SMS Marketing in Australia — Bulk SMS Campaigns from 3¢ per Message
Reach Australian customers on the channel they actually read. Upload your contacts, personalise every message, and launch your bulk SMS marketing campaign in minutes. No contracts, no monthly minimums.
Start Sending for Free5 free SMS credits. No credit card required.
What is SMS marketing?
SMS marketing is the practice of sending promotional or informational text messages to customers who've opted in to hear from you. It covers sale announcements, abandoned-cart nudges, appointment reminders, loyalty rewards, event invites — anything you'd otherwise send via email, but landing on a lock screen instead of an inbox.
In Australia, SMS sits inside a tightly regulated framework (the Spam Act 2003 and the Privacy Act 1988). Done well, it's one of the most cost-effective channels you can use — bulk SMS marketing in Australia can cost as little as 3¢ per message and reaches almost any mobile in the country.
There are two broad flavours: marketing SMS (promotional content, requires explicit opt-in) and transactional SMS (order updates, OTPs, reminders — sent in response to a customer action). Texto supports both from the same platform.
Why choose SMS marketing in Australia?
Email open rates have been sliding for a decade. Push notifications need an app installed. SMS doesn't have either problem — it lands on every mobile, gets read within minutes[2], and works whether your customer is on Wi-Fi, 4G, or neither. 89% of Australians own a mobile phone[3], and SMS still posts roughly 98% open rates against email's ~20%[1].
SMS vs email vs push notifications
Each channel has its place. Here's how they compare on the metrics that matter for Australian marketers.
Benefits of SMS marketing in Australia
Why Australian businesses keep adding SMS to their marketing mix — and why a lot are switching to it as their primary channel.
Immediate reach
Most SMS are read within minutes of arriving. Perfect for flash sales, urgent updates, and time-sensitive offers.
High visibility
Messages land directly on the lock screen — no inbox to fight through, no app to be installed.
Low cost
Just 3¢ per message in Australia. No monthly minimums, no contracts, no SaaS subscription fees.
No app required
Works on every mobile phone in Australia, smartphone or not. Zero install friction.
Two-way conversations
Replies route to your dedicated inbox so customers can confirm, reschedule, or ask questions.
Works without data
SMS runs over the mobile network, so it reaches recipients even without a Wi-Fi or 4G connection.
How different industries use SMS marketing
Real-world ways Australian businesses use bulk SMS to drive sales, fill bookings and re-engage customers.
Retail & eCommerce
- Flash sales and limited-time discount codes
- Abandoned cart reminders
- VIP early-access drops
Hospitality
- Booking confirmations and reminders
- Last-minute table or room availability
- Review and feedback requests
Real Estate
- New listing alerts to buyer database
- Open-home reminders
- Price-drop notifications
Healthcare & Wellness
- Appointment reminders and recalls
- Annual check-up campaigns
- Class and program promos
Everything you need for SMS marketing campaigns
Upload your contacts, personalise, schedule, track — and only pay 3¢ per message. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Upload & Import Contacts
Upload a CSV in seconds, or import contacts from your CRM, marketing automation platform, or any tool via API and Zapier.
Personalise Every Message
Use merge fields like {{first_name}} to add a personal touch to every SMS — even when sending to thousands.
Schedule SMS Campaigns
Set the perfect send time. Schedule your bulk SMS campaigns in advance so your messages land when they'll have the most impact.
URL Shortener & Click Tracking
Automatically shorten links in your messages and track every click. Measure campaign performance without any extra tools.
Real-time Delivery Reports
See delivery status for every message in real time. Know exactly how your SMS marketing campaign performed.
Automatic Opt-out Management
STOP replies are handled automatically, keeping you compliant with Australian spam regulations. Zero effort required.
Connects to the tools you already use
Trigger SMS campaigns from your CRM, marketing automation, eCommerce store or any tool with a webhook — no developers required.
Built for Australian businesses
Two-way SMS, dedicated Australian numbers, link shortening, personalisation, onshore delivery and ephemeral storage — all in one platform.
Two-way SMS
Customers reply directly to your campaigns. Conversations land in a shared inbox your whole team can see.
Dedicated Australian numbers
Get a dedicated long number for $15/mo. Same sender ID every time, replies enabled, cancel anytime.
Built-in link shortener
Long URLs are auto-shortened to save characters, with click tracking baked in. No third-party tool needed.
Merge-field personalisation
Drop {{first_name}}, {{booking_time}} or any custom field into your message. Every recipient gets their own version.
Contact management
Enable contact lists from your profile and settings page. Upload, segment, tag, and reuse them across campaigns.
Australian-hosted data
Everything lives in AWS Sydney. No offshore routing, no offshore storage, no surprises.
Ephemeral message storage
Message content is automatically deleted after 90 days. Privacy by design, not by promise.
