Trying to choose between Textedly and Birdeye? We put both SMS marketing platforms head-to-head across key categories: features, automation, pricing, integrations, and ease of use – all here to help you decide which one fits your business goals best.
Choosing the right SMS software is all about aligning to your business's needs and with your communications strategy. With so many tools on the market, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when every platform claims to be "the best."
While we're part of the Textedly team, this comparison comes from the perspective of industry professionals who've spent countless hours evaluating SMS platforms. We're here to share the pros, cons, and tradeoffs of each tool to help you make a clear, confident decision that's best for your business.
Jump right to:
- TL;DR: Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
- Textedly vs. Birdeye In-Depth Comparisons
- User Reviews: What People Are Saying
- Key Considerations When Choosing an SMS Platform
- Final Verdict: Textedly vs. Birdeye — Who Wins?
<h2 id="tldr">TL;DR: Textedly vs Birdeye Side-by-Side Comparison</h2>
Disclaimer: The features and pricing mentioned are accurate as of January 2026 and may have changed since publication.
Before we dive into a side-by-side comparison, let's take a quick look at what each platform is all about.
Textedly is built for simplicity, scalability, and accessibility. With a focus on ease of use and generous messaging plans, Textedly is well-suited for teams looking to launch or expand their text communication efforts without added complexity (or with the assistance of top-tier support).
Whether a business needs to send mass texts, automate messaging, or manage two-way communications, Textedly offers a powerful solution for teams of all sizes and budgets.
Birdeye is an AI-powered marketing and customer experience platform built for multi-location brands. While it includes SMS messaging capabilities, it's primarily focused on reputation management, review automation, and comprehensive digital marketing across 50-5,000+ locations.
The platform offers extensive AI agents for listings, reviews, and social media management, but may come with a steeper learning curve and higher complexity.
<h2 id="in-depth">Textedly vs. Birdeye In-Depth Comparisons</h2>
<h3 id="pricing-breakdown">1. Pricing Breakdown</h3>
Textedly has predictable tiers; Birdeye quotes per-location bundles for enterprises.
Birdeye is built for multi-location organizations that plan around per-location budgets and broader CX initiatives. Quote-based pricing supports complex rollouts, but in practice it adds cost variability and makes it harder for smaller teams to forecast or start quickly.
Textedly keeps pricing simple and predictable. Clear tiers, fixed message allowances, and a free entry point lower the barrier to launch and scale at your own pace. For teams that want SMS up and running fast—with costs they can actually control—Textedly is the cleaner, more practical choice.
<h3 id="core-features">2. Core Messaging Features</h3>
Now let’s compare Textedly and Birdeye head-to-head. While both offer core SMS functionality, Birdeye treats SMS as part of a broader CX platform, affecting feature access, workflows, and pricing. Textedly keeps SMS as the core product—differences that matter depending on whether texting is your primary channel or a supporting one.
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<h3 id="user-sentiment">3. User Sentiment</h3>
Textedly praised for speed; Birdeye valued for consolidation despite UI complexity.
Birdeye resonates with multi-location teams that want reviews, listings, and messaging under one roof. The trade-off is a denser UI and more plan-based limits, which can slow teams that just want to move fast on SMS.
Textedly stands out for speed and usability. Reviews consistently point to quick setup, reliable delivery, and responsive help—benefits that matter when SMS is a daily tool, not part of a larger CX suite. For teams prioritizing fast results and hands-on control, Textedly remains the easier win.
“Simplicity and effective communication with Textedly”
“I love Textedly for its simplicity, which makes using the software easy and straightforward. The blast texting feature, in particular, stands out due to its ease of use, enabling me to efficiently send messages to people. These aspects of Textedly make it a reliable and highly functional tool for my communication needs.”
– Ryan S., Lead Driver Recruiter (G2)
<h3 id="automation-workflows">4. Automation & Workflows</h3>
Textedly automates texting fast; Birdeye automates reviews, listings, social plus SMS.
Birdeye designs automation around the full customer experience, connecting SMS with reviews, listings, and social channels. That scope benefits multi-location teams, but it can feel heavy when SMS is meant to be a primary execution channel rather than a supporting one.
Textedly keeps automation centered on texting itself. Focused drip campaigns, triggers, and scheduling make it easier to launch and refine SMS programs without managing a larger CX system. For teams that want automation to simplify SMS work, Textedly is the more streamlined option.
CottageCare scaled SMS across 40+ locations with Textedly, driving 2–3 extra sales per week at some branches and cutting outreach time significantly. They now use MMS promos, templates, and keywords to send consistent on-brand messages and booking reminders in seconds.
