If your business uses SMS marketing or bulk SMS to communicate with customers, pricing is probably at the forefront of your mind. Choosing the right SMS provider can significantly affect your budget, especially when sending thousands of messages each month. We recently completed a thorough analysis of the leading bulk SMS providers in Australia to see how their costs stack up in a typical scenario.
For our comparison, we considered a common use-case: a business needing to send exactly 10,000 standard SMS messages within Australia, combined with leasing a dedicated Australian virtual mobile number. Let’s explore what we discovered.
How We Compared SMS Providers
To ensure a fair and practical comparison, we based our calculations on publicly advertised, pay-as-you-go rates in May 2025. All prices shown exclude GST to keep things straightforward, and each provider’s offering is evaluated for sending exactly 10,000 SMS messages within one month. We also factored in the monthly cost of maintaining a dedicated Australian SMS number.
Pricing Comparison Table
| Provider | Cost per SMS | Cost for 10,000 SMS | Dedicated Number Cost | Total First-month Cost |
| Mobile Message | 3.0 cents | $300 | Free | $300 |
| Sinch MessageMedia | 5.8 cents | $749 (13,000 credits) | Included | $749 |
| ClickSend | 6.7 cents | $670 | $19 | $689 |
| Kudosity | 6.9 cents | $690 | $25 | $715 |
| Twilio | 8.6 cents | $864 | $1.85 | $866 |
| Vonage (Nexmo) | 8.6 cents | $861 | $8.80 | $870 |
Bulk SMS Pricing Breakdown
Here’s how the providers compare in more detail:
- Mobile Message: At just 3.0 cents per SMS, Mobile Message leads the pack with an impressive price of $300 for 10,000 SMS. They also offer a significant benefit—a dedicated Australian SMS number at no additional charge once you make your first credit purchase. This transparent and straightforward pricing, combined with a free dedicated number, makes Mobile Message stand out for businesses looking to maximise value.
- Sinch MessageMedia: On their Advanced plan, Sinch MessageMedia provides 13,000 SMS credits for $749, equating to approximately 5.8 cents per SMS. The plan also includes a dedicated Australian number. While the initial outlay is higher, the bundled features such as 24/7 customer support and campaign tools may offer good value for businesses needing more comprehensive solutions.
- ClickSend: ClickSend’s pricing is simple at 6.7 cents per SMS when sending between 5,000 and 49,999 messages monthly. For 10,000 SMS, that’s $670 plus a $19 monthly fee for a dedicated number, totalling $689 for the first month.
- Kudosity (formerly Burst SMS): Recently rebranded Kudosity offers its bulk SMS service at 6.9 cents per SMS, resulting in $690 for 10,000 messages. Adding the $25 monthly cost for the dedicated number, businesses will pay $715 initially. Kudosity also features advanced tracking capabilities and robust APIs.
- Twilio: As a global provider, Twilio quotes prices in USD, which after conversion come to approximately 8.6 cents per SMS, making the cost around $864 for 10,000 messages. Including the $1.85 monthly cost for a dedicated number, the first-month total reaches $866. Twilio excels for businesses requiring integrated communication services like email, WhatsApp, and voice.
- Vonage (Nexmo): Another international player, Vonage’s pricing is also in USD, with converted costs similar to Twilio at approximately 8.6 cents per SMS. That totals about $861 for 10,000 SMS plus $8.80 for the dedicated number, leading to a first-month total of around $870.
Why Mobile Message Stands Out
In our analysis, Mobile Message clearly comes out ahead when focusing strictly on price and simplicity. With the lowest SMS rate and no monthly fee for your dedicated Australian number, Mobile Message offers businesses a practical, economical solution. Their transparent pricing model, coupled with Melbourne-based customer support, makes managing your SMS marketing simple and affordable.
Considerations Beyond Price
While cost is critical, it’s also important to consider additional features that can benefit your business. Providers like Sinch MessageMedia and Kudosity offer more sophisticated marketing tools, customer analytics, and support options which might justify their higher prices if your needs are more extensive.
Global providers like Twilio and Vonage are well-suited for businesses requiring broader integrated services across various communication channels. However, their higher SMS pricing might not be ideal for businesses primarily focused on domestic SMS marketing.
Making the Right Choice
Based on our analysis, Mobile Message is clearly the best bulk SMS provider for Australian businesses looking to send large volumes of SMS messages affordably and effectively. With the lowest SMS cost, a free dedicated number, and straightforward pricing, Mobile Message should be your first choice.
By selecting Mobile Message, you can confidently minimise your SMS marketing costs and maximise your results. If you have more questions or need help getting started, reach out—we’re always here to help.
