Kenya has dozens of bulk SMS providers, and most of them look the same on a pricing page. The differences show up later — in messages that never arrive, sender IDs stuck in approval, or an API that breaks the week you launch. This checklist covers what to ask any provider before you commit, whether you send a few hundred messages a month or a few million.
1. Network coverage
Your customers are spread across Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Confirm the provider delivers to all three networks directly, not just the largest one, and ask how they route messages when a network is congested.
2. Sender ID registration
A branded sender ID (your business name instead of a number) builds trust and cuts down on customers ignoring your messages. Ask how long sender ID registration takes, what documents are needed, and whether the provider handles the application with each network for you.
3. Delivery reports
“Sent” is not the same as “delivered.” A good provider gives you a delivery status for every message, visible in a dashboard and available through the API, so you can spot failed numbers and stop paying to message them.
4. API quality and documentation
If you’re integrating SMS into an app, the API matters more than the price per message. Look for public documentation, clear error codes, sample requests, and a sandbox or test mode. Read the docs before you sign up — if they’re hard to follow, integration will be too.
5. Two-way messaging
Many use cases need replies: confirmations, surveys, customer support, voting. Check whether the provider supports two-way SMS and how replies reach your system (webhook, API polling, or a dashboard inbox).
6. Pricing transparency
Ask for the per-message rate at your expected volume, whether prices differ by network, whether failed messages are billed, and whether credit expires. A slightly higher rate with no hidden costs often works out cheaper than the lowest headline price.
7. Other channels
SMS isn’t always the right tool. USSD reaches customers without smartphones or data, and IVR handles voice menus and automated calls. A provider that offers all three on one account saves you managing separate vendors as you grow.
8. Self-service and support
You should be able to top up credit, check reports and manage sender IDs without waiting on an email reply. When something does go wrong, find out who you talk to and how fast they respond.
Putting it together
Shortlist two or three providers, run a small test campaign with each, and compare delivery reports side by side. Real delivery data beats any marketing claim — including ours.
Connect Media offers Bulk SMS, USSD and IVR through one API and a self-service dashboard. Create a free account to test delivery on your own numbers, or read the developer documentation first.
