Sendblue vs TextUs (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Sendblue and TextUs share a 1.6 GPA, and only Sendblue has a free plan.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Sendblue grades higher on the free plan. TextUs grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Sendblue
iMessage, SMS and RCS messaging API sold per phone line
Which one is for you
Pick Sendblue if
- Fits if a developer wants iMessage from an AI agent or app
- Works for teams wiring messages into a CRM
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want outbound messaging, as the $100 plan is inbound-first with 1,000 contacts a day
- Skip it if you want a working free plan, as the sandbox is for testing only
- Pricey if you need many lines, as each is $100 and annual billing goes through sales
- Watch out: iMessage reaches Apple devices only
- Not for you if you do not code, as it is an API
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
| 1.6GPASendblueWeak | 1.6GPATextUsWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$100 a month per dedicated line, in the dearer part of chat tools, where the middle is $36. | 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 | DA free sandbox with a shared number and 10 verified contacts, but no outbound messages or webhooks, so it is a test only. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, and no month-to-month option. |
| Features | CiMessage, SMS and RCS, an SDK, CLI, MCP server and CRM links. Outbound messaging is Enterprise. | 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 | DNo store rating on record. It is an API, SDK and CLI to build against. | CNo store rating on record. A web inbox with a mobile app page, plus integrations to connect to your ATS. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb with HubSpot, Salesforce, GoHighLevel, Close, Pipedrive and more. No apps are listed. | BWeb, with a mobile app page and Salesforce, HubSpot, Bullhorn, Workday, Greenhouse and Zapier. |
| Best for | iMessage and SMS through an API | 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: Sendblue and TextUs. How we grade
Price against what you get
Sendblue starts at $100 a month for each person and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TextUs starts at $299 a month and scores 2.3.
TextUs scores higher, and starts $199 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other SMS and chat marketing tools on the chart, 36 score higher than Sendblue for less, and 7 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
- Sendblue also covers workflow automation and AI agents.
- TextUs also covers shared inbox, marketing automation and whatsApp messaging.
At a glance
| Sendblue | TextUs | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $100 per month per dedicated line | $299 per month, 12-month term |
| Free plan | Free Sandbox: full API access with a shared number and up to 10 verified contacts; inbound-first, with no outbound messaging or webhooks. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Round One Inc. | TextUs |
| Price read from | sendblue.com | textus.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Sendblue
- The $100 AI Agent plan is inbound-first with 1,000 inbound contacts a day; full outbound messaging is part of the custom Enterprise tier.
- The free sandbox has no dedicated number, no outbound messaging and no webhooks.
- Annual billing and volume discounts for 10 or more lines are available only by contacting sales.
- iMessage reaches Apple devices only; the vendor says each line can also send SMS and RCS.
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
Sendblue
- iMessage, SMS and RCS from one line
- Each dedicated line can send and receive iMessages, SMS and RCS, according to the pricing FAQ.
- Messaging API, SDK and CLI
- A REST API with an npm package and CLI lets developers provision a number and send messages in code.
- CRM integrations
- Native connections for GoHighLevel, HubSpot, Salesforce, Close and Monday.com log messages on contact timelines.
- MCP server for AI tools
- A Sendblue MCP server lets AI coding tools and agents built on Anthropic's SDK send and receive iMessages.
- No per-message fees
- The page states there are no per-message fees, A2P registration charges, carrier surcharges or SMS fallback fees.
- Compliance
- The vendor says it is SOC 2 Type II certified and offers HIPAA plans on enterprise terms.
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
Sendblue
Free Sandbox$0
Test environment with a shared number, up to 10 verified contacts, CLI and SDK support and community support.
AI Agent$100
per month per dedicated line
A dedicated phone number for inbound-first messaging, 1,000 inbound contacts a day, webhooks, media, typing indicators, reactions and priority support.
EnterpriseCustom
Volume pricing with full outbound messaging, multiple dedicated lines, SOC 2 and HIPAA plans and a dedicated account manager.
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, Sendblue or TextUs?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Sendblue starts at $100 per month per dedicated line, and TextUs starts at $299 per month, 12-month term. One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Sendblue or TextUs?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Sendblue has a free plan. TextUs does not.
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.