Business SMS.

The channel your customers actually read

SMS delivers what other channels promise. With a 98% open rate, 45% average response rate, and most messages read within 90 seconds, business SMS is the most direct and effective way to reach your customers. No algorithms, no spam folders, no app downloads. Just your message, delivered instantly to every mobile phone.

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98% open rate 45% response rate ~90 sec read time 71:1 ROI

The SMS Advantage

How SMS compares.

Every channel has its place, but when you need messages read quickly and acted on, SMS outperforms them all.

Open rate

98%

SMS
Email
20-30%
Push
~20%
Social
~1-5%

Response rate

45%

SMS
Push
~8%
Email
6%
Social
~1%

Average read time

90 sec

SMS
Push
~60 min
Social
Varies
Email
6 hrs

Return on investment

71:1

SMS
Email
36:1
Social
5:1
Push
Varies

No internet required

Works on any mobile network

No app needed

Native SMS on every device

Works on every phone

5 billion+ devices worldwide

Direct to recipient

Personal, verified number

How Businesses Use SMS

One channel, endless applications.

From marketing campaigns to security alerts, SMS fits naturally into every part of your business communication.

Three Ways to Send

Choose your connection method.

Whether you're a developer, a team lead, or just getting started, there's a way to send that fits your workflow.

For developers

SMS API

Integrate SMS directly into your software with our RESTful API. Send, receive, and manage messages programmatically with full control.

  • RESTful endpoints with JSON
  • Multi-language code samples
  • 600 msg/sec throughput
  • Delivery receipts & webhooks
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For teams

Email to SMS

Send text messages from your existing email client. No software to install, no training required. Just compose and send.

  • Works with any email client
  • No technical setup needed
  • Distribution list support
  • Automatic reply handling
learn more
For everyone

Oello

Our web-based SMS platform with contact management, templates, and scheduling. The easiest way to start sending business SMS.

  • Intuitive web dashboard
  • Contact groups & imports
  • Message templates
  • Scheduled sending
learn more

Industry Solutions

SMS for every sector.

These are just some of the industries we work with. Whatever your sector, SMS fits naturally into how you communicate with customers.

Travel & Taxis

Booking confirmations, driver ETAs, fare receipts, and fleet alerts. SMS keeps passengers informed and operators efficient.

Healthcare

Appointment reminders, prescription alerts, and patient follow-ups. Reduce no-shows by up to 40% with automated SMS reminders.

Retail & E-commerce

Order confirmations, delivery updates, flash sales, and abandoned cart recovery. Boost conversions with timely, personal messages.

Hospitality

Booking confirmations, check-in reminders, and guest promotions. Enhance the guest experience from reservation to review.

Recruitment

Interview confirmations, job alerts, and candidate updates. Reach candidates faster than email with instant notifications.

Property & Lettings

Viewing reminders, new listing alerts, and maintenance updates. Keep tenants, landlords, and buyers informed instantly.

Financial Services

Transaction alerts, 2FA codes, payment reminders, and account notifications. Secure, instant communication customers trust.

Education

Attendance alerts, parent notifications, exam reminders, and emergency broadcasts. Keep students, parents, and staff connected.

Automotive

Service reminders, MOT alerts, quote follow-ups, and job completion notifications. Keep customers informed at every stage.

Why Faretext

Built for UK business.

Faretext has been helping UK businesses communicate via SMS for over 13 years. We connect directly to UK mobile networks for the fastest, most reliable delivery. No resellers, no middlemen. With over 500 million messages delivered and 1,000+ business customers, we understand what matters: messages that arrive, pricing that's fair, and support that's actually helpful.

500M+ messages | 1,000+ customers | 13+ years
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Network routes Direct to UK networks
Pricing Pay-as-you-go
Contracts None required
Sender ID Custom alphanumeric
Compliance GDPR with UK data
Delivery reports Real-time
Support Dedicated UK team
Coverage 230+ countries

Getting Started

Up and running in minutes.

Getting started with Faretext is straightforward. No complex onboarding, no lengthy contracts.

