The cheapest bulk SMS provider in India depends on how many messages you send. This page compares published per-SMS rates from MetaReach Marketing, MSG91 and Fast2SMS at the same monthly volumes, using each provider's own pricing page. Gupshup, Exotel and Route Mobile do not publish India per-SMS rates, so they are listed as quote-on-request rather than given estimated prices.
Disclosure: MetaReach Marketing publishes this comparison and is one of the providers compared. We show where other providers are cheaper. Rates change, so check each provider's page before you decide.
Bulk SMS Provider Comparison Table - India 2026
Per-SMS rates from official pricing pages, checked in October 2026. MetaReach and MSG91 rates exclude 18% GST; Fast2SMS's pricing page does not state its GST treatment.
| Provider | Published rate range | How you buy | Rate by SMS type | Entry point | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MetaReach Marketing |
₹0.40 → ₹0.12 | Monthly volume slabs; custom quote above 5 lakh | Same slab for promotional, transactional, service and OTP | 5,000 SMS (custom below) | MetaReach pricing |
MSG91 |
₹0.25 → ₹0.16 Personalised down to ₹0.13 via sales |
Self-serve SMS packs | See MSG91's page for each product | 5,000 SMS pack | msg91.com/in/pricing (12 Oct 2026) |
Fast2SMS |
₹0.25 → ₹0.11 Lower rates have a validity period |
Prepaid recharge; rate set by recharge amount | One rate across SMS types, per its page | ₹100 recharge | fast2sms.com/pricing (19 Oct 2026) |
Gupshup |
Not published | Quote from sales | Ask per message type | Ask provider | gupshup.io (checked 28 Oct 2026) |
Exotel |
Not published | Quote from sales | Ask per message type | Ask provider | exotel.com (checked 28 Oct 2026) |
Route Mobile |
Not published | Quote from sales | Ask per message type | Ask provider | routemobile.com (checked 28 Oct 2026) |
“Not published” means we could not find an India bulk SMS per-message rate on the provider's website on the date checked. It does not mean the provider is more or less expensive. Ask for a written quote at your volume.
Published Rate by Monthly Volume
The lowest published rate at each volume is marked. Totals exclude GST.
| Monthly volume | MetaReach | MSG91 | Fast2SMS | Lowest published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 SMS | ₹0.40 = ₹2,000 | ₹0.25 = ₹1,250 | ₹0.25 = ₹1,250 | MSG91 / Fast2SMS |
| 20,000 SMS | ₹0.20 = ₹4,000 | ₹0.18–₹0.20 (pack-based) | ₹0.21 = ₹4,200 | MSG91 |
| 50,000 SMS | ₹0.15 = ₹7,500 | ₹0.17–₹0.18 (pack-based) | ₹0.19 = ₹9,500 | MetaReach |
| 1 lakh SMS | ₹0.12 = ₹12,000 | ₹0.17 = ₹17,000 | ₹0.17 = ₹17,000 | MetaReach |
| 5 lakh SMS | ₹0.12 = ₹60,000 | ₹0.17 = ₹85,000 | ₹0.15 = ₹75,000 | MetaReach |
MetaReach slabs: ₹0.40 (5,000+), ₹0.30 (10,000+), ₹0.20 (20,000+), ₹0.15 (50,000+), ₹0.12 (1 lakh to 5 lakh) per SMS, plus 18% GST. MSG91 sells fixed-size packs, so its rate depends on the pack you buy; it also offers personalised pricing down to ₹0.13. Fast2SMS rates depend on the recharge amount and the lower rates expire after a validity period. For full working, see our MSG91 and Fast2SMS comparisons.
Provider-by-Provider Notes
MetaReach Marketing - ₹0.40 to ₹0.12 per SMS
Published volume slabs from ₹0.40 per SMS at 5,000 SMS down to ₹0.12 from 1 lakh SMS a month, the same for promotional, transactional, service and OTP messages, plus 18% GST. MetaReach helps with DLT entity, header and template registration at no extra service charge, and offers SMS alongside WhatsApp Business API, RCS and voice. Support is from India, Monday to Saturday. At small volumes, the providers below list lower rates.
