In today’s fast-paced digital world, connecting with customers effectively & instantly is key to business growth. One of the most powerful tools in modern marketing is text message marketing, and Square—a well-known platform for payments and point-of-sale (POS) systems—has made it accessible for small businesses through its Square Text Message Marketing service. But how much does it actually cost?
Whether you’re a local bakery, a retail store, or a service provider, understanding the cost structure and benefits of Square’s text message marketing can help you make informed decisions. In this post, we’ll break down the pricing, examine the features, compare it to competitors, and explore whether it’s worth the investment.
What Is Square Text Message Marketing?
Square Text Message Marketing is a service offered through Square’s ecosystem that allows businesses to send promotional SMS messages directly to customers. It’s part of their Customer Engagement suite, which also includes tools like email marketing, digital receipts, loyalty programs, and feedback collection.
With Square Text Message Marketing, you can:
- Send announcements and promotions
- Share coupon codes or discounts
- Remind customers of events or store hours
- Automate follow-up messages based on purchase history
SMS marketing through Square is designed to be simple and integrated directly into your Square POS, so there’s no need to juggle multiple platforms.
Square Text Message Marketing Pricing
As of 2024, Square offers a tiered pricing model for SMS marketing based on your subscriber count. The cost is predictable and scales with your business, making it suitable for both startups and growing enterprises.
Here’s a breakdown of Square’s text message marketing pricing:
Base Plan: $10/month
- Includes text messages for up to 500 subscribers per month.
- $0.02 per additional message
- No setup fee
- Cancel anytime
Mid-Tier Plan: $25/month
- Includes 1,500 messages/month
- $0.01 per additional message
Custom Plans: Pricing Varies
- For businesses with large SMS lists (5,000+)
- Custom volume discounts
- Dedicated support and consultation
Important note: Pricing is based on total messages sent, not the number of subscribers. So if you send one message to 500 people, that’s 500 messages counted.
What Do You Get With Square SMS Marketing?
In addition to the messaging capabilities, Square bundles a range of features designed to simplify & enhance your marketing efforts.
Seamless POS Integration
Messages can be automatically triggered by customer activity at checkout—like a follow-up message after a purchase or a re-engagement nudge if a customer hasn’t shopped in a while.
Smart Segmentation
Square allows you to segment your customers based on the following factors:
- Spending habits
- Visit frequency
- Purchase categories This lets you send targeted messages, improving engagement and reducing spam complaints.
Customizable Templates
You don’t need to be a copywriter. Square provides editable message templates for promotions, product announcements, and seasonal greetings.
Opt-In Tools
Compliance is crucial in SMS marketing. Square makes it easy to collect customer consent at the register, online, or via digital receipts. This ensures you’re legally compliant with SMS marketing regulations (like TCPA and GDPR).
Reporting & Analytics
Track open rates, redemption rates, and overall ROI. You’ll know which campaigns are working—& which aren’t.
How Does Square Compare to Other SMS Marketing Platforms?
Let’s look at how Square’s pricing and features compare to other popular platforms.
| Platform | Starting Price | Messages Included | Integration with POS | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $10/month | 500 | Yes (built-in) | Very Easy |
| EZ Texting | $20/month | 500 | No | Moderate |
| Twilio | Pay-as-you-go | None | API only | Complex |
| Klaviyo (SMS) | Free up to 150 messages | 150 | Limited | Easy |
| Podium | $289/month | 1,000+ | Yes (with POS tools) | Moderate |
Is Square Text Message Marketing Worth It?
Here are a few things to consider when deciding if Square’s SMS marketing is worth the price for your business.
Pros
- Easy setup: No coding or third-party tools required.
- Affordable pricing: Especially for small businesses.
- Highly targeted campaigns: Smart segmentation leads to higher ROI.
- Fully integrated with POS & CRM: Useful insights, tracking, and automation.
Cons
- Limited customization: Advanced users may want more control over automation workflows.
- Not ideal for large-scale campaigns: Other platforms may be more cost-effective at very high volumes.
- U.S.-centric: If your customer base is international, message delivery and compliance may be more complex.
Real-World Use Cases
Let’s look at a few examples of how small businesses use Square SMS marketing effectively.
1. Retail Boutique
A clothing store uses SMS to sends flash sale alerts. By targeting their top 100 customers with a 20% discount code, they see a 15% return on message (ROI) and a spike in foot traffic during traditionally slow days.
2. Coffee Shop
The shop sends out “We miss you” messages to customers who haven’t visited in over 30 days. With a free drink incentive, over 25% of recipients return within a week.
3. Yoga Studio
They use SMS to remind members about upcoming workshops and promote last-minute class openings. This has reduced no-shows and increased workshop attendance by 40%.
Tips to Maximize Your ROI with Square SMS
Want to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth? Here are some quick tips:
- Keep messages short & clear – Aim for under 160 characters.
- Add a sense of urgency – “Today only!” or “Limited spots!”
- Include a call-to-action – “Click to claim” or “Show this text for 10% off.”
- Send during peak times – Late mornings and early evenings tend to perform best.
- Avoid over-sending – Once or twice a week is ideal for most small businesses.
Legal Compliance: Don’t Skip This
Square helps you stay compliant, but ultimately, it’s your responsibility to follow SMS marketing laws. Here are a few key points:
- Get explicit opt-in from customers.
- Make it easy for customers to opt out (e.g., reply STOP).
- Avoid sending texts too early or too late (stick to 9 am–9 pm local time).
- Only send messages that are relevant to the customer’s consent.
Final Thoughts
Square Text Message Marketing is an affordable, accessible, and powerful tool for small businesses looking to drive customer engagement and boost sales. With plans starting at just $10/month, it’s a cost-effective way to stay connected with your audience in real time.
The best part? You don’t need a marketing degree or technical know-how to get started. Square’s all-in-one approach makes it easy to design, send, and measure the success of your campaigns—right from your POS system.
If you’re already using Square for your checkout or loyalty program, integrating SMS marketing is a no-brainer. Even if you’re new to Square, their platform is intuitive enough for beginners while being robust enough to grow with your business.