Singapore SMS Pricing: Compare Costs & Choose the Right Provider for 2025

Singapore SMS pricing ranges from $0.0055 to $0.0654 per message across major providers like Twilio, Plivo, and Sinch. The cost to send bulk SMS in Singapore depends on message volume, delivery routes, and features. Compare pricing from 9 leading SMS providers, understand SSIR compliance requirements, and calculate your actual SMS costs to choose the right messaging platform for your business.

Why businesses use SMS messaging in Singapore

SMS remains one of the most effective channels for business communication in Singapore, with 98% open rates and 45% response rates according to Gartner. Key use cases include:

• Time-sensitive notifications: Transaction confirmations, two-factor authentication, appointment reminders.
• Marketing and promotions: Flash sales, exclusive offers, loyalty program updates.
• Customer service: Support confirmations, service updates, delivery notifications.

Understand SMS pricing to budget effectively and maximize ROI on your messaging campaigns.

How SMS pricing works in Singapore

Several factors influence the cost of sending SMS messages in Singapore:

• Provider: Each provider has its own pricing structure, often tiered based on volume.
• Message Volume: Higher volumes unlock lower per-message rates.
• Destination: Local and international messages cost differently. Singapore's strong international business ties make this a key consideration.
• Message Type: Standard SMS (up to 160 GSM-7 characters) costs less than MMS (multimedia messages). Exceeding the character limit triggers message concatenation and increased costs. Unicode characters (for non-English languages) reduce the character limit per segment.
• Features: Advanced features like short codes, dedicated numbers, and analytics dashboards affect pricing.

What affects SMS costs in Singapore

Several variables influence the final cost per message you'll pay:

• Message volume: Providers offer tiered pricing – higher monthly volumes unlock lower per-message rates. Send 100,000+ messages monthly? Negotiate custom enterprise pricing.

• Message type: Standard SMS (160 characters) costs less than long messages. Messages exceeding 160 characters split into multiple parts, with each part billed separately.

• Sender ID type: Alphanumeric sender IDs (e.g., "YourBrand") may cost more than numeric sender IDs, depending on your provider. Register all sender IDs through the SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) in Singapore.

• Delivery routes: Premium routes offer higher delivery rates and faster speeds but cost more. Economy routes provide lower prices with potentially slower delivery.

• Additional features: Two-way messaging, delivery reports, shortcodes, and advanced analytics add to base pricing. Evaluate which features you actually need before paying for premium tiers.

Singapore SMS pricing comparison: 9 providers

Compare SMS pricing across major providers to find the best fit for your volume and feature requirements:

How to reduce SMS costs and optimize spending

• Forecast your volume: Accurately predict your message volume to negotiate better rates and choose the most cost-effective pricing model.
• Choose the right pricing model: Pay-as-you-go offers flexibility, while committed volume plans provide discounts for higher usage. Hybrid models combine the benefits of both.
• Monitor delivery rates: Low delivery rates indicate wasted spend. Investigate and address issues promptly.
• Optimize message length: Keep messages concise to minimize segments and costs. Use link shorteners for longer URLs.
• Integrate efficiently: A well-integrated API minimizes errors and ensures smooth message delivery.

Singapore SMS regulations: PDPA and SSIR compliance

Comply with these regulations for all SMS campaigns in Singapore:

• Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA): Obtain clear and unambiguous consent in evidential form before sending marketing messages. Check recipients against the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry maintained by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC). B2B communications to corporate lines are exempt from DNC requirements.

• SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR): Register all SMS Sender IDs since January 31, 2023. Telecom operators automatically convert non-registered Sender IDs to "Likely-SCAM." Register your branded Sender IDs with IMDA to ensure legitimate delivery.

• SMS SIM Box Prohibition: SMS SIM boxes with 5 or more SIM card slots are prohibited telecommunication equipment under IMDA regulations as of February 1, 2025. Do not import, possess, or use them without specific regulatory approval.

• Spam Act: Include clear opt-out mechanisms in all unsolicited commercial messages.

How to choose an SMS provider in Singapore

Evaluate providers based on these criteria:

1. Calculate your monthly volume: Estimate how many messages you'll send per month. Use this number to compare tiered pricing across providers.

2. Prioritize reliability over price: Check delivery rates and uptime guarantees. A provider with 99.9% delivery at $0.008 per message delivers better value than 95% delivery at $0.006.

3. Test the API and documentation: Sign up for trial accounts and send test messages. Evaluate API clarity, SDK quality, and documentation completeness.