Result: faster bookings, consistent branding, and hundreds of customers reached instantly, all from one platform — that’s the power of automation.
Read the full case study here ➔
<h3 id="compliance-reliability">5. Compliance & Reliability</h3>
Textedly prioritizes SMS deliverability; Birdeye adds HIPAA-ready controls with complexity.
For organizations with strict compliance needs, Birdeye prioritizes security controls and regulatory coverage across multiple channels. That approach supports sensitive, CX-wide programs, but the added layers and learning curve can make routine SMS work slower than expected.
Textedly takes the opposite route by keeping reliability simple and focused. Strong delivery, straightforward TCPA/CTIA compliance, and a lightweight web interface help teams stay compliant without friction. If dependable SMS is the goal, not managing enterprise tooling, Textedly is the easier choice.
<h3 id="ai-features">6. AI Features</h3>
Textedly uses ChatGPT for SMS; Birdeye deploys CX-wide AI agents.
AI strategy is where the difference becomes clear. Birdeye applies AI broadly across reviews, listings, social, and messaging, which works well for large, multi-location teams. The trade-off is that SMS becomes one part of a tightly managed system rather than a flexible, standalone channel.
Textedly uses AI to support people, not replace them. Message drafting, faster replies, and voice agents help teams communicate more efficiently while keeping human control. For businesses that want AI to improve everyday SMS conversations, Textedly is the more practical fit.
“I love [Textedly’s]... AI assistance with writing a message.”
“It's incredibly easy to use and implement! I love the reporting capabilities, the messaging, the AI assistance with writing a message. What isn't there to love about the platform. It's a massive upgrade from our previous service! The customer support is outstanding and incredibly responsive!”
– Amanda W., Marketing and Communications Director (G2)
<h3 id="segmentation-targeting">7. Segmentation & Targeting</h3>
Textedly enables flexible SMS targeting; Birdeye enforces multi-location brand governance.
Targeting needs shape the difference. Birdeye focuses on AI-driven segmentation for multi-location brands, with built-in governance to keep messaging consistent. That structure works at scale, but it can restrict quick, hands-on SMS adjustments.
Textedly keeps segmentation flexible and SMS-first. Longer messages, unlimited contacts, and simple tagging make it easy to target by behavior or location without added rules. For teams that need fast, precise SMS targeting, Textedly is the cleaner choice.
“Textedly is best for marketing and review management”
“Textedly allows you to really customize the campaigns you're sending, who you're sending them to, when they go out, and much more. We have retained many customers and generated revenue from Textedly. We recently upgraded for more messages and the review management dashboard, very excited to use it!”
– Joleen S., Senior Marketing Director (G2)
<h3 id="integration-ecosystem">8. Integration Ecosystem</h3>
Textedly is plug-and-play everywhere; Birdeye shines in Google Business Profile workflows.
Birdeye works best for teams anchored in Google workflows, where reviews, messaging, and posts live inside one ecosystem. That focus streamlines GBP-heavy operations, but setup and costs can feel opaque when teams want broader, plug-and-play connectivity.
Textedly optimizes for speed and flexibility. Thousands of ready integrations, included by default, make it easy to connect SMS to everyday tools without extra setup steps. For teams that want integrations live fast and workflows to stay simple, Textedly is the more practical fit.
<h3 id="conversion-tools">9. Conversion & List-Building Tools</h3>
Textedly drives pay-from-text revenue; Birdeye captures leads via webchat funnels.
Birdeye routes leads through webchat and AI across multiple channels, making sense for organizations managing full digital funnels, but SMS is not treated as the primary conversion engine.
Textedly keeps revenue tied directly to texting. Built-in payments, fast opt-ins, and ready templates make it easier to turn messages into action without extra layers. For businesses that want SMS to drive results immediately, Textedly is the more direct option.
“Textedly has made my business more money!”
“... Now I can connect directly with my customers in seconds. Whether it’s letting them know which rodeos and barrel races I’ll be at or sending instant gallery updates, Textedly keeps my audience in the loop without the stress.
It’s quick, simple, and has saved me so much time. My clients love it because they never miss an announcement, and I love it because it’s helped me grow engagement and sales. Highly recommend it for any small business that wants a direct line to their customers!”
– Chelsey S., Photographer/Videographer (G2)
<h3 id="support">10. Support & Resources</h3>
Textedly offers 7-day SMS help; Birdeye supports enterprise CX with heavier guidance.
