SMS Marketing ROI Calculator
Opt-outs cost more than the send.
Campaign profit
−$4,293
106 orders, 144 opt-outs
SMS converts several times better than email and costs several hundred times more per message — and opt-outs are permanent and higher. At $48 of lifetime value each, the 144 opt-outs cost $6,912, which is more than the send itself.
How the SMS Marketing ROI Calculator works
SMS converts several times better than email and costs several hundred times more per message. Opt-outs are higher and permanent, and at typical subscriber values they frequently cost more than the send itself — which makes frequency the whole game.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SMS marketing cost?
Typically one to three pence per message depending on volume and country, against effectively nothing per email. That difference is why SMS lists are small and carefully used.
Does SMS convert better than email?
Substantially — click rates commonly run five to ten times higher. The channel is intrusive, which is both why it works and why it burns out.
How often should I send SMS?
Far less often than email. Two to four messages a month is a common ceiling for retail, and exceeding it drives opt-outs that permanently remove your most responsive contacts.
What should SMS be used for?
Time-sensitive and high-value moments — order updates, back-in-stock, genuine urgency. Using it for routine promotion wastes an expensive channel and accelerates opt-outs.