Top 10 best SMS APIs of 2025: Features, pricing & use cases 

4.4 billion SMS interactions occur on Black Friday, 11.6 billion during Cyber Week, and over 258 billion messages are delivered each year. SMS continues to lead global communication with its fast delivery and a 98% open rate. Using an SMS API lets businesses send SMS and receive text messages quickly. 

In this blog, you’ll find: 

How to choose the right SMS API

Finding the best SMS API depends on what your business needs, your budget, and how much you plan to scale. Keep these points in mind: 

• Define your use case: Are you sending appointment reminders, running SMS marketing campaigns, or building two-way communication where customers can send and receive texts? 
• Prioritize reliability and real-time delivery: Look for high delivery rates, backup routing, and strong partnerships with global carriers to ensure your messages reach customers fast. 
• Look for advanced features: Think about the need for multimedia messaging (SMS and MMS), short codes, long codes, toll free numbers, two-way messaging, number masking, and the ability to automate messaging for ongoing notifications. 
• Check integration options: Does the SMS API connect with your CRM, helpdesk, or marketing tools? Easily connect your tools to send messages and keep customers happy. 
• Plan for costs: Some providers charge per SMS or MMS, while others offer bundles. Look for volume discounts if you send large numbers of messages. 
• Support and compliance: Having clear documentation, helpful developer tools, and compliance with GDPR, TCPA, and HIPAA ensures safe and smooth operation. 

The top 10 SMS APIs for 2025

To make things easier, we’ve gathered the most trusted options in one clear list. Find your fit without the guesswork. 

1. Infobip 

With coverage in 190+ countries, Infobip is a full-stack cloud messaging service that supports SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, Viber, RCS, email, and more, all through one API. It supports sending and receiving SMS worldwide with scalability and security.

Key features:

• Trusted partner to 800+ carriers with direct connections, including all Tier 1 US carriers. 
• Omnichannel messaging through one programmable text message API (SMS marketing, multimedia messaging, customer engagement), supported by a customer data platform (CDP) to unify customer insights and a Conversational experience orchestration platform (CXOP) to manage personalized journeys across channels. 
• Two-way communication where customers can send and receive texts, reply to campaigns and confirm appointment reminders 
• Enterprise-grade security compliant with GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, SOC2, CPI, and Cyber Essentials 
• Real-time reporting to monitor delivery and campaign performance 
• Local long codes, short codes, and toll free numbers for consistent customer contact 
• Automated messaging workflows, batch sending, scheduling, URL tracking, and support multiple languages, and campaign management through customer engagement solution for precise customer targeting and engagement 
• Multichannel communication gives you more ways to connect as Infobip supports over 15 channels, from traditional to social and digital, across industries like financial services, retail, eCommerce, telecom, healthcare, and more 
• Easy API setup and comprehensive developer support 

SMS API pricing: We offer a flexible SMS pricing model; you only pay for what you use. Free trial is available. 

Twilio is a well-known CPaaS provider in the US market, built for developers, with strong documentation and SDKs. It supports SMS, MMS, voice, and video, which is great for companies that want to build custom messaging services. 

Key features: 

• Powerful APIs and SDKs for easy sending and receiving SMS 
• Rich messaging options including multimedia SMS and OTT apps 
• Reliable delivery through global carrier network 
• Programmable workflows to automate SMS marketing and appointment reminders 

SMS API pricing: Starts at about $0.0083 per SMS (US), pay as you go. A no-cost trial is provided. 

Sinch focuses on improving customer experience with personalized SMS and MMS campaigns and two-way messaging. 

Key features:

• Enables customers to send and receive texts for marketing and support 
• Targets SMS campaigns for better engagement 
• Real-time analytics to track delivery and performance 
• Voice and video APIs to expand communication 

SMS API pricing: Yearly and monthly plans available, starting at $49/month for 1000 message credits. 

Vonage offers SMS and MMS worldwide with integration for sending and receiving SMS using long codes and toll free numbers. 

Key features: 

• Reliable global delivery with strong carrier links 
• Security tools and compliance support 
• Supports two-way messaging for inbound and outbound campaigns 
• Combines messaging, voice, and video APIs 

SMS API pricing: Starts at $0.00809 per SMS (US).  

Plivo offers SMS for businesses sending high volumes of messages, supporting both long codes and short codes. 

Key features: 

• Real-time global SMS delivery with direct carrier connections 
• Scalable API handling millions of messages 
• Simple REST APIs for developers 
• Voice APIs for added communication 

SMS API pricing: Starts at $0.005 per SMS. It offers pay-as-you-go model, volume discounts and custom enterprise pricing. 

Good for SMEs that are focusing on SMS marketing, appointment reminders, and smaller-scale messaging. 

Key features: 

• Bulk SMS campaigns made easy 
• Email-to-SMS gateway for converting emails to texts 
• Two-way messaging with customers 
• Tools for managing phone numbers and audience segments 

SMS API pricing: Starts at $0.049 per SMS on a pay-as-you-go basis. 

EZ Texting specializes in SMS marketing with automation for sending and receiving SMS during promotions. 

Key features: 

• Pre-built SMS templates for campaigns 
• Scheduling and automation for appointment reminders and SMS campaigns 
• Multimedia messaging with images and video 
• Contact segmentation to target phone numbers effectively 

SMS API pricing: Starts at $20 per month plus message fees. It includes plans based on contacts and messaging volumes. 

Bandwidth owns its telecom network and offers direct messaging services with fewer intermediaries. 

Key features: 

• Direct carrier access for reliable messaging 
• Supports SMS and MMS with local phone numbers, long codes, and short codes 
• Real-time messaging with compliance guarantees 
• Number management through API, including toll free numbers 

SMS API pricing: Starts at $0.004 per outbound SMS message. Also, it offers volume discounts and custom enterprise pricing available. 

Telesign fits businesses needing secure sending and receiving of SMS, ideal for OTPs and customer engagement. 

Key features: 

• SMS verification code support for secure logins 
• Fraud detection that prevents suspicious messaging activity 
• Real-time guaranteed delivery 
• Global support for long codes, short codes, and toll free numbers 

SMS API pricing: Pay-as-you-go pricing model. SMS pricing starts at approximately $0.0072 per message (US). 

Textlocal is a popular SMS API for SMEs in the UK and India. It focuses on simplicity and local needs. 

Key features: 

• Bulk SMS and multimedia messaging for campaigns 
• SMS attachments like links, vouchers and forms 
• Real-time analytics for SMS campaign tracking 
• Two-way messaging for customer communication 

SMS API pricing: SMS credits in the UK typically start at around £0.04 per SMS. We recommend contacting Textlocal for exact pricing details. 

And the award for the best SMS API goes to… 

The best SMS API is the one that works for your goals and helps you connect with people your way. Sometimes it’s just about sending quick reminders, other times it’s about managing a large campaign, or even just making sure customers can reply when they need to.  

Whichever use case you have, the right tool should make it easy. SMS may have been around forever, but it’s still the fastest, most reliable and most likely to actually get read.