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9 Best Zapier SMS apps for small businesses

A graphic that reads,

What’s the fastest way to get in touch with clients? Text them. While email marketing can often feel like a nuisance, 75% of people suggest they’d be happy to receive an offer via SMS marketing. In addition, it takes an average of 90 seconds to respond to a text. (When was the last time you responded to an email that fast? 💣)

Translation: SMS messages are an effective tool for marketing, sales, and operations. As a small business owner, the right SMS messaging service can help send appointment reminders, follow up on sales calls, and send out seasonal promotions. But how do you get started using a SMS service for business?

Small business owners need an SMS service that’s easy to use, allows them to communicate with customers, and doesn’t require a developer. Below, we’ll walk you through several Zapier SMS services available. Then, we’ll tell you why OpenPhone is the best and how you can use the OpenPhone and Zapier integration. 

9 Zapier SMS services

Before we explain what a Zapier SMS integration can do for your business, let’s recap what Zapier actually is.

Zapier is an automation tool that connects different web apps, no coding needed. Through the Zapier API, you create your own workflows (called zaps) by setting a trigger then setting an action. For example, you could create a zap to send a text after receiving a Calendly booking or to follow up via text after a prospect fills out an online form.

There are dozens of SMS services available, so how do you know which one to choose?

As a small business owner, you should choose a text messaging service that’s affordable and offers a platform that easily connects you to customers. A few options that integrate with Zapier include:

1. OpenPhone 

OpenPhone

OpenPhone offers a mobile, desktop, and web interface to easily deliver small business customer service over text. You can send automated replies, set out-of-office responders, and group message your clients. Plus, you can text anyone in the world (international rates apply) — not just those within the United States or Canada.

Pricing: Starts at $15 per month per user for free texting in the US and Canada through the OpenPhone app or 1 cent per message for texts sent via Zapier

2. TextMagic

TextMagic

TextMagic allows you to send or schedule text messages through a browser or a desktop app. You can even set up distribution lists (similar to an email contact list) and also send SMS to mobile phones through email.

TextMagic supports two-way chat, but you’ll only be able to read and respond to texts on your computer, rather than on a mobile phone like you might be used to.

Pricing: $4 per month for a virtual phone number plus 4 cents per text message sent

3. SimpleTexting

Best text messaging service for business: SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is an SMS marketing platform that can send recurring campaigns, autoresponders for drip campaigns, and MMS text messages. With the custom fields feature, you can personalize your campaigns. SimpleTexting also supports two-way messaging.

Pricing: Starts at $25 per month for 500 text credits (sending an SMS is one credit and sending an MMS is three credits)

4. Salesmsg

Salesmsg

Salesmsg offers an online dashboard to send and receive text messages online (with GIFs, emojis, and vCards, if you wish). It’s useful for booking appointments and responding to customer questions, although you’ll need Zapier to accomplish both.

Pricing: Starts at $35 a month for 750 texts (2.5 cents for each additional SMS and 5 cents for each additional MMS)

5. EZ Texting 

EZ Texting

EZ Texting sends text messages and alerts to your customer base. Using the web app, you can send appointment reminders, communicate with customers, push out notifications, and send marketing promotions.

Pricing: Starts at $19 a month for 2,400 credits per year (sending an SMS is one credit and sending an MMS is three credits)

6. Twilio SMS

Twilio SMS

Twilio is one of the most popular SMS services that integrates with Zapier, but it is only used by developers. Essentially, Twilio is a blank canvas — you will need a developer to customize a platform you can use to send texts to customers and prospects. 

Pricing: 7.5 cents for each SMS sent or received, 2 cents for each MMS sent, and 1 cent or 2 cents for each MMS received depending on the phone number used 

7. ClickSend

ClickSend

ClickSend allows you to communicate with customers via voice, fax, email, or SMS. With Clicksend’s Online SMS Gateway, you can easily send text messages through their desktop web app. If you prefer email, you can use their email-to-SMS service — allowing you to type an email to send directly to your customer’s mobile phone as a text message.

Pricing: $1.96 per month for a dedicated number, free inbound messages, and starts at 2.75 cents per outbound message

8. RingCentral

RingCentral

RingCentral allows you to send SMS messages to your network, whether they be colleagues or clients. You can send and receive text messages of up to 1,000 characters with videos, GIFs, and photos from your mobile device or desktop, as long as you’re texting someone within the United States.

Pricing: Starts at $20 per user per month that gives you 25 text messages per user per month (any texts exceeding that amount are extra)

9. Heymarket 

Heymarket

Heymarket is a messaging platform built specifically for teams. You can message customers via text, WhatsApp, and Facebook through a shared inbox from your company. You can also gauge customer interest through metrics that track open rates and other behaviors.

Pricing: Starts at $49 per month for 12,000 messages per year

Why OpenPhone is the best Zapier SMS integration

As you just learned, there are multiple SMS platforms that integrate with Zapier. So what makes one better than the other? 

OpenPhone is the best Zapier SMS service for small businesses because it’s affordable, easy to use, and doesn’t require a developer.

