BulkSMS vs TextMagic (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TextMagic grades higher than BulkSMS: 2.2 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
TextMagic grades higher on the free plan, features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
TextMagic
Pay-as-you-go business SMS and email with a shared inbox
Free trial
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 TextMagic if
- Fits if you send occasional texts and don't want a subscription
- Works for teams with many users, since seats are unlimited
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you send a lot: every text costs 4.9 cents
- Watch out: US local numbers need 10DLC registration, and the page lists a fee
- Watch out: long or non-Latin messages count as several parts
- Tight if you want email: past 10,000 emails it is billed per message
How we grade them
| 1.6GPABulkSMSWeak | 2.2GPATextMagicFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; 4.9 cents a US text from prepaid credit, plus $10 a month for each number after the first. |
| Free plan and trial | FNothing free. A money-back guarantee on credits isn't a trial. | DA free trial exists, but its length and card terms aren't stated; the 10,000 email credits are a one-off. |
| Features | CA web platform, SMS API, incoming long numbers and shortcodes, plus RCS and WhatsApp. Larger volumes are a quote from sales. | BMass texting, automation flows, a shared inbox, chat widget, email campaigns and bring-your-own-number. |
| 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, and US 10DLC registration is yours to finish. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with an API but no integrations listed. | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with 8 integrations; no desktop app. |
| Best for | prepaid bulk SMS without a subscription | pay-as-you-go business texting |
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 TextMagic. How we grade
Where they differ
- BulkSMS also covers whatsApp messaging.
- TextMagic also covers shared inbox, workflow automation, email campaigns and live chat.
In commonWebBusiness textingSMS marketing
At a glance
| BulkSMS | TextMagic | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | No monthly fee; 4.9¢ per US text, billed from prepaid credit |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial; 10,000 emails included as a one-time welcome bonus |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Celerity Systems (Pty) Ltd | Textmagic |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | textmagic.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
TextMagic
- Cost depends on volume: 4.9¢ per US text, plus $10 per month for each number after its first free month.
- Longer messages cost extra; one part is 160 plain or 70 Unicode characters.
- US 10DLC brand and campaign registration is required for local numbers, and the pricing page lists a fee for it.
- After the first 10,000 emails, email is billed per message at $0.001 at the volumes the page lists.
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.
TextMagic
- Mass texting
- Send campaigns and scheduled texts to unlimited contacts, with two-way messaging and delivery reporting included.
- Automation flows
- A flow builder for drip campaigns and message sequences, with follow-ups across SMS and email.
- Shared inbox and chat widget
- Connects SMS, live chat and social channels in one inbox for the whole team, and the page says there is no per-seat charge.
- Email campaigns
- Drag-and-drop and AI template builder with open and click tracking, billed per email after the first 10,000.
- Bring your own number
- Connect an existing Twilio, Vonage, Sinch or Bandwidth account to send from your own numbers at a lower per-text rate.
- Numbers and compliance tools
- Local and toll-free numbers, alphanumeric sender IDs, and guided 10DLC brand and campaign registration for US texting.
Plans
BulkSMS
Pricing could not be confirmed. See bulksms.com.
TextMagic
Pay as you go$0
no monthly fee, billed per message from credit
Buy credit and spend it on SMS at 4.9¢ per 160-character text; 1¢ per text via a connected Twilio, Vonage, Sinch or Bandwidth account.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BulkSMS or TextMagic?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BulkSMS has no price we could confirm, and TextMagic starts at No monthly fee; 4.9¢ per US text, billed from prepaid credit.
Which has a free plan, BulkSMS or TextMagic?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither BulkSMS nor TextMagic has a free plan. TextMagic has a free trial.
Which platforms do BulkSMS and TextMagic run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only TextMagic lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.