40 Essential SMS Marketing and Text Messaging Statistics

Text messaging has become one of the most powerful ways for organizations to communicate with their audiences.

Research shows that SMS has an open rate of 98%, which is higher than email, which has only 15 to 25%. For marketers and business owners, text messaging helps them reach millions of customers in minutes. 

This shows that texting and SMS marketing play a vital role in successful communication and marketing strategies. Using text messaging in your outreach efforts, you can ensure your messages are delivered quickly, directly, and effectively to your audience.

Global Text Messaging Statistics

The scale of text messaging is hard to overstate. It isn’t a growing channel; it’s the largest communication network.

1. There are 8.31 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide, more than the planet’s 8.02 billion people. 

2. Six billion people send and receive SMS messages.

3. 292 million people in the U.S and Canada, about 80% of the population, use SMS regularly. 

4. There were 7.3 billion smartphone users globally in 2025, with ownership climbing at least 5% year over year. 

5. 72.6% of internet users accessed the web exclusively from mobile devices in 2026. 

Here’s what makes SMS different from every other marketing channel: it doesn’t require a download, a login, a Wi-Fi connection, or even a smartphone.

SMS Marketing Open Rate, Response Rate, and Engagement Statistics

The performance difference between SMS and email is significant and cannot be ignored.

6. SMS open rates are 98%, while email averages around 20%. 

7. 90% of text messages get read within 3 minutes of receiving them on a phone. 

8. SMS campaigns average a 45% response rate, while email sits at 6%. 

9. Click-through rates for SMS are between 21% and 35%, depending on the industry. 

10. Conversion rates for SMS campaigns with a clear CTA range from 21% to 40%. 

11. 72% of consumers have bought something directly after receiving a brand text.

12. Interactive SMS messages with links, surveys, or tap-to-tap respond elements convert at 70%, nearly double the 36% rate for passive, text-only messages. 

SMS Marketing ROI Statistics: Revenue, Market Size, and Growth

The true power of SMS marketing becomes clear when you examine its revenue potential, expanding market size, and impressive growth.

13. The average return on SMS marketing is $71 for every $1 spent. 

14. Top-performing brands report up to 45x return on their SMS investment. 

15. The U.S SMS marketing market reached $12.6 billion in 2026, growing at 20.3% annually. 

16. The global mobile messaging industry stood at $136.2 billion in 2026 and is projected to hit $595.8 billion by 2035.

17. SMS marketing now drives between 11% and 20% of total revenue for businesses actively using the channel. 

Business SMS Marketing Adoption Statistics 

Most businesses have tested SMS, but only a few have built a clear strategy around it, and that’s exactly where the biggest opportunity exists.

18. 66% of businesses now use SMS marketing software, up 55% from 2021.

19. By 2023, 87% of businesses had used an SMS platform to reach customers at least once. 

20. 65% of brands still have no formal SMS marketing strategy in place. 

21. 67% of businesses say they’ll increase their SMS budgets within the next year.

22. 82% recognize SMS as an effective revenue driver. 

23. Companies using SMS marketing are 5.89x more likely to report success across their entire digital marketing program. 

24. 97% of companies say they communicate with consumers more efficiently after launching texting programs. 

Consumer SMS Preferences: Text Messaging Statistics That Prove Demand

Many marketers worry that texting customers might annoy them. But the truth is, customers aren’t just accepting these messages; they actually want to receive them.

25. 84% of consumers have opted in to receive business texts in 2026, a 35% jump since 2021. 

26. 83% prefer texts over email or phone calls when communicating with brands. 

27. Over 90% of customers say they want to receive texts from businesses. 

28. 78% want SMS for troubleshooting and customer support.

29. 66% would pay more for products and services backed by a mobile messaging channel. 

30. Texting is the number-one phone activity for 83% of consumers, ahead of social media (75%) and email (66%). 

Gen Z and Millennial Texting Statistics

The generational data reveals something more interesting than that young people text a lot. It shows a fundamental shift in how the next wave of customers expect to interact with businesses. 

