Twilio is a market-leading communications platform and service (CPaaS) provider that offers an application programming interface (API) that you can use to create voice applications to improve your customer experience and your interactions with partners and suppliers. The platform has a scalable Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system which can respond to customer commands and supports text-to-speech (TTS) in hundreds of languages. In addition, with the Twilio Voice Software Development Kit (SDK), businesses can quickly construct scalable, WebRTC-powered voice applications that consistently perform across all web browsers and internet-capable devices.
However, Twilio subscribers tend to complain about the high price tag associated with the native product—and its call rates in particular. In this article, we’ll look at eight of the best alternatives to Twilio that offer the same or similar functionality but at a price level that won’t raise an eyebrow or drain your wallet.
1. BYOC for Twilio
Bring Your Own Carrier or BYOC, a native Twilio alternative, enables businesses to overcome the limitations of off-the-shelf cloud telephony solutions. It allows organizations to select the cloud platform that best fulfills their needs, while supporting it with a familiar, reputable, and trusted communications carrier. BYOC simplifies the management and control of cloud communications and allows businesses to build highly customized communications solutions that are uniquely tailored to their requirements.
Twilio platform offers a Bring Your Own Carrier option that subscribers can use as an alternative to the core service. Twilio BYOC trunking lets you bring your own carrier and add it as part of your communication setup while unlocking the agility, scalability, and global reach that Twilio is known for.
IDT BYOC for Twilio enables you to route your Twilio calls with confidence through one of the world’s largest direct telecommunication networks that is trusted by all major telecommunications companies. With IDT, you can control your call routing and phone numbers for cost, coverage, or compliance and extend your reach to multiple markets.
By adding IDT’s platinum grade Tier 1 voice quality to your Twilio calls, you get access to IDT’s fully redundant secure private network, which ensures seamless connectivity and maximum uptime. Customized routing options are available to meet your requirements, including national termination in 100+ countries globally.
What’s more, by leveraging IDT’s big telco buying prowess, you gain access to unmatched global calling rates compared to Twilio’s pricing. In fact, you can save as much as 50% on your Twilio Voice bill by plugging IDT into the Twilio platform while continuing to use Twilio for all the other features that you like.
2. Bandwidth
In its Communications Platform as a Service offering, Bandwidth provides a full suite of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) covering voice, messaging, and Emergency Services (9-1-1) applications. Businesses can employ Bandwidth APIs to add calling, texting, and 9-1-1 connectivity to software, applications, and internet-connected devices.
The company operates its own carrier-grade Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony network, which acts as the foundation for its CPaaS offerings. Bandwidth offers a free trial, and industry reviewers generally agree that the platform is easier to set up and administer than Twilio and provides better support.
Bandwidth’s UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) platform is a strong alternative to Twilio for several reasons, especially for businesses looking for comprehensive voice, messaging, and integration services:
1. Cost Efficiency
- Bandwidth often provides more competitive pricing for voice and messaging services compared to Twilio. Since Bandwidth owns and operates its own nationwide VoIP network, it can keep costs lower and pass those savings on to customers.
- Direct Carrier Access: As a registered carrier, Bandwidth can offer better call quality and reduced latency, which can contribute to a better customer experience at a potentially lower cost.
2. Network Ownership and Control
- Bandwidth’s control over its own network infrastructure gives it a unique advantage in terms of reliability, customization, and troubleshooting.
- For clients that require reliable voice and messaging, this ownership model may help Bandwidth address potential issues more efficiently than a non-carrier-based provider like Twilio, which must often rely on third-party networks.
3. Enhanced SIP and Messaging Integration
- SIP Trunking Flexibility: Bandwidth offers strong SIP trunking support, making it easy to integrate with existing communication platforms, CRM systems, and PBX setups, which is ideal for businesses looking to modernize legacy systems without a full replacement.
- Messaging Options: Bandwidth’s robust messaging APIs support SMS, MMS, and RCS, offering flexibility across different messaging needs while maintaining carrier-grade quality and compliance.
