Free SMS or WhatsApp?
Sending in two clicks on one side, encrypting a conversation on the other.
The SMS goes through the operators' network and reaches any French mobile, including without the recipient having installed anything — and with Envoyer SMS Gratuit, it goes off from your browser, with no account and not the slightest fee. WhatsApp travels over the Internet, encrypts exchanges end-to-end and adds a thousand features, but requires both people to have an account and an app already in place.
The head-to-head, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | SMS | |
|---|---|---|
| What's needed on the recipient's side | A simple mobile is enough, with no account or installation | An active account and the app already in place |
| Connection required | The mobile network alone is enough, data switched off included | Internet access, over Wi-Fi or mobile data |
| Cost and sign-up | Free, with no account to create or app to download | Free to use, but account and app mandatory |
| Type of content | Plain text, 160 characters | Long texts, photos, videos, files and calls |
| Read rate | Immediate alert, opened very quickly in most cases | Variable depending on notifications and actual app use |
To conclude: which one to pick?
Prefer the free SMS when you want to reach someone for sure without knowing what they use, and without installing anything: a first contact, a one-off piece of information, a reminder to someone who isn't in your contacts. WhatsApp remains more suited to a lasting conversation, a file share or when encrypting the content comes above all else — at the cost of an account and an app on both sides.
Your most frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to send a free SMS?
No. With Envoyer SMS Gratuit, sending is done directly from the browser, with no sign-up or app, whereas WhatsApp requires an account on both sides.
Does the SMS arrive without an Internet connection?
Yes. It uses the operator's signalling network and reaches the mobile even when data is disabled.
Envoyez votre SMS gratuit en quelques secondes
Pas de compte à créer, pas de publicité, pas de limite : écrivez votre message, indiquez le mobile, et envoyez-le gratuitement depuis votre navigateur.
Envoyer un SMS gratuit