Best SMS Marketing Software 2021

ZipWhip Competitors & Alternatives

Are you considering purchasing ZipWhip to manage your SMS marketing needs? Before making the purchase, it’s best to learn about ZipWhip’s top competitors. The eight best alternatives are listed below, along with details on their features and pricing.

ZipWhip is one of the most popular SMS marketing solutions specialized for business communications. However, it exists in a competitive market. Therefore, we recommend comparing ZipWhip against its top alternatives before purchasing.

There are many excellent competitors in the SMS marketing space that are worth considering. Most of ZipWhip’s top competitors offer more robust features at more expensive prices. Here’s a breakdown of our review criteria and how ZipWhip’s competitors performed in each category.

Software CompanyAnalyst RatingFeaturesUsabilityPricingCustomer Support
SlickText9010988.5
SMSBump88998.59
SimpleTexting87898.59
Emotive879979.5
Postscript858899.5
Avochato8487.5810
ZipWhip837999
EZ Texting827.59710
Textedly8178.597

Throughout this article, we’ll provide an overview of the main ZipWhip competitors and alternatives, which are:

  • SlickText
  • SMSBump
  • SimpleTexting
  • Emotive
  • Postscript
  • Avochato
  • EZ Texting
  • Textedly

In this guide, we examine ZipWhip’s features and pricing, and compare these factors against competitors. To gain a full understanding of ZipWhip as a solution, you can read our in-depth ZipWhip review.

All of the information in this article is based upon research, discussions with SMS marketers, and dozens of hours spent hand-testing the leader SMS marketing software platforms. To learn more about our research and reviews, read about our unbiased review process.

Table of Contents

ZipWhip Features

Before we compare ZipWhip against its competitors, it’s important to understand the features that are included in ZipWhip. ZipWhip’s features are basic compared to alternatives.

ZipWhip’s strong points are its mass texting and two-way messaging opportunities. This is because ZipWhip has unlimited messages starting at $60 per month, and is designed specifically for business communications. However, alternatives like SlickText or SimpleTexting have far more powerful targeted marketing opportunities with their subscriber list building, segmentation, and campaign features.


The seven most important features that ZipWhip offers are described in the table below.

FeatureDescription
Subscriber List BuildingZipWhip does not have a wide range of subscriber list building tools. You can build your list through manual imports and opt-in keywords. Opt-in keywords cannot be linked to a list you’ve created. This means that organizing your subscribers is more difficult than alternative tools.
SegmentationZipWhip does not offer a subscriber segmentation feature. This means that businesses looking to leverage SMS marketing solutions primarily for targeted marketing should consider other tools.
Message CreationMessage creation in ZipWhip is adequate in features. You can send MMS messages, templates, and include custom fields. One standout feature in ZipWhip’s message creation is its automated warning if you are utilizing a custom field that is not yet filled with data.
Campaign BuildingZipWhip’s campaigns are very strong. Its standout campaign comes in its SMS flows. These are visualized, complex campaign builders similar to drip campaigns. We found that they are one of the most powerful ways to build customer engagement and retention.
Two-Way ConversationsCampaign building in ZipWhip is good for mass texting and limited for any other campaign type. This is because you can only create mass texting campaigns. You can pair this with ZipWhip’s unlimited messages to carry out non-personalized mass texting.
Automated MessagesZipWhip’s automated message capabilities are basic feature-wise. You can set up auto replies to be sent automatically. More expensive alternatives offer complex automated messaging features such as drip campaigns. ZipWhip’s auto replies are best for businesses looking to streamline their customer service.
AnalyticsZipWhip’s analytics dashboard is basic. You can track your messages and keywords, but there are very few drill down opportunities. We also analyzed that analytics took some time to update rather than updating immediately like alternatives.

ZipWhip Competitor Overview: Features

Below is a chart that compares each platform’s features and affordability. They differ primarily based on how advanced each platform is and the user base each is best suited for. For example, solutions like Textedly or ZipWhip do not support robust segmentation. This means they are best suited for businesses looking to send text blasts rather than targeted marketing campaigns.

We also recommend looking into tools that are designed for a variety of industries. SMSBump and Postscript might both have the same features as alternative tools, but these features are designed specifically for ecommerce businesses integrated with Shopify or BigCommerce. This contrasts with alternatives like SimpleTexting or SlickText, which are all-in-one solutions for a variety of businesses.

SMS Marketing Competitors Feature Chart

ZipWhip Competitor Overview: Pricing

ZipWhip’s pricing begins at $30 per month. Compared to its competitors’ pricing, ZipWhip typically falls in the middle for low volume messages and becomes far more affordable at higher volumes.

