GITNUXREPORT 2026

Text Marketing Statistics

SMS marketing is a high-performing, globally growing channel beloved by consumers.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

82% of consumers prefer SMS for promotions over email due to immediacy and 98% open rates

Statistic 2

67% of millennials opt-in to SMS marketing for personalized deals, higher than any other generation

Statistic 3

78% of users read SMS promotional messages within 5 minutes, citing convenience on mobile

Statistic 4

Only 9% of consumers report SMS as intrusive compared to 30% for email

Statistic 5

55% of shoppers prefer receiving text alerts for order updates over apps or email

Statistic 6

Gen Z shows 72% preference for SMS coupons, redeeming 3x faster than email versions

Statistic 7

64% of consumers aged 25-34 engage more with brands via SMS than social media

Statistic 8

91% of consumers have opted-in to at least one brand's SMS list for exclusive offers

Statistic 9

Women are 15% more likely to respond to SMS promotions than men, at 62% response rate

Statistic 10

76% prefer SMS for two-factor authentication over email, influencing marketing trust

Statistic 11

59% of consumers say SMS influences purchase decisions more than push notifications

Statistic 12

Rural consumers opt-in 20% higher to SMS for deals due to limited internet access

Statistic 13

68% of parents prefer SMS for school and activity updates over email newsletters

Statistic 14

73% of iPhone users enable SMS notifications instantly vs 61% Android

Statistic 15

81% of consumers aged 18-24 share SMS deals with friends, boosting virality

Statistic 16

Low-income households show 84% SMS engagement for discounts, higher than average

Statistic 17

70% prefer SMS over robocalls for appointment reminders, reducing no-shows by 40%

Statistic 18

Hispanic consumers in US opt-in 25% more to SMS for bilingual promotions

Statistic 19

65% of seniors (65+) read all SMS received daily, vs 52% younger demographics skipping

Statistic 20

77% cite personalization as key reason for SMS preference over generic ads

Statistic 21

Urban consumers 58% more likely to use SMS for flash sales than suburban

Statistic 22

69% prefer SMS links for one-click purchases over app downloads

Statistic 23

Students show 74% opt-in rate for campus event SMS vs 45% for email

Statistic 24

62% of eco-conscious consumers prefer SMS for paperless receipts and offers

Statistic 25

Gamers opt-in 80% to SMS for in-game rewards, higher than non-gamers

Statistic 26

71% of frequent travelers use SMS for real-time flight deal alerts

Statistic 27

66% report higher trust in SMS from known brands vs unknown email senders

Statistic 28

75% of pet owners prefer SMS for vet appointment and product reminders

Statistic 29

79% of fitness enthusiasts engage with SMS workout challenges daily

Statistic 30

63% prefer SMS for banking alerts over app push due to battery savings

Statistic 31

The global SMS marketing market size was valued at $8.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $12.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.4%

Statistic 32

In 2023, the U.S. text messaging market generated over $4.1 billion in revenue, with a 12% year-over-year increase driven by retail adoption

Statistic 33

SMS marketing spending in Europe reached €2.3 billion in 2022, expected to grow to €3.8 billion by 2027 at 10.5% CAGR due to GDPR-compliant platforms

Statistic 34

Asia-Pacific SMS marketing market is forecasted to expand from $3.5 billion in 2023 to $6.8 billion by 2030, with India leading at 15% CAGR from high mobile penetration

Statistic 35

By 2025, SMS marketing is expected to account for 25% of total mobile marketing spend globally, up from 18% in 2020

Statistic 36

The enterprise SMS marketing segment grew 14% in 2023, reaching $5.6 billion, fueled by omnichannel integration

Statistic 37

Latin America SMS market volume hit 450 billion messages in 2022, with marketing comprising 22% at $1.2 billion revenue

Statistic 38

SMS marketing platform vendors reported 28% revenue growth in Q4 2023, totaling $2.1 billion quarterly

Statistic 39

Middle East SMS marketing market projected to grow from $450 million in 2023 to $890 million by 2030 at 9.8% CAGR

Statistic 40

In 2023, SMS marketing represented 15% of digital ad spend in retail, valued at $6.7 billion globally

Statistic 41

The SMS gateway market for marketing purposes expanded to $7.9 billion in 2023, with 11% YoY growth

Statistic 42

North America held 35% of global SMS marketing share in 2022 at $3.1 billion

Statistic 43

RCS (Rich Communication Services) integration boosted SMS marketing market by 20% in 2023, adding $1.4 billion

