Fast and secure communication is very important in banking and finance, as many confidential messages are sent to customers, including passwords, bank account information, transactions, and warnings. Therefore, SMS solutions can be a good option for banks.
SMS does not require the Internet, reaches the customer quickly, and at a low cost. Also, it usually easily attracts people’s attention, which is vital for warning.
As a result, in this article, we introduce secure and reliable SMS Gateways that help finance and banking businesses choose the right one according to their needs. Plus, if a business has a WordPress website, it can use the WP SMS plugin to easily integrate with various SMS Gateways without requiring technical knowledge and send its SMS messages.
Since WP SMS also integrates with many other plugins and tools, it is easy to set up and send personalized SMS messages tailored to your users’ information or text messages triggered by their actions.
Twilio
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication, OTP
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Twilio
Twilio is known as a secure SMS gateway that is suitable for financial services. It holds several recognized certifications and attestations like ISO 27001 and ISO 27017, ensuring strict adherence to data protection standards.
Plus, the service’s website has a page called “Twilio Security Overview” dedicated to providing a clear and comprehensive explanation of its security measures.
Twilio’s high security makes it an ideal gateway for banks’ SMS alerts and confidential banking messages, including two-factor authentication (2FA) SMS messages and bank account alerts.
In addition, its reputation, which stems from its amazing service and high security, has led major financial services such as crypto.com, Stripe, and Union Bank to trust Twilio for their critical operations.
Furthermore, Twilio integrates seamlessly with WordPress via the WP SMS plugin, eliminating the need for coding knowledge. Later in this article, we will guide you on how to set it up with the WP SMS plugin to streamline real-time SMS notifications.
Supported Regions of Twilio
Twilio operates globally, covering nearly every country.
Key Features of Twilio
- Wide Coverage: Twilio supports SMS delivery in almost every country, making it ideal for financial businesses with international clients.
- High Delivery Rate: Twilio can deliver thousands of messages within seconds. This speed is critical for time-sensitive notifications like fraud alerts.
- High Security: Twilio prioritizes data protection, which is vital for financial institutions.
- Developer-Friendly: Twilio has a well-documented API and its sample codes simplify integration for developers.
- Two-Way Communication: Twilio enables sending and receiving messages seamlessly.
Pricing of Twilio
Twilio uses a pay-as-you-go model. However, costs are slightly higher than its competitors. Below are starting prices per SMS for key regions:
Country | Price per SMS |
US | $0.0079 |
Canada | $0.0079 |
Britain | $0.0463 |
Germany | $0.0940 |
Spain | $0.0875 |
UAE | $0.1092 |
Pros of Twilio
- Fast delivery
- High security
- Global coverage
- Supports SMS, MMS, WhatsApp Business
Cons of Twilio
- Higher cost than competitors
How to Set Up Twilio on WP SMS
First, you need to visit the Twilio website and sign up. The sign-up process will be very quick.
After signing up, you need to install and activate the WP SMS plugin on your WordPress website.
To do this, simply search for the name “WP SMS” in the WordPress plugins section and install the plugin.
Then, from the plans page, select one of the free or Pro plans of this plugin and complete your registration in WP SMS.
Now it is time to go to the “SMS Gateway” menu in the plugin, go to the “choose the gateway” section, and select “Twilio”. Finally, enter the required information, including the API username and password, and save the changes. Now you can use this gateway to send your SMS messages.
Clicksend
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, MMS
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Clicksend
Clicksend is another reliable SMS gateway for financial institutions. It has high security, holds ISO 27001 certification, and has transparent data protection policies.
Plus, its compliance with various regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA makes it a suitable gateway for all banking SMS solutions, such as bulk SMS and OTP SMS messages for finance apps.
In addition, Clicksend is a developer-friendly SMS gateway for sending SMS and MMS and also provides sample codes for many programming languages, such as PHP, Python, Node.js, C#, and Go.
Also, the service includes 24/7 chat support, which makes it a responsible company and suitable for services that need time-sensitive messages, such as banks.
WordPress users can easily and effortlessly use Clicksend via WP SMS. Simply follow the instructions provided in the previous part.
Supported Regions of Clicksend
ClickSend is an international SMS gateway that covers almost every country.
Key Features of Clicksend
- Wide Coverage: ClickSend operates in most countries globally.
- Developer-Friendly: ClickSend’s well-documented API and code samples simplify integration.
- High Delivery Rate: ClickSend delivers SMS messages very quickly.
- MMS Support: ClickSend supports sending media via MMS to subscribers.