Here are the prices of ZipWhip and its top competitors based on the volume of messages sent per month:

CompanyPrice for 500 MessagesPrice for 5,000 MessagesPrice for 10,000 MessagesPrice for 25,000 Messages
SlickText$29$189$350$750
SMSBump$26$93$168$391
SimpleTexting$25$155$195$375
Emotive$210$300$400$700
Postscript$25$50$100$250
Avochato$92$182$332$782
ZipWhip$30$60$60$60
EZ Texting$42$224$424$1,024
Textedly$24$70$140$350

Top ZipWhip Competitors

Below are one-to-one comparisons between ZipWhip and its top alternatives. ZipWhip is best for marketers who leverage SMS marketing for non-personalized mass texting and two-way messaging. We’ve ranked ZipWhip’s top eight competitors based on their features, pricing, and usability.

#1: SlickText

SlickText is a more expensive alternative to ZipWhip designed for a wider range of businesses. If you are looking for the most powerful all-in-one SMS marketing solution, we highly suggest SlickText over ZipWhip.

SlickText's features are more robust all across the board, and it includes advanced features like drip campaigns that aren’t included in ZipWhip. However, SlickText does not offer free unlimited messages like ZipWhip.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You are looking for one of the most affordable SMS marketing solutions
  • You leverage SMS marketing for non-personalized mass texting and two-way communication
  • You do not need advanced automated messaging features such as drip campaigns
You'll prefer SlickText if:

  • You are looking for the most powerful general SMS marketing solution
  • You want to capture customer data for personalized campaigns and messages
  • You want to utilize unique campaigns for engagement such as text surveys
SlickText
Rating: 90
Starting Price: $29 per month

SlickText is an all-in-one SMS marketing tool that has been used by over 70,000 businesses. It is ideal for small and medium sized businesses looking for a SMS marketing solution with flexible subscriber data collection and powerful list building options. Although SlickText is an all-in-one tool designed for all types of businesses, ecommerce stores might prefer more specialized solutions for their use cases.

Pros:
  • SlickText's web forms are extremely effective for capturing subscriber information
  • SlickText's unlimited custom fields enable marketers to collect data for segmentation and personalization
  • Analytics are highly detailed with individual pages dedicated to every campaign and automation you build
Cons:
  • SlickText is one of the more expensive SMS marketing solutions
  • SlickText is not as specialized for ecommerce businesses as SMSBump or Postscript
  • SlickText does not offer a diverse selection of native integrations, although Zapier is supported

#2: SMSBump

SMSBump is an alternative to ZipWhip specialized for ecommerce stores. There is no doubt that you should consider SMSBump if you are an ecommerce store looking to target your customers for acquisition and retention.

However, if you are an ecommerce store simply looking to carry out customer service through text messaging, ZipWhip’s unlimited messages could be the best option for you.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You only want to use SMS marketing for customer service
  • You are not an ecommerce business looking to target your customers
  • You do not need advanced automated messaging features such as drip campaigns
You'll prefer SMSBump if:

  • You need a solution with features dedicated to ecommerce businesses
  • You usually don’t need to take advantage of two-way messaging for communication
  • You want to utilize complex segmentation to target your customers as best as possible
SMSBump
Rating: 88
Starting Price: $0.0149 per message

SMSBump is a SMS marketing platform for Shopify and BigCommerce used by over 90,000 businesses. Standout features like campaign flows, segmentations, and automations make SMSBump the most powerful text marketing solution for ecommerce businesses.

Pros:
  • SMSBump's flow builder is one of the most powerful SMS marketing campaign builders
  • SMSBump has a plethora of segment conditions specific to ecommerce businesses
  • Relevant and helpful templates are provided for both segmentations and automations
Cons:
  • Flow building and A/B testing are not available for BigCommerce
  • Custom fields cannot be created to store alternative customer information
  • A/B testing is only available in SMSBump's most expensive plan

#3: SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is an alternative to ZipWhip designed for marketers looking for an affordable all-in-one solution. This means that SimpleTexting has more targeted marketing opportunities than ZipWhip. SimpleTexting also excels in mass texting, but has more robust segmentation and campaigns. If these features are important to you, we suggest SimpleTexting.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You are not looking to build your subscriber list through SMS marketing
  • You want unlimited messages per month
  • You leverage SMS marketing for non-personalized messaging
You'll prefer SimpleTexting if:

  • You utilize SMS marketing for targeted marketing
  • You often don’t need to take advantage of two-way messaging for communication
  • You want to utilize subscriber list building to capture subscriber information
SimpleTexting
Rating: 87
Starting Price: $25 per month

SimpleTexting is a SMS marketing platform used by a diverse range of businesses. SimpleTexting is ideal for small businesses new to SMS marketing due to affordability, accessiblity, and an attentive customer service team. Businesses looking for a more powerful solution will find SimpleTexting's subscriber data storage and segmentation opportunities limiting.

