A full comparative review of Cellcast and directSMS is presented to you.
Cellcast is the better option based on the features, prices, customer service, reliability, and other critical factors of the two SMS providers.
The latest update was in April 2025.
Here are three key reasons why Cellcast might be recommended over DirectSMS:
These are three key reasons why Cellcast might be recommended over DirectSMS. However, it’s important to remember that each platform’s specific features and benefits will depend on your requirements and needs.
Cellcast pricing can be as low as A$0.028 per SMS for large volumes of text message delivery. There are no setup fees. Inbound text messages with Cellcast and the setup for a dedicated number are complimentary.
On the other hand, DirectSMS pricing is quite different. It starts at $0.074 per SMS for less than 650 text messages and $0.056 for 1400 monthly SMS. The price is $0.052 for the distribution of 3800 SMS per month. That’s comparable in price between both distributors for low-distribution SMS numbers. However, DirectSMS has not mentioned the costs for more significant bulk numbers over 5000+.
Cellcast is more transparent, with more significant monthly SMS messages sent. DirectSMS does not provide details on a dedicated inbound number of costs, depending on your chosen plan.
Cellcast offers 24/7 customer help, sales, and support. This is available via national and local numbers as well as online. There is also the option of live chat, which can be suitable when using an SMS gateway online and requiring quick assistance. DirectSMS only has phone or e-mail support from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. The availability of hours can be an issue for those who work long hours or during the weekend. This makes ClickSend more suitable for all businesses.
Cellcast has 4.9 out of 5.0 – 277 reviews on Trust Index reviews (based on April 2025). This, in part, is due to their uptime guarantee, which contributes to their service level agreement (SLA). This ensures a rebate if a score lower than 100% is achieved for a month, with <95% up-time leading to a full refund for the month.
DirectSMS also has a strong rating score of 1.4 out of 5 – 36 reviews (TrustPilot), which is not impressive.
They have an uptime guarantee, but it’s minimal in detail, as are their uptime statistics.
Overall, across these three areas, Cellcast had the most substantial offering which is why they are the recommended provider in this Cellcast vs DirectSMS comparison.
Two major players in the Australian SMS business world are Cellcast and directSMS. These SMS providers offer a wide range of bulk text messaging services that meet business and organisation needs, whether for promotional, communication, or marketing requirements. They are also crucial for reminders or urgent matters that must be notified to your customers, stakeholders, or staff.
Both these reputable Australian companies provide a range of online text messaging features that will ensure that information is promptly and effectively sent to end-users via any web-enabled computer system without the business requiring any special software to be installed.
These companies are well-established and have been operational for an extended period. directSMS was established in 2002, and Cellcast in 2006. They are privately owned and operated, with directSMS and Cellcast head offices in Melbourne, Australia.
Here are some of the key features and benefits of Cellcast compared to DirectSMS:
These are some of the key features and benefits of Cellcast and DirectSMS. When choosing a bulk SMS provider, you must consider your specific requirements and needs and compare different options to find the one that best meets your needs.
In reviewing these two SMS providers, they do offer several similar features, such as:
2. Ability to add SMS functionality to your application and systems through their developer API.
3. They guarantee their clients that small, medium and large volumes of text messages are delivered when required.
4. Customize to suit individual business or organisation needs.
5. Allow the entire tracking history of text messages.
6. 100% money-back guaranteed uptime, performance and customer satisfaction.
Both directSMS and Cellcast provide seamless integration with any email software. This means that these text messaging companies can save, store, and manage business contacts, which ensures that when a request is made to distribute SMS to end-users, it can be carried out within a short period.
The difference between these two SMS providers is that directSMS provides the option of a two-way SMS product, unlike Cellcast. The availability of premium telecommunication carriers that provide tremendous reliability is not mentioned on the directSMS website, but is part of the Cellcast distribution carrier system. There is also no mention of a global distribution option for directSMS, unlike Cellcast, which offers businesses global coverage.
Regarding charges outlined by Cellcast and directSMS, both disclose their charges and costs to businesses differently, but can still be reviewed. Cellcast’s pricing schedule is more straightforward, transparent, and open about all its charges.
Both SMS providers have no set-up fees and no monthly fees. Inbound SMS is free from Cellcast but is an optional extra for DirectSMS. With the need for a dedicated number, Cellcast charges per month, and DirectSMS does have this service available and would need to request details from the company.
Both SMS companies state that they have a money-back guarantee.
In summation, Cellcast is considered to be more open about its pricing schedule and charges.
Both directSMS and Cellcast have a sophisticated, feature-rich Application Programming Interface (API) that makes it easy for developers to integrate SMS into their applications and systems.
In our review of these providers regarding uptime reliability, only Cellcast states a 100% money-back guarantee for uptime, performance, and customer satisfaction. However, they both offer an SLA guarantee.
They are both compliant with the requirements of anti-spam compliance and similar General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) standards, which means that their data collection, storage and security arrangements reflect the security and privacy principles, including individual rights of access and right to be forgotten. They both present their Privacy Policy details on their website.
Therefore, these two SMS providers offer the same, reliable and compliant services.
Concerning customer care, Cellcast provides a 03 8560 7225 contact number, available 24/7, while directSMS has a 1 300 number during business hours;. However, it states on its website that a 24-hour service is available, but there may be a charge.
They can also be contacted by email and use various other communication methods, from social media to blogging.
Both companies might offer free trials or credits for new users to test their services. However, this typically involves a limited number of complimentary SMS messages and is not part of their regular offerings. For detailed and up-to-date information, it is recommended to check their respective websites or contact their sales teams directly.
Both companies display a list of clients they have served on their websites.
The SMS Comparison Table and site have been developed for use at no cost to you.
The concept began some years ago when the authors, who had previously worked extensively in the SMS area but had now moved to other IT areas, realized that companies required assistance selecting an SMS provider that best suited their needs and requirements. Therefore, the authors have independently assessed the features and value of several reputable SMS providers in Australia.
If the site’s information is inaccurate, the authors would appreciate it if you could let them know so that changes can be made.
Latest update in April 2025.