Top SMS Statistics for Australian Businesses in 2025

Open Rates: SMS open rates are as high as 98%, significantly higher than email open rates. 

Response Rates: The average response rate for SMS campaigns is 45%, making it one of the most engaging marketing channels. 

User Preferences: 55% of people prefer SMS over Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, highlighting the enduring strength of SMS despite the social media boom. 

Global Reach: With around 65% of the global population using text messaging, it's easy to see why SMS marketing is expanding so rapidly. 

Instant Engagement: 82% of consumers read their text messages within five minutes of receiving them. 

Communication Preference: 53% of consumers say SMS is their preferred form of communication. 

Return on Investment: SMS marketing delivers up to 7100% ROI, nearly doubling email's 3600%, making them unbeatable when used together. 

Daily Texts: 96% of Australians use their mobile phone for sending messages. 

Demographics: Over 70% of Australians aged 18-44 rely solely on mobile phones and do not have a fixed-line phone service at home. 

Read Rates: Australians have a 97% read rate within 15 minutes of receiving a text message. 

Mobile Usage: As of early 2025, Australia had 34.4 million active mobile connections — that’s 128% of the total population, showing that many individuals use more than one mobile device. 

SMS Marketing Budgets: Australian ad spending for SMS marketing is projected to reach $0.79 billion in 2024 

SMS in Business: 38% of consumers have been persuaded to purchase a service, and 50% have been influenced to buy a product due to brand messages received via text or WhatsApp, proving that SMS marketing has a direct impact on sales and conversions. 

SMS Ad Spend: In 2025, businesses in Australia are expected to spend around $13.97 million USD on SMS advertising. 

Per Capita Investment: The average SMS advertising spend per person in Australia is projected to be $0.52 in 2025 — significantly higher than the global average of $0.10, reflecting stronger local adoption. 

Growth Forecast: Australia’s SMS advertising market is projected to see an annual growth rate of 0.18%, reaching approximately $14.07 million USD by 2029.  

Business Engagement: 91% of customers to receive text messages from businesses. 

Global Spend: Statista reports that global spending on SMS marketing amounts to $327.1 billion, with the US being the largest market. This figure was expected to rise to $339 billion in 2023, and the market size is projected to double by 2024. 

Customer Service Adoption: One in four marketers currently use SMS as a channel for customer service.  

SMS Drives Engagement: The 2025 report highlights consumers’ increasing dependence on SMS for reminders, promotions, and support. Notably, 79% are more likely to make a purchase when subscribed—up 21% from 2024. 

Response Rates: SMS has a response rate of 45%, compared to email's 6%, making it a more interactive channel. 

Read Rates: 98% of text messages are opened and read, in sharp contrast to the average email open rate of approximately 37% 

Business Convenience: Notifyre offers Email to Text services to streamline business communication.  

SMS Opt-Ins: Nearly 50 million people around the globe have opted in to receive SMS messages from businesses. Explore how to build an Opt-in list

Opt-Out Rate: The average SMS opt-out rate ranges between 0% and 1.5%. 

Cancellations: According to a SpotOn infographic, fewer than 5% of appointments are cancelled when consumers receive an SMS reminder. 

No-Show Rate: Both email and SMS text appointment reminders had lower show rates compared to phone call reminders, with SMS texts achieving the lowest no-show rate at 19%. 

Case Study: A healthcare company was able to decrease revenue loss by 32% within the first 90 days by using SMS reminders for appointments.

Appointment Reminders: 64% of consumers appreciate SMS reminders for their appointments. 

Calendar Reminders: 54% of customers want SMS calendar reminders to help keep them on track. E.g., an SMS reminder from your car dealer that your car is due for its semi-annual check-up, or a reminder that your dog’s annual vaccination is coming up. 

High Engagement and Conversion: SMS marketing can deliver up to a 2000% return on investment (ROI) during Black Friday, showcasing its effectiveness in driving sales. 

Customer Interaction: 76% of Cyber Week e-commerce traffic came from mobile devices, emphasising the importance of mobile-friendly marketing strategies in 2024. Additionally, eCommerce SMS campaigns saw a 14.8% increase in message volume compared to the previous week. 

Sales Boost: Retailers report a significant increase in sales during Boxing Day when leveraging SMS marketing. SMS promotions sent out for Boxing Day sales lead to an increase in both online and in-store traffic, driving up sales numbers substantially compared to other marketing methods. 

SMS as a Retention Tool: Nearly 80% of marketers utilise SMS as a strategy for customer retention. 

Delivery Updates: 67% of consumers want to receive SMS notifications about delivery updates. 

Order Confirmation: 64% of customers prefer getting order confirmation messages via SMS. 

Promotional Offers: 49% of consumers like receiving promotional coupons through SMS.