Pros:
  • SimpleTexting is one of the more affordable SMS marketing solutions
  • SimpleTexting's learning curve is very accessible for businesses new to SMS marketing
  • SimpleTexting offers a multitude of prebuilt, engaging campaigns to choose from
Cons:
  • Segments cannot be grouped together with and-or statements, which limits targeted marketing
  • There are few opportunities to capture subscriber data in SimpleTexting
  • Analytics are very basic for ecommerce and retail businesses

#4: Emotive

Emotive is a more expensive alternative to SimpleTexting dedicated for fast-growing ecommerce businesses. Emotive is less hands-off than ZipWhip. The primary difference between Emotive and ZipWhip is that Emotive is built for personalized and targeted marketing.

ZipWhip is for non-personalized mass texting and two-way messaging. Generally, we find that both of these solutions are effective for your business depending on your specific use case.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You are looking to send non-personalized mass texts
  • You want one of the most affordable SMS marketing solutions
  • You do not need robust automated messaging and segmentations
You'll prefer Emotive if:

  • You want a dedicated customer success manager and copywriter for your business
  • You need advanced segmentation for targeted marketing
  • You need access to complex SMS flows and automated messaging
Emotive
Rating: 87
Starting Price: $200 per month

Emotive is an SMS marketing platform for fast-growing ecommerce businesses looking to execute successful SMS marketing campaigns. Over 750 businesses have used Emotive for their ecommerce stores. Its standout features are its segmentation and automated messaging flows.

Pros:
  • Emotive offers a dedicated customer success manager and copywriter for your business
  • Emotive comes with a plethora of segment dimensions related to customer activity
  • Emotive’s automated messaging features are very powerful
Cons:
  • Emotive is generally more expensive than SMSBump and Postscript
  • Unique custom fields cannot be created in Emotive
  • Emotive does not have an analytics dashboard and instead offers downloadable reports

#5: Postscript

Postscript is an alternative to ZipWhip similar to SMSBump. It is also built specifically for ecommerce businesses. Postscript’s opportunities for targeted marketing are limited compared to alternatives.

We find that ecommerce stores should still consider Postscript over ZipWhip if they are looking for an affordable ecommerce solution. This is because it still offers segmentation and automated messages dedicated to ecommerce businesses.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You are not looking to build your subscriber list through SMS marketing
  • You want unlimited messages per month
  • You leverage SMS marketing for non-personalized messaging
You'll prefer Postscript if:

  • You are looking for the most affordable SMS marketing solution for ecommerce businesses
  • You primarily send text blasts or general automations like abandoned cart messages
  • You do not need access to robust analytics
Postscript
Rating: 85
Starting Price: $25 per month

Postscript is a SMS marketing tool for Shopify that has been used by over 1,000 businesses. It is ideal for Shopify businesses looking for an effective yet affordable SMS marketing solution designed specifically for ecommerce businesses.

Pros:
  • Postscript is the most budget-friendly SMS marketing tool for Shopify businesses
  • Prebuilt automations are robust and designed specifically for ecommerce businesses
  • Shopify businesses will find ecommerce-specific segment conditions very helpful
Cons:
  • Campaign creation options are limited to solely custom campaign creation
  • Many crucial analytics for Shopify businesses are not available
  • There are very few custom fields for personalized messages

#6: Avochato

Avochato is a more expensive alternative to ZipWhip. We recommend ZipWhip if you are looking to use non-personalized mass texting or two-way messaging. Avochato offers unique two-way messaging opportunities in its subscriber list builders, but similarly priced alternatives like SlickText or SimpleTexting are better for targeted marketing.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You leverage SMS marketing for two-way conversations
  • You want unlimited messages starting at $60 per month
  • You prefer importing existing customers into your list rather than using list building tools
You'll prefer Avochato if:

  • You only need basic drip campaigns for customer retention
  • You do not need advanced segmentation for targeted marketing
  • You want unique subscriber list building options such as website widgets
ZipWhip
Rating: 83
Starting Price: $30 per month

ZipWhip is an SMS marketing platform currently used by over 40,000 businesses. It includes a majority of features most SMS marketing tools have, excluding segmentation. Its standout points are its mass texting and two-way messaging capabilities.

