The Best SMS Chatbot Software in 2026
We researched SMS chatbot software through official pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core job—automating business conversations over SMS—along with value for money and verified features. Compare options for AI responses, workflows, two-way messaging, interactive menus, and scalable message volumes.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
ConvoCore#1 of 329.3/10A flexible SMS automation platform with AI conversations, workflows, campaigns, and API access.
-
Runner-up
AthenaText#2 of 329.1/10A focused SMS automation platform with AI replies, routing, compliance controls, and team handoff.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Evoriqa SMS AI Chatbot#6 of 328.5/10A focused SMS chatbot for appointment workflows, lead capture, and human handoff.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 32 tools, best first
-
Best forAffordable feature-rich SMS automation
A flexible SMS automation platform with AI conversations, workflows, campaigns, and API access.
- Interactive menus
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
9.3/10★★★★★Visit ConvoCore -
Best forTeams needing compliant AI SMS workflows
A focused SMS automation platform with AI replies, routing, compliance controls, and team handoff.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
9.1/10★★★★★Visit AthenaText -
Best forCRM-heavy teams needing broad integrations
Boei suits CRM-heavy teams that need SMS automation across a broad integration ecosystem.
- Workflow builder
- API access
- AI responses
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Boei -
Best forMultilingual and multi-channel SMS programs
A flexible SMS automation platform with strong flow design, AI, and integration options.
- Interactive menus
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit TextIt -
Best forEnterprise conversational messaging deployments
A full-featured choice for enterprise teams managing complex conversational messaging.
- Interactive menus
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Smobi -
Best forAppointment-focused SMS chatbot users
A focused SMS chatbot for appointment workflows, lead capture, and human handoff.
- API access
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Evoriqa -
Best forLarge multichannel chatbot programs
A broad multichannel platform for teams running complex chatbot programs.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Gupshup -
Best forLead qualification and appointment automation
A managed SMS automation platform for qualifying leads and booking appointments.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Verse -
Best forMature omnichannel messaging teams
A capable omnichannel messaging suite with a high starting price.
- MMS support
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Sinch Engage -
Best forEstablished interactive SMS workflows
A web-based builder for interactive, API-connected messaging journeys.
- Interactive menus
- Workflow builder
- API access
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Clickatell -
Best forLow-cost chatbot teams adding SMS
A low-cost chatbot with SMS, live handoff, and no-code automation.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit ChatBot -
Best forManaged appointment-setting services
A broad SMS automation suite for teams focused on appointment setting.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Wellgrow -
Best forSelf-hosted hospitality SMS automation
A free, self-hosted hotel chatbot that brings SMS into a broader guest inbox.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
7.7/10★★★★☆Try Jack The Butler -
Best forDevelopers targeting African SMS channels
A flexible, API-first SMS chatbot platform with strong African channel support.
- Workflow builder
- API access
- AI responses
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Sarufi -
Best forOmnichannel support teams with SMS needs
A broad omnichannel support platform with AI and live chat, but SMS is not its central focus.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Crisp -
Best forSmall businesses needing simple SMS automation
Simple SMS automation with booking, qualification, FAQs, and human handoff.
- Workflow builder
- API access
- AI responses
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit SMB Sidekick -
Best forAgencies reselling SMS chatbot services
A paid SMS chatbot suited to agencies managing clients, channels, and AI agents.
- API access
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Botsify -
Best forMultilingual enterprise SMS support
A multilingual enterprise SMS chatbot with strong integrations and usage-based pricing.
- API access
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Streebo -
Best forCommerce brands using SMS and MMS engagement
A commerce-focused SMS chatbot platform with broad messaging and automation tools.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Cobalt -
Best forOrganizations needing no-code SMS chatbot design
A no-code SMS chatbot platform with AI, APIs, and CRM integrations.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit TextGlobal -
Best forEnterprise customer-service channel orchestration
A broad customer-service chatbot for orchestrating SMS and other support channels.