4. Verify compliance features: Ensure your provider supports PDPA consent management, DNC Registry checking, and SSIR sender ID registration for Singapore operations.

5. Review support options: Check support hours, response times, and available channels (email, phone, chat). Enterprise plans typically include dedicated account managers.

6. Plan for scale: Choose a provider that accommodates your growth. Switching providers later means rewriting integrations and migrating message history.

Choose the right SMS provider for Singapore

Singapore SMS pricing varies significantly across providers, from Plivo's $0.0055 per message to Sinch's $0.0654. Balance cost with delivery rates, compliance features, and API quality when selecting your SMS platform. Calculate your monthly volume, compare provider pricing, and test delivery performance before committing.

Verify that your chosen provider supports SSIR sender ID registration and PDPA compliance tools. Sign up for trial accounts with 2-3 providers, send test messages across Singapore carriers (Singtel, StarHub, M1), and evaluate API documentation quality. For high-volume campaigns, consider bulk SMS pricing strategies to maximize ROI on your messaging spend.

Frequently asked questions about Singapore SMS pricing

What is the cheapest SMS provider in Singapore?

Plivo offers the lowest starting rates at $0.0055 per SMS for standard messages. However, the "cheapest" provider depends on your specific volume, required features, and delivery quality needs. A provider with slightly higher per-message costs but 99.9% delivery rates delivers better ROI than the absolute lowest price with 95% delivery.

How much does it cost to send 10,000 SMS in Singapore?

Costs range from $55 (Plivo at $0.0055/SMS) to $654 (Sinch at $0.0654/SMS) for 10,000 messages at standard rates. Most providers offer volume discounts that reduce per-message costs significantly. For 10,000+ monthly messages, expect to pay between $45 – $85 depending on your negotiated enterprise pricing.

Do I need to register my SMS sender ID in Singapore?

Yes. Singapore's IMDA requires all SMS Sender IDs to be registered through the SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) since January 31, 2023. Telecom operators automatically convert non-registered Sender IDs to "Likely-SCAM," severely impacting delivery and trust. Register your branded Sender IDs before launching campaigns.

What is the character limit for SMS in Singapore?

Standard SMS supports 160 characters using GSM-7 encoding. Messages exceeding 160 characters split into multiple segments, with each segment billed separately. If you use Unicode characters (for Chinese, Tamil, or Malay), the limit drops to 70 characters per segment. Most providers charge per segment, not per message.

Which SMS provider is best for high-volume campaigns in Singapore?

Twilio, Plivo, and Infobip excel at high-volume messaging (100,000+ messages monthly). All three offer enterprise pricing tiers, dedicated account management, and robust APIs. Plivo typically offers the most competitive pricing, while Twilio provides the most comprehensive documentation and global reach. Request custom quotes from all three for accurate comparison.

How do SMS delivery routes affect pricing in Singapore?

Premium routes use direct carrier connections and cost more ($0.008 – $0.04/SMS) but deliver higher success rates (99%+) and faster speeds. Economy routes use aggregated connections and cost less ($0.004 – $0.008/SMS) but may have lower delivery rates (92 – 96%) and slower speeds. For transactional messages (OTP, alerts), always use premium routes.

Are there additional costs beyond per-message pricing?

Yes. Additional costs include sender ID registration fees (one-time or annual), shortcode leasing ($500 – $1,000/month), dedicated phone numbers ($1 – $5/month), two-way messaging features, delivery report storage, and API usage beyond free tiers. Review pricing pages carefully for setup fees, monthly minimums, and feature-specific charges.

What are PDPA requirements for SMS marketing in Singapore?

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) requires clear and unambiguous consent before sending marketing messages. Check recipients against the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry maintained by PDPC. Store consent records in evidential form. Include opt-out mechanisms in every message. B2B messages to corporate lines are exempt from DNC requirements.

Can I use SMS SIM boxes for bulk messaging in Singapore?

No. SMS SIM boxes with 5 or more SIM card slots are prohibited telecommunication equipment under IMDA regulations as of February 1, 2025. Do not import, possess, or use them without specific regulatory approval. Use legitimate SMS API providers instead to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

How do I test SMS providers before committing?

Sign up for trial accounts with 2 – 3 providers (most offer $10 – $25 free credits). Send test messages to Singapore numbers across different carriers (Singtel, StarHub, M1). Evaluate delivery speed, success rates, and API ease of use. Test webhook reliability for delivery reports. Compare documentation quality and support responsiveness during trials before making your final decision.