How to Schedule SMS in Advance (and When to Send)

How to schedule SMS in advance

To schedule an SMS in advance, you write the text message now, pick the date and exact time it should go out, and let your phone or SMS platform send it for you. On a phone this works for one conversation at a time. For a business that texts a list of customers, an SMS marketing platform such as Mailpro™ lets you schedule a whole campaign days, weeks or months ahead and cancel it at any time before it is sent.

Key takeaways

• iPhone and Android can schedule a single text from the Messages app. Bulk SMS campaigns need an SMS platform.
• In Mailpro you choose the date and the precise hour of the send, plan it as far ahead as you need, and cancel it before it goes out.
• Send in the recipient's local time, inside legal hours: in the United States, commercial texts are limited to 8 a.m.–9 p.m. local time under the TCPA, and some states are stricter.
• Recurring messages such as birthdays and monthly reminders are better set up as automatic SMS than as one-off scheduled sends.

Why schedule SMS in advance?

Scheduling SMS in advance means your message arrives when the reader can act on it, even if you are busy, asleep or on holiday. Text messages are read fast: SMS has an open rate of over 98%, and most texts are read within minutes. That speed is only useful when the timing is right. A promotion that lands at 6 a.m. annoys people. The same text at 11 a.m. on the first day of a sale drives visits.

• Timing. Promotions, reminders and alerts arrive at the moment they are most useful.
• Consistency. You can plan a month of campaigns in one sitting and never forget a send.
• Fewer mistakes. You write and proofread calmly instead of in a last-minute rush.
• A clear overview. Seeing all scheduled sends together helps you avoid texting the same people too often.
• Coordination with email. You can line up an SMS reminder after an email campaign, for example the morning a sale ends.

How to schedule a text message on iPhone and Android

Both major phone systems can schedule a single text, which is useful for personal or one-to-one business messages.

iPhone (iOS 18 and later)

1. Open Messages and the conversation.
2. Tap the + button next to the text field, then More and Send Later.
3. Choose the date and time (up to 14 days ahead), type the message and tap send.

Send Later works for iMessage conversations only. For green-bubble SMS to Android users, iPhone users need a workaround such as the Shortcuts app or a third-party app.

Android (Google Messages)

1. Open Google Messages and the conversation.
2. Type your message, then press and hold the send button.
3. Choose a suggested time or set a custom date and time, then tap Send.

Samsung Messages has a similar option under the + menu, called Schedule message.

Phone scheduling has limits for business use: one conversation at a time, no contact list import, no personalization by field, no delivery report and no unsubscribe handling. That is where an SMS platform comes in.

How to schedule an SMS campaign in Mailpro

With Mailpro you can program SMS sends in advance from your computer, with no phone needed. The SMS scheduling feature lets you pick a date weeks, months or days ahead and cancel at any time before the send.

1. Import your contacts. Add or import the mobile numbers you want to reach. Only text people who have agreed to receive your messages (see how to collect SMS opt-ins).
2. Write the message. Keep it to one SMS if you can: 160 characters with standard characters, or 70 if you use emojis or certain accented letters. Our SMS character limit guide explains why.
3. Personalize it. Insert up to three dynamic fields such as first name, last name or a coupon code, by typing $field1$, $field2$ and $field3$ where each value should appear.
4. Choose the date and hour. Instead of sending now, select the date and the precise hour you want the campaign to go out.
5. Review and confirm. Check the sender name, the text and the recipient list, then confirm the scheduled send.
6. Cancel or change if needed. Plans change: you can cancel a scheduled SMS campaign at any time before it is sent.
7. Measure the results. After the send, SMS statistics show which messages were delivered and which were not.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our FAQ on how to schedule an SMS campaign.

Planning a launch, a sale or a reminder? Schedule your SMS campaigns in advance with Mailpro and cancel any time before they go out.

What is the best time to send a scheduled SMS?

