The Telstra Alternative — SMS at Just 3¢
Telstra charges 19¢ to 25¢ per SMS through their messaging API — up to 8x more than Texto's 3¢. Carrier-grade reliability, but carrier-grade pricing to match.
About Telstra
Telstra is Australia's largest telecommunications company, and they offer an SMS API through their Telstra Messaging service. As a direct carrier, Telstra's SMS gateway bypasses aggregators entirely — your messages travel directly on Telstra's network. This offers unmatched reliability but comes with eye-watering pricing at 19–25¢ per message, making it 6–8x more expensive than alternatives like Texto.
Telstra Pricing vs Texto
Here's what you'd actually pay at different volumes. No tricks, no hidden tiers.
| Messages | Texto (3¢) | Telstra (~19–25¢) | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $15.00 | $125.00 | $110.00 (88%) |
| 1,000 | $30.00 | $250.00 | $220.00 (88%) |
| 5,000 | $150.00 | $1,050.00 | $900.00 (86%) |
| 10,000 | $300.00 | $2,000.00 | $1700.00 (85%) |
| 50,000 | $1,500.00 | $9,500.00 | $8000.00 (84%) |
Optional Texto Dedicated Number: $15/month. Telstra pricing is based on published tiers. Prices shown exclude GST; longer messages may use more than one SMS part.
Worth knowing
Telstra is Australia's biggest telco, so their SMS gateway is carrier-grade reliable. But you're paying a massive premium for the Telstra name — 6x to 8x more than Texto. Unless you specifically need Telstra's direct carrier connection for a compliance reason, there's no justification for the price difference.
Why choose Texto over Telstra
- Up to 8x cheaper — 3¢ vs Telstra's 19–25¢ per SMS
- Full-featured inbox for two-way messaging, which Telstra's API lacks
- MCP server for AI agent integration — not available through Telstra
- Texto's founding team has 20 years of telco-grade SMS experience — having built, operated, and sold competitor platforms, without the Telstra price tag
- Automatic 90-day data deletion — once messages are no longer needed for replies and reporting, your customer data is removed, reducing your exposure if a platform is ever breached
Where Telstra might suit you
- Direct carrier connection means messages don't pass through third-party aggregators
- Telstra's brand carries weight in enterprise procurement and compliance conversations
What you actually need
Both platforms send SMS. But here's where they differ.
Using AI to get work done?
Texto has an MCP server for connecting AI agents to SMS workflows. See the setup guide for supported tools.
If you're building with AI tools like Claude, Cursor, or your own agents, Texto's the platform built for that.
The verdict
Telstra is Australia's telco giant, and their SMS API reflects that — premium pricing for carrier-grade service. But at 19–25¢ per message, you're paying 6–8x more than Texto for something that works essentially the same for 99% of business use cases. Save the Telstra budget for your phone plan.
Frequently asked questions
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We might be able to sort that out for you.
Other SMS provider comparisons
Start sending at 3¢
No contracts. No volume tricks. Just 3¢ per SMS, from your very first message.
Get Started FreeTexto has no affiliation with Telstra. Pricing information may change without notice. Last reviewed March 2026.