Statistic 44

B2C SMS marketing segment valued at $4.8 billion in 2023, growing 13% from prior year

Statistic 45

Cloud-based SMS marketing solutions market reached $5.2 billion in 2023, up 16%

Statistic 46

SMS marketing in healthcare grew to $1.1 billion in 2023, 18% CAGR projected to 2030

Statistic 47

E-commerce SMS marketing spend hit $2.9 billion in 2023, 22% growth

Statistic 48

Global SMS volume for marketing reached 2.5 trillion messages in 2023, generating $9.8 billion

Statistic 49

SMS marketing CAGR forecasted at 12.1% from 2024-2032, reaching $18.4 billion

Statistic 50

In 2023, automotive sector SMS marketing valued at $780 million, 14% growth

Statistic 51

Travel & hospitality SMS market at $1.4 billion in 2023, 11% YoY

Statistic 52

Financial services SMS marketing reached $2.2 billion in 2023, up 15%

Statistic 53

SMS marketing in APAC grew 19% in 2023 to $4.2 billion

Statistic 54

U.S. retail SMS marketing spend $1.8 billion in 2023, 17% increase

Statistic 55

Global SMS marketing platform users hit 45 million in 2023, driving $10.3 billion market

Statistic 56

B2B SMS marketing segment at $1.9 billion in 2023, 10% growth

Statistic 57

SMS marketing in education valued $650 million 2023, 13% CAGR ahead

Statistic 58

Real estate SMS market $890 million in 2023, up 12%

Statistic 59

SMS marketing analytics tools market $1.2 billion 2023, 16% growth

Statistic 60

SMS open rate averages 98%, compared to 20% for email

Statistic 61

90% of SMS recipients read messages within 3 minutes of delivery

Statistic 62

Click-through rates for SMS campaigns average 19%, 5x higher than email's 3.4%

Statistic 63

SMS response rates hit 45% on average, vs 6% for email

Statistic 64

23% of SMS messages drive immediate purchases

Statistic 65

Personalized SMS boosts engagement by 25%, reaching 52% response rate

Statistic 66

Time-sensitive SMS like flash sales achieve 36% CTR

Statistic 67

Opt-in SMS lists see 95% deliverability and 98% open rates

Statistic 68

MMS engagement 15% higher than plain SMS at 28% interaction rate

Statistic 69

Abandoned cart SMS recovers 30% of sales with 21% click rate

Statistic 70

Evening SMS (6-9 PM) peaks at 52% engagement vs 28% mornings

Statistic 71

Location-based SMS achieves 40% response rate in retail settings

Statistic 72

Conversational SMS threads increase engagement by 40% to 65% replies

Statistic 73

SMS reminders reduce no-shows by 35%, with 92% open rate

Statistic 74

B2B SMS cold outreach gets 18% reply rate vs 2% email

Statistic 75

Holiday SMS campaigns average 55% open and 25% CTR

Statistic 76

Short SMS (under 160 chars) boost opens to 99%, engagement 48%

Statistic 77

Emoji in SMS increase CTR by 12% to 31%

Statistic 78

A/B tested SMS variants improve engagement 22% on average

Statistic 79

SMS surveys achieve 29% completion rate vs 8% email

Statistic 80

Win-back SMS campaigns get 33% re-engagement rate

Statistic 81

SMS post-purchase follow-ups see 41% further engagement

Statistic 82

Industry-specific: Restaurant SMS 62% redemption rate on offers

Statistic 83

E-commerce SMS 24% CTR on product recommendations

Statistic 84

Healthcare SMS 89% open for appointment confirms

Statistic 85

Travel SMS 37% booking conversion from engagement

Statistic 86

Finance SMS alerts 96% open, 15% action rate

Statistic 87

Gaming SMS 51% opt-in engagement for events

Statistic 88

Non-profit SMS 48% donation click rate

Statistic 89

Automotive SMS service reminders 94% open, 22% book rate

Statistic 90

Real estate SMS 28% viewing response rate

Statistic 91

SMS marketing delivers average ROI of 29:1, meaning $29 return per $1 spent

Statistic 92

Businesses using SMS see 6x higher retention rates, saving 40% on acquisition costs

