Key takeaways

  • Startups that have a desire to establish international communications using VoIP and SMS APIs will find that Twilio can be the more expensive service for this particular feature.
  • Take your business’s needs into account when considering Twilio or these  alternatives and deciding whether any of them will be a good fit for you.

Twilio is a leading communications platform that supports voice or SMS marketing for existing applications and offers an intuitive way to create fully editable application programming interfaces (APIs). Despite being one of the most-known titles in the space, there are a number of Twilio Competitors which are also worth a look.

With all of its strengths and features, there are plenty of Communications Platforms as a Service (CPaaS) alternatives to Twilio that also employ a customizable API structure for your business. These user-friendly platforms are formidable alternatives that can match or best Twilio’s existing interface.

ALSO READ: Best SMS Marketing Platforms

Twilio is one of the more widely used CPaaS platforms available today, however it isn’t without its faults, which through steady usage of the software, becomes very apparent. 

Startup businesses attempting to bolster their performance by using voice and SMS APIs may find that Twilio comes at a higher cost that isn’t manageable due to budget constraints. 

Twilio lacks free incoming SMS and free support team coverage, which comes at a cost to your business. CPaaS competitors have taken these drawbacks into consideration and added robust features with more user-friendly interfaces that may give Twilio a run for its money.

The Twilio competitors outlined in this article are just a few of the solutions that are currently available on the market. Take your business’ needs into account when considering these Twilio alternatives and determine whether any of them will be a good fit for you. 

ALSO READ: Using CRM to Improve Customer Engagement 2023

Twilio alternatives

Twilio offers a multitude of benefits that include SMS and MMS messaging, voice calling, video communication and email. Additionally, the platform offers omnichannel communication support and local toll-free phone numbers for both mobile and national communications. Twilio also employs short codes to handle high volume MMS and SMS texting, which lifts some of the burden that your team may otherwise feel the pressure of. 

Where Twilio falls short is its lack of coverage in some countries, non-free SMS messaging, and the need for more in-depth customer service and support. The cost of Twilio may also be outside the budget of some smaller startups, meaning a competitor may be the answer. 

Some alternative vendors include:

Vonage API: Best for the authentication of APIs and the verification of number insights. 

MessageBird: Best for omnichannel inboxes. 

Bandwidth: Best for call transcriptions, text-to-speech, and recording. 

Sinch: Best for SDK development.  

Telnyx: Best for networking APIs and world-wide data transfer.

Vonage API: Best for authentication of APIs and number insights

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Pros

  • Broad range of communications APIs
  • Developer friendly
  • Designed to scale

Cons

  • Frequent SDK updates
  • Complex error handling

Vonage is a CPaaS that prioritizes API messaging, which is perhaps its greatest strength. Vonage simplifies SMS and MMS messages with many popular social media platforms into a single API. These social media platforms include WhatsApp, Viber Messaging, and Facebook.

The platform authenticates APIs by verifying users. It also excels in providing real-time data on phone numbers ranging from phone carrier to likely user contact information.

Vonage is ideal for companies that want to extend their coverage and connect to various carriers at a reasonable cost while maintaining constant connections to those carriers.

  • WhatsApp, Viber Messaging and Facebook Integration
  • Live Website Chat 
  • Video Messaging 
  • Voice Calling 

 

MessageBird – Best for omnichannel inboxes

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Pros

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Flow builder
  • Global coverage
  • 24/7 support

Cons

  • Limited documentation
  • Inconsistent delivery rates for SMS

MessageBird is a cloud-based messaging platform that enables businesses to choose which communication channels and services will be integrated into a single inbox by providing them with an exceptional omnichannel communication experience. 

One of MessageBird’s popular features is called Flow Builder, which is a tool that makes it easy to customize auto-replies and automate various workflows. Users can build their own templates by using Flow Builder or selecting from a variety of pre-made templates to simplify certain actions like forwarding SMS messages to email. 

MessageBird is ideal for companies considering an omnichannel inbox in order to connect with their customers on as many channels as possible. MessageBird also allows users to experience the platform at no cost, with access to a maximum of 50 active contacts per month. This gives companies the opportunity to see if MessageBird is a good fit before opening their wallet.

  • Video Conferencing 
  • Local and Toll-Free Phone Numbers
  • Instagram Messaging API
  • Google Business Messages 
  • Two-way Chat Messaging with Push Notifications 

 

Sinch – Best for SDK development

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Pros

  • Rich communication services (RCS)
  • Personalized video service
  • Advanced analytics

Cons

  • Limited integration guides
  • Lack of clarity in billing
  • Limited feature in free tier

Sinch is a communications platform that easily tracks with developers who are looking for more flexibility when using the platform. With Sinch, users can make calls, messages and verifying APIs far less difficult. 

