Introduction – Best Bulk SMS Providers in Kenya

Do you want to send a lot of text messages to many people, but you’re not sure which SMS service to use in Kenya?

There are many SMS service providers available, and trying each one to find the right fit for your business can be overwhelming.

This article compares the top 10 SMS service providers, including SMS API services, to help you make a decision today.

A significant factor that sets you apart from your competitors in how you interact with your customers is the bulk SMS provider you choose.

My team and I analyzed, researched, compared, and personally tested 10 of the best bulk SMS service providers in Kenya. We looked at their speed, cost, simplicity, scalability, security, and customer support, and we’ve summarized our findings in this post.

After reading this blog, you’ll have a clear understanding of the different bulk SMS service providers, why they are considered the best, and, most importantly, which one would be the right choice for your business.

What features should you look for in a bulk SMS service provider?

Before comparing the top 10 providers, it’s important to understand the key features that make an SMS provider worth considering. Here are the features you should consider:

1. All-in-one platform: Find a provider that offers bulk SMS services along with other communication features like voice and WhatsApp API, plugins, and a web interface. This makes it easier to handle all your communication needs from a single platform.
2. Report and analytics: Look for detailed reports and analytics to track the success of your SMS campaigns. Real-time analytics, message delivery reports, and click-through rates help you optimize future messaging based on past performance.
3. Delivery rate: Aim for a delivery rate of at least 95% or higher when selecting a bulk SMS service provider. A higher delivery rate indicates a reliable service with a strong network infrastructure, ensuring your messages reach your customers’ devices.
4. Integration with third-party applications: Ensure the SMS platform integrates with other software you use, such as CRM, e-commerce platforms, or email marketing tools. This enables more personalized and automated communication.
5. Voice SMS: This feature allows you to send pre-recorded voice messages to your customers, adding a personal touch and increasing engagement.
6. Multilingual SMS support: If you serve customers who speak different languages, ensure your SMS provider supports Unicode SMS. This allows you to send messages in the languages your customers understand best.
7. Message personalization: Look for a provider that allows you to tailor messages with customer names, purchase histories, or other personalized information, as personalization increases engagement rates.
8. Multiple messaging channels: Besides SMS, find a provider that supports multiple channels like MMS and RCS, giving you flexibility in how you reach your customers.
9. Security: Ensure the service provider follows strict security protocols to protect your data and customers’ information. Look for encryption and compliance with relevant data protection regulations.
10. Global reach: If your business has international clients, ensure your SMS service provider offers vast network coverage and can deliver messages worldwide.
11. Customer support: Good customer support is crucial. Look for a provider with 24/7 support and multiple contact options like phone, email, and live chat, especially when encountering issues or having questions about the service.
12. Scalability: Choose an SMS provider that offers scalability to accommodate your growing business needs. A scalable SMS solution allows you to send more messages as needed or scale back during quieter periods.
13. User-friendliness: The platform should be easy to use, even for beginners. Look for a provider that offers an intuitive interface, clear instructions, and resources to help you get started.

Which are the top 10 bulk SMS service providers?

We have gathered a list of the top 10 bulk SMS service providers in the market. These services offer everything you need to meet your business needs. Let’s take a quick tour of these providers:

1. Lensoft SMS – Suitable for businesses of all sizes.
2. Oramobile – Ideal for sending SMS in Kenya.
3. Mobitech – Best for developers.
4. Airtouch – Recommended for sending SMS within India.
5. Savvy SMS – Great for sending SMS to the US and Canada.
6. Advanta SMS – Excellent for OTP SMS (One-Time Password).
7. SMS Leopard – Offers an affordable text marketing service.
8. Robisearch – Provides a unified communication platform.
9. MoveSMS – Ideal for visual SMS campaigns.
10. Africa’s Talking – Excellent for SMS marketing.

Let’s explore each SMS provider in detail, evaluating their features, price, pros and cons, customer reviews and more.

1. Lensoft SMS – Suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Lensoft SMS, one of the best bulk SMS service providers in Kenya, offers reliable and cost-effective messaging services to businesses of all sizes. Their platform provides a wide range of solutions, including bulk SMS, voice SMS, OTP, and WhatsApp Business services, along with SMS and WhatsApp APIs.

Lensoft SMS is fully owned and operated by Lensoft Limited

Lensoft SMS key features

The key features of Lensoft SMS include:

1. Bulk SMS: Lensoft SMS allows you to send large volumes of text messages to recipients worldwide, ensuring high delivery rates and low latency for efficient communication.
2. Voice SMS: With the voice SMS service, you can send pre-recorded voice messages to your contacts, adding a personal touch to your communications.
3. OTP (One-Time Password): Lensoft SMS offers OTP services, which are essential for secure transactions and account verifications.
4. WhatsApp Business: Lensoft SMS provides solutions for businesses to use WhatsApp as a communication channel, enabling them to engage with customers through this popular messaging platform.
5. SMS and WhatsApp APIs: Lensoft SMS offers Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for both SMS and WhatsApp, allowing seamless integration with various software, applications, or websites.
6. Worldwide SMS Coverage: The platform enables you to send and receive text messages globally, ensuring efficient communication with your customers, clients, or partners wherever they may be located.
7. High Delivery Rates: Lensoft SMS boasts high delivery rates, ensuring that your messages successfully reach their intended recipients.
8. Low Latency: The platform offers low latency, meaning messages are delivered with minimal delay, facilitating real-time communication.
9. Integration Capability: Lensoft SMS’s gateway is designed for smooth integration with any software, application, or website, thanks to its reliable SMS API.