Statistic 93

Average SMS campaign costs $0.01 per message, yielding $0.35 revenue each

Statistic 94

SMS recovers 15-20% of abandoned carts, adding 10% to total revenue

Statistic 95

Retailers report 95% ROI from SMS promotions within first quarter

Statistic 96

Cost per acquisition via SMS is $2.50 vs $15 for Google Ads

Statistic 97

SMS boosts customer lifetime value by 22%, per $1 spent

Statistic 98

Payback period for SMS platforms averages 2.8 months

Statistic 99

MMS ROI 30% higher than SMS at 35:1 due to richer media

Statistic 100

SMS reduces support costs by 50% via self-service links

Statistic 101

E-commerce SMS increases AOV by 18%, ROI 25:1

Statistic 102

B2B SMS lead gen ROI 18:1, 3x email efficiency

Statistic 103

Appointment SMS ROI 12:1 by cutting no-shows 35%

Statistic 104

Flash sale SMS yields 40:1 ROI in peak seasons

Statistic 105

Personalized SMS ROI jumps 40% to 41:1

Statistic 106

SMS vs email: 5x engagement leads to 4x ROI advantage

Statistic 107

Non-profits see 32% donation uplift, ROI 28:1 from SMS

Statistic 108

Healthcare SMS ROI 15:1 from better patient retention

Statistic 109

Travel industry SMS ROI 22:1 on rebooking campaigns

Statistic 110

Automotive SMS service ROI 19:1, increasing repeat visits 25%

Statistic 111

Real estate SMS listing ROI 16:1, 20% faster sales cycles

Statistic 112

Gaming SMS event ROI 45:1 from in-app purchases

Statistic 113

Cost savings: SMS cuts print marketing by 80%, ROI boost 300%

Statistic 114

Long-term SMS loyalty programs yield 55:1 ROI over 2 years

Statistic 115

SMS A/B testing improves ROI by 27% annually

Statistic 116

Integration with CRM boosts SMS ROI 35% to 38:1

Statistic 117

72% of businesses using SMS report positive ROI within first month

Statistic 118

SMS scales better: 100k sends cost $1k, revenue $35k avg ROI 35:1

Statistic 119

Win-back SMS ROI 24:1, cheaper than new customer acquisition

Statistic 120

Industry avg SMS ROI retail 32:1, hospitality 27:1, finance 21:1

1/120

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Move over, email marketing—with a staggering 98% open rate and an impressive ROI of 29-to-1, businesses everywhere are discovering that the most direct path to their customers is a text message that lands right in their pocket.

Key Takeaways

The global SMS marketing market size was valued at $8.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $12.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.4%
In 2023, the U.S. text messaging market generated over $4.1 billion in revenue, with a 12% year-over-year increase driven by retail adoption
SMS marketing spending in Europe reached €2.3 billion in 2022, expected to grow to €3.8 billion by 2027 at 10.5% CAGR due to GDPR-compliant platforms
82% of consumers prefer SMS for promotions over email due to immediacy and 98% open rates
67% of millennials opt-in to SMS marketing for personalized deals, higher than any other generation
78% of users read SMS promotional messages within 5 minutes, citing convenience on mobile
SMS open rate averages 98%, compared to 20% for email
90% of SMS recipients read messages within 3 minutes of delivery
Click-through rates for SMS campaigns average 19%, 5x higher than email's 3.4%
SMS marketing delivers average ROI of 29:1, meaning $29 return per $1 spent
Businesses using SMS see 6x higher retention rates, saving 40% on acquisition costs
Average SMS campaign costs $0.01 per message, yielding $0.35 revenue each

SMS marketing is a high-performing, globally growing channel beloved by consumers.

