Ozeki SMS Gateway

Ozeki SMS Gateway is self-hosted software for sending, receiving, and automating business SMS through connected providers and devices. It suits organizations that need control over routing, integrations, and deployment; its one-time license is appealing, but throughput, provider connections, and ongoing SMS charges shape the real cost.

Overview

Ozeki brings modem, Android-phone, and carrier-protocol connections into one gateway, with two-way messaging, inbound SMS, delivery reports, contact management, and API access. Routing options such as least-cost selection, backup routes, load balancing, message copying, and modification give administrators meaningful control when messages need to move across several connections.

It is a substantial self-hosted system rather than a lightweight hosted texting service. That distinction is useful for teams integrating SMS into business systems or operating their own infrastructure, but it also means choosing hardware or hosting, provider connections, and an appropriate throughput license.

Key features

Interfaces include SMPP, UCP/EMI, CIMD2, OZX, HTTP/REST, SIP, and Modbus/SNMP, alongside USB GSM modems, Android phones, multi-SIM banks, and industrial 4G/5G hardware. Applications can connect through REST, SOAP, JSON, HTTP GET/POST, WebSocket, SDKs, SQL polling, and integrations with Excel, files, email, FTP, and command or application launches on message arrival. This breadth makes the gateway adaptable to existing workflows, though buyers should match their required connection types to their chosen plan’s connection cap.

Message support extends to concatenated and Unicode SMS, Flash and Binary SMS, MMS, WhatsApp Business API integration, RCS, and custom vCards. Reporting databases include Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, and other database systems. Security options include HTTPS, TLS/SSL for supported protocols, encrypted password storage, phone-number and message-text masking in logs, and authentication through built-in users, LDAP, RADIUS, HTTP/HTTPS, or SQL.

The stated engine capacity exceeds 1,000 SMS per second per node, with higher throughput possible across multiple computers. That is an engine capability, not a substitute for selecting a license tier: the listed tiers range from 5 messages per minute to 200 per second. A modem pool also has a practical cost in SIMs and phone numbers: eight modems require eight SIM cards and provide eight numbers.

Pricing

There is no free plan; a free trial is offered. Licenses are one-time purchases, with no per-message Ozeki fee, but provider charges still apply. Three months of technical support are included; after the first year, optional technical support costs 20% of the license fee yearly. Pricing is custom pricing at the purchase-page level, while the plans below carry stated prices.

PlanPriceThroughput and limitsOzeki SMS Gateway - 5 MPM€1,490, paid once5 messages/minute; 1 service-provider connection; 10 usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 10 MPM€1,990, paid once10 messages/minute; 2 connections; 30 usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 20 MPM€2,990, paid once20 messages/minute; 5 connections; 100 usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 30 MPM€4,990, paid once30 messages/minute; 10 connections; 250 usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 1 MPS€8,990, paid once1 message/second; 25 connections; no user limitOzeki SMS Gateway - 10 MPS€14,990, paid once10 messages/second; 30 connections; unlimited usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 25 MPS€21,990, paid once25 messages/second; 50 connections; unlimited usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 50 MPS€35,990, paid once50 messages/second; 100 connections; unlimited usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 100 MPS€55,990, paid once100 messages/second; unlimited connections and usersOzeki SMS Gateway - 200 MPS€79,990, paid once200 messages/second; unlimited connections and usersThe lower-priced tiers suit modest traffic and smaller teams, but their message rates and provider-connection caps are restrictive for growing or multi-provider deployments. The 1 MPS tier removes the user cap, while the 10 MPS tier and above specify unlimited users; unlimited provider connections arrive only at 100 MPS. Buyers should price against expected peak traffic and the number of provider links, not just the one-time license, and account separately for carrier charges and support after the included period.

Platforms

Ozeki runs on x64 Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 and 8, supported Windows Server versions, Ubuntu LTS 20.04 or later, and Raspbian Stretch. It can be installed on physical or virtual servers, AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, private-cloud or hybrid environments, and Android phones for smaller operations. The browser-based GUI is specified for Windows and Ubuntu Linux. This deployment range supports organizations choosing their own infrastructure, though it places hosting and operations decisions with the buyer.

Who it's for

Ozeki is best suited to businesses that need SMS tied to internal applications or databases, need multiple telecom interfaces, or want to host the gateway on their own systems. Its authentication and log-masking options also make it a better fit for teams that need administrative controls around access and message data. It is a poor match for buyers seeking a simple hosted service, a free ongoing tier, or an uncomplicated per-message price.

Pros and cons

Pro: Broad protocol, hardware, API, and database support lets teams connect telecom infrastructure and business systems through one gateway.

Pro: One-time licensing avoids a per-message Ozeki fee, and deployment can be on-premises, in cloud infrastructure, or on Android.

Pro: Routing controls and security options support multi-route operations with more control over access and logging.

Con: Tiered throughput and provider-connection limits require careful sizing; the high engine ceiling alone does not mean a low-cost license supports that rate.

Con: Provider fees remain, and optional support renews annually at 20% of the license fee after the first year.

Con: Modem pools require a SIM for each modem, adding connectivity and number-management overhead.

Alternatives

For an Android-centered setup with a free entry tier, Android SMS Gateway offers 300 lifetime SMS on one device and 300 contacts at no charge, with a Starter plan at $19 a month for two devices and unlimited SMS. Choose it when that simpler device-based model fits better than Ozeki’s licensed gateway.

SMSGatewayCenter is an alternative for buyers considering an India-only transactional route: its 10,000-unit plan is ₹1,650 as a one-time purchase with one-year validity, ₹0.17 per SMS, and GST extra.

Textmagic is worth comparing when a paid service with Android, iOS, web, and API platforms suits better; its Essential plan is prepaid at $0.05 a month, with destination-dependent rates and 160 plain-text characters per SMS part.

D7 Networks is another option for usage-based local or international SMS API and broadcast messaging.

NowSMS is a relevant alternative for modem-based self-hosting; its Modem Edition costs £370, paid once and is licensed by modem count.

ASPSMS suits buyers comparing prepaid credits: 500 credits cost €30 as a one-time purchase and do not expire.

Clickatell SMS API offers a free prepaid option for outgoing messages, with rates varying by destination and message type.

simhook is another freemium option to consider.

Browse the SMS Gateway Software category for more choices.

Verdict

Choose Ozeki SMS Gateway if your organization needs a self-hosted, highly integrable SMS hub with routing controls and can plan around its throughput and connection tiers. Its breadth and one-time license are compelling for infrastructure-owning teams; look elsewhere if you want a free ongoing plan, hosted simplicity, or a straightforward total cost that includes carrier messaging.