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Last verified: Roshan Jha checked this on 23 October 2026.
What changed: Full rewrite. SMS rates, plan access and the Legacy Pro move rechecked on Omnisend pages.
Quick verdict: New SMS buyers need the Pro plan. US texts cost $0.009 each at the entry tier.
Budget the Pro fee plus a separate SMS subscription. Credits expire 60 days after issue.
SMS can be your best sales channel. It can also become your most confusing bill.
Omnisend changed how SMS is sold in 2026. Old guides now give the wrong numbers.
You may wonder if Standard still sends texts. You may also ask what happens to free Pro credits.
Legacy Pro users face a bigger worry. Their plan moves on 26 October 2026.
This guide explains the current rules in plain words. It covers rates, credits, access and costs.
Short answer: Since 4 May 2026, new subscribers can buy SMS on Pro only. SMS is a separate subscription with no included credits. US rates start at $0.009 per message and fall to $0.007 at high spend. Legacy Pro brands move to current Pro on 26 October 2026.
Why you should trust this guide
Personal note: SMS billing questions come up in reader emails more than any other Omnisend topic. So this page is kept close to the help center wording.
Written by Roshan Jha. Here is how we researched it:
- Read the Omnisend pricing page on 23 October 2026.
- Read the Omnisend help article on managing SMS credits in full.
- Read the Omnisend Pricing Plans 2026 help article.
- Checked the SMS credits widget on the pricing page.
- Collected public posts on X and Shopify App Store reviews about Omnisend SMS.
Last verified: 23 October 2026. What changed: Full rewrite with fresh pricing checks and sources.
Omnisend SMS pricing at a glance
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Which plan can buy SMS? | Pro only, for new subscribers |
| Are credits included with Pro? | No, SMS is a separate subscription |
| US entry rate | $0.009 per SMS |
| Lowest US rate | $0.007 per SMS |
| Credit expiry | 60 days after issue |
| MMS | US and Canada recipients only |
| Legacy Pro move date | 26 October 2026 |
The rules depend on when you subscribed. The 4 May 2026 date is the dividing line.
Who can send SMS on Omnisend now
| Plan | Subscribed on or after 4 May 2026 | Active SMS subscription before 4 May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Free | No SMS. Upgrade to Pro. | Keeps legacy rates while kept active |
| Standard | No SMS. Upgrade to Pro. | Keeps legacy rates while kept active |
| Pro | SMS as a paid add on | Legacy Pro until 26 October 2026 |
Legacy Free and Standard users must not change plan. A downgrade or cancel applies the new rules on return.
Cancelling a legacy SMS subscription on Free or Standard is final. SMS then needs an upgrade to Pro.
US SMS rate tiers
Omnisend sets the rate by your monthly SMS spend. A bigger budget lowers the price per text.
| Monthly SMS spend (US) | Price per SMS |
|---|---|
| $10 to $49.99 | $0.009 |
| $50 to $999.99 | $0.0085 |
| $1,000 to $9,999.99 | $0.008 |
| $10,000 and up | $0.007 |
The pricing page headline says SMS starts at $0.007. That is the top volume rate.
Most small stores will pay $0.009 or $0.0085. Rates also vary by recipient country.
The widget shows $50 a month buys 5,882 US texts. That matches the $0.0085 tier.
The Pro plan fee comes first
SMS sits on top of the Pro fee. So you pay two bills, not one.
The Pricing Plans help article says Pro starts at $59 a month. Standard starts at $16 a month.
The pricing page shows Pro with 2,500 contacts at the entry tier. Your price rises with billable contacts.
The toggle above shows a 30% saving for paying 3 months upfront. After that, monthly billing applies.
Billable contacts include subscribers and non subscribers. Organic signups can raise the bill too.
For the full plan table, read our Omnisend pricing guide.
Cost examples for US stores
These are simple estimates for US recipients. They use the tier rates above and the $59 Pro entry fee.
| Monthly SMS budget | Rate | About how many SMS | Total with Pro at $59 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.009 | 1,111 | $69 |
| $50 | $0.0085 | 5,882 | $109 |
| $1,000 | $0.008 | 125,000 | $1,059 |
| $10,000 | $0.007 | 1,428,571 | Pro fee varies by list size |
Message counts are rounded down. Taxes and non US rates are not included.
Each recipient counts as at least one SMS credit. A send to 2,000 people uses 2,000 SMS at minimum.
Check the Estimated SMS credits step before every campaign. It shows US and non US costs apart.
How SMS credits work
SMS credits are dollar amounts, not message counts. Each text deducts its rate from your balance.
A $20 tier adds $20 of credits each month. You are not charged extra per message.
Each brand on your account has its own SMS budget. Plan budgets per store.
Credit rollover and expiry
- Unused credits roll over to the next billing cycle.
- Every credit expires 60 days after it was added.
- Only the latest period carries over.
- SMS credits cannot pay for email sends.
The help article gives an example. $15 left from September rolls into October.
By 1 November, that September $15 expires. So credits never stack beyond two cycles.
Size your tier to real monthly use. Buying far ahead just lets credits expire.
Auto upgrade and one time top ups
Auto upgrade moves you up a tier when credits fall below a floor. It stops sends from pausing mid campaign.
You can also set a ceiling to cap spend. The help article uses $5 and $200 as examples.
Auto upgrade can only be set when you first subscribe. Later changes go through support.
One time credits are another option. Pro users with active SMS can add $5, $10, $25 or a custom sum.
One time credits expire 60 days after purchase. They are non refundable.
The Legacy Pro change on 26 October 2026
Legacy Pro gave SMS credits equal to your plan price. A $59 plan came with $59 in credits.
On 26 October 2026, every Legacy Pro brand moves to current Pro. No action is needed.
