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TextDirectly vs SimpleTexting
Both help a small business text its customer list. They differ in where the texts come from, how you pay and what you need to run them. Here is a fair side-by-side, including when SimpleTexting is the better pick.
At a glance
| Topic | SimpleTexting | TextDirectly |
|---|---|---|
| Texts come from | A business number from SimpleTexting: a local number, a toll-free number or a short code | Your own iPhone number, through Messages on your Mac |
| How you pay | A monthly plan with a set number of credits, plus a fee for a local number | Free, or a flat $19 a month or $149 a year for Pro |
| Cost per text | Each text uses credits. Longer texts and picture texts use more | No per-text fees. Texts use your phone plan |
| Daily volume | Built for large lists | 45 a day on Free, up to 200 a day on Pro |
| Works on | Web browser and mobile apps | Mac with Apple Silicon, plus your iPhone |
| Team use | Several user seats on paid plans | Made for one person texting from their own number |
Details about SimpleTexting come from its pricing page as of November 2026 and can change.
How pricing works
SimpleTexting sells monthly plans that include a set number of credits. As of November 2026, a standard text of up to 160 characters uses 1 credit, a longer text uses 2, and a picture message (MMS) uses 3. Incoming texts are free. If you run out, extra credits are billed on top of your plan, and unused credits on monthly plans roll over for one month. A local number costs extra each month, and there is a one-time carrier registration fee. Paid plans include three user seats, and more seats cost extra.
In short, your bill grows with how much you send. That is fair for big senders, but it means you have to watch your credit balance.
TextDirectly has no per-text fees. Your texts go out through the Messages app on your Mac, the same way texts you type by hand do, so they are covered by your own phone plan. The Free plan sends up to 45 texts a day. Pro is $19 a month or $149 a year. It starts at 100 texts a day and grows to as many as 200 a day as your number warms up. You can try Pro for 7 days in the app, and the trial starts on your first real send.
Which number your texts come from
SimpleTexting texts come from a number it sets up for your business. As of November 2026 you can pick a local number, a toll-free number (which needs carrier approval), or a dedicated short code for very high volume. Local business numbers go through carrier 10DLC registration. Your contacts see a new number, so it helps to tell them to save it.
TextDirectly sends from your own iPhone number. People see the number they already have saved for you, and their replies come back to your iPhone and your Mac like any other text. It tries iMessage first and sends a regular text through your iPhone when iMessage is not available.
Setup
SimpleTexting runs in a web browser and on its mobile apps, so it works on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. You sign up, choose a number, and complete carrier registration before sending at volume. Toll-free approval can take up to a week, and a short code takes weeks to set up.
TextDirectly needs a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) on macOS 13 or later, and an iPhone signed in to the same Apple ID with Text Message Forwarding turned on. You download the app, give it the permissions it asks for, and import a CSV file or a Mac Contacts group. The setup guide in the app walks you through each step, and setup takes a few minutes. Your Mac needs to be awake with the app open while a campaign sends.
Who each is better for
SimpleTexting is the better fit if
- You or your customers are on Windows or Android, or you don't have a Mac
- You text thousands of people a day, well past 200
- Your team needs a shared inbox, with several people answering from one business number
- You want keywords people can text to join your list, or a short code
TextDirectly is the better fit if
- You want texts to come from the iPhone number your customers already have saved
- You text a few dozen to 200 people a day
- You would rather pay a flat price than buy credits or message bundles
- You work from a Mac and want your contacts and replies to stay on it
Whichever you pick, only text people who know you or have agreed to hear from you, and honor every STOP reply. Read our guide on how to mass text from an iPhone for the basics.
SimpleTexting is a trademark of its owner. TextDirectly is not affiliated with SimpleTexting. Also compare: TextDirectly vs EZ Texting, TextDirectly vs Textedly.
Text your list from the number they already know.
Download TextDirectly free for Mac. Send up to 45 texts a day on the Free plan, and try Pro free for 7 days in the app.