SMS vs WhatsApp for customer messaging
BASIS
Computed from 3 SMS platform and 1 Communications API (CPaaS) products · last verified 2026-10-28.
Each option is the cheapest qualifying product of its tool type, including add-ons the job requires.
CROSSOVER600messages/month, at the cheapest tracked prices
Monthly cost by messages/month
SMSWhatsApp
Cheapest tracked plan for each option at each volume, including add-ons the job requires.
What each includes by default
FeatureSMSWhatsApp
Answering machine detection33%100%
Automatic failover routing33%100%
Branded caller ID (name and logo)33%100%
Call transcription33%100%
Click-to-call web widget33%100%
Dedicated or shared short codes33%100%
DTMF masking for card payments33%100%
Encrypted online fax33%100%
Flash call verification33%100%
Geo-redundant data centers33%100%
International numbers33%100%
IoT SIMs and data plans33%100%
IVR surveys33%100%
Mass alerts across SMS, voice and email33%100%
Multi-level IVR menus33%100%
Number lookup and line type33%100%
Number masking (proxy numbers)33%100%
Outbound CNAM registration33%100%
Payment links in texts33%100%
Published international per-minute rates33%100%
SIM swap check33%100%
SIP trunks33%100%
SMS API33%100%
Spam label monitoring and remediation33%100%
Speech recognition in IVR33%100%
STIR/SHAKEN A attestation33%100%
Toll-free texting verification33%100%
Tracking number pools33%100%
Verification (OTP) API33%100%
Voice OTP33%100%
WebRTC calling SDK33%100%
WhatsApp Business Platform access33%100%
Works with your existing PBX33%100%
AI voice agent for outbound and inbound67%100%
Call forwarding to any number67%100%
Contact lists and segments67%100%
Delivery receipts67%100%
Email to SMS gateway67%100%
Keywords and automatic opt-out67%100%
Native CRM integration67%100%
Number porting67%100%
PCI DSS compliant67%100%
RCS business messaging67%100%
Review request automation67%100%
Ring several devices at once67%100%
Sends MMS (images)67%100%
Sends SMS67%100%
SMS chatbot flows67%100%
SMS surveys67%100%
Text-enables an existing landline67%100%
Toll-free numbers67%100%
WhatsApp template messages67%100%
10DLC brand and campaign registration100%100%
Group and broadcast texting100%100%
Missed-call text-back100%100%
Scheduled and triggered messages100%100%
Shared team inbox for messages100%100%
Two-way texting100%100%
Share of each option's qualifying products that include the feature in the base plan.
What teams actually use
Share using whatsapp, by team size. From 2 recorded customer setups.
26 to 100100%
Qualifying products at default volume
| Product | Option | Tool type | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dummy Messaging Cloudsample | SMS | SMS platform | $103 |
| MockTextsample | SMS | SMS platform | $84 |
| Quo | SMS | SMS platform | — |
| Dummy Messaging Cloudsample | Communications API (CPaaS) | $99 |
Next step for your size
Publication status: not indexed yet
- Decision guide record is a draft
- SMS: 0 of 3 qualifying products with costs (draft and sample products excluded)
- WhatsApp: 0 of 3 qualifying products with costs (draft and sample products excluded)