Pricing of Clicksend
ClickSend has a pay-as-you-go pricing. Prices vary by country, and discounts are available for bulk SMS. To get a discount, just chat with support.
Below are prices per SMS for key regions:
Country | Price Per SMS |
US | $0.0084 |
Canada | $0.0108 |
Britain | $0.0337 |
France | $0.0451 |
Spain | $0.0453 |
UAE | $0.0670 |
Pros of Clicksend
- High delivery success rate
- Well-documented API
- MMS support
Releans
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Releans
Releans is an SMS gateway popular for its security, therefore it is a reliable SMS service for financial institutions. This gateway’s robust infrastructure and compliance with ISO 27001 make it ideal for banking SMS alerts.
Features like 24/7 support, the ability to send SMS with the company name, and real-time delivery reports make it a desirable option for financial companies.
In addition, WP SMS supports the Releans gateway, making SMS automation much easier for businesses in the finance industry.
Supported Regions of Releans
Releans works as a global SMS gateway and supports messaging in many countries.
Key Features of Releans
- Wide Coverage: Releans works in almost every country across the world.
- High Delivery Rate: Releans handles large SMS volumes in seconds.
- High Security: Releans holds ISO 27001 certification, demonstrating its strong commitment to data security.
Pricing of Releans
Releans costs vary by destination and network. Sending messages within the same country is typically cheaper than international messages.
Below are starting prices per SMS for key regions:
Country | Lowest Price Per SMS |
US | $0.0248 |
Canada | $0.027 |
Britain | $0.0442 |
France | $0.0618 |
Spain | $0.0463 |
UAE | $0.0354 |
Pros of Releans
- Delivers messages quickly.
- ISO 27001-certified security.
- Well-documented API.
- Supports WhatsApp business communications.
- 24/7 support.
Cons of Releans
- Higher costs for international businesses.
Plivo
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, MMS, WhatsApp business
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Plivo
Plivo is an affordable SMS gateway trusted by large companies like IBM. The high security of Plivo’s infrastructure makes it a suitable SMS Gateway for the Banking & Finance industry.
Plivo is not only useful for bulk SMS, but also is a very suitable SMS gateway for OTP SMS, because this gateway has an important feature, which is the existence of Built-in SMS pumping Fraud Prevention.
Also, Plivo’s professional Analytics tool is very useful in designing SMS campaigns and helps financial firms create effective bulk SMS campaigns. In addition, Plivo’s two-way communication enables financial businesses to increase their customer engagement.
WordPress users can easily use the WP SMS plugin to work with Plivo. This plugin integrates with Plivo and other services, such as CRM tools, allowing finance firms to send personalized messages, automate SMS alerts, and send real-time SMS notifications.
Supported Regions of Plivo
Plivo is an international SMS gateway, offering coverage in over 220 countries and territories.
Key Features of Plivo
- Wide Coverage: Plivo works in more than 220 countries and territories.
- High Delivery Rate: Plivo has a very secure infrastructure and can send a large number of SMS messages per second.
- High Security: Data protection is a priority for Plivo.
- Developer-Friendly: Plivo has a well-documented and easy-to-use API.
- Two-Way Communication: You can send and receive messages effortlessly. This feature is perfect for surveys, customer support, or interactive campaigns.
- Built-in SMS pumping Fraud Prevention: Plivo blocks SMS pumping and fake verifications with FraudShield. It is included at no extra cost.
Pricing of Plivo
Plivo offers pay-as-you-go pricing. Costs vary by destination. Here is a list for key regions:
Country | Price Per SMS Starts at |
US | $0.0070 |
Canada | $0.0070 |
Britain | $0.0348 |
France | $0.0664 |
Spain | $0.0716 |
UAE | $0.0988 |
Pros of Plivo
- High-speed delivery
- High security
- Global coverage
- Built-in SMS pumping Fraud Prevention
Cons of Plivo
- Higher costs in some regions
Bandwidth
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Bandwidth
Bandwidth is also one of the suitable SMS gateways for insurance and financial companies, known for its secure infrastructure and high support response speed.
This SMS gateway is one of the most affordable ones and financial firms can use it to send bulk SMS. However, it covers fewer countries compared to its competitors, but it has tried to provide service in countries where the demand is higher.
In addition, Bandwidth is supported by WP SMS and WordPress users can benefit from it. Also, you can decide whether Bandwidth is right for your business by requesting a free trial or talking to their consultants.
Supported Regions of Bandwidth
Bandwidth covers about 65 countries across the world, including most European and American countries.
Key Features of Bandwidth
- High Delivery Rate: Bandwidth can deliver a large number of SMS messages fast.
