BulkSMS vs ClickSend (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ClickSend grades higher than BulkSMS: 1.8 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
ClickSend grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ClickSend
Prepaid SMS and MMS sending by app, API or email, with no monthly fee
Which one is for you
Pick BulkSMS if
- Fits if you send bulk texts now and then and don't want a monthly plan
- Works for developers who need an SMS API that covers many countries
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a clear price per text, as costs are only estimates until you ask
- Watch out: the credits one SMS uses differ by network
- Pricey if you send in large volumes, since those are quoted by sales
- Skip it if you want a free trial, as only a money-back guarantee is offered
Pick ClickSend if
- Fits if you send occasional SMS and want no monthly fee
- Works for developers who want an SMS API on prepaid credit
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you send little: $20 buys about 48 US messages
- Skip it if you want one clear price, because the per-SMS rate depends on the size of each top-up
- Watch out: carrier fees apply on top of the per-message rates, and prices exclude taxes
- Watch out: a US toll-free number is $3.44 a month, and a dedicated shortcode $996.73 a month plus a setup fee
- Watch out: the page defaulted to Malaysia, so the figures here are the US view
How we grade them
| 1.6GPABulkSMSWeak | 1.8GPAClickSendWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo fixed price is published. Credit packages run from 200 to 50,000, but the pricing page is an estimator and the credits a text uses vary by network. | CNo subscription: a $20 minimum top-up and $0.0281 per US SMS, falling with bigger top-ups. The category's figures leave this pay-per-message price out, so it is graded at the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | FNothing free. A money-back guarantee on credits isn't a trial. | DA free trial is offered but its terms are not stated on the pricing page. No free plan. |
| Features | CA web platform, SMS API, incoming long numbers and shortcodes, plus RCS and WhatsApp. Larger volumes are a quote from sales. | CIt does SMS and MMS, two-way texting, an API, email to SMS and contact segments, and does that job fully. It is a smaller job than a full chat marketing platform. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Sending from a web account is simple, but the API and number set-up take work. | CNo store rating on record. You top up credit, add numbers and wire the API. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with an API but no integrations listed. | CWeb only, plus an API and email to SMS. No integrations are listed. |
| Best for | prepaid bulk SMS without a subscription | prepaid SMS with no monthly fee |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: BulkSMS and ClickSend. How we grade
Where they differ
- BulkSMS also covers whatsApp messaging.
At a glance
| BulkSMS | ClickSend | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $20 minimum top-up, then $0.0281 per SMS in the US |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial offered ('Start free trial'); its terms are not stated on the pricing page. |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Celerity Systems (Pty) Ltd | ClickSend |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | clicksend.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
BulkSMS
- The pricing page shows an estimator, not a fixed price list; the cost per message depends on destination network and credits used.
- The number of credits per SMS varies by network, so message costs are only estimates until you ask for a quote.
- Larger volumes are priced through a quote from sales.
- Customers in South Africa contract with Celerity Systems; others with Celerity Messaging UK.
ClickSend
- There is no subscription tier. The price per SMS depends on how much credit you add in one top-up.
- Additional carrier fees apply on top of the per-message rates, and prices exclude taxes.
- A US toll-free number costs $3.44 a month, and a dedicated shortcode $996.73 a month plus a $996.73 setup fee.
- The page redirects by country and showed Malaysia by default; the figures here are the United States view, shown in USD.
Key features
BulkSMS
- Web platform
- Send and receive SMS from an online account in any browser, with two-way messaging.
- SMS API
- A REST API lets a website, application or CRM send messages.
- Incoming numbers and shortcodes
- Long numbers receive replies from customers, and five-digit shortcodes are available.
- RCS and WhatsApp messaging
- RCS business messaging and WhatsApp Business messaging are listed beside SMS.
- Credit packages
- Credits are bought in packages from 200 to 50,000, are valid for 2 years, and carry a money-back guarantee.
ClickSend
- Bulk and two-way SMS
- Send one-off or scheduled texts to contact lists and read replies in the same account. Inbound messages are free.
- SMS API and email to SMS
- Trigger messages from a website or app through the API, or by emailing a gateway address.
- MMS and RCS
- Add pictures, animation or audio to messages. MMS in the US is listed at $0.0364 per message.
- Contact segmenting
- Split contact lists into segments before a send.
- Unlimited users
- The pricing page says there are no extra seat charges.
- Other channels on one balance
- The same credit also pays for voice calls, email, fax and postal letters.
Plans
BulkSMS
Pricing could not be confirmed. See bulksms.com.
ClickSend
Boost$20
one-time top-up, used as you go
$0.0281 per US SMS when you top up from $20 (about 48 messages).
Growth$100
one-time top-up, used as you go
$0.0200 per US SMS when you top up from $100 (about 266 messages).
Scale$1,000
one-time top-up, used as you go
$0.0129 per US SMS when you top up from $1,000 (about 2,977 messages).
Enterprise$2,000
one-time top-up, used as you go
$0.0092 per US SMS when you top up from $2,000 (about 6,138 messages).
Ways to pay less
BulkSMS
No public discounts listed.
ClickSend
- Other savings
25% bonus credit on the first top-up
The pricing page advertises a new-customer promotion of 25% extra credit on a first top-up; terms and conditions apply.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BulkSMS or ClickSend?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BulkSMS has no price we could confirm, and ClickSend starts at $20 minimum top-up, then $0.0281 per SMS in the US.
Which has a free plan, BulkSMS or ClickSend?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither BulkSMS nor ClickSend has a free plan. ClickSend has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.