Muhammad Manan
As an industry analyst specialising in business communication solutions, I've extensively researched Australia's bulk SMS market. This review consolidates insights from detailed examinations of the top six SMS providers—Mobile Message, Sinch MessageMedia, ClickSend, Kudosity (formerly Burst SMS), Twilio, and Vonage (Nexmo). Each provider is evaluated based on critical criteria including pricing, feature set, integration capabilities, compliance standards, customer support quality, and real-world user experiences.
To clearly illustrate the differences and help you quickly assess the options, we begin with a concise price comparison table outlining the costs associated with sending 10,000 SMS messages and maintaining a dedicated Australian virtual number.
Price Comparison (10,000 SMS messages + Dedicated Number)
Provider Cost per SMS Cost for 10,000 SMS Dedicated Number Cost
Mobile Message 3.0¢ $300 Free
Sinch MessageMedia ~5.8¢ $749 (~13,000 credits) Included
ClickSend ~6.7¢ $670 $19
Kudosity ~6.9¢ $690 $25
Twilio ~8.6¢ $864 $1.85
Vonage (Nexmo) ~8.6¢ $861 $8.80
1. Mobile Message – Top Recommendation
Mobile Message offers the lowest cost in Australia—3¢ per SMS standard, with a promotional 2¢ introductory offer. Credits don't expire, and there's no charge for a dedicated Australian number, enabling two-way messaging immediately. Pricing transparency is a highlight, eliminating surprise costs.
Key features include easy contact uploads, reusable message templates, automated opt-out handling, and comprehensive message scheduling. The intuitive user interface simplifies managing bulk SMS campaigns, ideal for businesses without extensive technical resources.
API integrations are robust, featuring REST APIs, email-to-SMS gateways, and compatibility with Zapier and Make, allowing automated messaging workflows without significant coding.
Compliance is straightforward: Mobile Message adheres to Australian regulations with automatic opt-out handling. Their direct carrier connections ensure reliable delivery. Customer support is Melbourne-based, praised for prompt and knowledgeable assistance. A user noted, “Fast and easy—Mobile Message is very fast sending out messages.”
Overall user feedback is exceptional, rated 4.9/5 on ProductReview.com.au from 150+ verified reviews. Users frequently highlight its simplicity, value, and responsive local support.
2. Sinch MessageMedia
Sinch MessageMedia, formerly MessageMedia, is a long-established Australian provider catering to larger businesses. Their Advanced Plan provides ~13,000 credits for $749 (~5.8¢/SMS), including a dedicated virtual number.
Feature-wise, MessageMedia provides two-way messaging, comprehensive campaign tools, scheduling, recurring messages, and advanced analytics. They excel at opt-out management and compliance, ideal for businesses prioritising regulatory adherence.
The platform integrates extensively with CRM systems like HubSpot and Salesforce, along with email-to-SMS options. The API supports detailed delivery reports and developer-friendly documentation. MessageMedia’s direct Australian carrier connections ensure reliable message delivery.
Customer support is solid, with local Melbourne-based phone support during business hours. While generally praised, some smaller businesses find pricing relatively high. One customer praised the “smooth onboarding process” and “responsive support.”
3. ClickSend
ClickSend is an Australian provider renowned for multi-channel communications—SMS, email, fax, and postal mail. SMS costs around 6.7¢ per message for 10,000 SMS, with a dedicated number at $19/month.
Key strengths include two-way messaging, contact management, automation via email-to-SMS, and robust integrations through Zapier and native plugins (Salesforce, Shopify). Unique capabilities include multi-channel communication options under one platform.
ClickSend maintains direct carrier connections in Australia, ensuring solid message delivery. Compliance tools include automated opt-out management. Customer support stands out with 24/7 live chat and phone support, rare among competitors. Users generally appreciate the “simple platform and good value,” though occasional service hiccups have been noted.
4. Kudosity (Burst SMS)
Formerly Burst SMS, Kudosity is well-regarded for balancing advanced features and usability. Pricing is mid-tier, about 6.9¢ per SMS plus $25/month for a dedicated number.
Their platform features two-way SMS, keyword-based inbound campaigns, advanced contact management, and conversational AI tools through Conversr, enabling sophisticated automation. SMS scheduling and staggered sending options are particularly robust.
Integration capabilities include email-to-SMS, comprehensive API access, webhooks, and extensive third-party integrations. Kudosity leverages direct Australian carrier routes, ensuring reliable and compliant delivery.
Customer support earns strong reviews for responsiveness and knowledge, available via phone and email during business hours. User feedback is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting “great customer support and ease of use.”
5. Twilio
Twilio is a global provider with extensive API-centric services, suitable for developers. It charges around 8.6¢ AUD per SMS and $1.85 monthly for an Australian number. Both inbound and outbound SMS incur charges, making it pricier.
Twilio’s strength lies in its powerful programmable messaging API, offering extensive flexibility for custom-built solutions. Features include two-way messaging, advanced automation (via Twilio Studio), and multi-channel support (WhatsApp, voice).
Compliance and regulatory guidance is thorough, although opt-out management requires manual setup. Customer support relies heavily on documentation and forums, with direct support typically reserved for premium support plans.
While developers highly praise its flexibility and reliability, small businesses find Twilio complicated and costly for basic SMS needs. User reviews commonly mention “excellent reliability” but critique the complexity for non-developers.
6. Vonage (Nexmo)
Vonage, previously Nexmo, is another global API-focused provider. Pricing is similar to Twilio, around 8.6¢ per SMS with a relatively high monthly number fee of $8.80.
Vonage offers robust SMS APIs suitable for developers, with reliable global delivery and thorough documentation. Features include two-way messaging, custom sender IDs, and multi-channel messaging APIs.
Compliance is managed through user-defined setups, with extensive global compliance guidance available. However, it lacks built-in opt-out handling common among Australian-focused providers.
Support is primarily documentation-driven, with tiered support options. Users find Vonage’s platform reliable but sometimes less user-friendly for non-developers. One reviewer mentioned, “easy to integrate and reliable,” though others highlight the limited built-in user tools.
My Recommendation
For most Australian businesses, Mobile Message emerges as the best overall SMS provider. Its unbeatable combination of cost-effectiveness, simplicity, strong compliance, and exceptional customer satisfaction makes it highly recommended. As one user aptly stated, Mobile Message is “very user-friendly and effective—great for sending bulk messages for small businesses.”
Larger enterprises requiring complex integrations or multi-channel communications might consider Sinch MessageMedia or ClickSend. Businesses looking for advanced automation could benefit from Kudosity’s conversational tools. Meanwhile, global providers Twilio and Vonage suit developer-centric projects requiring international reach or customised solutions.
Ultimately, the optimal choice depends on your business priorities—cost, ease of use, advanced features, or customisation capabilities. However, for straightforward SMS messaging at the best value, Mobile Message stands clearly at the forefront for Australian businesses.