- Two-Way Communication: You can send and receive messages via Bandwidth.
Pricing of Bandwidth
Bandwidth offers a fixed price of $0.004 per SMS message and $0.015 per MMS.
Pros of Bandwidth
- Fast and reliable delivery
- Very affordable
Cons of Bandwidth
- Limited coverage in some countries
Sinch
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, OTP, 2FA, Two-Way Communication
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Sinch
Sinch is a credible SMS gateway for financial institutions. Several financial institutions, such as HSBC and PayPal, use Sinch due to its high quality of service and high security.
Sinch has the necessary tools to prevent fraud and it provides services in almost all countries. It also has excellent 24/7 support, making it an ideal SMS solution for bulk SMS of financial institutions and all their confidential SMS, such as OTP SMS and SMS alerts.
If you plan to use Sinch, we recommend you consult with their experts in order to find the most suitable solution for you. In addition, you can use this SMS gateway in WordPress via WP SMS. So, with the help of all the features of the WP SMS plugin and its ability to integrate with many other tools, you can send personalized messages tailored to the needs of your customers.
Supported Regions of Sinch
Sinch covers almost every country across the world and international financial businesses can benefit from it.
Key Features of Sinch
- Wide Coverage: Sinch works in nearly all countries.
- High Delivery Rate: Sinch can send a large volume of SMS messages very quickly.
- Two-Way Communication: You can send and receive messages via Sinch.
- High Security: Data protection is a priority for Sinch.
- Developer-Friendly: Sinch has a well-documented and easy-to-use API.
- Built-in SMS Fraud Prevention: Sinch is able to prevent SMS fraud.
Pricing of Sinch
Sinch offers pay-as-you-go pricing. Costs vary by destination. Here is a list for key regions:
Country | Price Per SMS Starts at |
US | $0.0078 |
Canada | $0.0078 |
Britain | $0.04415 |
France | $0.0687 |
Spain | $0.06695 |
UAE | $0.1074 |
Sinch customers in some countries have to pay a monthly fee, which varies depending on the location.
Pros of Sinch
- High-speed delivery
- High security
- Global coverage
- Built-in SMS pumping Fraud Prevention
SMSGlobal
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, MMS, Two-Way Communication
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of SMSGlobal
SMSGlobal is an affordable and secure SMS gateway for banks and financial services. The service has a well-documented API that can be easily used for SMS solutions for banks.
SMSGlobal offers a free trial plan, which helps you to check it with ease. Additionally, it has 24/7 customer support that makes it a reliable SMS service for financial institutions.
Banks can also benefit from SMS templates designed by this gateway. SMSGlobal has prepared a large collection of SMS templates that are suitable for the needs of financial companies. For example, it has SMS mortgage notification, Loan approval SMS and OTP SMS.
WP SMS supports SMSGlobal and financial companies that have WordPress websites can take advantage of WP SMS features to send SMS via SMSGlobal.
Supported Regions of SMSGlobal
SMSGlobal serves as an affordable international SMS gateway, covering most countries across the world.
Key Features of SMSGlobal
- Wide Coverage: SMSGlobal operates in almost every country worldwide.
- High Delivery Rate: SMSGlobal can handle large message volumes efficiently.
- Two-Way Communication: You can send and receive messages seamlessly via SMSGlobal.
- MMS Support: SMSGlobal lets you send media via MMS.
Pricing of SMSGlobal
SMSGlobal offers affordable pricing. Costs vary by destination, with some regions having fixed rates and others offering various plans. Plus, choosing an annual plan unlocks discounts.
Below are starting prices per SMS for key regions:
Country | Lowest Price Per SMS |
US | $0.0118 |
Canada | $0.028 |
Britain | £0.049 |
France | €0.05 |
Spain | €0.05 |
UAE | AED 0.058 |
Pros of SMSGlobal
- Fast, reliable delivery
- Global reach
- SMS/MMS support
- GDPR and CCPA compliance
Cons of SMSGlobal
- Limited coverage in some countries
- Higher costs in some regions
Textmagic
- Supported Regions: Global
- Best For: Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication
- WordPress Plugin Support: WP SMS
Overview of Textmagic
Textmagic is another SMS gateway that is a desirable option for insurance and financial companies due to its numerous features and high security. The service is SOC2 certified and GDPR compliant, making it ideal for international businesses and uses data encryption.
Textmagic is a perfect tool for real-time SMS notifications, helping financial institutions send quick updates to their customers.
