The Best Text Message Service Providers in The UK (List)

Which are the best text message service providers in the UK, and which should you use to communicate with your customers? Whether it’s OTP, transactional, or promotional messages.

There are lots of text message service providers you can choose from. In this article, you’ll find 5 of the best text message service providers in the UK.

For each text message service provider, we explain how they work, their features, their pricing, and who each of them is best for.

Let’s dive in!

What features should I look for in bulk SMS text message providers in the UK?

There are quite a few business SMS service providers in the UK which have helped send 65 billion text messages and MMS in 2019 alone. 

Do you see why it’s crucial to identify and choose a service that suits your needs?

Consider these features when picking the right text message service provider for your business in the UK:

• Regulatory compliance
• Security
• APIs
• Third-party integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Pricing
• Customer support

Let’s break these down.

Regulatory compliance

Like other countries, the UK has compliance requirements for sending text messages.

For example, among other rules, your customers must opt in. This means they must give you their consent to send them SMSes. 

Also, ensure that you share with your customer the privacy policy. This includes your business’ terms of service. 

Check out: SMS Regulations You Must Know to Send SMS in The UK

Ensure the provider you pick is on that same page. A compliant bulk SMS service provider will help you adhere to these rules.

Security

Your service provider must have a secure and safe platform to send bulk SMS.

Ensure that their message transmission is GDPR compliant. Furthermore, also check if they have a streamlined account control and reliable message transmission. 

APIs

SMS APIs let you make easy and seamless integrations with your applications. No need to open different apps – you can directly send and receive an SMS on your web app or application. 

With SMS API, you can also grow your communication channels on your application. So check whether your service provider offers a full SMS API service. 

Third-party integrations 

Third-party integrations are a crucial difference between an average and a good SMS provider. 

So, check this off when you look for an SMS provider in the UK. Ensure that the service offers third-party integrations with e-commerce platforms and applications like Tally, excel, and google sheets. These integrations make your workflow with their platform much more simplified and easy. 

Reporting and Analytics 

Reports and analytics are real-time indicators of your SMS campaigns. Choose a service that provides detailed insights, data, and reports on your SMS campaigns. 

You can track and adjust your SMS campaigns for success based on reports and analytics. 

Pricing 

Pricing can sometimes be tricky when choosing an SMS provider. You don’t want to overpay for a service or receive an underwhelming experience. 

So, choose a service provider in the UK within your price range.

Customer support 

Customer service is one of the most important features to consider before choosing an SMS platform. 

Check whether your text messaging provider offers 24/7 global customer care. The SMS provider should offer various modes to contact them, such as chat, call, and video.

Let’s analyse the best text message service providers in the UK.

Which are the best bulk text messaging service providers in the UK

We’ve compiled a list of the top text message services in the UK in 2023. Here are the best 5 text message service providers in the UK:

• SMSCountry
• Twilio
• Vonage
• Plivo
• Bandwidth

SMSCountry – The most reliable text message service provider

SMSCountry stands at number 1 on our exclusive list. This unique software offers you every type of SMS service on a single platform.

With over 60,000 clients like Google and Yahoo, SMSCountry gives you access to a global audience. They offer coverage in 180+ countries with over 200+ direct telecom carrier connections.

SMSCountry’s key features

Let’s examine SMSCountry’s offers, especially for you in the UK. SMSCountry offers you the following features:

• Omnichannel presence
• All-in-one platform
• Power of SMS API and ease of integration
• Availability of plugins and web platform
• Ease of use and adoption
• Scalability
• Multilingual support
• 24/7 customer support
• Reliability
• Security
• User-friendliness
• Analytics and reporting capabilities
• Customisation options
• Scheduled SMS
• Email-2-SMS
• 2-way SMS
• Global coverage
• Voice service
• Reseller Program

Now, we’ll focus on the 5 main features of SMSCountry.

Ease of use and adoption

SMSCountry’s platform is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use. Whether you’re using their online platforms or integrating their SMS or WhatsApp API. It makes it easy for you to adopt the platform and start sending messages quickly.

The platform is scalable. Meaning it can grow with your business as your messaging needs increase.

Additionally, SMSCountry offers plugins that can be integrated with your existing systems to make sending messages even easier.

24/7 customer support

SMSCountry’s 24/7 customer support is always on standby. So, whenever you encounter any issues, rest assured that they’ll be there to save the day. SMSCountry’s customer support will help you keep your messaging campaigns running as smoothly as ever.

