SMS Marketing ROI Calculator
Weigh what you pay per message against the revenue each send brings back, so you can judge SMS on its own terms.
Your numbers
Check your SMS platform's rate card: it varies by country, carrier and message length (segments).
Share of the send that clicks the link.
Your result · updates as you type
Revenue per $1 of SMS cost
39.77x
240 orders worth $13,920 from 20,000 messages sent, costing $350 total.
- Revenue per send
- $3,480
- Cost per send
- $87.50
- Net profit
- $13,570
SMS usually converts at a higher rate than email but costs more per send and tolerates far fewer messages before people opt out. Watch unsubscribe rate alongside ROI: a send that makes money this month but strips your list isn't a win.
Breakdown
- Messages sent (list × sends)
- 20,000
- Clicks
- 2,000
- Orders
- 240
- Revenue
- $13,920
- Message cost
- −$300.00
- Platform fee
- −$50.00
- Net profit
- $13,570
Cost per message against revenue per send
SMS has a real, per-message cost that scales with your list size, unlike email where the main cost is a flat monthly fee. This calculator weighs that message cost directly against the revenue each send produces, so a big list with a weak click rate doesn't look better than it is.
Example: the default numbers
- Messages sent
- 5,000 × 4 sends = 20,000
- Clicks (10%) and orders (12% of clicks)
- 2,000 clicks → 240 orders
- Revenue
- 240 × $58 = $13,920
- Message cost + platform fee
- 20,000 × $0.015 + $50 = $350
Revenue per $1 of SMS cost is 39.77x, a net profit of $13,570.
What to watch alongside ROI
- Message cost varies by country and carrier. Check your SMS platform's current rate card rather than assuming a fixed price per message.
- Unsubscribe rate. A send that's profitable this month but strips subscribers from the list isn't a long-term win. Watch it alongside ROI.
- Frequency. SMS tolerates far fewer sends per month than email before people opt out, so weigh volume carefully.
Questions people ask
How much does an SMS message cost to send?
It varies by country, carrier and message length (segments). Check your SMS platform's rate card for your market rather than assuming a flat price.
Is SMS marketing worth it for a small store?
It can be, especially for time-sensitive sends like flash sales and shipping updates, but the per-message cost means it makes more sense once your list has real engagement, not just size.
Why does SMS often convert better than email?
It's a more immediate, higher-attention channel, so click and conversion rates on a well-targeted send tend to run higher, though at a real per-message cost.
How often should I text my list?
Enough to stay useful, rarely enough to avoid opt-outs. Track your unsubscribe rate after each send and pull back if it climbs.
Related tools
Want this builtinto your store?
I'm Emmanuel, a Shopify and WooCommerce developer. If this tool pointed at something you'd rather have fixed for you (a faster store, cleaner product data, a migration, a custom feature), send me a note.
Emmanuel Asika
Shopify & WooCommerce developer, Dublin
I build and fix online stores: new builds, migrations, speed, SEO and the custom bits apps can't do.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.