With over 60,000 registered online users and 4000+ businesses using Lensoft SMS’s platform and services, the provider has established itself as a trusted and popular choice for bulk SMS needs in Kenya. Their features cater to a wide range of communication requirements, making it a preferred option for businesses of all sizes.

Let’s look at the features of Lensoft SMS.

What are the features of Lensoft SMS?

Lensoft SMS has several important features that make it a great choice for businesses:

1. One platform for all communication: Lensoft SMS offers a single platform for managing various communication channels like SMS, WhatsApp, and voice messaging. This means you can handle all your messages from one place.
2. Advanced SMS features: Lensoft SMS provides useful options for sending bulk SMS. You can send messages to the whole of Kenya, customize the sender’s name, use unique long codes or shortcodes for your brand, create SMS keyword campaigns, schedule messages for rapid delivery, support different languages with Unicode SMS, personalize SMS with tags and customer information, send emails as SMS, and conduct surveys to gather customer feedback.
3. Voice messaging service: Lensoft SMS offers a comprehensive voice messaging service with special features. It includes an outbound dialer with interactive voice response (IVR), which calls your customer list automatically. When customers answer, the IVR system plays the recorded messages and allows them to respond without human intervention. With this, you can handle thousands of calls at once and keep track of customer input.
4. Range of plugins: Lensoft SMS has plugins to work smoothly with various platforms. These plugins help you integrate Lensoft SMS into your current systems easily. For instance, they have plugins for CRMs, e-commerce platforms like Magento and WooCommerce, accounting software like Tally, and spreadsheets like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
5. REST API for integration: Lensoft SMS provides a strong REST API to connect SMS, WhatsApp, voice, and OTP capabilities with different applications and platforms. The API works well with many programming languages, and they offer code samples in 14 languages to speed up the integration process. It’s well-maintained, ensuring it remains free of errors and follows the latest standards and best practices. They also offer detailed API documentation to guide users.
6. Dedicated account management and support: Lensoft SMS assigns a dedicated account manager to assist you in sending messages quickly and solving any problems you might have.

What are the benefits of Lensoft SMS?

Here are the top benefits of using Lensoft SMS:

1. Unified communication platform: Lensoft SMS offers an all-in-one platform that supports various communication channels, including SMS, OTP, voice calls, and WhatsApp. This simplifies communication management for businesses.
2. Global reach: With the ability to deliver messages to over 180 countries and 200 carriers, Lensoft SMS provides extensive global coverage, allowing businesses to reach customers worldwide.
3. Reliable delivery and uptime: Lensoft SMS boasts a high delivery rate of 98%, ensuring that messages reach their recipients promptly and reliably. The platform also maintains a near-perfect uptime of 99.9%, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous service availability.
4. Dedicated account management: Upon signing up, businesses are assigned a dedicated account manager who handles and oversees their campaigns, providing personalized assistance and support.
5. Affordable pricing: Lensoft SMS operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model without setup fees, contracts, or monthly payments. This cost-effective approach makes it accessible and budget-friendly for businesses of all sizes.
6. 24/7 customer support: Lensoft SMS offers round-the-clock customer support through various channels, such as live chat, email, or phone, ensuring businesses receive timely assistance whenever needed.
7. Comprehensive SMS templates: Lensoft SMS provides a comprehensive collection of SMS templates for various industries, covering a wide range of messaging needs for both SMS and WhatsApp communication.

What are the drawbacks of Lensoft SMS?

1. No mobile app: Lensoft SMS does not offer a dedicated mobile app for managing campaigns, which may inconvenience users who prefer mobile-based management. However, users can access the platform through their mobile browser for basic functionality.
2. Limited integrations: While Lensoft SMS provides a REST API for integration, it may not offer as many native integrations with other software or applications compared to some other service providers. This could limit seamless integration with existing systems.
3. Additional fees for certain features: Despite operating on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, some advanced features, such as custom sender ID or shortcode, may come with additional costs. Businesses should be aware of these potential extra expenses when using such features.

Who’s Lensoft SMS best for?

Lensoft SMS is an excellent option for businesses of all sizes due to its wide range of features and capabilities.