Omnichannel Presence

Who needs just one channel when you can have them all? SMSCountry gives you an omnichannel presence.

You can connect with your customers anywhere they are through SMS, email, voice, WhatsApp, and social media.

Email 2 SMS

SMSCountry’s Email 2 SMS feature is convenient for sending text messages directly from your email account.

You can send text messages directly from your email. Send SMS messages using your preferred email client. This makes communication seamless and efficient.

Ease of integration with WhatsApp and SMS API

With SMSCountry SMS and WhatsApp API, you can integrate SMS capabilities directly into your apps, websites, or systems.

Use our dev-friendly and secure WhatsApp API to delight your customers with fast OTP. See how it works with a FREE demo.

Automate, streamline and impress your customers with lightning-fast notifications and updates.

SMSCountry’s load of features supercharges your communication game. From omnichannel communication to secure OTPs, they’ve got you covered.

Moving on, let’s review the strengths and weaknesses of SMSCountry.

Here are some of the pros and drawbacks of using SMSCountry.

Pros of using SMSCountry

• Competitive pricing plans to suit different budgets and message volumes.
• User-friendly interface for easy campaign creation and management.
• Advanced features like scheduling, personalisation, and analytics.
• Efficient delivery of messages with high deliverability rates.
• Reliable customer support is available 24/7.
• Multi-channel messaging solutions, including SMS, voice, and WhatsApp.
• Integration options for popular CRMs and marketing automation platforms.
• Secure and compliant messaging platform.
• Bulk messaging options for efficient communication with large audiences.
• API access for developers to build custom messaging solutions.

While SMSCountry has amazing advantages, there are two drawbacks to consider:

Drawbacks of using SMSCountry

• Limited international coverage (180+ countries only).
• Limited customisation options for the appearance of messages and landing pages.

So, who can benefit the most from SMSCountry?

Who’s SMSCountry best for?

If you are serious about easy and effective communication with your customers via SMS and WhatsApp, SMSCountry is for you.

Now, let’s take a closer look at SMSCountry’s pricing plans.

SMSCountry pricing

The cost per SMS varies. It depends on the number of bulk messages you plan to send. See our pricing page to learn more and request a custom quote or pricing.

Twilio – Enabling seamless communication

Twilio is a cloud communication platform built for customer engagement. It comprises combined building blocks such as video, SMS, and audio to create a communication channel and system. 

Regarding the SMS block, Twilio allows you to send SMS and WhatsApp messages.

Twilio’s key features

• Programmable SMS API: This allows you to add robust messaging capabilities to your application.
• Two-way service: This allows your customers to have a chat-like experience.
• Delivery report: Track delivery of messages. 
• Schedule SMS: Schedule your text messages to send whenever you want. 
• Email to SMS: Send SMS directly from your mailbox. 
• Message History: Twilio allows you to retrieve and modify message history. 
• ETA notification: Keep your customers up-to-date on their requests or orders with ETA notifications. 
• Automate SMS: Automate the process of sending customers reminders for upcoming appointments in advance.

So, let’s highlight Twilio’s top 5 features relevant to the UK.

Delivery Report

Twilio’s Delivery Report feature gives you real-time feedback on the status of SMS messages sent through the Twilio API.

This lets you know if your SMS messages were successfully delivered.

Schedule SMS

With Twilio’s Schedule SMS feature, you can schedule SMS messages to be sent at a specific date and time.

Message History

Twilio’s Message History feature provides a comprehensive view of all SMS messages sent and received through your account.

ETA Notification

Twilio’s ETA Notification feature informs customers about estimated arrival times.

Automate SMS

You can send automated messages for appointment reminders, order confirmations, or other routine notifications.

While Twilio has many benefits, you must understand both pros and drawbacks of the platform.

Pros of Twilio

• Wide Range of APIs: Twilio’s APIs help developers to build messaging, voice, and video applications quickly and easily.
• Scalability: Twilio’s platform is scalable. It can handle large volumes of traffic and messaging with minimal issues.
• Flexibility: Twilio’s APIs are flexible. Developers can customise applications to meet their specific needs.
• Easy Integration: Twilio’s APIs can integrate easily with other platforms and services.
• Robust Documentation: Developers can get started and troubleshoot any issues.

Here are some potential drawbacks of the platform.