The best time to send a marketing SMS is late morning or early evening in the recipient's time zone, on the days your customers usually buy or book. Avoid early mornings, late nights and the middle of the night. These windows are a good starting point:

Treat these as a starting point and test your own audience: send the same offer at two different times to two halves of a list, then compare results. If your contacts live in several time zones, split them into groups by region and schedule one send per group, so a 10 a.m. message does not reach the West Coast at 7 a.m.

Are there legal hours for sending SMS?

Yes. Many countries restrict when you may send commercial text messages, so a scheduled SMS must land inside the legal window for the recipient's location.

• United States: the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) limits telephone solicitations to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the recipient's local time. Some states are stricter: Florida, for example, limits them to 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Europe: rules vary by country, and several countries also restrict Sundays and public holidays. See our guides to SMS regulations in France and the laws and restrictions for SMS campaigns.
• Everywhere: get consent before you text, identify your business in the message, and include a way to opt out, such as "Reply STOP to unsubscribe".

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules for each country you send to.

Scheduled SMS or automatic SMS: which do you need?

Use a scheduled SMS for a one-off send on a fixed date, and an automatic SMS for messages that repeat or depend on each contact's own date.

A classic example of automatic SMS is the birthday text. Our guide to automatic birthday SMS shows how to set one up.

Scheduled SMS examples you can adapt

These templates fit in one SMS. Replace the words in [brackets] and adjust them to your sender name.

• Appointment reminder (24 hours before): "Hi $field1$, reminder: your appointment at [Business] is tomorrow at [time]. To reschedule, call [number]."
• Sale launch (morning of day 1): "[Brand]: our spring sale starts now. 20% off with code $field3$ until Sunday. Shop: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out"
• Last chance (afternoon of the final day): "[Brand]: last hours! Your 20% code ends at midnight. [short link] STOP to opt out"
• Event reminder (day before): "Hi $field1$, see you tomorrow at [event], doors open at [time], [address]. Show this text at the entrance."
• Payment or renewal reminder: "Hi $field1$, your [subscription] renews on [date]. Nothing to do if you want to continue. Questions? [link]"
• Holiday hours: "[Business]: we're closed on [date] and open [hours] on [date]. Happy holidays!"

Best practices for scheduling SMS campaigns

• Schedule in the recipient's time zone, not your own. A 10 a.m. send from New York reaches Los Angeles at 7 a.m.
• Keep a buffer. Schedule campaigns at least a day ahead so you have time to proofread and test.
• Send a test to yourself before the real send to check length, links and personalization.
• Don't over-text. For marketing SMS, a few messages a month is plenty for most audiences.
• Combine SMS and email. Use email for the detail and SMS for the reminder. Read how to combine SMS and email campaigns.
• Review results after each send and move the next send time if delivery or response was weak.

Need to send texts from your own software? Mailpro also offers an SMS API and an email-to-SMS gateway. New to texting customers? Start with our guide on how to do SMS marketing.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance can I schedule an SMS?

On iPhone, Send Later allows up to 14 days ahead. In Mailpro, you can schedule an SMS campaign days, weeks or months in advance by choosing the date and the precise hour.

Can I cancel a scheduled text message?

Yes. On a phone, you can delete or edit a scheduled message before it is sent. In Mailpro, you can cancel a scheduled SMS campaign at any time before it is sent.

Can I schedule bulk SMS to a whole contact list?

Yes, with an SMS platform. Phone apps schedule one conversation at a time, while Mailpro schedules a campaign to an imported contact list, with personalization and delivery statistics.

Can I schedule recurring text messages?

Yes. For messages that repeat monthly, weekly or yearly, such as birthdays or meeting reminders, use automatic SMS instead of a one-off scheduled send.

What time should I schedule a marketing SMS?

Late morning (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) or early evening (5–7 p.m.) in the recipient's local time works for most consumer audiences. B2B messages work best on weekday mornings. In the US, never send commercial texts before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time.

How much does it cost to schedule an SMS?

In Mailpro you pay per SMS sent, with no contract. See the current rates on the SMS pricing page.