Birdeye provides enterprise-level assistance backed by documentation, webinars, and ticketed help, which suits teams running a broader CX stack—but access and guidance are less immediate when SMS questions come up mid-execution.
Textedly prioritizes fast, human help for day-to-day texting needs. Seven-day availability across chat, phone, text, and email keeps campaigns moving without delay. For teams that value clear answers and hands-on SMS support, Textedly is the easier partner to rely on.
“Textedly is an effortless platform with outstanding customer support”
“The platform is incredibly easy to use, and whenever I need assistance, their customer service representatives have consistently been a valuable resource.”
– Marah M., Safety Specialist (G2)
<h2 id="people">What people are saying about Textedly…</h2>
“Textedly is an exceptional platform and service”
“It's incredibly easy to use and implement! I love the reporting capabilities, the messaging, the AI assistance with writing a message. What isn't there to love about the platform. It's a massive upgrade from our previous service! The customer support is outstanding and incredibly responsive!”
— Amanda W., Marketing and Communications Director (G2)
“I appreciate Textedly's very easy-to-understand interface… We've been using Textedly for three to four years and have been very happy with it”
“This simplicity helps my nonprofit organization efficiently manage communication with around 1,200 members of our faith-based community… The setup process was quite straightforward, as we were able to transfer a list of names and numbers from our database, although some hurdles were present due to home phone numbers not working for texting. The customer service was commendable, providing helpful assistance throughout the setup process.”
— Paul L., Admin (G2)
“Outstanding support and effortless onboarding experience”
“We loved the customer service and text support - those are the first things that come to mind, because they were so much above what you usually get with an app. The onboarding process was a breeze, answering all our questions and getting us up and running without any issues… When it was up and running, we had it on full blast with no issues.”
— Alexander N., Marketing Director and Copywriter Education Management (G2)
<h2 id="keys">Key Considerations When Choosing an SMS Platform</h2>
The best SMS platform for your business depends on many key factors, each of which should be considered before choosing a provider. Keep these key factors in mind:
- Use case fit. Whether you're sending time-sensitive alerts or customer service updates, your SMS platform should support your core communication needs.
- Cost. Don't just compare monthly fees. Consider how message limits, overage charges, user fees, and included features will affect your total cost over time.
- Technical integrations. Make sure the platform integrates with the systems you already use.
- Ease of use. The most powerful platform won't help you connect with customers if your team struggles just to use it. A clean interface, intuitive tools, and fast setup can go a long way in driving adoption and consistency.
- Customer support. From onboarding to campaign troubleshooting, timely and knowledgeable support can save your team hours and prevent costly mistakes.
- Compliance. Look for built-in tools and guidance to help you navigate TCPA regulations, 10DLC registration, and opt-in management.
<h2 id="final">Final Verdict: Textedly vs. Birdeye — Who Wins?</h2>
If your priority is efficient, scalable SMS marketing, Textedly is the more focused option. The platform is built specifically for SMS use cases—bulk campaigns, reminders, announcements, and promotions—without layering in broader CX tooling. Its published pricing starts at $29/month, which makes costs easier to forecast as messaging volume grows, especially compared to platforms that rely on custom quotes.
Textedly’s feature set aligns closely with small-to-mid-size SMS needs: scheduled sends, MMS, contact segmentation, drip campaigns, Text-to-Pay (via supported payment integrations), and AI-assisted message drafting. These tools are delivered through an interface designed around SMS workflows rather than multi-channel orchestration.
By contrast, Birdeye positions SMS as one part of a broader customer experience and reputation management platform. Its strengths are review generation, listings management, surveys, and cross-channel engagement—capabilities that are valuable for multi-location or enterprise brands, but introduce added complexity when SMS is the primary goal. Birdeye’s pricing is typically custom, which can make SMS costs harder to predict at scale.
In short:
- If SMS is your main growth or communication channel, Textedly’s narrower scope, simpler workflows, and transparent pricing are a better fit.
- If you need SMS integrated into a larger CX, reputation, and location-management strategy, Birdeye may justify its complexity.
For most businesses focused on SMS marketing performance—not enterprise CX breadth—Textedly offers a more practical balance of capability, simplicity, and cost control.
More Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Textedly vs SimpleTexting
- Textedly vs EZ Texting
- Textedly vs SlickText
- Textedly vs Avochato
Try Textedy for free
Textedly offers transparent pricing, reliable support, and proven results without the contract lock-ins and hidden fees that plague Birdeye users.
Start free today and experience the difference that 98% open rates and A+ customer service can make for your business.
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