Top 5 Free Bulk SMS Apps For Marketing In 2023

What is Bulk SMS?

Text blasts, sometimes referred to as bulk SMS messages, are an efficient way for businesses to get in touch with customers on a big scale, whether for marketing purposes or to solicit feedback. It raises the likelihood that your contacts will read and respond to your message while avoiding their busy email inboxes. 

You need the receivers' express consent to SMS them in order to reach out to potential consumers and engage current customers while maintaining compliance with industry-sending requirements so it’s a bit different to sending an email to SMS. It would also be smart to let your subscribers know what they are signing up for, how frequently they will get messages, and that any related message and data charges would be their responsibility.

Unlock the potential of bulk SMS marketing in 2023 with these top 5 free bulk SMS apps and bulk SMS software solutions.

Top 5 Open Source And Free Bulk SMS Software

1. Kannel
2. SMSFlight
3. DialMyCalls
4. Bitrix24
5. Jasmin Gateway

What Is Kannel ?

A popular gateway software platform for WAP and SMS (Short Message Service), Kannel is open-source, free to use, and widely used. It is intended to make it easier for computers and mobile devices or GSM modems to communicate with one another. With the help of Kannel, SMS messages may be sent and received as well as WAP information can be sent to mobile devices. The following are some of the main qualities and elements of Kannel.

Key Features:

1. Allows for push and pull gateway
2. Adheres to the SEMA SMS2000 OIS protocol
3. Access HTTP-based content gateways with ease.
4. Hundreds of SMS messages at once

Pros:

1. Open Source Kannel is free to use, modify, and distribute because it is open-source software, which makes it an affordable option.
2. It is adaptable for many mobile communication scenarios because of its support for multiple communication protocols, including SMS, WAP, HTTP, SMPP, and CIMD2.
3. Customization Because Kannel's functionality can be easily customised, users can adjust it to match their unique SMS and WAP gateway needs.
4. Active User Community Kannel has a vibrant user community and a wealth of documentation that offers tools and assistance to both users and developers.

Cons:

1. Intricate Setup Kannel's setup and configuration may call for extensive technical knowledge, making it less suited for users without a background in server administration and telecommunications.
2. Resource Consumption Powerful server hardware may be required because Kannel can be resource-intensive, particularly in high-traffic situations.
3. Learning Curve Effective configuration and use of the program may require some getting used to for new Kannel users.
4. The interface is not user-friendly. Because Kannel lacks a friendly graphical user interface, it may be harder for non-technical users to use. It mostly runs through configuration files and scripts.

What Is SMSFlight?

With the help of SMSFlight, businesses and organisations may reach their target markets with bulk SMS messages. SMSFlight is a cloud-based platform for SMS marketing and communication. It has features including API connectivity, scheduling, two-way communication, contact management, and automation. SMSFlight assists companies in interacting with clients and customers via SMS message while abiding by compliance rules and protecting data security and privacy.

Key Features:

1. Customer Support
2. Contact Management
3. Analytics
4. Scheduling
5. Shortcodes
6. Import Address Book
7. Manage Contacts
8. Instant Message Delivery

Pros:

1. Instantaneous and Direct Communication SMS offers a direct and immediate method of reaching customers, ensuring that your messages are sent and viewed as soon as possible.
2. A lot of opens SMS is a useful channel for essential messages and promotions because it typically has high open rates that frequently surpass those of email.
3. A two-way conversation Numerous SMS solutions enable for two-way communication, facilitating client interaction, comments, and questions.
4. SMS marketing is frequently more affordable than traditional forms of advertising like television or print media.

Cons:

1. Character Restriction Character count restrictions for SMS messages might be a problem when attempting to transmit complex information.
2. Opt-In Conditions Your audience may be capped in many nations because recipients must choose to receive marketing communications.
3. Spam Issues SMS marketing can be used improperly or excessively, which can cause recipients to consider your messages spam and harm your brand's reputation.
4. Costs of Message  Despite the fact that SMS marketing is typically inexpensive, sending messages to a wide audience can still be expensive, particularly when sending messages internationally.

What Is DialMyCalls?

Used by small and medium-sized businesses, organizations, institutions, and different types of groups, DialMyCalls is a go-to provider when it comes to phone calls, bulk email, and texting (SMS) messaging and notifications The software is also heavily used by local communities and governmental institutions for emergency alerts and crisis communication across the United States and Canada.

What makes it one of the best tools in this category is its affordability and ease of use, along with its efficiency to save time and automate further actions, which together with many integrations it offers, makes it easily the best pick for a bulk SMS marketing app.

You can also try a free trial, where a smaller package starts best for small groups and businesses, with better packages for a pricier subscription package.

