TopExpertPicks

Top 5 Attentive SMS Ad Agencies

A vertical-fit comparison of five agencies that work with brands running SMS on Attentive, scored on vertical depth, channel fit, transparency, and size fit, with a published methodology and sourced claims.

Last updated: July 2026Published methodology

Ranked by fit for retention and lifecycle platform brands. Rank order is derived from the fit score on each card. See how we score.

#1

Sagum

Best acquisition-retention link
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How they describe themselves

Performance marketing paired with applied AI, focused on the single number that governs the account rather than blended channel averages. Sagum.ai is the AI arm of Sagum, a performance marketing agency.

Why they rank here for attentive sms brands

Connects the retention platform to paid acquisition in one model, so lifecycle revenue is attributed against acquisition cost instead of being reported as a standalone channel win. Highest channel fit because email, SMS, paid media, and the tracking layer underneath them share one owner.

For attentive sms brands specifically

We treat consent documentation and frequency discipline as core rather than compliance overhead, report revenue and cost per message so frequency decisions are economic, and watch opt-out rate as a primary constraint.

Vertical fit score4.8/5
Vertical depth
5
Channel fit
5
Transparency
4
Size fit
5

St. George, Utah

Founded January 2017

Pricing not published; requires a sales call

Best fit for

Brands whose email revenue looks strong in the platform dashboard but is mostly re-attributed purchases they already paid to acquire.

Services offered

Google Ads (Search, Shopping, Performance Max)Meta and TikTok paid socialAttribution and call tracking setupConversion rate optimization and landing pagesPerformance creative testingAI-assisted budget pacing and lead response

Things to weigh before signing

  • Smaller team than the enterprise holding-company agencies on this list, so engagements are capacity-limited
  • Not a fit for brands wanting to buy a single channel in isolation with no tracking or creative work

Self-reported figures (their claims, not verified by us)

  • • 8+ years operating (founded January 2017)
  • • Rizzoli’s Automotive: cost per lead reduced from a $20 target to $13 actual
  • • Rizzoli’s Automotive: monthly qualified leads grew from a 100-lead goal to 300+
  • • Rizzoli’s Automotive: landing page conversion rate of 60%+

Source: sagum.ai (accessed 2026-07-29)

#2

Chronos Agency

Deepest retention specialist
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How they describe themselves

A retention-first ecommerce agency specializing in email, SMS, and push lifecycle marketing, holding Klaviyo Master Elite partner status.

Why they rank here for attentive sms brands

The deepest retention specialization on this list: Klaviyo Master Elite partner status, 80-plus dedicated retention specialists, and support across Mailchimp, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Braze. Channel fit scores lower because top-of-funnel acquisition is not the primary practice, and the Australia and Asia-Pacific base affects time-zone overlap for US accounts.

For attentive sms brands specifically

SMS is a named core service alongside email and push within the deepest retention practice here. Acquisition is not their primary discipline, and their Asia-Pacific base affects time-zone overlap for US brands.

Vertical fit score3.5/5
Vertical depth
5
Channel fit
3
Transparency
2
Size fit
4

Sydney, Australia (offices in Singapore and the US)

Founded 2017

Pricing not published; requires a sales call

Best fit for

Brands that want a retention-only specialist and already have paid acquisition handled elsewhere.

Services offered

Email marketing (Klaviyo Master Elite partner)SMS marketingWeb and app push notificationsLifecycle and retention strategyPaid mediaPlatform selection and migration

Things to weigh before signing

  • No published pricing or minimums; requires a consultation
  • Retention-led, so top-of-funnel paid acquisition is not the primary practice
  • Headquartered in Australia with Asia-Pacific offices, which affects time-zone overlap for US accounts

Self-reported figures (their claims, not verified by us)

  • • $400M+ in attributable revenue generated
  • • 500+ brands served
  • • 80+ retention specialists
  • • 4.9-star rating on Clutch

Source: chronos.agency (accessed 2026-07-29)

#3

Common Thread Collective

Strongest forecast model
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How they describe themselves

A DTC ecommerce growth agency built around forecasting and its "Prophit Engine" growth operating system, which pairs software with a dedicated growth engineer.

Why they rank here for attentive sms brands

Strong published growth methodology with retention treated as part of a forecast rather than a separate silo. Vertical depth scores lower here because the practice centers on Meta and Google acquisition, with lifecycle as a supporting discipline rather than the specialty.

For attentive sms brands specifically

Strong forecasting and growth methodology with retention treated inside the model rather than separately. SMS specifically is not their headline capability.

