The SMS8 alternative that costs less per month and adds WhatsApp
SMS8 turns your Android phone into an SMS gateway with a unified inbox and campaigns, priced per connected device. SharkSMS does the same for SMS, adds WhatsApp, and at one to three phones costs a fraction of the per-device price. Here is where each one is the right call.
Prices are as listed on each provider's public site on the date shown below. Ours comes from our live pricing table.
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SMS8 is a mature Android-gateway product with a clear per-device model. The comparison is mostly about price at one to three phones, and about WhatsApp.
| What | SMS8 | SharkSMS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly or yearly subscription per connected device. Unlimited SMS. | Monthly subscription by plan. Free includes 1 phone, Professional 3, Enterprise 50. |
| 5,000 texts in a month | Included in any plan; $29 a month for one device. | Within the Enterprise plan; the Professional plan covers 2,000 SMS a month. |
| What sends the message | Your own Android phone or tablet, paired by QR code. | Your own Android phone, paired by QR code, plus a linked WhatsApp account. |
| Number your customers see | The number on your SIM. | The number on your SIM. |
| No. SMS and MMS only. | Yes. Text, photos, documents and groups from a linked WhatsApp account. | |
| Setup before the first message | Install the app, scan a code, done. | Install the app, scan a code, done. |
| Replies and opt-outs | Unified inbox, auto-replies, scheduling. | Inbox, keyword and AI auto-replies, flow builder, scheduling with repeats, automatic STOP handling, webhooks. |
| Best fit | Teams that want unlimited SMS from several devices and are happy to pay per device. | Small businesses that want SMS and WhatsApp together at a lower flat price for one to three phones. |
Competitor figures as listed on SMS8's public pages on 19 August 2026 and may have changed since. Check their current pricing
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You need unlimited SMS from one phone with no monthly cap, MMS matters to you, and WhatsApp does not.
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You send WhatsApp as well as SMS, you run one to three phones, and the Professional plan's monthly volume covers you at a fraction of the per-device price.
Three plans, one flat price each
Live from our pricing table, so this is the price you will pay. Every plan includes SMS, WhatsApp, scheduling, replies and the API; they differ by contacts, phones and monthly volume.
- Free trial USD 0/ month 1 paired device · 10 SMS per month
- Professional USD 9/ month 3 paired devices · 2,000 SMS per month
- Enterprise USD 19/ month 50 paired devices · 5,000 SMS per month
Straight answers
Does SharkSMS cap the number of SMS?
Each plan has a monthly SMS and WhatsApp allowance, shown on the pricing page and live in your dashboard. The plans are sized for what a small business sends; if you routinely exceed the Enterprise allowance you are in per-device territory and SMS8 may suit you better.
What does switching involve?
Export your contacts as CSV or Excel and import them into SharkSMS. Pair an Android phone by scanning a QR code, or link a WhatsApp account. Point your code at /api/send/sms with a form POST. Most teams are sending the same afternoon.
Do I keep my number?
You use the SIM's own number, so if the phone you pair is the one your customers already know, yes. There is no number to rent and nothing to port.
Try it on the free plan first
Pair one phone, send a real message to yourself, and compare against your current bill. It takes about five minutes.
Start free