WhatsApp vs SMS Marketing: Which Works Best for Your Business?
SMS and WhatsApp marketing are two of the most effective channels for brands to reach and engage customers directly
Around 91% of consumers opt in to receive SMS updates, and WhatsApp Business API messages often achieve open rates close to 98%. Together, they remain extremely effective for timely, direct communication.
Instant messaging, including SMS and WhatsApp, generates better marketing results with an impressive open rate of around 98%.
Why use SMS marketing?
Businesses use a SMS marketing software as part of their overall marketing strategy for several reasons:
Benefits of SMS marketing:
High open rate (~98%)
Works without internet access
Effective for urgent or time-sensitive updates
Reaches even basic mobile phones
Lower cost compared to print or broadcast ads
Personalized messages via customer data
Opt-in model ensures interested audiences
Today, with so many instant messaging apps available, consumers are increasingly shifting from SMS to social chat platforms like WhatsApp and you may be dealing with a range of customers contacting you from different channels.
Why use WhatsApp marketing?
Similar to SMS, WhatsApp is effective in capturing the attention of consumers and increasing customer engagement. They are also beneficial because:
Benefits of WhatsApp marketing:
Extremely high open rate (~98%)
Enables real-time conversations and automation
Cost-effective for both small and large businesses
Detailed analytics through the WhatsApp Business API
Ensures opt-in, permission-based communication
Sending bulk WhatsApp marketing messages you can scale up your marketing activities and boost sales in ways email marketing has never reached before.
Limitations of SMS and WhatsApp Marketing
While both channels are effective, they do have some drawbacks:
SMS: Limited to 160 characters, no native media, higher per-message costs, and cross-border delivery restrictions.
WhatsApp: Requires internet and compliance with Meta’s Business and commerce policies.
Cost comparison: WhatsApp vs SMS Marketing
A quick comparison of the pricing for SMS vs WhatsApp marketing campaigns:
SMS marketing
Charged per message (usually $0.25–$0.50). Suitable for small-scale outreach, but can be expensive for large audiences. Bulk pricing or automation via marketing providers can reduce costs
WhatsApp marketing
Free for smaller lists using the Business App (up to 256 contacts). For larger campaigns, the WhatsApp Business API offers scalable plans, charged per conversation, making it more affordable at scale.
To understand how WhatsApp conversation fees work, check out our latest 2025 pricing guide.
SMS vs WhatsApp marketing: Quick Comparison
Here's a table summarizing the main differences between WhatsApp and SMS for marketing:
Choosing the right messaging platform for your business
You don’t need to choose between WhatsApp and SMS — use both to maximize impact. Tools like SleekFlow help you run, compare, and automate campaigns across multiple channels to see which performs best for your audience.
Combining SMS and WhatsApp for Better Results
Both channels serve different purposes — and when combined, they can deliver powerful results.
Use SMS for urgent alerts, OTPs, and short notifications where internet access may be limited.
Use WhatsApp for richer engagement — sending images, videos, catalogs, and two-way customer interactions.
Integrate both using an omnichannel platform to maintain one customer view, automate responses, and measure performance in a single dashboard.
By blending the immediacy of SMS with the interactivity of WhatsApp, businesses can create a seamless customer communication experience.
Why choose SleekFlow for WhatsApp and SMS marketing
SleekFlow, as an omnichannel social commerce platform, understands your business needs. You can use a WhatsApp Business API to send marketing messages through SMS and WhatsApp.
As an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP), SleekFlow helps you:
- Manage conversations in one shared inbox
- Enable instant in-chat payments
- Segment audiences and personalize message integration
- Integrate with CRM and e-commerce tools
Automate customer interactions with AgentFlow; Build no-code AI agent workflows to send personalized messages, route chats, and nurture leads automatically across channels
Want to see how other businesses succeed in doing WhatsApp and SMS marketing via SleekFlow? Check out our success stories.
Connect to WhatsApp Business API now!
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