One Text Each — write a personal text for everyone on your list
A personalized group text is one message with a name token, like Hi {firstName}, filled in for each person and sent to each one separately. Keep it under 160 plain characters to fit one SMS; one emoji or curly quote drops the limit to 70. Pick an occasion above for a filled-in text, preview and exact count.
Every text says their name.
Pasting this into one message with several people in To still makes a group. Send it to one person at a time.
Batchrunner opens Messages; you tap Send for each recipient.
Free for up to 10 people per send.
The short answer
A personalized group text is one message with a name token, filled in with each person's name and sent in each person's own conversation.
The name token, like "Hi {firstName},", is filled in for each person. The text stays private only if it goes one person per conversation: pasted into one message with ten people in To, it is still a group. A plain SMS holds up to 160 characters; longer texts split into parts of 153. One emoji, curly quote or long dash switches the whole text to Unicode, dropping the limit to 70 (67 per part). Names change the length, so the writer counts with an 8-letter name, not the 3-letter "Sam" in the preview. In the Batchrunner app, a text without a name token opens as one message to the whole batch, which can end up as a group chat; the red warning above catches that before you copy.
What each occasion asks for
Every occasion uses only the fields guests or members ask about most. Empty fields keep a sample value, so the preview never breaks.
| Occasion | Fields | Why those fields |
|---|---|---|
| Party invite | what · day and date · time · where · reply by · your name | Date, place and an RSVP line are the 3 things guests text back about |
| Kids' birthday invite | child's name · age · date · time · where · reply by | Parents need the child's name and an allergy line; texts go to the parent |
| Save the date (wedding) | your names · date · city | No RSVP yet — the formal invite comes later |
| Wedding RSVP request | your names · date · reply by | One question: yes or no, and how many guests |
| Baby or bridal shower | what · date · time · where · reply by | Surprise-safe wording, sent one by one so nobody replies to the guest of honor |
| RSVP reminder | what · reply by | Goes only to people who haven't answered |
| Reunion invite | what · date · where · reply by | Says who you are first — numbers may not be saved after years |
| Team practice change | team · new date · time · place | Asks for "OK" so you know who saw it |
| Rainout | team · date · extra line | Says when the next update comes, to cut repeat questions |
| Church or club event | what · date · time · place | Short, one ask, one reply word |
| Volunteer shift reminder | role · date · time · place | Asks YES to confirm or NO to free the slot |
| Appointment reminder (business) | business name · date · time | Includes "Reply STOP to opt out." |
| Tenant notice | building · date · time · extra line | A heads-up only; formal notice still goes on paper |
| Thank-you | what | Short; no reply needed |
The warnings and what sets them off
| Warning | Shows when | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Red: no name in this text | {firstName} is missing | Tap "Add Hi {firstName}," — each copy then greets its person (and in Batchrunner 2.2, the token opens one conversation per person) |
| Amber: Unicode | Any emoji, curly quote ’ “ ”, long dash – —, … or a letter outside the GSM-7 set | Tap "Fix quotes and dashes", or keep the emoji and accept 70 per SMS |
| Amber: long text | More than 3 SMS segments | Cut it to 1–2 segments |
| Amber: no STOP line | Business occasion without "STOP" | Add "Reply STOP to opt out." (not legal advice — see texting consent basics) |
| Amber: link shortener | bit.ly, tinyurl.com and similar | Use your full link; carriers often filter short links |
How name length changes the count
Take a text that is 139 plain characters without the name; the name it gets changes the count:
| Name in the text | Name length | Text length | SMS segments (GSM-7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam | 3 | 142 | 1 |
| Jonathan | 8 | 147 | 1 |
| Alexandria | 10 | 149 | 1 |
| Maximiliano-José | 16 | 155 (é is in GSM-7) | 1 |
| Christopher-Alexander | 21 | 160 | 1 |
| Any name 22+ letters | 22+ | 161+ | 2 |
If your list has long or double names, keep the text under about 140 characters. What counts as one SMS: SMS character limit.
Why replies sometimes go to everyone
A message sent to several people becomes a group thread when Messages chooses iMessage, MMS or RCS. In those groups, every reply goes to everyone. Only a group SMS sends replies back privately, and you can't pick that. One text per person avoids the question. The name token makes each copy personal; the sending keeps it private.
Send what you wrote
- A few people: copy the text, then send it one at a time with the free send list on text many people individually.
- Your whole list: paste it into Batchrunner. The app swaps in each person's name, opens Messages batch by batch, and keeps track of who's done. You tap Send. In Batchrunner 2.2, include {firstName} to open one conversation per person; without a merge token, a batch can open as a group. Send it one-by-one from your iPhone with Batchrunner
- More wording: see text message templates or the party invitation text page.
Mail merge for text messages
Mail merge in a text usually means one template with each person's first name filled in; if your list is in a spreadsheet, check the spreadsheet before you text it.
Everything in this section
Write one text that greets each person by name, count its SMS length, or start from a counted template.
- One Text Each message writerTool
Write one text that greets each person by name. Pick an occasion, fill in the details, see it as Sam will, and check it fits in one 160-character SMS.
- 42 text message templatesData
42 text message templates in 11 categories, each with its length, encoding and SMS parts. 40 fit in one SMS. Copy one, edit it, or get the CSV.
- SMS character limitTool
One SMS holds 160 plain characters, or just 70 once a single emoji or curly quote gets in. Paste your text to see which character costs you.
Questions people ask
Can you mail merge text messages?
Not inside Messages itself; it has no name merge. Write the text here with {firstName}, then send it one person at a time, or use a send list, a texting service or an app that fills each name. In Batchrunner 2.2, include {firstName} to open one conversation per person; without a merge token, a batch can open as a group.
SMS marketing — is there a way to do something like mail merge in Word?
Yes, with a merge token. The writer shows the text with a sample name and counts it with an 8-letter name. For business texts, only text people who asked for it and include a STOP line.
How do I send a text to multiple people without showing everyone's info?
Send one text per person; that is what keeps it out of a shared group thread. A name token makes each copy personal. In Batchrunner 2.2, include {firstName} to open one conversation per person; without a merge token, a batch can open as a group.
Sources (4)
- 3GPP TS 23.038 (ETSI TS 123 038): GSM-7 alphabet, extension characters, 160/153 and 70/67 limits. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
- Twilio, "What is the SMS character limit?" Checked 4 Nov 2026.
- Apple Support, "Send a group message on your iPhone or iPad" (118236). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
- CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices (2023): opt-out with STOP. Checked 4 Nov 2026.