01

Choose how you want to send

Pick the connection method that suits your team: SMS API for developers, email-to-SMS for teams, or Oello for a ready-made web platform.

02

Create your account

Register via our connect page in under a minute. You'll get 25 free credits to test the platform straight away, no card required, no commitment, and no approval process to wait for.

03

Configure and test

Set up your custom sender ID, import your contacts, and send a test message. Your SMS will be delivered in seconds via direct UK network routes with real-time delivery receipts.

04

Scale with confidence

As your needs grow, scale from tens to millions of messages. Volume discounts apply automatically, and our infrastructure handles the rest.

Ready to start sending?

Create your free account and send your first SMS in minutes. 25 free credits, no card required, no contracts.

Free credits 25 included
Setup time Minutes
Contracts None
Support UK-based team
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UK-based support. 01142 945 993. hello@faretext.co.uk

FAQS

Business SMS FAQs.

Business SMS is the use of text messaging by organisations to communicate with customers, employees, or stakeholders. Unlike personal texting, business SMS uses professional platforms that offer features like bulk sending, custom sender IDs, delivery reports, and automated messaging, all while maintaining compliance with UK regulations.
UK business SMS typically costs between 3p and 7p per message, depending on volume and provider. Faretext offers pay-as-you-go pricing with no contracts or monthly fees. You only pay for messages you send. Visit our pricing page for current rates. With an average ROI of £71 per £1 spent, SMS is one of the most cost-effective communication channels available.
No. While our SMS API is available for developers who want to integrate SMS into their software, we also offer email-to-SMS (send texts from your email client) and Oello (our web-based platform). Both require zero technical knowledge. If you can send an email or use a website, you can send business SMS.
Standard SMS is a single message sent to one recipient. Bulk SMS refers to sending the same or personalised messages to large groups simultaneously: hundreds, thousands, or even millions of recipients. Business SMS platforms like Faretext support both, with features like contact groups, mail merge personalisation, and high-throughput delivery.
Yes, provided you follow the rules set by the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). You need explicit consent before sending marketing messages, must identify your business clearly, and must provide an easy opt-out mechanism. Faretext automatically handles STOP replies and maintains your suppression list.
Virtually every industry benefits from business SMS. Healthcare uses it for appointment reminders, retail for promotions and order updates, hospitality for booking confirmations, recruitment for candidate notifications, financial services for security alerts, and property for viewing reminders. Any business that needs to communicate quickly and reliably with customers can benefit.
Yes. Our platform supports mail merge fields that let you personalise each message with the recipient's name, appointment time, order number, or any custom data from your contact list. Personalised messages significantly improve engagement rates. Recipients are more likely to read and act on a message that addresses them directly.
A sender ID is the name or number that appears as the "from" field when your recipient receives your message. With Faretext, you can set a custom alphanumeric sender ID (up to 11 characters) so your business name appears instead of a random number. This improves brand recognition and trust. Note that replies are not possible with alphanumeric sender IDs.
Faretext automatically processes STOP replies from recipients and adds them to your suppression list. These contacts are automatically excluded from future messages. You can also manually add numbers to your blocklist through the platform. Prompt opt-out handling is a legal requirement under UK regulations and helps maintain your sender reputation.
Faretext maintains a 98.5% delivery rate through direct connections to UK mobile networks. We don't use third-party resellers or international routing, which means faster delivery and higher success rates. You'll receive real-time delivery reports for every message, so you always know the status of your communications.
Yes. Faretext supports international SMS delivery to over 200 countries. International messaging is available through our SMS API and email-to-SMS services. Pricing varies by destination country. Contact us or visit our pricing page for details. We'll also guide you on country-specific regulations.
You can be sending messages within minutes. Register via our connect page, choose your sending method, and we'll verify your account. You'll receive 25 free credits to test the platform before you commit. There are no contracts, no setup fees, and no minimum spend requirements.

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Ready to reach your customers with SMS?

Join over 400 UK businesses sending smarter with Faretext.

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25 free credits to test. No contract. UK-based support.

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