Pony Express HQ
Bulk text message marketing with no subscription: buy credits, send texts
About Pony Express HQ
Pony Express HQ is a pay-as-you-go bulk SMS and MMS platform for small businesses, churches, HOAs, schools, and campaigns. Instead of a monthly plan, you buy prepaid credit bundles that stay on your account while it is active, and every account gets a dedicated local or toll-free number, unlimited keywords, groups, and team members. Two-way replies land in a shared inbox, and the platform handles carrier registration plus STOP/HELP compliance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No monthly subscription or contract, so a quiet month costs nothing
- Credits do not expire as long as the account sends at least one group message every six months
- Dedicated number, unlimited keywords, groups, and team logins are included rather than sold as add-ons
- 100 free credits without a card, and 1,000 for registered nonprofits
- Reviewers on Capterra describe it as simple to set up with responsive support (4.7/5 from 53 reviews)
- Failed sends that never leave the platform are refunded to the balance
Cons
- Per-text cost on small bundles (5.2¢) is higher than on subscription platforms for steady high-volume senders
- Only one native integration path (Zapier); no direct CRM connectors
- Some reviewers find credit usage per segment confusing, especially with long messages or emoji
- Reviewers report the mobile app is less polished than the web dashboard
- US-focused numbers and carrier registration; the AI suite is still in beta
Key Features
Bulk SMS broadcasts
Write one message and send it to an entire contact group at once, now or at a scheduled time.
Two-way texting with shared inbox
Replies come back to a shared inbox that the whole team can see and answer.
Keywords and auto-replies
Contacts text a keyword to your number to join a group automatically and receive an auto-reply. Keywords are unlimited.
Dedicated local or toll-free number
Each account includes one US local or toll-free number at no monthly charge while the account is active.
MMS picture messaging
Send images, flyers, or menus; each MMS costs 2 credits instead of 1.
Scheduled texts
Compose messages ahead of time and schedule them to send at a specific hour.
Contact groups and CSV import
Unlimited groups and contacts, with spreadsheet import that filters out invalid numbers.
Web opt-in widget
A drop-in signup form for your own website that records SMS consent.
Call and text forwarding
Route incoming calls and replies to a personal phone or email address.
Zapier integration
A Zapier app with triggers (new message, new contact, new subscriber, opt-out) and actions (send SMS, broadcast to group, manage group membership).
Compliance handling
A2P 10DLC and toll-free verification help, automatic STOP/HELP handling, and plain-language delivery error explanations.
Pricing
- 100 free credits on signup, no card required
- 1,000 free credits for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Dedicated local or toll-free number included
- 5.2¢ per text
- Credits stay while account is active
- Unlimited keywords, groups, and team members
- 4.3¢ per text
- Two-way replies and MMS (2 credits per MMS)
- No contract or monthly fee
- 3.58¢ per text
- Auto-reload available
- 1.99¢ per text
- Bundles continue up to 250,000 credits ($4,975)
Best For
Churches and nonprofits
Send service times, volunteer calls, and prayer-chain updates, with extra free credits for registered 501(c)(3) organizations.
HOAs and boards
Push notices to residents that get read faster than email, without paying a subscription between announcements.
Small business promotions
Text specials, hours changes, and last-minute offers to opted-in customers who joined via keyword or web widget.
Tutoring and learning centers
Send session reminders and re-enrollment messages, and handle parent replies from a shared inbox.
Political campaigns
Run high-volume texting sprints during a campaign and pay nothing during quiet periods.
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