Sakari vs TextUs (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Sakari grades higher than TextUs: 2.0 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Sakari grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Sakari
SMS marketing and two-way texting with a dedicated number
Which one is for you
Pick Sakari if
- Fits if a small team wants texting with unlimited users and contacts
- Works for businesses that can take a new local or toll-free number
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need to text from your existing mobile number
- Watch out: every segment sent and received is billed, about 160 characters each
- Pricey if you add numbers, which start at $4 a month and aren't refundable
- Tight if you send MMS, which costs $0.02 more than the plan rate
Pick TextUs if
- Fits if you recruit or staff and live in an ATS like Bullhorn
- Works for teams sending thousands of texts a month
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you text fewer than a few thousand messages: $299 a month is the floor
- Not for you if you want month-to-month, since every agreement is 12 months
- Watch out: a long text or emoji uses more credits, MMS uses 3, and overage is $0.05 a message
- Too light for support without paying: Pro gets email and ticket support, a named manager is Enterprise only
How we grade them
| 2.0GPASakariFair | 1.6GPATextUsWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$25 a month for the entry allowance, just above the category's cheaper quarter at $23.20. Price then rises with the slider, and only the entry step was readable. | D$299 a month on a 12-month term for 5,000 messages and 5 numbers. The category's dearest tenth starts at $112, and extra messages cost $0.02 each. |
| Free plan and trial | D14-day free trial, and the FAQ mentions 100 free messaging credits. No free plan, and the page doesn't say whether a card is needed. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, and no month-to-month option. |
| Features | CMass texts, two-way chats, auto-replies and drip campaigns with unlimited users. But it can't text from your current mobile number, and every segment in and out is billed. | CTexting, campaigns, automation, keywords and an inbox, with Bullhorn, Workday and Greenhouse links. Narrower than it looks: built for staffing, and the listing shows credit rules, not other uses. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A web app that needs a new number picked and registered before you send. | CNo store rating on record. A web inbox with a mobile app page, plus integrations to connect to your ATS. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive and Slack. No desktop app. | BWeb, with a mobile app page and Salesforce, HubSpot, Bullhorn, Workday, Greenhouse and Zapier. |
| Best for | mass texts and two-way business SMS | texting for staffing and recruiting teams |
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: Sakari and TextUs. How we grade
Price against what you get
Sakari starts at $25 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TextUs starts at $299 a month and scores 2.3.
They score the same, and Sakari starts $274 a month lower. Of the other SMS and chat marketing tools on the chart, 3 score higher than Sakari for less, and 6 score higher than TextUs for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- TextUs also covers whatsApp messaging.
At a glance
| Sakari | TextUs | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $25 per month | $299 per month, 12-month term |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial; the FAQ mentions 100 free messaging credits | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Sakari | TextUs |
| Price read from | sakari.io | textus.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Sakari
- You are billed for every segment sent and received, about 160 characters each, and MMS costs $0.02 more than the plan's rate.
- Sakari cannot message from your current mobile number; you choose a new local, toll-free, landline or VoIP number.
- Additional numbers start at $4 a month, and purchases are non-refundable per the pricing FAQ.
- Only the $25 entry price was readable; the slider's higher steps and annual prices are not shown in page text.
TextUs
- Every agreement starts with a 12-month term; month-to-month plans are not offered, though monthly billing is available on a 12-month commitment.
- Messages are bought as credits: a standard text is 1 credit, longer or emoji texts use more, and MMS uses 3.
- Overage past what you bought is billed at $0.05 per message.
- Pro includes email and ticket support; a named Customer Success Manager is Enterprise only.
Key features
Sakari
- Mass texting and two-way messages
- Send texts to large lists and handle replies in conversation, with MMS available in the United States and Canada.
- Auto-replies and drip campaigns
- Schedule messages and set automatic replies and follow-ups so texts go out without manual sending.
- Opt-in forms and compliance
- Customizable opt-in forms are meant to keep lists 10DLC compliant, and a URL shortener is included.
- API and integrations
- An API is included, along with native integrations such as HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive and Slack at no extra charge.
- Reporting
- Analytics track conversion rates, open rates and return on investment for campaigns.
TextUs
- Campaigns and automation
- SMS and MMS broadcasts, automated campaigns and keywords, with an AI Rewrite tool inside the Smart Delivery Suite on the Pro plan.
- Inbox
- A shared inbox for one-to-one conversations, which the platform pages position for recruiters, sales reps and customer teams.
- ATS and CRM integrations
- Direct integrations cover Salesforce, HubSpot and applicant systems such as Bullhorn, Greenhouse and Workday, plus Zapier.
- WhatsApp messaging
- WhatsApp messaging is offered as a beta add-on to the Pro plan at $49 per user per month.
- Developer tools and mobile app
- The platform menu lists developer tools and a TextUs mobile app alongside the web inbox.
Plans
Sakari
Standard$25
per month for the entry allowance; billing basis not shown
Price rises with the monthly segment allowance chosen on a slider. Unlimited users and contacts, one free number; 90-day credit rollover.
EnterpriseCustom
Higher-volume plans and custom integrations. Priced by contacting Sakari.
TextUs
Pro$299
per month, 12-month term, up to 5,000 messages
5,000 messages and 5 phone numbers a month. Extra messages $0.02 each, extra numbers $49 a month, with a Smart Delivery Suite.
EnterpriseCustom
Custom volume pricing, a named Customer Success Manager, short-code and RCS Branded Sender eligibility. Sold through sales.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Sakari or TextUs?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Sakari is cheaper to start with: $25 a month, against $299 a month for TextUs. Sakari starts at $25 per month, and TextUs starts at $299 per month, 12-month term.
Which has a free plan, Sakari or TextUs?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Sakari nor TextUs has a free plan. Sakari has a free trial.
Which platforms do Sakari and TextUs run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Sakari 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.