1. OpenPhone offers the lowest price

If you’re a small business owner, then you need to watch your bottom line. While other SMS services offer complicated pricing models, with OpenPhone, it’s simple: Text messages triggered automatically from Zapier cost $0.01 per message sent. Simply sign up for an OpenPhone Starter plan for $15 per month, then integrate your account with Zapier.

2. With OpenPhone, there’s no coding needed 

Like OpenPhone, you can use Twilio to send notifications, mass alerts, and marketing messages. In addition, a Twilio account integrates with Zapier to connect with thousands of apps for more functionality. But here’s the big difference: Twilio is a developer’s platform only. Meaning, you won’t use Twilio if you’re a marketer, customer service rep, or a salesperson.

But beyond this, even if you are a developer, if you want to use Twilio for two-way text conversations, you’d need to build your own UI, which you just don’t have time for. With OpenPhone, the UI comes included, so whether you’re a developer or not, you’ll be sending text messages, and automating workflows in Zapier in a matter of minutes.

3. OpenPhone can be used across devices 

Most SMS services that integrate with Zapier are web apps only. Yet the beauty of sending a text message is because it’s fast (simply pull out your phone, and deliver a message in seconds). By only texting through your desktop, you take out the ease-of-use and speed associated with SMS messages.

With OpenPhone, you get a mobile, desktop, and web app to easily (and quickly) message your customers.

What can you do with the OpenPhone and Zapier SMS integration? 

Screenshot of OpenPhone and Zapier SMS integration

Through Zapier, you can connect over 3,000 apps to your OpenPhone account. This allows you to create workflows that will take actions through different channels when you send or receive text messages. Or, if a trigger takes place on another connected app, you can set an action to send an SMS message through OpenPhone.

It would be impossible to explain the thousands of different use cases for the OpenPhone and Zapier SMS integration, but here are our favorites:

Confirm a demo

When a new lead fills out a Typeform form requesting a demo, send an OpenPhone SMS message to confirm it.

Follow-up on a calendar invite

When a customer blocks your calendar off using Calendly, send a text message to confirm your appointment.

Reply to surveys

When a client fills out a JotForm survey, thank them for their participation by sending them a text from OpenPhone.

Keep track of customer engagement

When a customer sends you a text message, store them in rows in Google Sheets or Airtable.

Capitalize On abandoned carts

When a potential customer abandons their cart in Shopify, follow up with a text to see if you can address questions or concerns.

Follow up On new deals

When a new deal is created in Agile CRM, send your new client a welcome text message.

Schedule a meeting

When you send a text to a prospect with OpenPhone, create a calendar task in HubSpot to schedule a callback.

Follow up on your emails

When someone opens a promo email sent through Mailchimp, follow up with a text message offering to answer any questions.

Remind about rescheduled meetings

When a meeting is rescheduled, updated, or created in Google Calendar, send an SMS notification to your invitees.

Draft an email

After you send a text message through OpenPhone, create a new draft in Gmail to follow up with the prospect.

Create tasks for missed calls

If you miss a text or a call in OpenPhone, automatically create a ClickUp task so you never fall behind.

Log texts as activities

Whenever you receive incoming calls, log them as activities inside Copper to keep track of all correspondence. 

OpenPhone Zapier tutorial: How to set up the integration

Screenshot of OpenPhone and Zapier SMS trigger event

If it’s your first time using Zapier, you may need help setting up your first zap. Follow the steps below to connect your OpenPhone and Zapier accounts.

1. Log in to your Zapier account. (If you’re new to Zapier, you’ll have to create an account to start building zaps.)

2. Click “My Apps” in the top navigation, then click the blue “Add Connection” button on the right side of your screen.

4. When prompted to make a new app connection, type OpenPhone into the search bar. You will be prompted to log in to OpenPhone.

5. Now you’re ready to make a Zap. Set your trigger, such as sending or receiving a text message, or making a phone call. Next, set your action you want to be completed (such as sending an email, scheduling a call, or logging the text in a spreadsheet).

6. Finally, test your zap. Make sure your trigger (the webhook) captures data and transfers it to the action (another app). 

One of the most significant benefits to the OpenPhone Zapier integration is the ease of use. ✅ Once you create your OpenPhone and Zapier accounts, you can start sending and receiving text messages in a matter of minutes.

Text messaging can help elevate your business

The OpenPhone mobile and desktop apps

Text messages are a convenient, fast way to stay connected with customers, prospects, and vendors. To help elevate your customer service and marketing campaigns, you’ll want to choose an SMS service.

The OpenPhone-Zapier integration connects your SMS service to 3,000 apps. With OpenPhone and Zapier, you can schedule calls, set appointment reminders, follow up on demo requests, and save CRM contacts with ease. Plus, unlike other services, OpenPhone offers free texts to the US and Canada, a user-friendly mobile and web app, and an out-of-the-box user interface that won’t require the help of a developer. 

Plus, you can send auto-replies, set out-of-office messages, and create automated workflows. Ready to start seeing how the OpenPhone-Zapier integration can transform the way you do business? Start your free seven-day trial.

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