4. Regulatory Compliance and Security
- Regulatory Requirements: Bandwidth is well-suited for industries requiring strict compliance (e.g., healthcare, finance) due to its experience in regulatory compliance, including adherence to HIPAA and other standards.
- Security Focus: As an FCC-regulated carrier, Bandwidth maintains a high level of security, which may be beneficial for businesses that handle sensitive information or require a secure UCaaS environment.
5. Scalability and Support
- Scalability: For businesses planning to grow or with high-call-volume needs, Bandwidth offers the infrastructure and scalability to support complex communication systems, helping companies avoid the “growing pains” sometimes associated with scaling.
- Dedicated Support and Onboarding: Bandwidth provides dedicated onboarding and customer support, which can be beneficial for businesses seeking a hands-on partner as they transition and grow their communication infrastructure.
6. Customization for Enterprise Needs
- Bandwidth is well-known for allowing a more customized UCaaS experience, enabling clients to tailor solutions around specific use cases, industry requirements, and branding needs. This can make it a better fit for enterprises looking for a high level of control over their communication systems.
3. Nextiva
Nextiva is another Twilio alternative that offers a range of smart automation tools designed to help businesses increase efficiency and create stronger customer relationships while retaining the human touch. Nextiva’s intelligent automation enables enterprises to create simple automatic time-savers or complex series of tasks. Nextiva extends the voice functionality of its platform over the web, iPhone, and Android.
Nextiva’s set of intelligent automation tools includes automatic welcome emails, which promotional teams can use to send automated welcome messages, surveys, campaigns, and other materials. Automatic follow-ups and check-ins help marketers send friendly reminders to prospects and customers. Nextiva offers a selection of pre-built templates to get users started quickly.
Here’s how Nextiva can stand out as an alternative to Twilio:
1. Unified Communication and CRM Integration
- All-in-One Platform: Nextiva combines UCaaS capabilities with a built-in CRM, enabling seamless communication and customer relationship management from a single interface. This can be a significant advantage over Twilio, especially for small to medium-sized businesses that prefer an all-in-one solution.
- Customer Journey Insights: Nextiva’s CRM focuses on tracking the customer journey, giving businesses a 360-degree view of interactions, which can streamline workflows, improve customer service, and help personalize engagements.
2. Ease of Use
- User-Friendly Interface: Nextiva is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it simpler for teams to set up and use. Its platform is accessible for non-technical users, which can reduce the need for specialized development resources that Twilio’s API-driven platform often requires.
- Ready-to-Use Tools: Unlike Twilio, which requires custom API work to build communication features, Nextiva provides out-of-the-box solutions for voice, messaging, video conferencing, and team collaboration, making it ideal for teams that want to hit the ground running.
3. Comprehensive Voice and Collaboration Tools
- Integrated Voice and Video: Nextiva’s UCaaS platform includes HD voice and video calling, conferencing, and team messaging capabilities, along with features like call recording, call analytics, and AI-driven call insights.
- Collaboration Features: In addition to calling and messaging, Nextiva offers tools like task management, screen sharing, and file sharing within team messaging channels, which Twilio doesn’t natively provide as part of its UCaaS offering.
4. Enhanced Customer Support
- Award-Winning Customer Service: Nextiva is well-regarded for its responsive, award-winning support team. They provide onboarding, 24/7 support, and ongoing training, which can be a major asset for companies that want a dedicated partner.
- Tailored Account Management: For larger organizations, Nextiva offers dedicated account management, helping clients optimize their setup and maximize the platform’s benefits. Twilio’s support is solid, but businesses needing extra guidance may find Nextiva’s hands-on approach more helpful.
5. Advanced Analytics and Reporting
- Customer Analytics: Nextiva’s advanced analytics dashboard allows businesses to track customer engagement, call data, and employee productivity. This data-driven approach can help businesses make informed decisions about improving customer interactions.