It is particularly well-suited for:

1. Small and medium-sized businesses: Lensoft SMS’s dedicated account manager service provides valuable support for smaller businesses that may not have dedicated communication teams. The dedicated manager helps handle campaigns, making it easier for these businesses to manage their messaging efficiently.
2. Cost-conscious businesses: Lensoft SMS’s pay-as-you-go pricing model allows businesses to pay only for the services they use, making it a cost-effective choice. This flexibility in pricing helps businesses manage their communication expenses more efficiently.
3. Businesses seeking extensive features: Lensoft SMS offers advanced SMS features, including custom sender IDs, SMS scheduling, SMS personalization, and support for Unicode SMS. This makes it an attractive choice for businesses looking for comprehensive messaging solutions.
4. Global businesses: With its capability to deliver messages to over 180 countries and 200 carriers, Lensoft SMS offers global reach, making it an ideal choice for businesses with international clients or operations.

Lensoft SMS customer support

Lensoft SMS provides excellent customer support through multiple channels, including live chat, email, and phone. Their average response time is quick, with an average of 10 minutes, ensuring timely assistance for users.

The platform boasts a dedicated support team available round-the-clock, ensuring 24/7 support for its customers. This commitment to continuous support helps businesses address any issues or queries promptly, ensuring smooth and compliant delivery of their SMS messages in accordance with SMS regulations.

Lensoft SMS Pricing

Lensoft SMS follows a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model that is based on the volume of SMS messages you purchase. The pricing structure offers cost savings as the SMS volume increases. The lowest price per SMS offered by Lensoft SMS is Ksh 0.25, making it one of the most affordable options in the Kenyan market for bulk SMS services.

This pricing approach allows businesses to have better control over their communication expenses, as they only pay for the number of SMS messages they use. As the SMS volume increases, businesses can take advantage of the reduced cost per SMS, making Lensoft SMS an attractive choice for businesses of all sizes, especially those who need to send a significant number of messages regularly.

2. Africastalking:

Africastalking is a highly reputable bulk SMS provider in Kenya, offering an extensive suite of communication APIs and services. With a strong focus on innovation and user experience, Africastalking provides scalable solutions suitable for startups, enterprises, and developers alike. Their platform offers features such as two-way messaging, number verification, and shortcodes, empowering businesses to engage with their audience effectively.

3. Movetech:

Movetech is a leading bulk SMS provider that emphasizes simplicity, affordability, and reliability. Their user-friendly interface and competitive pricing make them a popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses in Kenya. Movetech offers seamless integration options, personalized messaging, and SMS scheduling, enabling businesses to create impactful communication campaigns.

4. KiriSMS:

KiriSMS is a trusted bulk SMS provider known for its robust platform and exceptional customer support. With an easy-to-use interface and competitive pricing, KiriSMS caters to diverse industries, including education, healthcare, and retail. Their services include scheduled messaging, personalized sender IDs, and detailed analytics, ensuring effective communication and measurable results.

5. SMS Gateway Hub:

SMS Gateway Hub is a reliable bulk SMS provider that offers scalable solutions for businesses across various sectors. Their platform focuses on seamless integration, international messaging capabilities, and reliable delivery rates. SMS Gateway Hub also provides additional features like SMS surveys, auto-replies, and API integration, enabling businesses to engage with their audience effectively.

6. Kenya Bulk SMS:

Kenya Bulk SMS is a well-established provider that has been serving businesses and organizations in Kenya for many years. Known for its excellent customer service and competitive pricing, Kenya Bulk SMS offers a user-friendly interface and a range of features, including scheduling, contact management, and personalized messaging. Their platform ensures prompt delivery and real-time reports, empowering businesses to optimize their communication efforts.

7. SMS Papa:

SMS Papa is a reliable bulk SMS provider with a reputation for delivering messages promptly and securely. Their platform offers a range of features, including contact management, SMS templates, and API integration. SMS Papa caters to businesses of all sizes and provides excellent customer support, making it a trusted choice for effective communication campaigns.

8. TextGlobal:

TextGlobal is a comprehensive bulk SMS provider that specializes in multi-channel communication solutions. Alongside SMS services, TextGlobal offers email marketing, voice calls, and social media integration, enabling businesses to create cohesive and impactful campaigns. Their platform provides advanced targeting options, automation capabilities, and comprehensive analytics, making TextGlobal a favored choice among marketing professionals.

9. SMS Kenya:

SMS Kenya is a reliable bulk SMS provider that focuses on delivering messages promptly and reliably. Their user-friendly platform offers features such as personalized messaging, contact management, and detailed reports. SMS Kenya caters to various industries, including finance, hospitality, and e-commerce, providing effective communication solutions for businesses across Kenya.

10. SemaSMS:

SemaSMS is a trusted bulk SMS provider that offers flexible and cost-effective communication solutions. Their platform supports SMS campaigns, transactional messaging, and promotional alerts. SemaSMS provides personalized messaging, contact management, and delivery scheduling options, ensuring businesses can reach their audience efficiently.

Conclusion:

When it comes to effective communication through bulk SMS in Kenya, several reliable providers offer diverse solutions to cater to different business needs. While Lensoft stands out among the top ten bulk SMS providers, each of the listed companies demonstrates expertise and trustworthiness in their respective services. Whether you are a small business, a large enterprise, or an organization, these providers offer comprehensive platforms and features to help you reach your target audience effectively, facilitating growth and success in the Kenyan market.