Onshore delivery
Messages are delivered through licensed Australian mobile networks — no grey routes, no offshore aggregators.
How to run a bulk SMS campaign in Australia
Go from sign-up to sending your first SMS marketing campaign in under 5 minutes.
Sign up for free
Create your account in 30 seconds. Get 5 free SMS credits to test your first campaign.
Upload your contacts
Upload a CSV, paste numbers, or import from your CRM. Add merge fields for personalisation.
Send your campaign
Write your message, preview it, and hit send. Your bulk SMS campaign goes out in minutes.
SMS marketing compliance in Australia
SMS marketing in Australia is governed by the Spam Act 2003 (enforced by ACMA) and the Privacy Act 1988 (enforced by the OAIC). Three rules cover most of what you need to do right.
1. Get consent
Recipients must opt in before you send marketing SMS. Consent can be express (a tick-box, written agreement, or signup form) or inferred from an existing relationship. Keep a record of when and how each contact consented.
2. Identify yourself
Every marketing message must clearly identify the business sending it. Use a recognisable sender ID or include your business name in the message body.
3. Honour opt-outs
Recipients must be able to unsubscribe easily, and opt-outs must be processed within five business days. Texto handles this for you — any reply matching STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE or similar is automatically suppressed from future sends.
Best practice on top of the rules
- Send between 9am and 8pm local time. Avoid public holidays unless genuinely time-sensitive.
- Keep messages short and lead with the value — discount, reminder, link.
- Segment your list so people only get messages that are actually relevant.
- Use a dedicated number so recipients can reply if they have questions.
Bulk SMS campaign pricing
Texto is the most affordable bulk SMS marketing platform in Australia. See how much you save compared to typical providers.
No contracts. No monthly minimums. Credits expire after 12 months.
Black Friday & Cyber Monday SMS marketing in Australia
BFCM is the highest-return SMS marketing window of the year for Australian retailers. Open rates of ~98%[1] collide with peak purchase intent — but the wins go to the brands that plan the send schedule, not the brands that blast on the day.
VIP early-access teaser
Reward your most engaged opted-in subscribers with a 24-hour head start. Sets up the rest of the campaign with social proof and stock urgency.
Reminder + segmentation
Split your list by past purchase behaviour. Send tailored previews — repeat customers get loyalty pricing, lapsed customers get a winback offer.
Main offer drop
Open rates peak in the first hour of a sale. Lead with the headline discount, a short link to the category page, and a clear deadline.
Last-chance scarcity send
Close out with a 'ends midnight' SMS to non-purchasers. Historically the highest-converting send of the four-day window.
Sample BFCM SMS templates
Go deeper on SMS marketing in Australia
The long-form guide, plus the rest of the platform documentation.
The complete SMS marketing in Australia guide
Campaign planning, message-writing, segmentation, ROI calculations, BFCM playbook and compliance — long-form.
Pricing
Flat 3¢ per SMS. No contracts. Australia's cheapest bulk SMS marketing rates.
REST API documentation
Trigger SMS marketing campaigns from your own app, CRM or workflow. 5-minute setup.
Integrations
HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify, Zapier, Mailchimp and 30+ more. Send SMS from the tools you already use.
Dedicated Australian numbers
Branded sender ID and two-way replies for $15/month. Cancel anytime.
Data privacy
AWS Sydney hosting, 90-day retention, automatic deletion. Privacy by design.
Trusted by Australian businesses
"Excellent product, highly recommend"
Easy to use, intuitive product and great value. So good to see a new business getting it right. Product, performance and price.
Switched from Sinch MessageMedia
Mark O.
Director NBS · Banking
"Love it so far"
Simple and Responsive. Their pricing is competitive and a great alternative to other established options.
Josh S.
Principal Consultant · Management Consulting
SMS marketing FAQ
Common questions about SMS marketing in Australia — character limits, timing, compliance and more.
Sources & references
- [1]SMS open rates of ~98% vs ~20% for email — G2 — SMS Marketing Statistics.
- [2]Average time to read an SMS (within ~3 minutes) — Mobilesquared — A Guide To The SMS Market.
- [3]89% of Australians own a mobile phone — ACMA — Communications and media in Australia 2023.
- [4]5+ billion people send and receive SMS globally — GSMA — The Mobile Economy.
- [5]Spam Act 2003 — rules for businesses — Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
- [6]Privacy Act 1988 — Australian Privacy Principles — Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
- [7]Australian Direct Marketing — industry guidance — Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA / AANA).
Statistics are drawn from publicly available reports current as of publication. Open rates and timing benchmarks vary by industry, list quality and offer — treat them as directional, not guaranteed.
Ready to launch your SMS marketing campaign?
Sign up in 30 seconds, get 5 free SMS credits, and send your first bulk SMS marketing campaign today. Just 3¢ per message.
Start Sending for FreeNo credit card required. No contracts. Cancel anytime.