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SMS Marketing Statistics
South Africa 2026
Comprehensive statistics on bulk SMS marketing in South Africa. Updated April 2026. Free to share with attribution to smsmessenger.co.za.
Last updated: April 2026
98%
SMS open rate in South Africa
6B+
SMS messages sent in SA per day
R0.12
Lowest bulk SMS price in SA
Open rates and engagement
98%
SMS open rate in South Africa
vs 20% for email
90%
Messages read within 3 minutes
of delivery
45%
Average SMS response rate
vs 6% for email
19%
Average click-through rate
vs 2.5% for email
75%
SA consumers want SMS offers
from brands they trust
3 min
Average time to read
an SMS message in SA
Bulk SMS pricing in South Africa (2026)
R0.12
Lowest published rate in SA
SMSMessenger — high volume pricing
R0.18–0.20
Entry-level rate
From major South African providers
R0.22
Global provider average
Entry rate for international providers in SA
No fees
Setup fees eliminated
All major SA providers charge no setup fees
SMS ROI by industry
Retail
2,400–7,400%
Average ROI on targeted promotional SMS
Healthcare
Up to 50%
Reduction in no-shows from reminder SMS
Real Estate
8–15%
Response rate on listing alerts to buyers
Financial
98%+
OTP SMS delivery rate for authentication
NGOs
3–5x
Higher donation response vs email
Schools
50–80%
Reduction in overdue fees with reminders
About this data: Compiled by SMSMessenger (smsmessenger.co.za), South Africa’s most affordable bulk SMS provider since 2013. Free to share with attribution. Last updated April 2026.
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