Table of Contents
SimpleTexting is a well-built SMS marketing platform. It handles broadcast campaigns cleanly, has a decent contact management UI, and it works for what it was designed to do. But its subscription pricing model creates a specific problem: you pay a flat monthly fee for a block of credits whether or not you use all of them. If your send volume fluctuates — seasonal campaigns, slow months, ramp-up periods — you end up paying for capacity you never consume.
ReadySMS takes a different approach: pay-per-use with no monthly fee. You pay $0.0084 per segment at the Starter tier and nothing when you are not sending. If you send 2,000 messages one month and 40,000 the next, your bill reflects exactly that. This page breaks down the pricing difference in detail, compares features side by side, and explains when SimpleTexting makes sense and when it does not.
SimpleTexting Pricing: The Subscription Model Problem
SimpleTexting structures its pricing around monthly credit bundles. Each plan includes a set number of outbound SMS credits, and messages beyond that limit cost extra. As of early 2026, the approximate plan structure looks like this:
- $39/month: 500 credits — works out to $0.078 per message
- $79/month: 1,500 credits — works out to $0.053 per message
- $109/month: 2,500 credits — works out to $0.044 per message
- $179/month: 7,500 credits — works out to $0.024 per message
- $299/month: 15,000 credits — works out to $0.020 per message
- Custom pricing above 15,000 messages/month
There are two core problems with this model for variable-volume senders. First, unused credits do not roll over — if you buy 7,500 credits and send 4,000, you paid for 3,500 messages that went nowhere. Second, if you exceed your plan, you pay overage rates on top of the monthly fee, meaning high-send months cost significantly more than the plan implies.
For a business that sends a consistent, predictable volume of messages every month, the subscription model is fine. You can size your plan accurately and waste little. But for agencies managing seasonal clients, real estate teams that send heavily around listing launches and go quiet between, or any business whose volume swings more than 30% month to month — you are constantly either overpaying for unused credits or getting hit with overage fees.
Pricing Comparison at Every Volume
The table below compares SimpleTexting's lowest available per-message rate at each volume tier against ReadySMS pay-per-use pricing. SimpleTexting rates are based on the plan that would be required to cover that volume without overage:
| Monthly Volume | SimpleTexting (plan cost) | ReadySMS (pay-per-use) | Monthly Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 messages | $39.00 ($0.078/msg) | $4.20 ($0.0084/msg) | $34.80 less |
| 1,500 messages | $79.00 ($0.053/msg) | $12.60 ($0.0084/msg) | $66.40 less |
| 2,500 messages | $109.00 ($0.044/msg) | $21.00 ($0.0084/msg) | $88.00 less |
| 7,500 messages | $179.00 ($0.024/msg) | $63.00 ($0.0084/msg) | $116.00 less |
| 15,000 messages | $299.00 ($0.020/msg) | $126.00 ($0.0084/msg) | $173.00 less |
| 50,000 messages | Custom / est. $700+ | $370.00 ($0.0074/msg, Growth tier) | $330+ less |
| 100,000 messages | Custom / est. $1,200+ | $640.00 ($0.0064/msg, Professional tier) | $560+ less |
At the low end (500 messages/month), ReadySMS costs $4.20. SimpleTexting's cheapest plan is $39. That is a 9x difference. Even at 15,000 messages/month — where SimpleTexting's per-message rate is at its lowest published level — ReadySMS is still less than half the cost.
The gap widens further when you factor in months where you under-use your SimpleTexting plan. A business that sends 3,000 messages one month and 1,200 the next pays the same $109 both months. On ReadySMS, the slow month costs $10.08. That difference is meaningful over a year.
Feature Comparison: SimpleTexting vs. ReadySMS
Pricing is not the only consideration. Here is how the two platforms compare on key features:
| Feature | SimpleTexting | ReadySMS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription (credit bundles) | Pay-per-use, no monthly fee |
| Entry cost | $39/month (500 credits) | $0/month + $0.0084/msg |
| Free trial / credits | 14-day free trial | 2,500 free messages, no credit card |
| Volume discounts | ✓ (built into plan tiers) | ✓ (automatic, 8 tiers down to $0.0028) |
| Unused credits roll over | ✗ (credits expire monthly) | ✓ (pre-purchased credits never expire) |
| GoHighLevel native integration | ✗ (no native GHL integration) | ✓ (GHL marketplace integration) |
| API access | ✓ (REST API available) | ✓ (REST API + Zapier) |
| Zapier integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| A2P 10DLC registration | ✓ (managed, included) | ✓ (in-dashboard, 1–3 days, $19 one-time) |
| Real estate use case allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Debt settlement use case allowed | ✗ (restricted) | ✓ |
| Agency / multi-client management | Limited (one account per plan) | ✓ (sub-account structure via GHL) |
| Inbound reply routing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword automations | ✓ | ✓ (via GHL workflows) |
| Two-way conversations UI | ✓ (built-in inbox) | ✓ (via GHL conversations view) |
| MMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
The two platforms differ most meaningfully on three points: pricing model, GoHighLevel integration, and use case restrictions. SimpleTexting's UI is polished and its built-in inbox is easy to use for teams that do not already use a CRM. ReadySMS is better positioned for businesses that are already inside GHL, need API/programmatic access, or operate in industries that SimpleTexting restricts.