Consumer Preferences & Behavior

82% of consumers prefer SMS for promotions over email due to immediacy and 98% open rates
67% of millennials opt-in to SMS marketing for personalized deals, higher than any other generation
78% of users read SMS promotional messages within 5 minutes, citing convenience on mobile
Only 9% of consumers report SMS as intrusive compared to 30% for email
55% of shoppers prefer receiving text alerts for order updates over apps or email
Gen Z shows 72% preference for SMS coupons, redeeming 3x faster than email versions
64% of consumers aged 25-34 engage more with brands via SMS than social media
91% of consumers have opted-in to at least one brand's SMS list for exclusive offers
Women are 15% more likely to respond to SMS promotions than men, at 62% response rate
76% prefer SMS for two-factor authentication over email, influencing marketing trust
59% of consumers say SMS influences purchase decisions more than push notifications
Rural consumers opt-in 20% higher to SMS for deals due to limited internet access
68% of parents prefer SMS for school and activity updates over email newsletters
73% of iPhone users enable SMS notifications instantly vs 61% Android
81% of consumers aged 18-24 share SMS deals with friends, boosting virality
Low-income households show 84% SMS engagement for discounts, higher than average
70% prefer SMS over robocalls for appointment reminders, reducing no-shows by 40%
Hispanic consumers in US opt-in 25% more to SMS for bilingual promotions
65% of seniors (65+) read all SMS received daily, vs 52% younger demographics skipping
77% cite personalization as key reason for SMS preference over generic ads
Urban consumers 58% more likely to use SMS for flash sales than suburban
69% prefer SMS links for one-click purchases over app downloads
Students show 74% opt-in rate for campus event SMS vs 45% for email
62% of eco-conscious consumers prefer SMS for paperless receipts and offers
Gamers opt-in 80% to SMS for in-game rewards, higher than non-gamers
71% of frequent travelers use SMS for real-time flight deal alerts
66% report higher trust in SMS from known brands vs unknown email senders
75% of pet owners prefer SMS for vet appointment and product reminders
79% of fitness enthusiasts engage with SMS workout challenges daily
63% prefer SMS for banking alerts over app push due to battery savings

Consumer Preferences & Behavior Interpretation

Text marketing has effectively made the humble SMS the quiet, confident king of customer connection, outflanking email's clutter and social media's noise by delivering what consumers truly crave: immediate, trustworthy, and startlingly personal interactions right in their pockets.

Market Size & Growth

The global SMS marketing market size was valued at $8.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $12.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.4%
In 2023, the U.S. text messaging market generated over $4.1 billion in revenue, with a 12% year-over-year increase driven by retail adoption
SMS marketing spending in Europe reached €2.3 billion in 2022, expected to grow to €3.8 billion by 2027 at 10.5% CAGR due to GDPR-compliant platforms
Asia-Pacific SMS marketing market is forecasted to expand from $3.5 billion in 2023 to $6.8 billion by 2030, with India leading at 15% CAGR from high mobile penetration
By 2025, SMS marketing is expected to account for 25% of total mobile marketing spend globally, up from 18% in 2020
The enterprise SMS marketing segment grew 14% in 2023, reaching $5.6 billion, fueled by omnichannel integration
Latin America SMS market volume hit 450 billion messages in 2022, with marketing comprising 22% at $1.2 billion revenue
SMS marketing platform vendors reported 28% revenue growth in Q4 2023, totaling $2.1 billion quarterly
Middle East SMS marketing market projected to grow from $450 million in 2023 to $890 million by 2030 at 9.8% CAGR
In 2023, SMS marketing represented 15% of digital ad spend in retail, valued at $6.7 billion globally
The SMS gateway market for marketing purposes expanded to $7.9 billion in 2023, with 11% YoY growth
North America held 35% of global SMS marketing share in 2022 at $3.1 billion
RCS (Rich Communication Services) integration boosted SMS marketing market by 20% in 2023, adding $1.4 billion
B2C SMS marketing segment valued at $4.8 billion in 2023, growing 13% from prior year
Cloud-based SMS marketing solutions market reached $5.2 billion in 2023, up 16%
SMS marketing in healthcare grew to $1.1 billion in 2023, 18% CAGR projected to 2030
E-commerce SMS marketing spend hit $2.9 billion in 2023, 22% growth
Global SMS volume for marketing reached 2.5 trillion messages in 2023, generating $9.8 billion
SMS marketing CAGR forecasted at 12.1% from 2024-2032, reaching $18.4 billion
In 2023, automotive sector SMS marketing valued at $780 million, 14% growth
Travel & hospitality SMS market at $1.4 billion in 2023, 11% YoY
Financial services SMS marketing reached $2.2 billion in 2023, up 15%
SMS marketing in APAC grew 19% in 2023 to $4.2 billion
U.S. retail SMS marketing spend $1.8 billion in 2023, 17% increase
Global SMS marketing platform users hit 45 million in 2023, driving $10.3 billion market
B2B SMS marketing segment at $1.9 billion in 2023, 10% growth
SMS marketing in education valued $650 million 2023, 13% CAGR ahead
Real estate SMS market $890 million in 2023, up 12%
SMS marketing analytics tools market $1.2 billion 2023, 16% growth

Market Size & Growth Interpretation

Despite being older than most digital trends, SMS marketing has stubbornly refused to retire, instead choosing a global victory lap where it quietly pockets billions by proving that sometimes, the simplest text is the mightiest.

