playSMS vs Textmagic
playSMS
playsms.orgTextmagic
textmagic.comSide by side
| Figure | playSMS | Textmagic |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.05/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 9 |
| Spec score · SMS Gateway Software | 8.6 (#8) | 8.5 (#11) |
| API | Webservices support sending SMS, retrieving delivery reports, checking credits, and other operations. | A REST API lets developers send and manage SMS and email, work with contacts, perform lookups, and access other Textmagic functions. |
| Integrations | It lists support for Gammu, Kannel, SMS Server Tools, Jasmin, Playnet, Uplink, and several SMS service providers. | Zapier connects Textmagic with more than 7,000 applications, including Shopify, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Salesforce, Calendly, Typeform, and WooCommerce. |
| Product | playSMS is free and open source SMS management software that provides a web interface for SMS gateways and bulk SMS services. | Textmagic is a business messaging platform for SMS and email campaigns, automated notifications, and two-way conversations. |
| Support | The project directs users to its forum for discussion and GitHub for source, issues and security reporting. | The company lists email and phone support numbers for the US, UK, Australia, and Estonia. |
| What it does | playSMS is a web interface for managing SMS gateways and bulk SMS services. | Textmagic provides business SMS and email campaigns, automated notifications, and two-way conversations managed through a shared inbox. |
Plans
Textmagic
- Essential$0.05 a month
- Email campaignsFree
- Essential (pay-as-you-go)Free
- Inbound SMSFree
- Outbound SMS via CPaaS$0.01, paid once
- Outbound SMS$0.05, paid once
- Outbound/Inbound MMS$0.08, paid once
- Texting number$10 a month
- ProfessionalPrice not published
In their own words
playSMS
playSMS is free, open-source SMS management software with a web interface for gateways and bulk SMS services. It sends individual or bulk text, flash, and Unicode messages, and receives private SMS that can be forwarded to email or mobile phones or routed to users and URLs. Built-in tools include automatic replies, polls, quizzes, subscriptions, SMS-to-email, and email-to-SMS through mailbox polling. It connects with Gammu, Kannel, SMS Server Tools, Jasmin, Playnet, Uplink, and several SMS providers. Web services support sending, delivery reports, credit checks, and other operations. Plugins can add features, themes, tools, and gateway modules. Routing can use prefixes or users, with destination-based rating and per-user credits. The project reports one user tested 200,000 SMS per day. playSMS itself cannot send or receive messages without a separate gateway application or service. It is available for Android, Linux, self-hosting, web, and API use under GPLv3 or later, without warranty.
Textmagic
Textmagic is a business messaging platform for SMS and email campaigns, automated notices, and two-way conversations. Teams can send bulk texts, schedule campaigns, build automation workflows, manage shared inboxes, and review delivery reports. Described uses include appointment reminders, delivery updates, staff alerts, payment reminders, broadcasts, and lead follow-up. Connections include HubSpot, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Zapier, with BYOC links to Twilio, Vonage, Sinch, and Bandwidth. A REST API handles SMS and email, and an MCP connector is available for compatible AI assistants and coding tools.
The web app has advanced features; Android and iOS apps support SMS conversations and contact management. Textmagic provides consent records and automatic opt-out enforcement, and applicable US messaging requires 10DLC brand and campaign registration. The company states that it is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant and describes annual external penetration testing. Its trial includes full feature access without a credit card for up to 30 days. The Essential plan is listed at $0.05 a month, prepaid, with rates varying by destination; the pay-as-you-go option has no monthly minimum, and unused credit does not expire.