- MMS support
- Workflow builder
- API access
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Engage Hub -
Best forFast lead response and reactivation
A managed SMS lead-response service for qualifying, booking, routing, and reactivating prospects.
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit LeadSixty -
Best forPersonalized SMS marketing campaigns
A focused SMS tool for personalized campaigns, qualification, scheduling, and follow-up.
- Workflow builder
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Launch AI -
Best forLow-cost website-to-SMS lead capture
A low-cost lead-capture chatbot with SMS continuation and practical automation actions.
- API access
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Bryka -
Best forSimple SMS lead qualification programs
A focused SMS lead qualification platform with booking, follow-ups, and pipeline tools.
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit TextFlow AI -
Best forWebsite chatbot users adding SMS follow-up
A capable website-led chatbot with SMS follow-up, but limited message volume and integrations.
- Workflow builder
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Agentli -
Best forKnowledge-base SMS support automation
Grounded SMS support automation with testing, escalation, and multilingual replies.
- AI responses
- Two-way SMS
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit eesel AI -
Best forEnterprise lead engagement across channels
A broad conversational AI platform for enterprise lead engagement across channels.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Conversica -
Best forTeams wanting SMS alongside business calling
A strong business calling platform with SMS, but limited chatbot focus.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Aircall -
Best forDevelopers needing basic SMS infrastructure
A practical SMS API with two-way messaging, but limited chatbot automation.
- API access
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Smstools -
Best forPremium AI receptionist deployments
A capable SMS and voice receptionist for businesses ready for usage-based pricing.
- Workflow builder
- API access
- AI responses
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Newo -
Best forHigh-value lead operations with voice first
A voice-first lead operation system with SMS follow-up and appointment automation.
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit AfterLead
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | AI responses | Workflow builder | Two-way SMS | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ConvoCore | No | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | AthenaText | Yes | $468/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 3 | Boei | No | $19/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 4 | TextIt | No | $25/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 5 | Smobi | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 6 | Evoriqa SMS AI Chatbot | Yes | $279/yr | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Gupshup | No | $0.001/unit usage-based | 8.4 | |||
| 8 | Verse | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | Sinch Engage | No | 8.2 | ||||
| 10 | Clickatell ChatFlow | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 11 | ChatBot | No | $19/user/mo | 7.9 | |||
| 12 | Wellgrow | No | $105/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 13 | Jack The Butler | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 14 | Sarufi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 15 | Crisp | Yes | $45/mo | 7.5 | |||
| 16 | SMB Sidekick | No | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
| 17 | Botsify SMS Chatbot | No | $490/yr | Yes | No | Yes | 7.3 |
| 18 | Streebo SMS Chatbot | No | Yes | Yes | 7.2 | ||
| 19 | Cobalt | No | $199/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 20 | TextGlobal SMS Chatbot | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 21 | Engage Hub AI Chatbot | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | ||
| 22 | LeadSixty | Yes | No | Yes | 6.8 | ||
| 23 | Launch AI | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.7 | ||
| 24 | Bryka | Yes | $384/yr | Yes | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 25 | TextFlow AI | $100/mo | Yes | Yes | 6.5 | ||
| 26 | Agentli AI Chatbot | No | $79/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.4 |
| 27 | eesel AI for SMS | No | $0.40/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | 6.3 | |
| 28 | Conversica | 6.2 | |||||
| 29 | Aircall | No | $30/user/mo | 6.2 | |||
| 30 | Smstools | Yes | $0.03/unit usage-based | 6.1 | |||
| 31 | Newo | No | $299/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5.9 |
| 32 | AfterLead | No | $1,500/mo | 5.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- ConvoCore vs AthenaText
- ConvoCore vs Boei
- ConvoCore vs TextIt
- ConvoCore vs Smobi
- ConvoCore vs Evoriqa SMS AI Chatbot
- ConvoCore vs Gupshup
- ConvoCore vs Verse
- AthenaText vs Boei
- AthenaText vs TextIt
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How we rank SMS chatbot software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update