A number of factors need to be considered when selecting a cheap SMS gateway provider.
The SMS Comparison Table and Site provide you with all the details required to make your selection easier.
Latest update on 7 May 2023
A cheap bulk SMS gateway refers to a service that allows individuals or organizations to send a large number of SMS messages at a low cost.
The service is provided by a bulk SMS gateway provider who acts as an intermediary between the sender and the mobile network operators, allowing messages to be delivered to their intended recipients. The “cheap” aspect refers to the relatively low cost of the service, making it an affordable solution for businesses or individuals who need to send a large number of SMS messages.
These services often offer features such as scheduling, personalization, reporting, and others, and are usually priced based on the number of messages sent or the volume of traffic.
In covering cheap bulk SMS gateway options, three major factors need to be considered namely
By considering these factors, you can choose a cheap bulk SMS gateway that is both affordable and meets your specific needs.
A business needs to look at what it requires from a bulk SMS provider. Cheap in terms of low cost per text message but that may mean a loss in reliability because of the use of hybrid telecommunication carrier(s) that are derived from overseas network facilities. The use of companies with less sophisticated API platforms cannot easily convert your message into SMS through a gateway system as promptly as expected. And thirdly, the economies of scale in that the charge for large volumes may be cheaper but the low to medium volumes may cost more per text message.
Deciding on a cheap bulk SMS gateway does very much depend on the gateway used by the SMS provider.
Bulk SMS gateway providers use two types of telecommunication carriers to deliver SMS messages:
By using both MNOs and SMSCs, bulk SMS gateway providers can ensure that SMS messages are delivered quickly and reliably to their intended recipients.
The more expensive gateway is known as the Premium or Tier 1 gateway and uses a telecommunications carrier that comes from Australian networks such as Telstra, Vodafone or Optus. These companies charge more for the use of their network service but they are more reliable, and safer to use.
If there is a need for immediacy, near 100% reliability, and the ability to move large volumes of text messages at any one time with a good level of privacy, then this is the right SMS gateway for you.
Alternatively, the cheaper version is a hybrid or called a Grey gateway that uses overseas and Australian telecommunication carriers to do the job of reaching the customer or the end-user. It will use the cheapest route available and is good for marketing or promotional campaigns where time-poor is not an issue and delivery may take up to minutes, hours or possibly a day to reach the recipient’s mobile phone.
From the range of cheap bulk SMS gateway providers in Australia, a selection of reputable ones was selected because they could offer a range of gateway features that will ensure good distribution, cheap rates and reliability. It was reviewed from a pricing per SMS on a monthly basis that ClickSend and Cellcast offered the best value compared to other reputable Australian gateway providers.
The graph below summarized the range of pricing offers that have been evaluated taking into account the small, medium and large volumes of text messages distributed per month.
From the perspective of up-time reliability and latency (time), there is a wide range of issues that need to be assessed using the gateway system that is available by each provider. The features that should be considered include:
On that basis, the graphical representation of a number of cheap bulk providers is shown below.
It needs to be emphasized that you should always assess value for money based on pricing but need to be provided with an uptime SLA of 99.95% or a money-back guarantee and that all text messages are distributed swiftly and on time and that a reporting system is available for you to scrutinize.
A cheap SMS gateway API refers to a software interface that allows developers to integrate SMS functionality into their applications or systems. An SMS gateway API provides a simple and straightforward way for developers to send SMS messages from their applications, and usually, the cost of the service is based on the volume of messages sent.
From the analysis and review of numerous reputable and reliable cheap gateway APIs, one must understand the need for a sophisticated and valuable API. When discussing an API, referring to an Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows two different applications to communicate with each other in a meaningful way. API is the conduit or messenger that allows your requirements to be made into a communication form that will deliver the SMS and be able to reply to you to know that all have gone well. APIs will have a significant impact on your business or your organisation in sending out efficient and effective text messages.
There are expensive and cheap API platforms around and therefore you are encouraged to scrutinize as to which cheap SMS gateway provider will do the job for you. Many of them have flexible integration abilities which will mean that your business will be able to integrate mobile phone messaging seamlessly into the provider’s normal way of operating. In such cases, the API platform can easily integrate into business applications, websites, intranets, CRMs and other software. This means real-time text messaging capacity.
All this information leads to the fact that the reliability of gateway API will assist in the effective distribution of text messages at any one time in the cheapest way possible. A range of reliable cheap SMS gateway providers was assessed and it was analysed from an Australian business perspective, that SMS Global, ClickSend and Burst SMS were all rated as very high on a scale of 0 to 100 based on their up-time SLAs, their sophisticated and well-versed APIs, and their easy integration processes with businesses.
On deciding on engaging a cheap international SMS gateway provider, one needs to consider a number of elements before venturing into engaging overseas SMS companies. This is not to say that such overseas companies are not good because they happen to offer a cheap rate for SMS distribution. It is saying that factors that need to be also considered are:
Having made you aware of all the above factors to be considered there needs to be considered made as to the cheap international gateway provider’s carrier. There are different types of telecommunication carriers used in overseas gateway services. Some of the international SMS providers may use a carrier direct, sometimes known as a Premium gateway service which offers a more reliable and efficient service but at a higher cost per SMS sent.
Alternatively, other global SMS providers may use a cheaper version called a hybrid gateway service to reach customers, clients, stakeholders and employees end-users. This uses various telecommunication carriers from different countries at a cheaper rate but with less assurance that the text message will reach the end mobile user on time, in the same format as was released and with the same level of privacy.
The hybrid version is the cheapest route that will be used. If there is no urgency, like promotions, marketing campaigns or providing general information and requiring larger volumes to be distributed, then cheap international SMS gateway providers are possibilities.
Simply summarizing the difference between the direct and hybrid gateways, if there is a need for time-reliant SMS and SMS alerts then the direct gateway is your better option. If sending out large or bulk volumes of SMS at any one time without time restraints for marketing or information campaigns, then hybrid is a cheaper way.
Due to the large number and range of international gateway providers from various countries that are available to service your needs, a list of the best value was difficult to assess because of the need to consider the points outlined above rather than price alone.
The SMS Gateway Comparison Table and associated Site were developed for your use without any fee or charge. It was prepared and now presented to you as a service to make it easier for you to know better about all the features of cheap SMS gateway providers. The authors, who were experts in the SMS field but were now no longer involved in this domain, felt there was a lack of clarity and comprehension with the resultant difficulty in knowing which cheap SMS gateway providers were good. This was the reason for providing simply presented information to make your life easier.
The SMS Comparison Table has been produced from the details available on gateway providers’ websites. Should there be any parts of the information that is different from their sites, please let the authors know so that changes can be made as soon as possible.
You can compare different providers and their services by visiting their respective websites and looking at their pricing plans and features.
It’s also a good idea to read customer reviews and forums to get an idea of the provider’s reliability and customer service. Additionally, you can contact the providers directly to ask questions and get more information about their services. By comparing different providers, you can find the best cheap SMS gateway solution that fits your needs and budget.
As mentioned above, the comparison site and table are free of charge. However, should you use the site and then engage one of the gateway providers, then the authors may ask for a commission from the provider.
It is hoped that the information will be valuable to you and your business.
The latest update is on 7 May 2023.