Pros:
  • ZipWhip is one of the best SMS marketing tools for customer service
  • All plans over $60 per month come with unlimited messaging
  • ZipWhip’s inbox is very user-friendly for two-way messaging
Cons:
  • Automations and integrations are only available with ZipWhip's most expensive plan
  • You cannot sign up for ZipWhip with a number that is already text enabled
  • Segmentation is not available in ZipWhip, which limits targeted marketing

#7: EZ Texting

EZ Texting is a more expensive and generally limited alternative to ZipWhip. Although EZ Texting has more campaigns, list builders, and automated messaging features than ZipWhip, more affordable alternatives like SlickText and Avochato do as well.

Still, we feel that EZ Texting’s campaigns and subscriber list builders are fairly unique and have decent customer data collection opportunities.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You do not need drip campaigns for customer retention
  • You want unlimited messages starting at $60 per month
  • You do not need to create custom fields for targeted marketing
You'll prefer EZ Texting if:

  • You want to use web forms and custom fields to capture unique customer information
  • You want to utilize simple drip campaigns to automate messages
  • You want to capture subscribers creatively with QR codes and posters
EZ Texting
Rating: 82
Starting Price: $24 per month

EZ Texting is an intuitive SMS marketing solution currently used by over 30,000 businesses. It includes a majority of features most SMS marketing tools have, including customer list building, segmentation, and campaigns. Its strongest feature is its custom campaign builder.

Pros:
  • EZ Texting is one of the best SMS marketing tools for text blasts
  • EZ Texting’s web form creator helps your business gain new subscribers and subscriber information
  • There is a diverse range of engaging campaigns to choose from
Cons:
  • EZ Texting is one of the more expensive SMS marketing solutions
  • You can only segment customers by their opt-in sources
  • Drip campaigns have limited scheduling options for more experienced marketers

#8: Textedly

Textedly is one of the most affordable solutions we’ve evaluated in the SMS marketing space. It is, however, one of the least robust SMS marketing solutions.

If you want an affordable solution that focuses more on mass texting and two-way messaging, we highly recommend ZipWhip over Textedly. Textedly’s best feature is its 455 single text character limit – but ZipWhip outperforms here with a 600 character limit.

You'll prefer ZipWhip if:

  • You want unlimited messages starting at $60 per month
  • You leverage SMS marketing for non-personalized messaging
  • You want to send single text messages up to 600 characters long
You'll prefer Textedly if:

  • You want a very affordable all-in-one SMS marketing solution
  • You do not need segmentation for subscriber targeting
  • You only need to send single text messages up to 455 characters long
Textedly
Rating: 81
Starting Price: $24 per month

Textedly is a SMS marketing platform used by a diverse range of businesses. Textedly offers common SMS marketing software features like customer list building, segmentation, and campaigns. These features are serviceable for businesses new to SMS marketing. Businesses looking to leverage diverse campaigns and segmentation will find Textedly limiting.

Pros:
  • Textedly is one of the more affordable SMS marketing solutions on the market today
  • Textedly's inbox helps facilitate two-way conversations between your business and customers
  • Textedly is one of the only solutions that can send single texts up to 455 characters long
Cons:
  • Custom fields, drip campaigns, and autoresponders all must be purchased for seperate one time fees
  • Segments cannot be stored in Textedly’s system and must be exported as .csv files instead
  • There are very few statistics and drill down opportunities available in Textedly's analytics section

Bottom Line

ZipWhip is a very strong SMS marketing tool for non-personalized mass texting and two-way communication. Its unlimited messaging starting at $60 per month can be paired with its campaign creator or inbox to facilitate business communications very well.

It is, however, not at all designed for targeted marketing or executing advanced user journeys. This is because it lacks segmentation, drip campaigns, and unique subscriber list builders

Before you make your purchase, we also suggest comparing ZipWhip to other highly rated platforms:

  • SlickText is best for marketers looking for the most powerful SMS marketing solution on the market today.
  • SMSBump is best for Shopify or BigCommerce businesses looking for the most powerful solution that is specialized for eCommerce.
  • Avochato is ideal for marketers with more simple marketing needs who still require drip campaigns and two-way messaging opportunities.
Yousef Fatehpour

Yousef Fatehpour is a Junior Research Analyst at SoftwarePundit. He graduated from University of California, San Diego, where he studied Human Centered Design and Communications. His work at UCSD's Design Lab emphasized UX research and product management.

Yousef's primary areas of interest are software design, user journeys, and how user experience is handled across software markets. Yousef also has experience in product design and multimedia content production. You can connect with Yousef on LinkedIn.

Yousef is an expert in several software categories including:

  • SMS marketing software
  • Document management software
  • Human resource software
  • Applicant tracking software
  • Design software

Get the latest from SoftwarePundit

We'll share our latest software reviews, technology tips, and deals.

*