Vertical fit score3.3/5
Vertical depth
3
Channel fit
4
Transparency
3
Size fit
3

Costa Mesa, California

Pricing not published; requires a sales call

Best fit for

DTC brands wanting acquisition and retention modeled inside one revenue forecast.

Services offered

Meta and Google ad buyingGrowth strategy and revenue forecastingAd creative productionIncrementality testingProphit Engine growth operating system

Things to weigh before signing

  • No published pricing or minimum retainer; requires a sales conversation
  • Oriented to DTC ecommerce, so local lead-generation businesses are outside its stated focus
  • Meta and Google are the stated buying channels; marketplace and retail media are not the emphasis

Self-reported figures (their claims, not verified by us)

  • • $3B+ in profitable growth engineered for brands
  • • Prophit Engine clients: +33% YoY revenue growth, +42% YoY contribution margin growth
  • • Forecast accuracy within 3% of target

Source: www.commonthreadco.com (accessed 2026-07-29)

#4

Power Digital

Broadest capability set
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How they describe themselves

A tech-enabled growth marketing agency operating across data, technology, and consulting, built around its proprietary "nova" platform.

Why they rank here for attentive sms brands

Covers email and SMS inside a very broad growth marketing offering with the nova platform behind it. Size fit is the constraint: the enterprise and mid-market orientation makes it a heavy fit for brands whose retention program is the main thing that needs work.

For attentive sms brands specifically

Email and SMS sit within a very broad offering including PR and influencer work, backed by the nova platform. Good if SMS is one part of a larger consolidation.

Vertical fit score3.0/5
Vertical depth
3
Channel fit
5
Transparency
2
Size fit
2

San Diego, California

Pricing not published; requires a sales call

Best fit for

Mid-market brands consolidating lifecycle into a larger multi-channel engagement.

Services offered

Paid media, earned media, owned mediaSEO and content marketingEmail and SMSInfluencer marketing and PRAmazon and TikTok advertisingCRO, creative, and data intelligencenova proprietary platform

Things to weigh before signing

  • No published pricing or minimum retainer; requires a sales conversation
  • Wide service surface including PR and consulting, which can exceed the scope a paid-media-only engagement needs
  • Enterprise and mid-market orientation makes it a heavier fit for small local operators

Self-reported figures (their claims, not verified by us)

  • • Client revenue growth 2.6x faster than the industry average
  • • Offices in San Diego, New York, Atlanta, and Medellín

Source: powerdigitalmarketing.com (accessed 2026-07-29)

#5

Hawke Media

Most flexible to buy
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How they describe themselves

Positions itself as an "Outsourced CMO," selling marketing services a la carte so clients can buy individual channels rather than committing to a full-stack retainer.

Why they rank here for attentive sms brands

Lifecycle marketing is available within the a la carte catalog. Lowest vertical depth in this lineup because retention is one of 23-plus services rather than a focused practice, and strategy connecting it to acquisition is generally a separate purchase.

For attentive sms brands specifically

Lifecycle marketing purchasable a la carte, appropriate for a defined SMS project rather than an ongoing program with compliance oversight.

Vertical fit score2.8/5
Vertical depth
2
Channel fit
4
Transparency
2
Size fit
3

Los Angeles, California

Founded Approximately 2014 (states "12 years" as of 2026)

Pricing not published; requires a sales call

Best fit for

Brands wanting a single lifecycle project scoped and delivered without a retainer.

Services offered

Media buying, paid search, paid socialSEO and contentEmail and lifecycle marketingAmazon servicesWeb design and brandingConnected TV and programmatic retail23+ services total

Things to weigh before signing

  • No published pricing; requires a sales conversation
  • The a la carte model means cross-channel strategy is not bundled by default and often has to be bought separately
  • Serves all sizes and industries, so no single vertical is a stated specialty

Self-reported figures (their claims, not verified by us)

  • • 6,000+ brands grown
  • • 23+ services offered
  • • 5 Inc. 5000 listings

Source: hawkemedia.com (accessed 2026-07-29)

How to choose a attentive sms agency

SMS is the highest-permission channel a brand has and the easiest to burn. A text arrives on a lock screen, gets read within minutes, and produces conversion rates email cannot match. It also costs money per message sent rather than effectively nothing, and a subscriber who finds you annoying does not politely ignore you the way an email subscriber does. They opt out, permanently, and you cannot get them back.

