Every channel has a job it does best
The question is not “which is best” but “which fits this message”. Here are the practical differences.
The strongest channel in the Egyptian and Arab market: rich media and button messages, a 24/7 auto-reply bot, and per-number delivery and read reports.
- check_circleLink any number via QR or the Meta Business API
- check_circleMedia, buttons and a product catalog
- check_circleAn AI bot that answers in Arabic
SMS
Widest reachReaches every phone even with no internet, under a branded sender name with live DLR delivery reports — through a global provider or your own SIM.
- check_circleA sender name carrying your brand
- check_circleAndroid SIM gateway with no per-message fee
- check_circleTop priority delivery for OTP codes
Long, richly formatted messages at near-zero cost per thousand recipients, with DKIM authentication and a branded tracking domain that lifts inbox placement.
- check_circleDrag-and-drop editor with ready templates
- check_circleDKIM, SPF and a custom tracking domain
- check_circleLive open and click tracking
What are you sending, and where?
| Message type | Suggested channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Verification / login code | smsSMS | Arrives in seconds with no internet — WhatsApp as fallback. |
| Promotion or sale | chatWhatsApp | Images, buttons and an open rate no other channel matches. |
| Order confirmation & tracking | chatWhatsApp | The customer can reply in the same thread if anything is unclear. |
| Monthly newsletter or long-form | mailEmail | Unlimited space and near-zero cost per thousand. |
| Appointment reminder | smsSMS | Read on the lock screen without opening an app. |
| Invoice or formal document | mailEmail | Attachments and a permanent, searchable record. |
Treat this as a starting point, not a rule — your audience decides. Start with the suggestion, compare the reports after the first two weeks, and adjust on the numbers.
One message, with a fallback when it does not land
Send on WhatsApp first. If it is not delivered within the window you set, Mersal re-sends over SMS to the same number automatically — so you reach the most people without paying for two channels per customer.
Write once
One message with name and order variables; Mersal prepares the right variant per channel.
Pick the audience
Segment by attributes, orders or tags — or upload a ready list.
Order the channels
Choose the primary and fallback channels and how long to wait before switching.
Compare results
One report showing delivery, reads and replies per channel, side by side.
Questions that come up before choosing
Which channel should I start with on a tight budget?expand_more
Start with WhatsApp. Its open rate is the highest by a wide margin, and one channel covers confirmations, promotions and support at once — so you pay for one channel and cover three needs. Add SMS next for verification codes and urgent alerts, and keep email for newsletters once your list grows.
Can I use all three channels in one campaign?expand_more
Yes. Write the message once in Mersal, pick your audience, and select the channels to send on. Each channel receives the variant that suits it automatically, and the reports land in one dashboard that compares them side by side.
What happens if the customer is not on WhatsApp?expand_more
You can enable a fallback channel: if a WhatsApp message is not delivered within the window you set, Mersal automatically re-sends it over SMS to the same number. This raises real reach without paying twice for every customer.
Do I need a separate gateway or account per channel?expand_more
No. One Mersal account runs all three channels. You can connect multiple gateways for the same channel (several WhatsApp numbers, or more than one SMS provider) and spread sending across them — all from the same dashboard.
Does pricing differ per channel?expand_more
Your plan gives you one balance to spend on any channel; what differs is the per-message cost: email is cheapest, WhatsApp sits in the middle, and SMS depends on the provider and country. If you use the Android gateway with your own SIM, SMS costs whatever your SIM costs with no per-message fee.