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Add Images to SMS Messages

Use this guide to add images and GIFs to your SMS messages so you can send visually engaging, branded communications to your subscribers.

Table of Contents

How It Works

When you add an image or GIF to a text message, it automatically converts to an MMS message. You can add images directly in the campaign or flow editor.

  1. Open the Campaign or Flow editor.
  2. Click + Add more and select Image/GIF.
  3. Add your image in one of two ways:
    1. Drag and drop your file into the upload box.
    2. Click Product images to pull images directly from your Shopify store. You can search by product name.
  4. To replace or remove an image, hover over the image element in the editor and use the controls that appear.

IM1a

 

 

Note: Each message can contain a maximum of one text element and one image element. To include additional images, add a separate message block.

 

IM2

 


IM3

Supported File Types & Size Requirements

Type Supported Formats Max Size
Image JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP (converted to JPEG on upload) 25 MB
GIF GIF (no sound supported) 500 KB

Keep image files as small as possible — 200 KB or under is recommended for best delivery speed. Exceeding the size limits will prevent the file from uploading or cause the message to fail delivery.

Image Orientation & Dimensions

 

Images that exceed the recommended dimensions may be cropped on the recipient's device, requiring them to tap to expand.

Character Limit for MMS Messages

When a message is converted to MMS (by adding an image or GIF), the character limit increases from the standard SMS limit to 1,000 characters.

If you need more text, add a separate message block — either a plain SMS or another MMS with an image.

Best Practices

Required:

  • Stay within the 500 KB GIF size limit. Larger files will fail to upload or deliver.

Recommended:

  • Use square (1:1) or vertical (9:16) images — these display best across most mobile devices.
  • Keep images under 200 KB to improve delivery speed.
  • Use short GIF animations. Long GIFs are often skipped before they finish playing.
  • Keep GIF content simple — product shots, collection banners, or promotional graphics work best.
  • Stick to a consistent image size once you find what works for your brand.

 

 

Recart_Add_Images_

Avoid:

  • Adding images or GIFs to welcome flows or time-sensitive messages. MMS delivery can be delayed by several hours compared to standard SMS.
  • Sending landscape images unless necessary — they are less optimized for mobile viewports.

What's Next

Once you've added images to your messages, you can:

If you have questions, contact our Customer Support team — we're happy to help.