Like most phones, yours likely blends SMS and MMS messages into a single, cohesive timeline, so you may not even realize the two are different. Receiving an SMS message can feel just like getting an MMS. But when you’re using text messaging for business, knowing the differences between SMS and MMS becomes key for great team and client communication.
We’ll explain what the two acronyms mean and then dive into the major distinctions between SMS and MMS.
What’s the difference between SMS vs MMS?
SMS (Short Message Service) allows text messages up to 160 characters. Meanwhile, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) supports sending images, audio, videos, and rich text. Though most phones support both, SMS and MMS have different capabilities.
What is SMS?
SMS stands for Short Message Service. That’s exactly what it is — it’s short. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, all in plain text. When you get an appointment confirmation text from your dentist or an “I love you” text from your mom, you’re likely getting an SMS.
SMS messaging is the simplest way to send a text. The first SMS was transmitted over cellular networks back in 1992. And since the invention of VoIP phones, you don’t need cell service to send text messages. Simply use your internet connection, and you can easily send and receive SMS.
Pros and cons of SMS
Pros
- Works on nearly all phones
- Lower cost than MMS
- Sends fast and doesn’t require internet
Cons
- Limited to 160 characters
- Text-only (no images or videos)
- No read receipts
What is MMS?
MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. Introduced a decade after SMS, MMS messaging was built to support a wide range of multimedia content and significantly longer texts. When you send a selfie or your friend responds with a GIF, you’re likely using MMS. MMS is most commonly used to send photos, but you can also send audio, videos, and other files.
With most phone carriers, MMS requires a cellular data connection. But with VoIP phones, you can send MMS with any internet connection, including WiFi.
Pros and cons of MMS
Pros
- Supports images, videos, and audio
- No character limit
- More engaging
Cons
- Higher cost than SMS
- Requires data or WiFi
- May not work on older or more basic devices
Understanding other key differences between SMS vs MMS
To help you further understand the difference between SMS and MMS, we’ll go into detail about the distinct qualities of each type of text. We’ll also compare SMS vs. MMS in terms of deliverability and pricing.
| Feature | SMS | MMS |
|---|---|---|
| Character limit | 160 characters max | 1,600 characters max |
| Message content supported | Text only (images, videos, etc. appear as a link) | Rich content (image, video, audio, etc.) |
| Cost | Between $0.01 and $0.05 per message (source) | Between $0.04 and $0.20 per message (source) |
| Device compatibility | All cellular phones | Only phones with internet connectivity, like smartphones |
MMS has more supported content
The biggest perk of MMS is its ability to support images, videos, GIFs, and audio files.
While convenient, SMS messaging can be a snooze. With no ability to send rich media, SMS marketing isn’t as engaging as MMS marketing. With SMS, you’re usually limited to plain text. Any multimedia content must be sent as links.
Some carriers don’t even support emojis when using SMS. When they do, using a single emoji can reduce your total character limit to 70. Each emoji is sent as a lengthy string of characters (using a language known as Unicode) that’s translated into an icon when received.
The same goes for special characters, like Chinese and Arabic letters, so supporting international clients via SMS can be more difficult.
MMS has higher character limits
SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, which might be fewer if you include special characters or emojis. MMS character limits can vary between carriers, but modern VoIP phones (like OpenPhone) can support up to 1,600 characters per text.
What happens if an SMS exceeds the 160-character limit?
You can still type over 160 characters with SMS. However, a 164-character text will be broken up into one 153-character text and then chained together to a 9-character text. There’s a chance those texts will arrive out of order. If you’re guiding clients or team members through a step-by-step process, your instructions may feel like a confusing Ikea manual.
SMS has better deliverability
The redeeming quality of SMS messaging is its reliability. Pretty much every cell phone used today supports SMS — and the best VoIP systems all do, too — which can boost the delivery rate of your business texts.
While Androids and iPhones support MMS, not every cell phone does. Sending an MMS to a phone number that can’t receive MMS messages can lead to deliverability issues. Though most US adults own smartphones, 10% still don’t. It’s harder to guarantee your mobile marketing will go through to subscribers when using MMS.
However, if you’re sending group texts, MMS offers a better delivery experience than SMS. Sending group texts via MMS allows the entire group to seamlessly chat in one conversation — for example, if you’re collaborating with your team. With SMS, sending a text to multiple people at once is more like BCC’ing people on an email. Your message will simply be sent as individual texts to each person.
SMS has lower pricing than MMS
SMS is usually cheaper than MMS. Since multimedia messages involve more data, each text will cost more. Though the difference is only a matter of cents (often 1-2 cents), this can add up if you use MMS for lots of text marketing campaigns or customer support.
The good news: most phone carriers offer SMS and MMS plans for US texts. With OpenPhone, you can get free SMS and MMS for the US and Canada. Plus, you can send SMS and MMS messages from any device, including your computer, phone, or tablet.
