Do you use an SMS plugin for order updates?
Instant communication is now an essential part of online stores because it builds trust and keeps customers informed about their orders’ status.
When you send an SMS after receiving the payment or shipping what they’ve bought, customers become sure that you’re taking care of their orders.
The question is how? You can’t handle all of these messages traditionally. Fortunately, there are lots of tools that help you automate order updates for ecommerce businesses.
SMS plugins like WP SMS are the most effective tools for sending order updates from WordPress websites.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce the best SMS plugins for WooCommerce and help you choose the right one for your business.
Why Send SMS for Order Updates?
SMS is still one of the best communication channels, especially for transactional messages like order updates.
Let’s see why you need to use SMS plugins for order updates:
- Instant Delivery: SMS messages usually get delivered within seconds. This means your customers get the notification in real-time when their order is processed, shipped, or delivered.
- Higher Open Rates: The open rate for SMS is about 98%. This is great for transactional messages.
- Builds Trust: Sending instant messages helps you keep customers updated at every stage of the order process. This shows them that your store is reliable and transparent.
- Automation: thanks to SMS tools, you can easily automate SMS communications without programming knowledge.
- Personalization: SMS plugins let you use dynamic templates to personalize text messages according to the details of each recipient.
As a result, SMS plugins help reduce support queries and improve customer satisfaction. So, whether you have a small online store or an international ecommerce business, you need to use SMS for order updates.
WordPress SMS plugins are the best options to include SMS in your communication strategy. You can easily install them on your dashboard and automate your order updates easily.
Top SMS Plugins for Order Updates in 2025
Now, let’s become familiar with the features, integrations, and pricing of the best SMS plugins for order updates in 2025:
1. WP SMS
WP SMS is one of the most popular SMS plugins for WordPress websites. It supports over 300 SMS gateways and offers numerous features and integrations, including WooCommerce integration for sending order updates.
Apart from transactional messages, WP SMS is great for two-way messaging and sending targeted promotional messages to your customers.
Key Features of WP SMS
- WooCommerce integration for order updates
- SMS notifications for users and admins
- Dynamic SMS templates
- Segmentation
- Scheduling
- Automation
- 2FA
Pros of WP SMS
✅ Extensive gateway support, including Twilio, Nexmo, and Plivo
✅ Easy to configure and use
✅ GDPR-compliant
✅ Free plan
✅ Customer support
Cons of WP SMS
❌ WooCommerce features require premium add-ons
WP SMS offers a free plan with basic features and a range of premium packages starting at $39 per year.
2. BulkGate SMS for WooCommerce
BulkGate is also a famous SMS plugin for WooCommerce that connects to the BulkGate SMS/Viber platform. It’s great for sending real-time order notifications from your online store as SMS or Viber messages.
Features of BulkGate SMS for WooCommerce
- Automated SMS for order status changes
- Multilingual SMS templates
- Two-way SMS support
- Viber messages support
Pros of BulkGate SMS for WooCommerce
✅ Built specifically for WooCommerce
✅ International support
Cons of BulkGate SMS for WooCommerce
❌ Requires a BulkGate account
This SMS plugin offers a free plan plus pay-as-you-go SMS rates for advanced features.
3. Texty – SMS Notification
Texty is a simple but effective SMS plugin for WordPress, WooCommerce, and Dokan. It’s a beginner-friendly SMS plugin that works with multiple gateways to send order status updates and communicate with your customers around the world.
Features of Texty
- WooCommerce order updates via SMS
- Admin and customer notifications
- Supports Twilio, Clickatell, and more
Pros of Texty
✅ Simple interface
✅ Flexible gateway options
Cons of Texty
❌ Limited customization in the free version
It offers basic features for free with optional gateway costs.
4. SMS Alert Order Notifications – WooCommerce
SMS Alert is a powerful plugin developed by SMSAlert.co.in. It’s specifically designed for WooCommerce and offers comprehensive SMS support for all key order events.
Features of SMS Alert
- Transactional Alerts
- User Verification (OTP)
- Promotional SMS
- Segment/Retarget
- Information on Demand
- Engagement
- Internal Team Communication
- Customer Satisfaction Messaging (C-Sat)
Pros of SMS Alert
✅ Extensive Service
✅ Enterprise Security
✅ Expert Support
✅ Reliable Connections
✅ 100% Delivery
✅ Best Value
Cons of SMS Alert
❌ Limited coverage in some regions
The plugin is free, but you need to buy SMS credits, based on the SMS price in the destination country.
