Bulk SMS Marketing in Nepal at a glance
Nepal has more mobile connections than people (about 32.4 million). SMS reaches every one of them, including people without data, without apps and without social media. Texts are also read: few people ignore a message on their lock screen.
That reach is easy to abuse, though. Badly timed, irrelevant messages get you blocked. We keep SMS useful: send to people who've bought from you or opted in, keep it short, time it around paydays and festivals, and always track what happens next.
Problems we fix
Messy contact lists
Duplicates, wrong numbers and no segmentation.
Generic blasts
Same offer to everyone, regardless of what they bought.
No tracking
No idea whether a campaign brought any sales.
What's included in our bulk SMS marketing service
- Sender ID
- Application for a sender ID with your brand name.
- List hygiene
- Deduplication, number validation and segmentation.
- Copywriting
- Messages that fit in 160 characters (or 70 in Nepali Unicode).
- Scheduling
- Sent at the right time for your audience.
- Click tracking
- Short links tied to GA4 or your shop.
- API integration
- OTP, order and appointment alerts from your system.
How much does bulk SMS cost in Nepal?
Most providers charge roughly NPR 0.75–1.00 per SMS of up to 160 English characters, with lower rates for larger volumes. Nepali (Unicode) messages fit fewer characters, about 70, so they can use two credits. A branded sender ID costs extra.
Our plans cover the strategy, list cleaning, writing, scheduling and reporting, with SMS credits billed at the provider's rate. That way you can see exactly what you pay for messages and what you pay for the work.
When does SMS work better than social media?
For anything time-sensitive or important: appointment reminders, payment due dates, order and delivery updates, OTPs, exam results and short offers to existing customers. SMS reaches basic phones and people who aren't on social media, and most messages are read within minutes.
SMS is weakest as a cold sales channel. Messages to people who never heard of you feel like spam and hurt your brand. We focus on customers who opted in, such as past buyers, patients and students, where response rates are much higher.
- Appointment and payment reminders
- Order, dispatch and delivery updates
- OTP and login codes via API
- Festival offers to existing customers
- Event and admission alerts
How do you keep SMS campaigns compliant and effective?
Send only to people who gave you their number for a reason, identify your business clearly, keep messages short with one action, avoid late-night sends, and always honour opt-out requests. Clean lists perform better and protect your sender reputation.
What is the bulk SMS rate in Nepal?
Most providers charge roughly NPR 0.45–1.00 per SMS of up to 160 English characters, with the lowest rates at high volumes. Messages in Nepali (Unicode) fit about 70 characters per SMS, so longer Nepali texts use two or more credits.
The cheapest rate isn't always the best value. Check delivery reports, whether both NTC and Ncell are covered with good routes, whether a branded sender ID is available, and how fast support responds when a campaign is stuck.
Can you send more than 100 SMS a day?
Yes. Personal SIM cards have daily limits, but bulk SMS platforms send thousands or tens of thousands of messages a day through approved routes. That's also the legal and reliable way to do it, instead of using phones or SIM boxes.
How do we build an SMS list legally and ethically?
Collect numbers when customers buy, register or book, tell them you'll send updates or offers, and always let them opt out. Never buy lists of strangers' numbers.
What's the best time to send SMS in Nepal?
Generally late morning to early evening on working days. Avoid late nights and early mornings, and test your own audience's response times.
Do you have your own bulk SMS platform?
Yes. Sigma SMS is our own platform for bulk, alert and OTP messages to NTC and Ncell numbers, at NPR 1 per SMS plus VAT. Use it yourself through the web dashboard or API, or let us plan, write and send campaigns for you through this service.
Sigma SMS supports Nepali Unicode and shows delivery reports for every campaign. Developers can connect websites, apps and billing software through the SMS API to send OTPs, payment reminders and order updates automatically.
By the numbers
Phones vs internet in Nepal
Millions at the start of 2026. There are about twice as many mobile connections as internet users, which is why SMS still reaches people that social media can't.
View the data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mobile connections | 32.4 M |
| Internet users | 16.6 M |
| Social media users | 14.8 M |
SMS vs email vs social for customer messages
| SMS | Social media | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reaches non-smartphone users | Yes | No | No |
| Read rate | Very high | Moderate | Algorithm-dependent |
| Message length | Short | Long | Medium |
| Best for | Alerts, reminders, short offers | Newsletters, detail | Brand and community |
Common mistakes we fix
| Mistake | What we do instead |
|---|---|
| Buying number lists | Opted-in customers only |
| Long messages that split into 3 SMS | One clear message that fits |
| No link or call to action | A short link or phone number |
| Sending at night | Sending in daytime hours |
How we work
- 1Week 1
Setup
Account, sender ID and list cleaning.
- 2Week 1
Plan
Campaign calendar and segments.
- 3Ongoing
Send
Campaigns go out on schedule.
- 4After each campaign
Measure
Delivery, clicks and sales report.
How much does bulk SMS marketing cost in Nepal?
Starter
Order alerts and small promotions
NPR 5,000 one-time setup
- Account + sender ID application
- Contact list cleanup
- 2 message templates
- Delivery report setup
Campaigns
Regular offers to an opted-in list
NPR 12,000 /month
- 4 campaigns / month
- Segmented lists
- Short-link click tracking
- NTC + Ncell routing
Automated
OTP, reminders and order updates
FromNPR 25,000 one-time
- API integration with your system
- Triggered messages
- Fallback routing
- Usage dashboard
Prices in Nepali rupees, excluding 13% VAT. Ad spend paid to Meta, Google or TikTok is billed separately. Every quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
What changes the price
| Factor | How it affects your cost |
|---|---|
| Volume | Per-SMS costs drop as volume rises; credits are bought separately. |
| Sender ID | A branded sender ID costs more than a shared one. |
| Language | Nepali Unicode messages use more SMS credits per message. |
| Integration | API work for OTP or alerts is a one-time cost. |
Tools we use
- Meta Ads ManagerFacebook and Instagram campaigns
- Google AdsSearch, YouTube and Performance Max
- Google Analytics 4Attribution and ROI
- Google Tag ManagerPixel and conversion events
- TikTokShort-form video and TikTok ads
- YouTubeVideo and pre-roll ads
- MailchimpNewsletters and automation
- BrevoEmail and SMS automation
- HotjarHeatmaps and recordings
Want the full picture? See every technology and platform we work with.
Guides to read next
Bulk SMS Marketing: frequently asked questions
How much does bulk SMS cost in Nepal?
SMS credits are priced per message by volume and sender ID type. Our setup starts at NPR 5,000 and campaign management at NPR 12,000 a month.
Can I send SMS with my company name?
Yes, with an approved sender ID. We handle the application.
Can I send SMS in Nepali?
Yes, using Unicode, but each SMS holds 70 characters instead of 160.
Can you integrate OTP SMS into our app?
Yes, through an SMS gateway API.
Is bulk SMS spam?
Not if it goes to customers who opted in and includes a way to stop messages.
Which networks do you cover?
NTC and Ncell, which together cover practically all mobile users in Nepal.
