However, what if your message is longer? For example, you might write a message with 200 characters. Brevo will still send it as one single text to your customer. But behind the scenes, it uses a technology called concatenation. This links multiple standard messages together. Consequently, a longer message will use more credits. A message up to 306 Get the Leads That Help You Scale characters, for instance, might cost you two credits instead of one. For this reason, keeping your messages short and job function email list clear is a great way to save money.
Option 1: Pay-As-You-Go SMS Credits
The Pay-As-You-Go option is perfect for beginners. It is also great for businesses that only send SMS messages occasionally. With this method, you simply buy a bundle of credits. For example, you could buy a pack of 100, 500, or even 1,000 credits. You pay for them once, and they are added to your account.
A major advantage of this option is its flexibility. There are no monthly fees or commitments. You just use the credits whenever you need to. Furthermore, these pre-paid credits never expire. You can buy them today and use them next year. This is ideal if your SMS campaigns are not on a regular schedule. It allows you to test SMS marketing without a big investment. Therefore, it’s a low-risk way to start.
Option 2: Monthly Subscription Plans
If you plan to send text messages regularly, a monthly plan is likely a better choice. Brevo offers several subscription plans, such as the Free, Starter, and Business plans. These plans are designed for both email marketing and SMS. While the Free plan exists, you still need to buy SMS credits separately to send texts. The paid plans, however, often come with a better overall value for frequent senders.
When you subscribe to a plan like Starter or Business, you get a lot of other marketing tools. This includes more email sends, landing pages, and advanced automation. While these plans do not always include free SMS credits, they provide the platform you need for powerful campaigns. You still purchase SMS credits, but you might get them at a better rate or have access to more features. As a result, a monthly plan integrates SMS into a bigger marketing strategy.
A Closer Look at Brevo's Plans and SMS Costs
Now, let's dig deeper into the specific plans. This will help you see how SMS credits fit into each one. Remember, your goal is to find the most cost-effective solution. This depends entirely on how many messages you send and what other tools you need. Therefore, analyzing each plan is a crucial step.
Each plan level offers different features and limits. The Free plan is great for getting started. The Starter plan is a good step up for growing businesses. Then, the Business and Enterprise plans are for larger companies with bigger needs. Your choice will directly impact your marketing abilities and your budget. Thus, let’s review what you get with each one.
The Brevo Free Plan and SMS
Brevo’s Free plan is very generous. It allows you to send up to 300 emails per day. It also lets you store unlimited contacts. However, it does not include any free SMS credits. This is a very important point to remember. To send SMS messages on the Free plan, you must buy Pay-As-You-Go credits.
This setup is actually very good for new users. It means you can use all of Brevo's basic features for free. Then, you can add on SMS capabilities by buying a small pack of credits. For instance, you could buy 100 credits to test a small campaign. This way, you can see if SMS marketing works for your business without signing up for a monthly subscription. It is a smart, low-cost way to experiment.
The Brevo Starter Plan and SMS
The Starter plan is the first paid tier. It is designed for businesses that are starting to grow. With this plan, you get everything in the Free plan, plus more. For example, the daily email sending limit is removed. You also get basic reporting and analytics. This helps you understand how your campaigns are performing.
Just like the Free plan, the Starter plan does not come with free SMS credits included. You still need to buy SMS credits separately. However, being on a paid plan gives you a more powerful platform. You can combine your email and SMS marketing more effectively. For example, you can create a workflow where a customer gets an email first, and then a follow-up SMS. This integrated approach can be very powerful.