Sending to 5,000 contacts: SMS costs $375 at $0.075 each and converts 0.8% at a $60 AOV, returning $2,400. WhatsApp costs $125, converts 2.4% with rich media, and returns $7,200. Same list, same offer, WhatsApp delivers 3x the revenue at a third of the cost.
WhatsApp vs SMS ROI calculator 2026
Free WhatsApp vs SMS ROI calculator for Shopify. Compare open rate, CTR, revenue, and ROAS to choose the right channel for cart recovery and broadcasts.
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Example and tips
- Compare net ROI, not just send price. WhatsApp wins on conversion (read rates near 90%) far more than on unit cost.
- A campaign ROI under 5:1 means the offer or list is weak, not the channel. Tighten targeting before blaming reach.
- Run SMS for urgent one-liners and WhatsApp for anything visual: product launches, restocks, and two-way support convert better.
Kanal
What is Kanal?
Kanal turns WhatsApp into a sales channel for Shopify stores: abandoned cart recovery, order updates, campaigns to your segments, an AI chatbot and a shared inbox, with revenue tracked per message.
+90%open rate5/5on the Shopify App StoreFrom €89per month
See WhatsApp for Shopify in detailAbandoned cart flowFincut · WhatsAppLive
- Checkout abandonedTech T-shirt · Black, M
- Wait 1 hourSmart delay, quiet hours respected
- WhatsApp reminderProduct photo · 2 buttons
- Customer replyAnswered by the AI agent
- Order recovered#1042 · Paid in Shopify
Recovered this month€12,445.20
Your Shopify store on WhatsApp in 15 minutes
Leave your email and store address: a Kanal expert shows you the WhatsApp flows that pay for your catalog, cart recovery, order updates and campaigns.
How it works
Free WhatsApp vs SMS ROI calculator for Shopify. Compare open rate, CTR, revenue, and ROAS to choose the right channel for cart recovery and broadcasts.
- 1
Enter your monthly abandoned carts
Type how many carts get abandoned on your Shopify store each month, available in Shopify analytics.
- 2
Add your average order value
Input the average value of a completed order so the tool can project recovered revenue per channel.
- 3
Set your SMS cost
Indicate the cost per SMS your provider charges so the ROAS reflects real economics.
- 4
Compare WhatsApp vs SMS
See side-by-side open rate, CTR, recovered carts, revenue, and ROAS, computed with the fixed rates built into the calculator, which are illustrative assumptions.
- 5
Pick the winner and act
See which channel comes out ahead under those assumptions, then check the result against your own campaign reports.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsApp really more profitable than SMS for Shopify?
It depends on your market, your list and your costs. WhatsApp messages can carry images, buttons and a reply thread, and SMS reaches any mobile number. Message prices differ by country on both channels. Compare the two on your own figures: cost per message, click rate and orders, measured over the same period.
How is WhatsApp vs SMS ROI calculated?
ROI = (Recovered Revenue minus Channel Cost) divided by Channel Cost. Recovered Revenue = Carts Recovered x Average Order Value. The calculator applies fixed open, click and conversion rates to each channel: they are illustrative assumptions, not measured benchmarks, so rely on your own rates once you have them.
What is a good WhatsApp ROAS benchmark in 2026?
There is no universal good ROAS: the threshold depends on your margin and on what each message costs in your country. Compare the ROAS of each channel with your break-even ROAS and with your own history, measured the same way.
How does the channel choice impact Shopify revenue?
The channel changes who you reach, what the message can contain and what each send costs. Run the same recovery sequence on both channels with comparable audiences, then compare recovered orders and cost in your own reports.
What are the most common mistakes when comparing channels?
The top mistakes are ignoring channel reach (WhatsApp does not work in all markets), comparing without segmenting by intent, using outdated CTR data, and forgetting opt-in rates. Always run a 2-week test across both before committing.
Should I run WhatsApp and SMS together with Kanal?
You can run both: Kanal sends SMS and WhatsApp campaigns from the same app. A common setup is WhatsApp for customers who opted in there and SMS for the others. See /pricing.