31. 48% of Gen Z check their texts more than 10 times a day. 

32. 70% of Gen Z prefer texting for customer support, the highest preference of any generation. 

33. 95% of millennials send messages daily. Four out of five consumers overall do the same. 

34. 83% of millennials read a text within 90 seconds of receiving it. 

35. Millennials convert on SMS promotions at a higher rate than any other generation. 

For Gen Z, getting a phone call from a brand often feels suspicious rather than helpful. Many of them see calls the same way older generations viewed junk mail. If your business doesn’t offer texting as part of customer service, you may struggle to reach this group, even though they already control hundreds of billions of dollars in spending power.

Millennials are often the strongest audience for SMS conversions. They text frequently, open messages quickly, and are more likely to make purchases through SMS than other age groups. For e-commerce brands targeting people between 28 and 43, SMS should be one of the top communication channels to focus on.

SMS Marketing Trends for 2026: RCS, AI, and Conversational Texting

As SMS continues to grow, new technologies and messaging styles are shaping how businesses connect with customers in 2026.

36. RCS (Rich Communication Services) campaigns produce 58% more site visits and 74% more revenue than traditional SMS. 

37. 60% of companies already use AI in their SMS campaigns, and 81% of those say AI has improved results. 

38. 72.9% of all online purchases happened on mobile devices in 2026.

39. Half of all businesses say two-way conversational SMS is their texting program’s biggest advantage. 

40. For the first time, customer service (51%) and satisfaction surveys (47%) have surpassed promotion as the primary reasons businesses use SMS.

SMS first started as a simple promotional tool. Companies used to send messages like “FLASH SALE! 20% Off! Reply STOP to opt out.” However, it has evolved into something more meaningful. Today, brands use texting as a two-way communication channel to handle customer support, gather feedback, confirm appointments, and have real conversations with customers.

SMS Marketing Risks and Compliance

SMS helps businesses to reach their millions of customers. But there are certain rules and regulations companies must follow.

Here are SMS marketing and compliance:

• Compliance failures are expensive: Under the TCPA, every unsolicited text carries a $500 to $1,500 penalty. One improper consent list can produce six-figure fines. The newer A2P 10DLC carrier requirements make registration mandatory for U.S. businesses and messages from unregistered senders.
• More messages, more revenue: Platform data consistently shows that opt-out rates jump when brands push 4-6 texts per month. The 98% open rate that makes SMS so attractive also makes over-texting unusually punishing. 
• Cost: At $0.01 to $0.05 per message, text marketing costs 5 to 10 times more per contact than email. 

How to Get Started with SMS or MMS Marketing

Here are a few simple steps to begin sending texts that keep your customers engaged without breaking the bank.

1. Choose an easy-to-use platform

Pick a reliable SMS platform, and you’ll be sending mass texts in no time. Platforms like QuickConnect make it simple to get started, and customer support is always available to guide you.

2. Create a text marketing plan

Just like any marketing campaign, SMS marketing works best with a clear plan. Decide how and when you’ll communicate with customers, and familiarize yourself with text marketing best practices. Remember, you must have consent to text your customers. A reputable SMS platform will help you keep records and stay compliant with legal requirements.

3. Review and refine your strategy

Track your performance regularly to ensure your SMS efforts are effective. Even basic tracking, like monitoring which links your recipients click, can show you what’s working and what needs improvement.

As your strategy grows, consider adding features like automated workflows, unique coupons, text-to-win promotions, or QR codes. With SMS, you can see exactly how customers respond to your messages and tweak your approach to maximize results.

Start Your SMS Marketing Today

Mobile marketing is growing rapidly, and businesses that use SMS stay ahead of the competition. With QuickConnect, you can instantly reach your customers with promotions, updates, reminders, and special offers.

Our SMS marketing platform helps you:

• Send bulk SMS campaigns easily
• Engage customers in real time
• Increase conversions and repeat customers
• Manage contacts and campaigns from one simple dashboard

Take advantage of the power of SMS marketing and start connecting with your customers today.