SMS marketing is one of the most affordable channels relative to its performance. The cost depends mainly on the volume of messages and the subscription plan you choose.
How the cost is determined
- Volume: the more messages you send, the lower the price per SMS.
- Destination: the country and the delivery network affect the cost.
- Message length: one SMS is 160 characters; longer texts are billed as multiple messages.
Credits, subscription & rollover
In iSend, billing is based on a monthly subscription with credit packages (e.g. Basic, Professional, Enterprise). Important: unused credits roll over to the next month (they remain available for one month), so you do not lose what you paid for. See the full plans & pricing.
How to calculate ROI
The formula is simple:
ROI = (Campaign revenue − Campaign cost) ÷ Campaign cost
Example: you send 1,000 SMS at a total cost of about €30. If the campaign brings in 15 sales × €40 = €600, the net profit is €570 and the ROI is a multiple of the cost. Thanks to the high open rate (~98%), SMS marketing often delivers an impressive ROI.
How to reduce the cost
- Segmentation: send to the right recipients, not to everyone.
- Short messages: keep the text within 160 characters.
- Clean lists: remove wrong or inactive numbers.
- The right plan: choose a volume that fits your needs and take advantage of the rollover.
Conclusion
The cost of SMS marketing is low and predictable, especially with a subscription model and rollover. With proper targeting and measurement, the ROI is among the highest in digital marketing.