SMS and MMS are great ways to communicate with customers on mobile phones. However, there are differences between the two mobile message types.
The core difference between the two is simple: SMS refers to text-only messages, while MMS refers to messages containing multimedia like photos, videos, or links. However, there are other critical differences that are helpful to understand from a business text messaging standpoint.
This all-in-one guide will help you differentiate SMS and MMS and answer some of the most common questions that emerge when discussing SMS vs. MMS. You’ll walk away knowing what the acronyms stand for, when to use each message type, and their pros and cons.
Jump right to:
- What is SMS?
- What is MMS?
- SMS vs. MMS: Key differences
- MMS vs. SMS: Best use cases
- Frequently asked questions
<h2 id="SMS">What is SMS?</h2>
SMS stands for Short Message Service and is commonly known as a text message. SMS is the most popular form of text messaging used across the globe today.
In fact, last year alone, Americans exchanged more than 2.1 trillion texts, or 67,000 messages every second. Plus, Statista notes that 18.8 million SMS messages are sent each minute globally.
SMS messages are limited to 160 characters and only include text. If a text message exceeds the 160-character limit, they are often split up into several messages, called segments. Most carriers will send SMS segments in the desired order.
To send an SMS message, you need a cellular network connection. SMS messages can be sent from a cell phone, computer, or tablet.
Pros and cons of SMS
<h2 id="MMS">What is MMS?</h2>
MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS allows people to send a text message with an attached file, such as a photo, GIF, video, website link, or audio clip.
MMS is growing in popularity as it becomes easier to send larger messages between phones, and businesses continue adopting MMS marketing because they want to text customers rich media.
MMS messages are not as limited in character count. In fact, MMS allows up to 1,600 characters. But, there is often a size limit for files. For many mobile network carriers, it is capped at 5 MB or 5,000 KB.
Currently, MMS is supported by all mobile carriers in the U.S. However, it is less common in other countries.
MMS messages are also sent over a cellular network and can be sent from a mobile device, computer, or tablet.
Pros and cons of MMS
<h2 id="Vs">SMS vs. MMS: Key differences explained</h2>
There are several key differences between the two messaging types.
- Format: The main difference is that MMS allows multimedia attachments. This includes photos, videos, audio files, GIFs, website links, and more.
- Length: SMS is limited to 160 characters, while MMS allows up to 1,600 characters.
- Cost: It is more expensive to send MMS messages. MMS messages typically cost at least two to three times more to send and receive than SMS.
See the image below to help you visualize the difference between a plain text SMS message and an MMS message.
<h2 id="Uses">SMS vs. MMS messages: Best use cases</h2>
When to use SMS or MMS will depend on your business use case, budget, and goals! One message type is not better than the other. Instead, they serve different purposes.
To help you determine which one to use, here are a few questions to consider:
- What is your budget? Since SMS is cheaper than MMS, you may want to limit the number of media-rich messages you send to your contacts.
- Are you sending promotional or informational texts? Informational messages like appointment confirmations are often better sent as SMS messages. On the other hand, MMS may be a better fit for marketing messages as visuals can be more engaging.
- What is the message length? If your message is longer than 160 characters, consider sending an MMS message. This will ensure it gets delivered as one singular message rather than broken-up parts.
Next, we’ll break down a few instances where SMS may be a better fit than MMS and vice versa. Ultimately, it comes down to your business goals and how you plan to utilize text messaging.
Instances where SMS may be a better fit
Here are a few instances where using an SMS message may be better for your business. In these instances, you want to ensure the message is short and contains only the relevant details.
- Appointment reminders. To cut down on no-shows, sending SMS reminders may be a good option. This text message will provide patients or customers with the most important details. This includes the date, time, and location of the appointment.
- Bill pay reminders. Keep bill pay reminders short and simple by sending an SMS. Simply let your customers know how much they owe and the due date.
- Emergency alerts. Ensure the most important details are read quickly. Keep emergency alerts short and to the point.
- Time-sensitive alerts. Make time-sensitive alerts like event cancellations and schedule changes short and simple.
- Order updates. Send customers updates about their orders, including order confirmations, shipping details, and delivery updates.
- Share business hours or updates. Let customers know by SMS important business updates such as office closures, business hours, and more.
- Two-factor authentication. Keep two-step verification processes simple. Simply send an SMS with a short code or directions.
- Password resets. If you send a password reset via text, consider sending it via SMS to keep it simple.
Instances where MMS may be a better fit
In these instances, you may want to consider adding an attachment like a photo, website link, or PDF to your message to improve engagement.
- Promotional offers like coupons or discounts. Use images of your product or other illustrations to boost engagement on mobile marketing campaigns.
- Abandoned cart messages. Many customers leave items in their carts. Consider sending an MMS message that contains a link to their cart or an image of the item left behind so they can continue checking out.
- New product offerings. To promote a new product, share a photo of it with your SMS subscribers.
- Birthday messages. If you send special birthday discounts or happy birthday messages, consider using an MMS. People may smile at the photo you attach to wish them a happy birthday.
- Event invites and tickets. If you are sending an event invite or ticket, consider using MMS. MMS would allow you to send a barcode ticket to the recipient. Plus, a photo of the event could boost engagement.
- Two-way support tickets. Enhance your two-way texting support channel by enabling MMS. Let customers send a photo of a damaged product or a screenshot of the error message they're receiving. Or, send them a PDF with step-by-step instructions on how to fix a particular issue.
<h2 id="FAQ">Frequently asked questions about SMS and MMS</h2>
Here are some of the most popular questions about SMS and MMS.
Is an iMessage or WhatsApp message considered SMS?
In short, no. iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger are considered over-the-top messaging applications. OTT applications rely on WiFi or cellular data to send rather than a cellular signal. Additionally, to send a message using this method, both parties must have the same application downloaded.
For example, a WhatsApp user could not message someone on Facebook Messenger. Another classic example is messaging between iPhones. The messages appear blue because you are messaging via the iMessage application.
Will SMS be replaced?
A new messaging protocol called RCS (Rich Communication Service) was created in 2007 in an effort to replace SMS with a more modern messaging experience. While RCS is the new kid in town, it will be a few years before SMS is fully replaced and RCS is the automatic go-to for business texting communication.
Do Apple and Android phones exchange SMS messages?
When people exchange messages between Android phones and iPhones, it is either an SMS message or an RCS text. SMS is the older technology, while RCS is a new protocol aimed at improving messaging.
How do I know if I’m using SMS or MMS?
You can tell simply by knowing if your message is text only or includes some form of multimedia. If you’re using any form of multimedia, it’s an MMS. If it is text-only, it is an SMS.
Reach more customers with SMS and MMS
Companies are turning to SMS and MMS to cut through the noise and reach their customers on the devices they rely on daily. While SMS and MMS are both types of mobile messages, they are distinctly different. It’s best to understand these differences to determine when to use each to help you meet your business texting goals.
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