Drawbacks of Twilio

• Cost: Twilio’s high-volume messaging and voice applications are expensive.
• Difficulty of use: Twilio’s APIs are complex and challenging.
• Reliance on third-party providers: Twilio relies on third-party providers for some of its services, such as carrier networks, which can lead to potential service disruptions or downtime.
• Compliance and security: Twilio has high policies. However, it might not fit the bill for every business out there.
• Limited customisation: Twilio’s APIs are highly flexible. However, some developers may find that the platform doesn’t provide enough customisation options for their specific use case.

Who’s Twilio best for?

Twilio is ideal for businesses that need to send high volumes of SMS messages or voice calls.

And what are Twilio’s customers saying?

Below is a review from a Twilio customer.

Twilio pricing

The pricing varies based on your preferred services and usage. But do keep in mind that pricing at Twilio is tricky.

It costs $0.0075 to send an SMS with Twilio. The cost of sending SMS messages is based on a pay-per-use model. The cost of sending or receiving a text message varies based on the type and number involved.

See the best Twilio alternatives to try out in the UK.

Vonage – Elevating your SMS

The bulk SMS UK provider, Vonage, allows you to send notifications to customers and carry out 2-way communication. 

Moreover, customers can also respond to SMS notifications to do things like change or edit their orders and delivery details.

Vonage’s key features

Vonage offers several features to their customers, such as:

1. Adaptive routing: SMS is proactively re-routed to ensure optimal delivery. 

2. Two-way messaging: Easily interact with your customers with replies to provide a chat-like experience.

3. Shortcodes: Make your messages simpler, easy to deliver, and more memorable with shortcodes.

And now, let’s examine Vonage’s top 5 features.

Voice API

Vonage’s Voice API powers applications with seamless voice-calling integration. You can create personalised voice experiences and streamline customer support workflows.

SMS API

Vonage’s SMS API enables easy sending and receiving of SMS messages across over 200 countries. You can send notifications, alerts, or marketing messages. This way, you can send targeted SMS to your customers and employees.

Virtual Numbers

Vonage gives you local, toll-free, and international phone numbers. 

Pros and drawbacks of Vonage

Here are some of the pros and cons of using Vonage.

Pros of Vonage

• Easy dashboard interface for users and admins
• It’s flexible and easily expandable
• It’s reliable
• You get unlimited calls and SMS messages
• Good voice quality

And the drawbacks?

Drawbacks of Vonage

• Vonage relies on internet connectivity. So, there are no separate trunks like traditional phone systems.
• Vonage depends on the Wi-Fi connection and its quality.
• Users have experienced horrible quality of calls.
• They have unsatisfactory chat support.
• And lastly, using Vonage may involve hidden charges

Who’s Vonage best for?

Vonage is best for small businesses that need ten or fewer business lines and don’t require advanced features like video conferencing.

Vonage pricing

Vonage has variable pricing and a model of subscription in place that depends precisely on what you are using. 

For SMS, the pricing starts at 19.99$ for a single line and costs around 0.0065$ per message.

Note that pricing varies based on the country and location and changes due to the carrier rate changes.

Plivo – developer friendly

Developers use Plivo to build voice calls, messaging, and video calling apps. 

It’s a cloud communication platform that helps businesses make and receive calls and send and receive SMS using APIs.

Plivo’s key features 

Plivo comes with many features for developers, like:

• Long message merging
• Delivery report notifications
• Opt-out handling
• SMS data redaction
• Intelligent message encoding

Long message merging

Worried about the 160-character limit for SMS? With Plivo, you can send longer messages.

Plivo’s APIs automatically break long messages into multiple SMSes. Then, it adds a concatenation header to each message so that they can be assembled on your device. This is great for marketing campaigns or important updates.

Delivery report notifications

Plivo provides delivery notifications to update you on the status of your SMSes.

Opt-out handling

Managing a customer’s wishes to opt-out can become a scare. But with Plivo, the customer simply replies with a keyword you make available to them. And Plivo will automatically remove the customer from your list.

SMS data redaction

Data privacy can be a concern for your business. Plivo’s redaction features allow you to limit how your SMS data is stored on their servers and database. So once you enable redaction, your sensitive data remains accessible to you alone.

Intelligent message encoding

Do you wish to send messages in different languages and character sets? This feature ensures that your messages are delivered correctly. Regardless of the language and character set you’re using.

These five features give Plivo a place on our exclusive list.

Now, let’s uncover the advantages and limitations of Plivo and how they affect your business.

Pros of Plivo

• You can send messages to 190+ countries
• Pricing is flexible
• Enjoy built-in automation like sticky sender and local match
• Enjoy a console dashboard to monitor delivery and performance
• Plivo APIs comply with international regulatory standards.

