SMS vs Email Marketing ROI Calculator
See why SMS delivers up to 14x higher conversions than email. Enter your metrics to compare potential revenue.
SMS marketing ROI measures revenue generated per dollar spent on text message campaigns. Industry average: $71 return per $1 spent, compared to $36 for email.
Data from Omnisend, Bloomreach, & SimpleTexting 2025
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Revenue Comparison
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Why SMS Outperforms Email
98% Open Rate
Almost every SMS gets read. Email sits unopened in crowded inboxes.
90 Second Response
SMS gets read in 90 seconds on average. Email takes 90 minutes.
14x Higher Conversion
SMS converts at 29% vs email's 2%. More engagement = more sales.
SMS vs Email Calculator FAQ
What are SMS open rates compared to email?
SMS open rates average 95-98%, while email open rates range from 20-42%. This means nearly every text message gets read, while most emails sit unopened in crowded inboxes.
What is the ROI of SMS marketing vs email?
SMS marketing delivers $71 return per $1 spent on average, compared to $36 for email. SMS also has 21-30% conversion rates vs email's 15-22%, making it nearly 2x more effective at driving sales.
When should I use SMS vs email marketing?
Use SMS for time-sensitive promotions, flash sales, order updates, and urgent messages where immediate engagement matters. Use email for detailed content, newsletters, and campaigns that benefit from rich formatting.
How much does SMS marketing cost compared to email?
SMS typically costs $0.01-0.05 per message vs $0.001-0.003 for email. However, SMS's 14x higher conversion rate means the cost per conversion is often lower despite higher per-message costs.
What are SMS marketing compliance requirements?
SMS marketing requires explicit opt-in consent (TCPA compliance), clear opt-out instructions in every message, and honoring unsubscribe requests immediately. Violations can result in $500-$1,500 per message fines.
Should I use SMS and email together?
Yes, combining SMS and email in an omnichannel strategy boosts engagement by 47.7%. Use email as the primary touchpoint and SMS for follow-ups, which can increase email open rates by 20-30%.
SMS vs Email Marketing Formulas
Marketing ROI
SMS averages 7,100% ROI vs 3,600% for email.
Effective Open Rate
SMS: 98% vs Email: 20% average open rates.
Click-to-Conversion Rate
Measures how effectively clicks turn into sales.
Revenue Per Message
SMS generates 17x more revenue per message than email.