. “With SMS being such a high-touch marketing channel, the attribution window should be much shorter than email.”

SMS analytics tip: Klaviyo’s omnichannel attribution and linear multi-touch attribution give brands an unbiased view of how different channels contribute to conversions.

7. Ease of use and support

• Why it matters: A powerful platform is useless if your team can’t use it.
• What to look for in a platform: intuitive UI/UX, onboarding resources, and responsive customer support, ideally with SMS expertise

8. Pricing transparency

• Why it matters: Hidden fees kill margins, so strong transparency before you send a campaign is key.
• What to look for in a platform: clear pricing on message volume, carrier fees, short codes, and support
• Bonus: Look for offer volume discounts.

Once you’ve evaluated a platform through these lenses, the next step is seeing which platforms actually deliver. The best text message marketing tools in 2026 don’t just check the boxes. They help you build relationships that drive revenue, without adding complexity to your workflow. Here are three that stand out for their performance, flexibility, and customer experience.

3 of the best SMS marketing platforms

Klaviyo

Founded in 2012, Klaviyo is the AI-first B2C CRM that unifies data, marketing, service, and analytics in one place. With everything you need on one platform, brands can build stronger customer connections with smarter, data-driven messaging.

“When brands use separate tools for email and SMS, you end up with gaps in the customer experience,” says Ben Zettler, founder of Zettler Digital. “Having both in one place lets you build cross-channel flows that actually make sense—like sending a text for cart recovery and following up with an email automatically, without losing the thread.”

“The brands that win over the next few years won’t be the ones using the most tools,” Zettler continues. “They’ll be the ones connecting the dots across fewer, smarter ones. Consolidating channels into a single platform gives you a full picture of the customer and makes every message work harder.”

Klaviyo empowers you to deliver personalized texts at scale through two-way conversations powered by unified customer data. You can:

• Reach shoppers wherever they are—across SMS, email, and mobile messaging—all from one global platform.
• Grow revenue faster with AI that optimizes performance and accelerates list growth.
• Make smarter decisions with unified reporting that shows the real impact of every message across channels.
  

“With Klaviyo, my team at SmartSites and I never feel like we’re compromising,” Ismailovski shares. “Other platforms may offer high-quality SMS marketing features but fall short when it comes to email or WhatsApp. With Klaviyo, you’re getting leading technology and high-quality support all around, no matter which products you’re using.”

“The real advantage with Klaviyo is that everything sits under one roof,” says Zettler. “Email and SMS share the same data, so you’re not jumping between tools or trying to make different systems talk to each other. It’s cleaner, faster, and ultimately drives more relevant messaging.”

Postscript

Postscript has been around since 2018. An SMS marketing platform exclusively for brands on Shopify, their goal is to make SMS the No. 1 revenue channel for their customers.

Attentive

Founded in 2016, Attentive is an SMS marketing company focused on serving mid-marketing and enterprise ecommerce brands.

Turn conversations into growth

The right text message marketing platform can do more than send messages—it can help you build stronger customer relationships and drive growth in every part of your business.

Whether you want one seamless platform for email and SMS (like Klaviyo), deep Shopify-native features (like Postscript), or an enterprise-level experience (like Attentive), the best choice is the one that fits your strategy and scales with your brand.

In 2026, it’s not just about sending texts. It’s about sending the right ones.