SMS Deliverer vs NowSMS: an honest comparison
NowSMS is a multi-protocol messaging server with operator-grade options; SMS Deliverer is a Windows desktop gateway at a fraction of the entry price. Both send through your own modems. Prices below come from the vendors' pages, observed 2026-11.
What NowSMS is
NowSMS (Now Wireless, UK) is a long-running SMS/MMS server family for Windows, Linux, macOS and Raspberry Pi. It connects GSM modems and Android phones on one side and carrier SMSCs over SMPP, UCP/EMI and CIMD2 on the other, with MM7 for MMS and an operator-grade MMSC edition. Its own site cites more than 3,000 installations in over 125 countries (vendor claim, not independently verified).
What SMS Deliverer is
A Windows desktop application that turns a PC plus your own USB modems, modem pool or Android phones into a two-way SMS/MMS gateway, with a local HTTP API, SMPP v3.4, SQL listener, webhook and command line on the Ultimate edition. It is built for organisations that send from their own SIM cards and want a lifetime license.
Price, side by side (as of 2026-11)
| NowSMS (source: nowsms.com/buy) | Price | SMS Deliverer (source: buy.html) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite (1 modem or 1 Android phone) | $395 | Standard (1 device, SMS) | $99 lifetime license / $49 1-year license |
| Modem Edition, 1 modem | $449 | Enterprise (multi-device pool) | $149 lifetime license / $89 1-year license |
| Modem Edition, 10 modems | $3,250 | Ultimate (adds MMS, SMPP, HTTP API) | $269 lifetime license / $169 1-year license |
| Gateway Edition, 10 messages/min | $895 | Not comparable — we do not sell operator-tier throughput licences | — |
| Gateway Edition, 10 messages/sec | $17,995 |
NowSMS MMSC, Cloud and Raspberry Pi editions are quote-only (not public). Both sides exclude tax. Observation date: 2026-11.
Six dimensions that decide the choice
| Dimension | NowSMS | SMS Deliverer |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price (2026-11) | $395 (Lite) | $99 lifetime license / $49 1-year license (Standard) |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi | Windows 10/11, Server 2016+ |
| Sending channels | GSM modem, Android app, SMPP/UCP/EMI/CIMD2 to SMSC, MM7 | GSM/LTE modem, modem pool, Android phone |
| Carrier-grade features | MMSC, SMPP proxy, throughput tiers up to 10 messages/sec and beyond | None — desktop-class throughput through your own SIMs |
| Integration | HTTP, SMPP, SMTP, MM7, command line | HTTP API, SMPP v3.4, SQL listener, webhook, command line (Ultimate) |
| Operating model | Server software, administered | Desktop application with a local service, runs on an existing PC |
NowSMS feature claims from nowsms.com product pages, observed 2026-11.
Where NowSMS is the better choice
- You need Linux, macOS or a Raspberry Pi — we are Windows only.
- You need carrier-side protocols (UCP/EMI/CIMD2) or an MMSC — we do not have them.
- You send at operator throughput and want a priced tier for it (up to 10 messages/sec on the Gateway edition).
Where SMS Deliverer is the better choice
- Entry cost: $99 vs $395 for a single-modem setup, with the same fundamental channel — your own SIM card.
- A desktop interface your team already knows how to run, instead of a server to administer.
- MMS from a PC through an Android phone is a first-class feature on Ultimate, not a separate edition.
Where we are honest about both
Both products are on-premise: you bring the hardware, the SIM cards and a machine that stays on. If you cannot run a machine continuously, neither product solves that — a hosted platform does, and we compare that option on the cloud comparison page. Throughput on both is limited by the modem and the carrier when you send through SIM cards; the carrier-grade tiers on the NowSMS price list apply to SMSC connections, not to USB modems.
Migrating from NowSMS in four steps
- Inventory your connections. List the modems and Android devices your NowSMS installation drives. Anything it reaches over SMPP/UCP to a carrier SMSC has no equivalent on our side.
- Export contacts and templates. Both sides import CSV; move the phone book and the message templates first, and keep the NowSMS export as the backup.
- Install the trial and detect hardware. Run the free trial on the same machine, let Phone Detector find the COM ports, and confirm your modems against the compatibility list.
- Run both in parallel for a week. Route one SIM through SMS Deliverer, keep the rest on NowSMS, compare delivery reports, then move the remaining devices.
Questions about NowSMS and SMS Deliverer
Is NowSMS more expensive than SMS Deliverer?
On published entry prices, yes: NowSMS Lite is $395 for one modem or one Android phone, while SMS Deliverer Standard is $99 lifetime or $49 per year (both observed 2026-11). The products aim at different tiers, so compare features before comparing prices.
Can SMS Deliverer replace a NowSMS Gateway edition?
No. The Gateway edition's carrier-side protocols (UCP/EMI/CIMD2), MMSC and throughput tiers up to 10 messages per second have no equivalent in SMS Deliverer. If you bind directly to carrier SMSCs, stay on a server product.
Does NowSMS run on Linux?
Yes. NowSMS lists Windows, Linux, macOS and Raspberry Pi versions. SMS Deliverer runs on Windows 10, 11 and Server 2016 or later only.
Will my NowSMS modems work with SMS Deliverer?
If they are GSM/LTE modems or Android phones with an AT interface, very likely. Check the model against the modem compatibility library before buying a license.
Do both products charge per message?
Neither charges per message at the software level; both sell licenses and you pay your carrier SIM plan. NowSMS prices scale with modem count and throughput tier, ours with edition features.