- New SMS credits stop coming with the plan.
- SMS moves to a separate SMS Credits Subscription.
- A subscription may be added based on your last 30 days of SMS use.
- It is first billed on your next Pro cycle, not on migration day.
- Old Legacy Pro credits stay valid until 60 days after issue.
- You gain Personalized Sending Time and Countdown Timer.
Omnisend says temporary pricing protection may apply for six months. It covers moves that raise total cost by more than 20%.
Ask Omnisend support for the details on your own account.
Downgrading from Legacy Pro before the move removes bundled credits. Current Standard and Free have no SMS.
How to buy SMS credits
- Open Store settings.
- Go to Pricing and usage.
- Open the SMS credits tab.
- Click Get monthly SMS credits.
- Pick your monthly price and volume.
- Choose whether to auto upgrade.
- Check the Review and confirm screen.
- Click Confirm and pay.
The review screen shows credits added and the amount charged today. It also lists the next charge and taxes.
Start small if you are new to SMS. The $10 tier is the lowest listed.
How to cancel the SMS subscription
The SMS subscription is separate from your plan. You can cancel it and keep Pro.
- Open Store settings, then Pricing and usage.
- Open the SMS credits tab.
- Click Change SMS subscription.
- Click Cancel Subscription and confirm.
With no unpaid invoice, SMS stays active to the end of the paid period. With an unpaid invoice, it ends at once and the invoice is voided.
For full plan cancellation steps, see our Omnisend cancel and refund guide.
What users say about Omnisend SMS
What real users say
Public posts on X show SMS costs are hard to compare across tools. They are opinions, not official figures.
omnisend or Attentive? Here’s what the SMS price gap actually looks like. Say you want to send 1,000 text messages. On Omnisend that runs you about $9. On Attentive, the same thousand texts land somewhere between $12 and $35. And that’s before the catch, because Attentive also
Gavin Hewitson || Email Marketing Agency Founder (@emaildeepdive), post on X, 9 October 2026. Read the original
Me trying to compare Klaviyo, PS, Attentive and Omnisend SMS pricing for a client How many ways can we redefine how SMS pricing works? A lot apparently.
Fil (@BallinFil), post on X, 10 October 2026. Read the original
Wanna launch SMS marketing for your brand? Keep it simple, use whatever email platform you're using right now to do it (Klaviyo or Omnisend) Using an external app is 9 times out of 10 a waste of time
Nicolas Olaya (@ecom_nicolas), post on X, 16 October 2026. Read the original
One post puts 1,000 texts at about $9. That matches the $0.009 entry rate.
Omnisend SMS vs rivals
Klaviyo is the most common comparison. Its SMS model differs, so compare full monthly totals.
Our Omnisend vs Klaviyo comparison covers both tools side by side.
Coming from Mailchimp? See our Mailchimp alternatives guide.
Is Pro worth it for SMS?
| Your store | Best move |
|---|---|
| Email only, small list | Stay on Standard |
| Testing SMS for the first time | Pro plus the $10 tier |
| Regular SMS campaigns | Pro with a monthly tier and auto upgrade |
| High volume over $10,000 a month | Pro at the $0.007 rate |
| Legacy Standard with SMS | Keep your setup active |
Upgrade if SMS drives real sales. Stay on Standard if email alone does the job.
Tips to keep SMS costs down
- Clean inactive numbers before big sends.
- Check the Estimated SMS credits step first.
- Use one time credits for rare campaigns.
- Set an auto upgrade ceiling.
- Watch non US recipients, since rates differ.
Honest downsides
- SMS now costs extra on top of Pro.
- Free and Standard plans cannot buy SMS for new users.
- Credits expire after 60 days.
- One time credits are non refundable.
- Legacy plan rules are complex.
Bottom line
Omnisend SMS is fairly priced at $0.009 to $0.007 per US text. But it needs Pro first.
Add the Pro fee to your SMS budget for the true cost. Then size credits to real use.
For a full product verdict, read our Omnisend review.
Waiting for a seasonal deal? Our Omnisend Black Friday guide tracks offers.
Check current Omnisend SMS rates on the pricing page
FAQ
Does Omnisend still include free SMS with Pro?
Not on current Pro. Only Legacy Pro includes credits. It moves to current Pro on 26 October 2026.
Can I send SMS on the Omnisend Standard plan?
Only with an active SMS subscription from before 4 May 2026. New Standard users must upgrade to Pro.
How much is one Omnisend SMS in the US?
It costs $0.009 at the entry tier. The rate falls to $0.007 at $10,000 or more a month.
Do Omnisend SMS credits expire?
Yes. Unused credits roll over, but each expires 60 days after it was added.
Does Omnisend SMS price vary by country?
Yes. Rates vary by recipient country. Use the calculator on the pricing page.
Can I cancel Omnisend SMS but keep my plan?
Yes. The SMS subscription is separate and can be cancelled in the SMS credits tab.
Is MMS available on Omnisend?
Yes, for US and Canada recipients only. Plain SMS works globally.
Are one time SMS credits refundable?
No. One time credits are non refundable and expire 60 days after purchase.
Sources
- Omnisend help: manage SMS credits
- Omnisend pricing page
- Omnisend Pricing Plans 2026 help article
- Omnisend Pricing Plans 2026 help article
About the author: Roshan Jha
Roshan Jha is an SEO expert focused on helping brands grow through search-first content strategy, technical SEO, and data-driven digital marketing. He specializes in building scalable organic growth systems, covering keyword research, on-page optimization, topical authority, site audits, and conversion-focused content planning. With a practical, results-oriented approach, Roshan works with businesses to improve rankings, increase qualified traffic, and turn visibility into measurable revenue. Follow Roshan Jha on LinkedIn.