5. YITH WooCommerce SMS Notifications
This is a premium plugin from YITH that offers professional SMS integration with WooCommerce. It supports over 40 SMS gateways and helps you improve the shopping experience in your store by offering notification text messages for order updates.
Features of YITH
- Automatic SMS for order status changes
- Gateway fallback support
- Message customization for each order status
Pros of YITH
✅ High reliability
✅ Rich customization features
Cons of YITH
❌ Premium only
Pricing packages are a bit limited, and the starting price is $79.99/year.
6. Velstack SMS for WooCommerce
Velstack SMS is a simple but effective SMS plugin that helps you send WooCommerce SMS updates through the Velstack gateway. It might lack advanced features, but it’s focused on SMS notifications for WooCommerce order updates, which is great for small businesses.
Features of Velstack SMS
- Sends SMS for selected order statuses
- Fully customizable message templates
Pros of Velstack SMS
✅ Lightweight and fast
✅ Free to use with Velstack
Cons of Velstack SMS
❌ Only works with Velstack SMS service
The plugin is free, but you need to pay for each SMS.
7. SMS for WooCommerce
SMS for WooCommerce is a versatile plugin perfect for online store owners. It enables you to send SMS notifications for various order events to keep in touch with your customers automatically.
It supports multiple SMS gateways and offers bulk messaging features for WooCommerce users.
Features SMS for WooCommerce
- Order status changes, including placed, canceled, and refunded orders.
- Personalized SMS templates using shortcodes.
- Bulk SMS capabilities for marketing purposes.
- Admin notifications for new orders.
Pros of SMS for WooCommerce
✅ Comprehensive SMS notification features.
✅ Support for multiple SMS gateways.
✅ Customizable templates for personalized communication.
Cons of SMS for WooCommerce
❌ Some advanced features are expensive.
❌ Complex setup for beginners.
It offers a free plan for basic features, but for advanced features, you must pay.
8. WC – APG SMS Notifications
WC – APG SMS Notifications is the last SMS plugin on our list. It’s great for sending SMS alerts to customers and administrators upon order status changes.
It is compatible with various SMS gateways and supports international SMS messaging for large businesses.
Features of WC – APG SMS Notifications
- SMS notifications for order status updates.
- Custom order statuses.
- Integration with WooCommerce.
- Multilingual support.
Pros of WC – APG SMS Notifications
- Notifies both customers and store owners.
- Global usability.
Cons of WC – APG SMS Notifications
- Additional configuration is required.
- Limited documentation.
This is a free plugin, and you just need to pay for gateways.
Conclusion: Which SMS Plugin Is Best for Order Updates?
SMS notifications are a must-have for any WooCommerce store. If you value customer satisfaction, you need to inform them of the status of their orders. SMS plugins help you automate order update messages and reduce support queries for your online store.
We introduced several SMS plugins for order updates, from free options to premium solutions. These plugins are great for businesses of all sizes and types.
Now, you must choose the right SMS plugin according to your business requirements and budget. The following comparison table helps you decide better:
Plugin Name | Gateways | Admin Notifs | Free Plan | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
WP SMS | 250+ Gateways | ✅ | ✅ | $39/year |
BulkGate SMS for WooCommerce | BulkGate only | ✅ | ✅ | Pay-as-you-go |
Texty – SMS Notification | Twilio, Clickatell | ✅ | ✅ | Free |
SMS Alert – WooCommerce | India-Focused | ✅ | ✅ | Credit-based |
YITH WooCommerce SMS | 40+ Gateways | ✅ | ❌ | $79.99/year |
Velstack SMS for WooCommerce | Velstack only | ❌ | ✅ | Free |
SMS for WooCommerce | Multiple Gateways | ✅ | ✅ | Freemium |
WC – APG SMS Notifications | Multiple Gateways | ✅ | ✅ | Free |
FAQs
Can I use SMS plugins with Twilio?
Yes, most of these plugins, like WP SMS and Texty, support Twilio as an SMS gateway.
Do I need to pay for SMS messages separately?
Usually, yes. SMS plugins are free or paid, but you need to purchase SMS credits separately from the gateway (e.g., Twilio, BulkGate).
Can I customize the SMS message content?
Yes. Most plugins allow template customization with placeholders like {order_number} and {order_status}.