Open & Engagement Rates

SMS open rate averages 98%, compared to 20% for email
90% of SMS recipients read messages within 3 minutes of delivery
Click-through rates for SMS campaigns average 19%, 5x higher than email's 3.4%
SMS response rates hit 45% on average, vs 6% for email
23% of SMS messages drive immediate purchases
Personalized SMS boosts engagement by 25%, reaching 52% response rate
Time-sensitive SMS like flash sales achieve 36% CTR
Opt-in SMS lists see 95% deliverability and 98% open rates
MMS engagement 15% higher than plain SMS at 28% interaction rate
Abandoned cart SMS recovers 30% of sales with 21% click rate
Evening SMS (6-9 PM) peaks at 52% engagement vs 28% mornings
Location-based SMS achieves 40% response rate in retail settings
Conversational SMS threads increase engagement by 40% to 65% replies
SMS reminders reduce no-shows by 35%, with 92% open rate
B2B SMS cold outreach gets 18% reply rate vs 2% email
Holiday SMS campaigns average 55% open and 25% CTR
Short SMS (under 160 chars) boost opens to 99%, engagement 48%
Emoji in SMS increase CTR by 12% to 31%
A/B tested SMS variants improve engagement 22% on average
SMS surveys achieve 29% completion rate vs 8% email
Win-back SMS campaigns get 33% re-engagement rate
SMS post-purchase follow-ups see 41% further engagement
Industry-specific: Restaurant SMS 62% redemption rate on offers
E-commerce SMS 24% CTR on product recommendations
Healthcare SMS 89% open for appointment confirms
Travel SMS 37% booking conversion from engagement
Finance SMS alerts 96% open, 15% action rate
Gaming SMS 51% opt-in engagement for events
Non-profit SMS 48% donation click rate
Automotive SMS service reminders 94% open, 22% book rate
Real estate SMS 28% viewing response rate

Open & Engagement Rates Interpretation

While email is politely knocking on the door, SMS is already inside, making a drink and closing the sale with a 98% open rate, a response five times faster, and an engagement that feels more like a conversation than a broadcast.

ROI & Cost Effectiveness

SMS marketing delivers average ROI of 29:1, meaning $29 return per $1 spent
Businesses using SMS see 6x higher retention rates, saving 40% on acquisition costs
Average SMS campaign costs $0.01 per message, yielding $0.35 revenue each
SMS recovers 15-20% of abandoned carts, adding 10% to total revenue
Retailers report 95% ROI from SMS promotions within first quarter
Cost per acquisition via SMS is $2.50 vs $15 for Google Ads
SMS boosts customer lifetime value by 22%, per $1 spent
Payback period for SMS platforms averages 2.8 months
MMS ROI 30% higher than SMS at 35:1 due to richer media
SMS reduces support costs by 50% via self-service links
E-commerce SMS increases AOV by 18%, ROI 25:1
B2B SMS lead gen ROI 18:1, 3x email efficiency
Appointment SMS ROI 12:1 by cutting no-shows 35%
Flash sale SMS yields 40:1 ROI in peak seasons
Personalized SMS ROI jumps 40% to 41:1
SMS vs email: 5x engagement leads to 4x ROI advantage
Non-profits see 32% donation uplift, ROI 28:1 from SMS
Healthcare SMS ROI 15:1 from better patient retention
Travel industry SMS ROI 22:1 on rebooking campaigns
Automotive SMS service ROI 19:1, increasing repeat visits 25%
Real estate SMS listing ROI 16:1, 20% faster sales cycles
Gaming SMS event ROI 45:1 from in-app purchases
Cost savings: SMS cuts print marketing by 80%, ROI boost 300%
Long-term SMS loyalty programs yield 55:1 ROI over 2 years
SMS A/B testing improves ROI by 27% annually
Integration with CRM boosts SMS ROI 35% to 38:1
72% of businesses using SMS report positive ROI within first month
SMS scales better: 100k sends cost $1k, revenue $35k avg ROI 35:1
Win-back SMS ROI 24:1, cheaper than new customer acquisition
Industry avg SMS ROI retail 32:1, hospitality 27:1, finance 21:1

ROI & Cost Effectiveness Interpretation

While these statistics make SMS marketing sound like a business cheat code, the sobering reality is that ignoring its staggering 29:1 average ROI and 6x higher retention rates is essentially choosing to leave a wheelbarrow full of money on the sidewalk for your competitors to snatch.

Sources & References

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