RCS vs Email, line by line.
Every dimension, both sides. Search to jump to what matters, hover a row to focus it.
Minutes, in the phone’s inbox
Hours to days
Commonly 15-30%
Typically a few percent
Short, time-sensitive, action-oriented
Long-form, newsletters, documents
Not designed for it
Attachments, permanent, searchable
RCS-capable phones, with SMS fallback
Any email address
Email’s strengths are reach to any address, rich layout, attachments, and permanence. RCS’s strengths are speed, native-inbox attention, verified identity, and one-tap actions. They work best together rather than as substitutes.
- RCS click-through commonly runs 15-30%, well above typical email click rates of a few percent (industry benchmarks).
RCS vs Email, common questions.
Can RCS replace email marketing?
For time-sensitive, high-intent messages like order updates, alerts, and offers, RCS reaches customers faster and is opened far more often than email. Email still suits long newsletters and attachments, so most brands use both.
Why do RCS messages get opened more than email?
RCS lands in the phone’s messaging inbox, which people check constantly, from a verified business sender. There is no spam folder and no promotions tab to bury it.
Is RCS harder to set up than email?
Setup involves carrier verification of your brand, which SimplyRCS handles for you. After that, sending is as simple as email, with richer cards and buttons.
Compare RCS with another channel.
Nine head-to-heads, including the one you are reading.