And the disadvantages? Let’s examine the drawbacks of Plivo.

Drawbacks of Plivo

• Some users have reported that Plivo’s documentation can be challenging to navigate
• Some have also found the user interface complex and confusing
• Plivo’s customer support has been criticised for being slow to respond
• Some users have reported that Plivo’s SMS delivery rates can be lower than expected.

Who’s Plivo best for?

Plivo is best for any business that needs to integrate communication with their business applications.

Below are users’ feelings about Plivo’s SMS services.

Plivo Pricing

This text messaging provider has a wide variety of SMS products. Their standard plan costs $0.01 to send an SMS with Plivo.

Plivo’s pay-as-you-go pricing has no setup fee or monthly costs. You are billed only for the services consumed.

And now, to the last in our list of SMS providers in the UK.

Bandwidth – Scalable SMS Solutions

Bandwidth started as a telecommunications provider offering traditional voice services. Soon, it gradually expanded into other areas, including SMS messaging.

The company’s SMS platform helps businesses of all sizes communicate with their customers through SMS messages.

Bandwidth has a range of features, like two-way messaging, message templates, and the ability to send messages in bulk.

Bandwidth key features

There are seven features of Bandwidth:

• Two-way messaging
• Message templates
• Bulk messaging
• URL shortening
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) support
• Number pooling
• Toll-free SMS

Now, let’s pick its top 5 features that are relevant to the UK:

Two-way messaging

Bandwidth’s two-way messaging ensures you send text messages and receive responses.

Message templates

You can create and customise pre-written messages to send to customers.

You can frequently send out similar types of messages, like appointment reminders or shipping notifications.

MMS support

You can send multimedia messages, like images or videos, to their customers for more engaging and interactive content to your customers.

Toll-free SMS

Bandwidth gives you dedicated toll-free numbers that customers can use to send text messages.

We’ve explored the features of Bandwidth. Let’s now take a closer look at their pros and drawbacks.

Pros of Bandwidth

• Bandwidth is scalable for businesses of all sizes
• Bandwidth APIs are developer-friendly
• Reliability and faster message delivery
• Affordable range of pricing plans.

Drawbacks of Bandwidth

• Limited international reach may not be useful for businesses with an international customer base
• Limited support resources may be a disadvantage for some businesses
• Complexity of the platform may be difficult for businesses without technical expertise or development resources
• Compliance requirements related to SMS messaging can be complex and a potential source of risk.

Who is Bandwidth best for?

Bandwidth is best for businesses of all sizes. 

However, there’s a hitch.

Bandwidth has limited international reach and difficult SMS compliance requirements. It’s less suitable if you have an international customer base, or operate in a highly regulated industry.

And, what are Bandwidth’s customers saying about its services?

According to Glassdoor, Bandwidth has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 10. Below are reviews from Bandwidth users.

Bandwidth’s pricing

Bandwidth offers five different pricing editions.

Bandwidth owns and operates its nationwide network. This allows them to offer competitive pricing without the use of other providers.

How do I choose a reliable bulk text messaging service provider?

It can be overwhelming, we understand. It’s like trying to choose the perfect avocado at the grocery store – you know there are many options, but you’re not sure how to pick the right one.

To help you, follow these 8 steps.

• Identify your needs
• Research providers
• Check reliability and uptime
• Check message delivery rates
• Check SMS law compliance
• Check customer support
• Check the pricing
• And lastly, test the service

Step 1: Identify your needs

What do you truly want from a bulk text messaging service? What needs are you trying to meet?

Do you want affordable, scalable, or advanced features? What does your business need SMS for?

Genuinely answer these questions. Then decide what you want (if you’ve not already done that).

Step 2: Research providers

What are users saying about the SMS provider you’re considering?

Read reviews, and ask for recommendations. Then make a list of possible text message service providers you can work with.

Step 3: Check reliability and uptime

Looking through your list, which ones are the most reliable?

Mark them out.

Look for the ones that promise reliable and high uptime services.

Step 4: Check message delivery rates

Find out the delivery rates of each provider on your list. Remove those with less than 90% message delivery rates.

Step 5: Check compliance

On your list, select providers who respect the rules and regulations governing bulk text messaging. This ensures your messages are delivered ethically.

Step 6: Check customer support

Seek a provider with exceptional customer support that can assist you when you need help.

Step 7: Check the pricing

Compare the pricing structures of different providers. Pick those that fall within your budget while providing all the basic features you need. 