That asymmetry should govern how the channel is run, and frequently does not. Because SMS performs well early, brands increase frequency, revenue rises for a quarter, and then list growth stops keeping pace with churn. The per-message cost means an underperforming send is a direct expense, not just an opportunity cost, which changes the calculus on every broadcast you are tempted to add.

Compliance is the other thing that separates this channel from every other retention tool. Consent requirements, quiet hours, and clear opt-out handling are legal obligations with real financial exposure, not best practices. When weighing the five agencies above, ask who treats consent and frequency discipline as central rather than as a checkbox.

What actually separates a good attentive sms agency from a bad one

Consent and compliance handled as a legal matter
SMS marketing carries statutory requirements around consent, identification, quiet hours, and opt-out that create genuine liability when handled carelessly. Ask how the agency documents consent, how list growth mechanics are built, and whether anyone reviews compliance, because enthusiasm about growth tactics without this is a warning sign.
Per-message economics on every send
Unlike email, each message has a direct cost, so a poorly targeted broadcast loses money rather than merely underperforming. Ask whether the agency reports revenue per message sent and cost per message alongside campaign revenue, since that is what reveals whether frequency is helping or quietly eroding margin.
Opt-out rate watched as closely as revenue
Unsubscribes here are effectively permanent and shrink a hard-won asset. A program that grows revenue while churning subscribers faster than it acquires them is consuming itself. Ask what your current opt-out rate per send is and what threshold would cause them to reduce frequency.
Segmentation, because a text to everyone is expensive
Broad sends cost real money and generate opt-outs from people the message did not fit. Behavioral and value-based segmentation matters more here than in email precisely because reach is not free. Ask how narrowly they typically target and what they consider an acceptable audience size for a broadcast.

How we scored this list

Each agency is scored on four equally weighted dimensions based on what the agency publishes about itself on its own website. Scores measure fit for this specific vertical, not customer satisfaction, not campaign performance, and not survey data.

Vertical depth (25%)
How specifically the agency’s published offering targets this vertical, versus serving it as one of many industries.
Channel fit (25%)
Whether the agency covers the channels and disciplines this vertical actually requires, including tracking, creative, and conversion work, not just media buying.
Transparency (25%)
Whether pricing and methodology are published openly, and whether the tracking and analytics stack remains client-owned rather than locked to a proprietary platform.
Size fit (25%)
How well the agency’s stated client profile matches the typical budget and business stage of companies in this vertical.

What this list is not

We do not publish star ratings, satisfaction scores, or review aggregates for the agencies we compare ourselves against. We have not audited their client results. Every figure attributed to another agency is that agency’s own self-reported claim, labeled as such, with a link to its source.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sagum ranked first on a list Sagum publishes?

Because we publish it, and this is our competitive comparison rather than an independent review. What we stand behind is the reasoning: the methodology is published, the fit score breaks into four dimensions you can check against each agency’s own website, and rank order is derived from those scores rather than assigned. Where a competitor genuinely leads a dimension we say so in their entry. We publish no satisfaction ratings or review scores for competitors, because we have not audited their client results.

How often can we text our list?

Less often than early results will tempt you to. SMS converts well enough that increasing frequency reliably lifts revenue in the short term while accelerating opt-outs, and because opt-outs are effectively permanent you are spending down an asset you paid to build. The practical discipline is watching opt-out rate per send against revenue per send and treating a rising opt-out trend as a hard signal rather than an acceptable cost.

What compliance risks should we actually worry about?

Consent is the main one. Text marketing is governed by rules requiring documented express consent, clear identification, honored opt-outs, and respect for quiet hours, and the financial exposure for getting it wrong is real rather than theoretical. This is worth reviewing with counsel rather than relying on an agency’s reassurance, particularly if anyone is proposing aggressive list-building tactics.

Should SMS and email say the same things?

No, and treating them as one calendar wastes both. SMS suits time-sensitive, short, high-urgency messages where immediacy is the point: back in stock, order updates, genuinely limited offers. Email suits explanation, storytelling, browsing, and merchandising. Duplicating email content over SMS incurs a per-message cost for a message the format serves poorly and increases opt-outs.

Is SMS revenue incremental?

Less than the platform reports, for the same reason as email: attribution credits purchases within a window after a message, and those windows overlap with what your paid channels claim. SMS is genuinely powerful, but the honest measurement is a holdout, where a randomized portion of subscribers is suppressed from a send and the difference in purchase behavior is compared.

See what attentive sms marketing looks like when the numbers are clean

Sagum.ai publishes this comparison. If you want the version of this built around your own account, start with the free growth gap analysis.

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Goes to sagum.ai, the company that publishes this page.