- AI and Automation: Nextiva leverages AI for call insights, predictive modeling, and workflow automation, which can enhance customer service efficiency and free up teams to focus on high-impact tasks. Twilio offers AI capabilities too, but it often requires a level of customization.
6. Reliable Infrastructure with Redundancy
- Network Reliability: Nextiva has a highly reliable network, ensuring stable uptime and call quality. For companies that prioritize reliability, Nextiva’s infrastructure is robust enough to handle enterprise-grade needs.
- Data Security and Compliance: Nextiva complies with industry standards for security and data privacy, which is crucial for businesses handling sensitive data. Twilio is also secure but often requires more configuration to meet specific compliance needs.
7. Cost-Effectiveness for Comprehensive Service
- Nextiva offers straightforward pricing plans, making it easier for businesses to anticipate costs. For companies seeking an all-in-one platform, Nextiva’s predictable pricing model can provide more clarity compared to Twilio’s pay-as-you-go and per-feature approach, which can add up as more APIs are used.
In Summary:
Nextiva is ideal for companies that prefer a unified, user-friendly platform with built-in CRM and advanced collaboration tools. While Twilio is excellent for highly customized, API-driven applications, Nextiva is often a better choice for businesses prioritizing ease of use, reliability, and integrated customer management without requiring extensive technical resources.
4. Infobip
Infobip‘s flexible and programmable API stack allows organizations to integrate any communication channel or module into their business workflows. Its customer data platform empowers businesses to enhance their communications with a fully integrated contact center, marketing automation, and chatbot-building solutions.
Optimized for quick response, industry reviewers consider Infobip easier to administer and better at support than Twilio – but the platform is slower in delivering a Return On Investment (ROI).
Here are some key reasons Infobip stands out as a Twilio alternative:
1. Omnichannel Communication Suite
- Comprehensive Channel Support: Infobip offers SMS, email, voice, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Line, and RCS, all in a single platform. This makes it a great choice for businesses that want to reach customers on their preferred channel without integrating multiple providers.
- Unified Platform for Customer Journeys: Infobip’s platform is designed to streamline customer interactions across channels, which can make it easier to create cohesive, multichannel customer journeys compared to Twilio, where each channel often requires separate integration.
2. Global Reach with Localized Expertise
- Strong International Presence: Infobip is especially advantageous for businesses with global communication needs. With local offices in many regions and deep partnerships with carriers worldwide, Infobip can offer reliable local support and competitive rates for international messaging.
- Localized Messaging and Compliance: Infobip’s global reach includes expertise in local compliance, regulations, and requirements for international messaging, making it easier to stay compliant with country-specific rules—a key consideration for businesses expanding internationally.
3. User-Friendly, Integrated Tools for Campaign Management
- Visual Campaign Builder: Infobip provides a drag-and-drop campaign builder that allows users to design multichannel campaigns visually without needing extensive coding. This is ideal for businesses that want to quickly deploy campaigns and optimize customer journeys with minimal technical effort.
- Advanced Customer Segmentation: With Infobip, businesses can segment their audience by location, demographics, engagement, and other factors, which helps tailor messaging and maximize impact. Twilio’s segmentation is customizable but requires additional setup to achieve similar outcomes.
4. Enterprise-Grade Security and Compliance
- Robust Security Standards: Infobip maintains high standards for data protection, including GDPR compliance, ISO certifications, and more, ensuring that sensitive customer data remains secure.
- Regulatory Compliance: Infobip’s focus on industry and region-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA compliance for healthcare clients) can be a big advantage over Twilio for businesses prioritizing compliance and security across channels.
5. Reliable Messaging Delivery and Quality Control
- Direct Carrier Connections: Infobip has established direct connections with carriers around the world, ensuring faster and more reliable message delivery, even in regions with challenging telecom environments. This direct routing often translates to fewer delays, better delivery rates, and a more reliable communication experience.