What makes Sinch exceptional is that in addition to giving developers the ability to create connections using the API, it also provides them with a set of software-building tools for the platform itself. These software-building tools are synonymous with software development kits (SDKs) and present developers with a framework that they can use to integrate full code libraries while adding additional search functionality.  

Sinch is ideal for businesses needing additional development options than are often available with customizable APIs. This is because Sinch gives developers the option to use SDKs for a more robust framework allowing users to create what they need. 

  • SMS, MMS and Toll-Free SMS Messaging 
  • Group SMS Messaging and Short Codes
  • Video API
  • Authentication API

 

Bandwidth – Best for call transcriptions, text-to-speech, and recording

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Pros

  • Direct-to-carrier network
  • Nationwide 911 connectivity
  • Strong developer support

Cons

  • Limited global reach
  • Limited advanced messaging features
  • Porting delays

Bandwidth is a cloud-ready communications platform that offers a number of communication APIs. The software features voice calling, messaging, and emergency services as part of its overall package. 

Bandwidth’s voice API allows for the customization of automatic call routing, along with active recording, call transcriptions, call tracking, and text-to-speech capabilities. Additionally, Bandwidth registers delivery receipts and updates as they come, as well as SMS surveys, SMS to email, as well as SMS notifications and reminders. Bandwidth provides live text message notifications and detailed insights making it a solid choice for developers that work with public-facing applications.

  • SMS, MMS and Toll Free SMS Messaging
  • Higher Level of Support and Connection Quality 
  • Free Inbound Texts 
  • Carrier-Direct Voice
  • Emergency Calling API
  • Video API

 

Telynx – Best for Networking APIs and World-Wide Data Transfer

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Pros

  • Own private network
  • Mission control portal
  • Global reach

Cons

  • Pricing transparency
  • Complex interface

Telnyx is a communications platform which provides API solutions and gives businesses the ability to access voice calling and SMS messaging. 

Telnyx manages calls in a private network, which offers a layer of added security and users experience significantly higher call quality when using this platform. The communications API provider also has a feature called Call Control. Simply put, Call Control has the ability to automate call features companies need for a smoother hands-off experience. The software assists voice workflows into any business’s custom applications.Telnyx is ideal for businesses that require daily live support. Communication channels are finely tuned with this platform, and this makes it much easier to stay ahead of call control. 

  • Free 24/7 Customer Support
  • Offers Faxing
  • SMS and MMS Messaging 
  • Video Communication
  • Reduced Costs When Compared to Twilio 
  • In-App Calling and Texting

 

Twilio limitations

Twilio is commonly known to connect organizations with their client base on their preferred platform, but they are not alone in offering these services. Startups that have a desire to establish international communications using VoIP and SMS APIs will find that Twilio can be the more expensive service for this particular feature. Additionally, Twilio lacks cost-free incoming SMS and free live support teams.

ALSO READ: 12 Amazing Product Marketing Tools for Customer Engagement

Choosing the right alternative to Twilio

There are a large number of API and communications platforms for competitors to choose from when Twilio doesn’t seem like the perfect platform. 

When it comes to simplifying SMS and MMS messages with many popular social media platforms into a single API, Vonage API is a good alternative and for flexibility, MessageBird and its ability to provide an omnichannel inbox for connecting with customers is a no-brainer. 

If your business needs additional development options through customizable APIs, Sinch would be a good bet for you. Meanwhile, Bandwidth has an advantage over Twilio when it comes to its ability to provide live text message notifications and detailed insights, which developers will find very useful. 

Finally, Telnyx trumps Twilio by offering free 24/7 customer support, in-app calling and texting, and is one of the cheaper communications platforms in today’s market. 

There are more Twilio competitors that aren’t mentioned in this article, and you may find that the featured alternatives still aren’t the best fit for your business. If you’re still looking, check out our VoIP Software Buyer’s Guide.

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Chris Mellides
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Chris Mellides is a native New Yorker, multimedia journalist, editor, and copywriter. Mellides frequently contributes to TechnologyAdvice, where he covers topics including customer relationship management (CRM), and project management (PM). He spends his time digging through the latest CRM and PM software titles as well as user reviews to stay informed of the best product choices in today’s crowded marketplace. Mellides first cut his teeth reporting for the ninth largest weekly newspaper in the country more than 15 years ago. Since then, his work has been featured in local media and magazines spanning many different industries around the globe. He continues to engage in magazine writing, and hyperlocal news coverage as well.