Key Features:

1. multi-touch notifications
2. integrates well with the most commonly used third-party apps
3. tracking and reporting data UI
4. mass messaging compliance certified
5. fast learning curve with broad data and analytics

Pros:

1. Instant and reliable SMS communication that also allows for MMS marketing options offers its users an easy approach and fast three-second setup to get in touch with your group about any event
2. Contact management makes it easy to drag and drop, manage, reorder, and track where and how you wish your message to be sent and in which order
3. Budget - it's as low as it can get, which is the biggest reason why most businesses, especially those in the early stage opt-in for this app making it easy like a breeze to keep their messaging in tune while keeping on a low budget
4. Two-way text messaging: allows for the end user to share their sentiment, while giving the provider feedback to better optimize and further improve 

Cons:

1. Character restriction - limits to your messaging might be a bit tricky if you want to send a bigger message to your recipients, so best to try and keep the message short and concise
2. No AI segment included yet, such an assistant would make it easier for contact updates and tracking, but this is in the works

What Is Bitrix24 ?

A powerful and incredibly affordable bulk SMS marketing automation tool is Bitrix24. The best thing is that you also receive a CRM with all the bells and whistles that enables a full sales cycle from lead to deal. It provides messaging and social media marketing features in addition to text SMS messages.

Additionally, you have the choice between two options: automate workflows or send messages in bulk. One day prior to an event, you can send an SMS reminder.

Key Features:

1. Supports text messaging in both individual and bulk forms.
2. In more than 100 countries, you can send SMS messages to your clients.
3. Provides Facebook and Google advertising, audience segmentation, voice Broadcasting, and email marketing.
4. Both on-premises and cloud versions are accessible.
5. Complete source code access is provided

Pros:

1. The bulk SMS functionality of Bitrix24 is integrated into its extensive company management and collaboration platform, offering a centralised solution for varied communication and organisational demands.
2. Management of Contact Users may effectively categorise recipients and manage contact lists, providing tailored messages for marketing campaigns and notifications.
3. Scheduling SMS messages Typically, Bitrix24 includes scheduling features that let customers prepare SMS messages for specified dates and times, ensuring timely delivery.
4. A Two-way conversation Some Bitrix24 versions enable two-way SMS texting, facilitating conversations and gathering feedback from recipients.

Cons:

1. Feature Variability The specific features and capabilities of Bitrix24's bulk SMS functionality may vary based on the version or subscription plan used, potentially limiting certain functionalities.
2. Cost Considerations: While it may be cost-effective for existing Bitrix24 users, newcomers to the platform may find the pricing less competitive when compared to standalone bulk SMS solutions.
3. Learning Curve New users may need time to learn and fully leverage the wide range of tools available in Bitrix24, including the bulk SMS feature.
4. Dependency on Internet Bitrix24 relies on internet connectivity, which can be a limitation in areas with unreliable or limited access to the internet.

What Is Jasmin Gateway ?

The open-source SMS gateway software platform Jasmin SMS Gateway is not a business. It is made to make it easier to send and receive SMS messages, which makes it a useful tool for companies, service providers, and developers wishing to set up SMS communication services.

Here are some essential details about the Jasmin SMS Gateway:For organisations with congested communication systems, Jasmin is a free bulk SMS software with A-grade functionality. In order to meet your unique company requirements and support continued business growth, you may also easily customise the software features. 

It includes reliable message routing algorithms that can change depending on your requirements. It also contains a number of capabilities, including advanced message filtering, HTTP client/server, Unicode, SMS management, and more.

Key Features:

1. AMQP message exchange
2. two-way messaging
3. Mass MMS
4. Simple and sophisticated message filtering
5. Enables concatenated SMSs

Pros:

1. Free Software Since Jasmin is open-source software, it can be used, modified, and distributed without charge, which can save companies and organizations money.
2. Highly customizable Due to the platform's great degree of configuration, customers can alter settings and behaviors to suit certain SMS messaging needs.
3. Protocol Assistance Jasmin supports a number of SMS protocols, including SMPP, HTTP, and WebSocket, giving users the freedom to connect to different SMS service providers and mobile networks.
4. Scalability Jasmin is suitable for enterprises with expanding messaging requirements because it is built to handle enormous amounts of SMS traffic.

Cons:

1. Intensive on Resources High SMS traffic volumes may necessitate powerful server hardware, raising infrastructure expenses.
2. Learning Spiral When setup and utilising Jasmin efficiently, new users could have a learning curve.
3. Maintenance To ensure Jasmine runs consistently in a production environment, routine maintenance and troubleshooting may be necessary.
4. Security Users are responsible for putting in place the necessary security precautions to safeguard the platform and user data, including observing SMS rules and data protection laws.

Here Are Our Trends For The Future Of SMS Marketing:

• Using SMS As A Tool For Instant Gratification

Instant gratification has become the norm, and SMS texting has emerged as a potent means of saying this compulsion.One of the most widely used modes of communication worldwide by 2025, text messaging will be sent or received on a regular basis by close to 6 billion people.

This shouldn't come as a surprise because our brains release dopamine whenever we receive an SMS notice or reply. Who can resist their curiosity, right? Dopamine is crucial for rewarding behaviour, which explains why so many people gravitate toward instant messaging for their everyday communications.