Additionally, two-way messaging can provide a competitive advantage for financial companies to securely receive requests from their customers and respond to them via SMS. Textmagic’s high security and its two-way communication feature make it easy for financial companies to benefit from this.
Supported Regions of Textmagic
Textmagic is an international SMS gateway that covers most countries across all continents.
Key Features of Textmagic
- Wide Coverage: Textmagic works in most countries globally.
- High Delivery Rate: Textmagic can deliver messages quickly.
- Two-Way Communication: Textmagic helps you send and receive messages
Pricing of Textmagic
Textmagic offers pay-as-you-go pricing. Costs vary by destination. Below are prices per SMS for key regions:
Country | Price Per SMS |
US | $0.049 |
Canada | $0.049 |
Britain | $0.068 |
France | $0.11 |
Spain | $0.118 |
Pros of Textmagic
- Fast, reliable delivery
- Global reach
Cons of Textmagic
- Limited coverage in some countries
- Higher costs in some regions
SimpleTexting
- Supported Regions: The US and Canada
- Best For: Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication
- WordPress Plugin Support: Custom plugins
Overview of SimpleTexting
SimpleTexting is a great tool for real-time banking SMS notifications. As its name suggests, SimpleTexting is an SMS gateway that has put a lot of effort into making the service easy to use. However, the simplicity has not sacrificed quality and security.
The service’s AI assistant has made it easier to write campaign messages for bulk SMS. Plus, SimpleTexting’s ability to automatically delete dead numbers from subscribers’ lists helps save a lot of money.
Supported Regions of SimpleTexting
SimpleTexting has very limited coverage and only allows you to send SMS to the US and Canada.
Key Features of SimpleTexting
- AI Assistant: SimpleTexting’s AI assistant makes texting super easy.
- High Delivery Rate: SimpleTexting delivers messages instantly.
- Support 24/7: Get help anytime.
- Two-Way Communication: You can send and receive messages effortlessly.
Pricing of SimpleTexting
In SimpleTexting, you have to purchase a monthly or annual plan. Annual plans come with a 20% discount, and the more text messages you receive, the cheaper the plan becomes.
Plan | Monthly price, per message/Total |
500 messages | $0.078 / $39 |
2000 messages | $0.0445 / $89 |
15,000 messages | $0.0273 / $409 |
50,000 messages | $0.01818 / $909 |
Pros of SimpleTexting
- AI Assistant
- Delivers messages quickly.
- 24/7 support.
Cons of SimpleTexting
- Limited coverage; only covers the US and Canada.
Comparison Table
This table briefly compares the gateways introduced above.
Gateway | Pricing (lowest price) | WP SMS Support | Coverage | Best for |
Twilio | $0.0079 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication, OTP |
ClickSend | $0.0084 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, MMS |
Releans | $0.0255 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS |
Plivo | $0.0070 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, MMS, WhatsApp business |
Bandwidth | $0.004 per message | ✅ | +65 countries | Bulk SMS |
Sinch | $0.067 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, OTP, 2FA, Two-Way Communication |
SMSGlobal | $0.028 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, MMS, Two-Way Communication |
Textmagic | $0.049 per message | ✅ | Global | Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication |
SimpleTexting | $0.01818 per message | ❌ | The US and Canada | Bulk SMS, Two-Way Communication |
Conclusion
Banks and financial businesses need a reliable SMS gateway not only for their marketing campaigns but also for many of their services, including sending bank account alerts and One-time passwords (OTP).
High security and speed of delivery of an SMS gateway are usually very important for financial firms. They always have to be careful about the confidential information of their customers and its leakage can have many irreversible consequences.
This article has provided a list of the most reliable SMS gateways that are suitable for insurance and financial companies and banks.
You can easily use a wide range of these SMS Gateways by installing the WP SMS plugin on your WordPress site. All you need to do is register with the desired SMS gateway and set it up in WP SMS. This does not require any programming knowledge.
FAQs
Why do banks and financial institutions need SMS gateways?
Banks rely on SMS gateways to securely send critical alerts, OTPs (one-time passwords), transaction notifications, and account updates.
What makes an SMS gateway secure for financial services?
Secure SMS gateways use encryption, comply with regulations like GDPR and hold certifications (e.g., ISO 27001). They also must prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, reducing the risks of leaks with irreversible consequences.
What happens if an SMS gateway leaks customer data?
Data leaks can lead to irreversible reputational damage, legal penalties, and loss of customer trust. Choosing a certified, encrypted SMS gateway minimizes this risk.
Why prioritize SMS over email for financial alerts?
SMS has high open rates and delivers messages within seconds, making it safer for urgent alerts like fraud detection or OTPs.