When to use SMS messages
SMS vs. MMS messaging have unique perks that can help you improve your business communication. Due to its simplicity and consistent deliverability, SMS is a great choice when you want to send texts like:
- Time-sensitive alerts
- Appointment reminders
- Policy change notifications
- Company updates
- Purchase confirmations
- General customer support responses
SMS gets messages across fast, which is what you want for important or transactional texts (and other auto-reply texts) that don’t necessarily need to be engaging. You won’t have to worry about your texts not getting through to customers with certain mobile phones.
When to use MMS messages
When you need to send group texts or lengthy messages, MMS is the clear winner. MMS is also a great option for conversations that can benefit from visual contexts, like:
- Messaging customers product video walkthroughs
- Troubleshooting support issues by requesting screenshots
- Sending a potential customer a job quote broken down by line items
- Providing a photo of an alternate item if a customer orders something out of stock
Compared to SMS, MMS is powerful when it’s used for marketing campaigns. Multimedia content can help you grab customers’ attention fast when you send:
- New product or service announcements
- Coupons or discounts
- Sales promotions
MMS is also great for humanizing your brand. Even if visuals aren’t needed, sending funny memes or video birthday messages at the right time can help you stand out and build stronger client relationships. Just be sure to follow MMS best practices. Below are a few more use cases for MMS.
Send images or GIFs
GIFs are useful for visually sharing important information, like product walkthroughs, or adding personality to your messages. If you’ve been working with a customer for a while, you can use a GIF to quickly convey something that words can’t.
How to send an image or GIF on OpenPhone:
- Open the conversation where you want to send the image or GIF.
- For images, tap the paper clip icon next to the message box and select the downloaded image from your device you want to send.
- For GIFs, tap or type the forward slash / and choose the /Giphy option, then choose the GIF you want to send.
- Tap Send Message to deliver the image or GIF to your recipient.
Send audio files
Sending audio files is ideal when you want to send a voice memo for a personal touch or quickly explain something that’s easier said than typed. It’s also helpful when you’re on the go and can’t type a message.
How to send an audio file on OpenPhone:
- Open the conversation where you want to send the audio file.
- Tap the paper clip icon next to the message box.
- Select the downloaded audio file from your device you want to send.
- Tap Send Message to deliver the audio message. Once sent, the audio will send as a link your recipient can open and play on their device.
Send PDFs for invoices or more info
Sending PDFs is perfect when your information exceeds the SMS or MMS character limits, such as when sending detailed invoices, reports, or other documents that don’t fit into a standard message.
How to send a PDF on OpenPhone:
- Open the conversation where you want to send the PDF.
- Tap the paperclip icon next to the message box.
- Browse your device and choose the PDF file.
- Tap Send Message, and your recipient will receive the PDF as a downloadable link.
Send videos
Sending videos is great for sharing a welcome message with clients or offering a visual walkthrough to a team member, such as with a Loom video. As a business owner, you may also want to receive videos from customers for easier troubleshooting and issue resolution.
How to send a video on OpenPhone:
- Open the conversation in which you want to send the video.
- Tap the paper clip icon next to the message box.
- Choose a video from your device or upload one from a file-sharing service.
- Tap Send Message to deliver the video to your recipient. Once sent, the video will send as a link your recipient can open and play on their device.
It’s that easy to send any type of MMS message on OpenPhone.
Don’t choose between SMS vs MMS: Access the best of both worlds
When we’re texting, it’s easy to switch between SMS and MMS without a second thought. But when you directly compare SMS vs. MMS, you’ll notice that each has its perks. SMS primarily supports plain text and is simple, reliable, and cheap. MMS lets you include multimedia, letting you send highly engaging messages with fewer limitations.
Using both types of texts at the right times can help your team members communicate with clients and each other better than ever.
With a VoIP service, you can start sending SMS and MMS messages without using your personal cell number. All you need is an internet connection to get started. And with OpenPhone, free SMS and MMS in the US and Canada comes standard with every plan, so you don’t have to worry about overspending on MMS.
Sign up for a free trial of OpenPhone, and you can test out our text message automation capabilities to streamline your marketing campaigns!
FAQs
Android uses SMS for text-only messages and MMS for multimedia messages.
iPhone uses SMS for text-only and MMS for multimedia, unless using iMessage between Apple devices, which uses the internet to send messages.
You can tell if you’re using SMS or MMS based on whether the message contains only text (SMS) or includes multimedia (MMS). MMS messages include images, videos, emojis, GIFs, and more.
Not all phones can receive MMS messages, especially older models or those without data capabilities.
SMS is a carrier-based service, while apps like iMessage or WhatsApp are Over-The-Top (OTT) applications that rely on the internet for messaging.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) offers business owners enhanced messaging features like modernized video file sharing, RCS group chat hosting, read receipts, and more. RCS is only available on Android devices running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher and Apple devices running iOS 18.