• The Best-Performing Marketing Channel Is SMS

The best way to provide clients with interesting content is through SMS. Since individuals read their SMS messages almost immediately, marketers can pique interest with emotive language and achieve an exceptional 98% open rate.

Furthermore, compared to other marketing platforms or channels, satisfaction levels may be higher because of the dopamine release related to receiving a message in this fashion.

• Using SMS For Customer Support

Because of the convenience and flexibility that texting offers, customers prefer texting to calling customer service representatives.

As a channel for customer care, SMS can help with a variety of tasks, including Notices of order pickup and payment receipts should be sent. Describe how to track deliveries Send out reminders for appointments and reschedule them.Answer the most often requested questions. Request customer, product, and business reviews.

Anyone with a mobile device can instantly fix problems by sending SMS to customer service, eliminating the need for lengthy hold periods and transfer procedures. Greater brand trust and increased income can both be achieved with SMS's faster resolution times.

• Using SMS Text As A Social Tool Across Generations

SMS is a one-to-one communication method, so you can send messages to different generations that are more individualised and private.The fastest-growing group for SMS usage is adults aged 45 to 64, although SMS text messaging is also crucial for the younger generation, who also spend a lot of time texting on their phones.

This is due to the fact that communicating with them secretly via SMS messages is excellent. In order to encourage early growth and communication, many organisations are now even working with parents of underprivileged children. For instance, the UK's Tips By Text programme sends SMS texts to parents three times a week in an effort to assist them improve their children's literacy, numeracy, and other skills.

• Clients Still Enjoy Your Texting Offers To Them

What could be simpler than SMS communication? In 2023, SMS texting will still be popular, but surveys also indicate that more than 75% of consumers still prefer SMS marketing offerings.

It is quick and simple to receive two-way text messages from businesses, and this opens the door for improved customer-business connections and transactions.

• SMS Brand Protection Against Scammers

Brands need to guard against SMS scams. The requirement for customer and brand security becomes critically crucial as the globe grows more dependent on mobile technologies. For businesses and the integrity of their brands, protecting sensitive and personal data is essential.Your company must be ready due to the increase in fraudulent SMS texts.

Learn more about how to avoid getting conned, for yourself, your business, and your clients.

• SMS Texts Increase Website Traffic 

Strong, succinct SMS with obvious call-to-actions (CTAs) will help increase website traffic. In fact, over 45% of SMS message receivers who respond to powerful CTAs make purchases.

SMS messages can only include 160 characters, so sending them generates urgency and makes it obvious what should be done.

• Use SMS Marketing To Cross-Sell

You must first comprehend your consumers' purchasing interests in order to cross-sell your goods and services via SMS. Cross-selling will benefit greatly from SMS. The steps listed below can help you improve your cross-selling abilities:

1. Make your offers specific.
2. Create consumer segments based on purchase habits and customer journeys.
3. Have a compelling proposition to make
4. Make it simple for customers to take action, such as making a purchase

Cross-sell with connected goods, bundles, and services. Your customer lifetime value (LTV) can rise by as much as 30% by sending simple SMS to let customers add goods, edit an order, or make further purchases.

• AI Conversational Marketing Using SMS

SMS can be one-way or two-way. But SMS technology is evolving. SMS can be conversational with more flexible automatic keyword answers and chatbot software powered by AI. Real-time discussions with your consumers are conducted using conversational messaging through SMS in order to engage them in human-powered purchasing and support experiences. Brand awareness, engagement, conversion, and retention are all aided by conversational marketing.

Conversational marketing examples include:

1. Tailored offerings
2. Reminders
3. Customer service
4. Engagement-driven drip marketing

Conversational SMS promotes interpersonal connections, helps you stand out from the competition, and helps you sell and provide services to more people more quickly.

• Using SMS Marketing To Target Influencers

SMS marketing can be used by online social media and marketing influencers to increase brand exposure and engagement, particularly with Gen Z and Millennial consumers.

In actuality, 75% of Gen Z and Millennials shop online using their cellphones.

Brands are evaluating their own consumers as prospective influencers as part of the micro-influencer movement. SMS is now ideally positioned to assist in scaling your influencer marketing plan as consumers start to behave more like micro-influencers.

• SMS Automation For Client Comments

Your marketing approach will be strengthened by using SMS automation to send surveys directly to your clients' mobile devices and collect feedback.

Sending surveys via SMS, such as Net Promoter Score surveys and Customer Satisfaction surveys, can increase customer engagement and your company's overall efficiency and performance because SMS has the greatest open and response rates.

• In 2023, SMS Must Be Part Of Your Marketing Mix

The time has come to incorporate SMS into your marketing mix this year. Your audiences will become your future clients if you develop your own unique, personalised SMS marketing plan to use with other marketing channels like email marketing or website landing pages.

Conclusion

These SMS marketing tools have made it simple to communicate with a large audience. The era of manually delivering messages to specific audiences is over.

Through these top 5 free bulk SMS tools, you may quickly reach your audience, regardless of the size of your intended audience. If you still need assistance deciding which one to purchase for your unique business requirements, browse the additional software featured in our bulk SMS software category.