MSG91 - ₹0.25 to ₹0.16 per SMS
MSG91's pricing page lists India SMS packs from ₹0.25 per SMS for 5,000 SMS down to ₹0.16 per SMS for 9,62,500 SMS, plus GST, with personalised pricing down to ₹0.13 through its sales team. It is self-serve and developer-oriented, and is cheaper than MetaReach below about 50,000 SMS a month. See the MSG91 vs MetaReach comparison.
Fast2SMS - ₹0.25 to ₹0.11 per SMS
Fast2SMS sets its DLT SMS rate by recharge amount: ₹0.25 per SMS for ₹100 to ₹3,999, falling to ₹0.11 for recharges of ₹6 lakh or more. Lower rates come with a validity period, after which the rate returns to ₹0.25. It is cheaper than MetaReach below about 20,000 SMS a month. See the Fast2SMS vs MetaReach comparison.
Gupshup, Exotel and Route Mobile - quote on request
These providers offer SMS as part of wider messaging, voice or CPaaS platforms and do not publish India per-SMS rates on their websites. They can be a good fit if you also need their other channels or enterprise features. Ask for a written quote showing the rate per message type, any setup or platform fee, minimum commitment and DLT terms, and compare it with the published rates above. For best-for picks by business need, see best bulk SMS service providers in India.
Promotional vs Transactional vs OTP SMS - Rules and Pricing
Message types follow different rules. Whether they are priced differently depends on the provider.
| SMS type | MetaReach rate | DND numbers | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional SMS | ₹0.40–₹0.12/SMS | Not delivered where the customer has blocked that category | Offers, campaigns, sales - Promotional SMS |
| Transactional / service SMS | ₹0.40–₹0.12/SMS | Delivered through the applicable DLT category and approved template | Order updates, bookings, alerts - Transactional SMS |
| OTP SMS | ₹0.40–₹0.12/SMS | Delivered through the applicable DLT category and approved template | Login and payment verification - OTP SMS |
DLT Registration Costs
TRAI requires businesses sending commercial SMS in India to register on a DLT platform. Registration has three parts: entity registration (your business), header / sender ID registration and template registration.
The DLT portal of the telecom operator you register with charges its own entity registration fee, which varies by operator, so check the current fee on the portal. Separately, an SMS provider may charge for helping you register. MetaReach helps with all three parts at no extra service charge; ask other providers for their terms in writing.
Read our DLT registration guide →
How to Choose a Bulk SMS Provider
Compare at your volume
Ask for the rate at your actual monthly volume, not the lowest headline rate, and check how long the rate stays valid.
Check every fee
Include GST, any setup or platform fee, DLT help charges and minimum commitments in the total.
Rate by message type
Confirm the rate for each type you send - promotional, transactional, service and OTP.
Integration and reports
Check the API, delivery reports and panel features you need before you move traffic.
DLT support
Find out who handles entity, header and template registration, and what it costs.
Other channels
If you also need WhatsApp, RCS or voice, compare providers that offer them together.
Frequently Asked Questions - SMS Pricing India 2026
Get a Bulk SMS Quote for Your Volume
Published slabs from ₹0.40 to ₹0.12 per SMS · same rate across SMS types · DLT registration help · India-based support, Monday to Saturday
Disclaimer: MetaReach Marketing publishes this page and is one of the providers compared. Competitor rates are taken from each provider's own pricing page on the dates shown; where a provider does not publish a rate, we say so rather than estimate one. Prices change without notice. All trademarks (MSG91, Fast2SMS, Gupshup, Exotel, Route Mobile) belong to their respective owners. MetaReach is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Contact each provider for a current written quote.