Step 8: Test the service

Before committing to your chosen provider, embark on a final trial. 

Test their service with a small batch of messages. Gratefully, SMCountry gives you free credits to test their platform.

Observe the software’s user response, the ease of use, and note your satisfaction.

Those are the eight steps to pick the most reliable bulk text messaging service.

Choosing the best bulk SMS provider in the UK

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compared these five best UK bulk SMS providers. We also highlighted their unique features and services.

Check out the table below to see how these providers stack up against each other.

	SMSCountry	Twilio	Vonage	Plivo	Bandwidth
Delivery rate	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	❌
Security	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Up time	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
Transparent pricing	✔️	❌	✔️	❌	✔️
Local expertise with the UK marketer	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Uptime	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Customer support	✔️	❌	✔️	❌	✔️
Customization of messages and sender IDs	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Advanced reporting and analytics	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Pricing	✔️	❌	❌	❌	❌
Local coverage	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
2-way messaging	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Message Scheduling	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️

Pick the best bulk text messaging service provider in the UK for your business 

As you’ve seen, each of these competitors has its own offerings, but which one is the best?

If you want a platform that’ll ease your marketing campaigns, then you should pick SMSCountry.

SMSCountry gives you impressive features with affordable pricing and round-the-clock support. 

Signup for free and get access to the user-friendly interface and seamless API integration.

Or request a demo to experience SMSCountry’s uniqueness that makes SMSCountry ideal for any business, irrespective of size and industry. 

And if you have any questions, please contact the sales team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many messages can I send per month with a bulk SMS service?

The number of messages you can send per month with a bulk SMS service can vary depending on the provider and your specific plan.

Is there a limit on the number of recipients I can send messages to?

This depends on the service provider. Some providers have a limit on the number of recipients you can send messages to, while others offer unlimited recipients.

What kind of messages can I send using a bulk SMS service?

You can send a variety of messages using a bulk SMS service. This includes promotional messages, transactional messages, alerts, and reminders.

How can I ensure that my messages are delivered to recipients?

Work with a reliable and reputable bulk SMS service provider with a good track record for message delivery rates. For example, SMSCountry offers a 99.9% message delivery rate guarantee. It uses advanced routing technology to optimise message delivery.

How do I track message delivery and response rates?

You need reporting and analytics tools to track message delivery and response rates. And SMSCountry gives you just that.

When you send messages using SMSCountry’s bulk SMS platform, you can track whether it was delivered, remained on queue, or failed.

SMSCountry also provides detailed reporting on message delivery rates, open rates, click-through rates, and other key metrics. This data wil help you optimise your messaging strategies and improve the effectiveness of your campaigns.

What are the costs involved in using a bulk SMS service?

The cost of using a bulk SMS service can vary depending on the provider and the specific pricing plan you choose. However, with SMSCountry, you can send messages of any volume at affordable rates, regardless of the size of your business.

The cost per SMS with SMSCountry varies based on the number of messages you plan to send. See our pricing page.

What kind of support can I expect from my bulk SMS service provider?

Most bulk SMS service providers offer customer support via phone, email, or chat. SMSCountry offers 24/7 via the same channels. They also provide a knowledge base and developer documentation to help customers get started with the platform.

What are the regulations and compliance requirements for bulk SMS in the UK?

In the UK, bulk SMS campaigns must comply with regulations like the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

SMSCountry ensures this. You get features like opt-out management and consent tracking to help you stay compliant.

We wrote complete guides on the regulations to follow in different countries.

How do I ensure that my bulk SMS campaigns comply with regulations and data protection laws?

Simple solution: choose a reputable service provider like SMSCountry.

Can I integrate a bulk SMS service with my existing marketing or customer relationship management (CRM) systems?

Yes, of course you can.

SMSCountry, like many bulk SMS service providers, offers you APIs and integrations to connect the SMS service with your existing marketing or CRM systems.

Request a demo now to learn how to get started.

How can I measure the success of my bulk SMS campaigns?

You can measure the success of your bulk SMS campaigns by tracking your open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and other vital KPIs and metrics.

What kind of reporting and analytics are available with a bulk SMS service?

Want to know how your SMS campaigns are performing? Bulk SMS service providers have got you covered with reporting and analytics tools that track delivery rates, open rates, and conversion rates.

But don’t settle for basic metrics.

Use SMSCountry – a bulk SMS service provider with top-notch reporting and analytics tools. Get free credits to test out the platform and see the results for yourself. Optimise your bulk SMS campaigns today and take your messaging strategy to the next level.