Who SimpleTexting Is Good For
To be direct: SimpleTexting is a solid product for specific use cases. It is worth choosing if:
- You send a consistent, predictable volume of messages every month and can size your plan without waste. If you reliably send 1,500 messages/month, SimpleTexting's plan structure is straightforward.
- You do not use GoHighLevel and want a standalone SMS marketing tool with a clean interface. SimpleTexting's built-in campaign builder, contact segmentation, and inbox are genuinely well-designed.
- Your team is non-technical and needs a simple, self-contained dashboard without API or CRM integration requirements. SimpleTexting was built for marketers, not developers.
- You primarily run broadcast campaigns — one-time blasts to a segmented list, promotional announcements, event reminders. That is what SimpleTexting was optimized for.
- You want managed 10DLC onboarding with someone to walk you through it. SimpleTexting's team handles compliance setup as part of onboarding.
If these describe your situation, SimpleTexting is a reasonable choice and this comparison may not apply to you.
Who ReadySMS Is Better For
ReadySMS has a different sweet spot. It is the better choice when:
High-volume or variable-volume senders
If you send more than 5,000 messages/month or your volume swings significantly from month to month, pay-per-use pricing eliminates the subscription waste problem. You pay $0.0084/seg at Starter and the rate automatically tiers down as volume grows — no plan upgrade required.
GoHighLevel users and agencies
ReadySMS has a native GHL marketplace integration. If you run client accounts in GoHighLevel, you install ReadySMS once and all your sub-account workflows, automations, and pipelines immediately send through ReadySMS. SimpleTexting has no native GHL integration — you would need Zapier glue code or a custom webhook setup to connect the two, adding latency and a point of failure.
API and developer use
ReadySMS offers a REST API and Zapier integration for programmatic SMS sending. If you are building a product that sends transactional or triggered messages — appointment confirmations, lead notifications, drip sequences from your own application — the pay-per-use API pricing is far more cost-effective than a subscription plan sized for your peak volume.
Real estate agencies
Real estate SMS volume is inherently seasonal and campaign-driven. You might send 20,000 messages during a big listing push and 3,000 the following month. A subscription sized for the peak wastes money in slow months. Pay-per-use scales with you in both directions. ReadySMS explicitly allows real estate use cases and handles 10DLC registration inside the dashboard.
Industries SimpleTexting restricts
SimpleTexting restricts certain use cases including debt settlement and some financial services. ReadySMS allows these use cases subject to standard carrier compliance requirements. If your industry is restricted on SimpleTexting, that is reason enough to look elsewhere — and ReadySMS is built to handle high-compliance verticals.
Businesses that do not want a monthly overhead line
Some businesses simply do not want another subscription. ReadySMS has no monthly fee. You pre-purchase credits and they never expire. In months where you send nothing, your cost is zero. That simplicity appeals to operators who want their SMS costs to match their actual activity.
Switching Takes Under 15 Minutes
If you are currently using SimpleTexting and want to move to ReadySMS, the process is straightforward:
- Export your contacts from SimpleTexting. SimpleTexting allows CSV export of your contact lists, including custom fields and opt-out status. Download these before you cancel.
- Sign up for ReadySMS at app.readysms.io/signup. Free, no credit card required. You get 2,500 messages to start.
- Complete A2P 10DLC registration inside the ReadySMS dashboard. Brand registration is $4 (one-time). Campaign registration is $15 (one-time). If you already have an approved 10DLC campaign on SimpleTexting, you can transfer your brand EIN — you will still need to register a new campaign on ReadySMS, but the brand vetting step may be faster. Approval typically takes 1 to 3 business days.
- Connect your integration. If you use GoHighLevel, install the ReadySMS integration from the GHL marketplace and connect your sub-accounts. Your existing GHL workflows begin sending through ReadySMS immediately after the integration is active. If you use Zapier or the API, update your endpoint and API key in your existing setup.
- Import your contacts. Upload your exported CSV into GoHighLevel or your CRM of choice. Map the fields, apply your tags, and your contact database is ready.
- Port your number (optional). If you have an existing SMS phone number on SimpleTexting that you want to keep, you can port it to ReadySMS. Porting typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. Your number continues to work during the transition.
The active setup time — account creation, integration connection, contact import — is about 15 minutes. The only waiting period is the 10DLC campaign approval, which is a carrier requirement for all SMS platforms and not specific to ReadySMS or the migration process.
If you have questions during the switch, the ReadySMS team is reachable through the contact page. For more comparisons, see our Twilio alternative, LeadConnector alternative, or Salesmsg alternative pages.