- Real-Time Delivery Tracking and Analytics: Infobip offers detailed delivery tracking and reporting, enabling businesses to monitor message performance in real time. This feature can be beneficial for campaign optimization and delivery accuracy, providing more transparency than Twilio’s standard delivery insights.
6. Customizable APIs with Rich Features
- Developer-Friendly APIs: Infobip provides robust APIs for SMS, voice, email, and chat applications, allowing developers to integrate Infobip into existing applications seamlessly. Like Twilio, Infobip’s APIs are highly customizable, making it suitable for businesses with specific development needs.
- Support for Advanced Use Cases: Infobip’s APIs are built to handle more complex use cases, such as two-factor authentication (2FA), mobile number portability lookup, and transactional alerts, which can benefit security-focused applications.
5. MessageBird
Billing itself as “An omnichannel communications platform, built for global scale, Bird is a CPaaS provider dedicated to enabling businesses to enhance their customer experience by developing voice applications through a selection of auto-scaling APIs with extensive documentation, complete API references, and intuitive Software Development Kits. The platform aims to enable businesses to meet their communication challenges via SMS, Voice, and Conversations APIs.
MessageBird’s selection of pre-built SDKs includes client and server libraries in various programming languages, including Node, PHP, and Java. The company also provides pre-built integrations for Salesforce, Shopify, Zendesk, Zapier, and other popular business platforms. “Quickstart tutorials” provide step-by-step guidelines for developers. Here’s why Bird could be a great option:
1. Omnichannel Communication Capabilities
- Wide Channel Support: Bird supports SMS, voice, WhatsApp, Instagram Direct, Facebook Messenger, Google Business Messages, and more within a unified platform. This makes it ideal for businesses looking for a seamless way to manage customer interactions across multiple platforms.
- Flow Builder: Bird’s visual drag-and-drop automation tool allows businesses to create customer journeys across channels easily, reducing reliance on developers to build complex workflows.
2. User-Friendly Interface and Tools
- Unified Inbox: Bird’s omnichannel inbox allows customer service teams to manage all conversations from a single interface, regardless of the communication channel. This feature enhances team productivity and improves customer experience.
- Rich Messaging Features: For chat-based channels like WhatsApp and Instagram, Bird enables businesses to use rich media (images, buttons, and carousels) to create engaging customer interactions.
3. Focus on Conversational Messaging
- Conversational API: Bird’s conversational API enables businesses to merge multiple chat apps into a single thread, creating a more natural flow of communication for customers and agents.
- Two-Way Messaging: Whether through SMS or chat apps, Bird makes it easy for businesses to have meaningful two-way conversations, ideal for customer support or engagement.
Key Advantages Over Twilio
- Unified Customer Engagement: Bird’s focus on conversational messaging and seamless omnichannel journeys sets it apart from Twilio, which often requires additional development effort to achieve similar results.
- Simpler Automation: With tools like Flow Builder, Bird offers intuitive ways to automate complex workflows, making it easier for non-technical teams to use.
- Cost Efficiency for Global Campaigns: For businesses with significant international messaging needs, Bird’s direct carrier partnerships and transparent pricing often lead to lower costs than Twilio.
6. Plivo
Rated #1 in satisfaction for cloud communication platform providers by G2, Plivo has business subscribers in more than 190 countries and is a great Twilio alternative to consider. Plivo enables developers to create complex applications which are simple by design by taking a consultative approach to engagement. The service offers global SMS and voice calls for businesses of all sizes.
Industry reviewers generally agree that Plivo is easier to set up and administer than Twilio and easier to use. Efficient call tracking and recording facilities allow businesses to customize their conference calls and notification systems. Plivo’s highly responsive API makes the implementation of call control easily programmable in projects. Here’s a detailed comparison highlighting why Plivo could be an excellent choice:
1. Developer-Friendly APIs
- Comprehensive API Suite: Plivo offers APIs for SMS, MMS, voice, call forwarding, call recording, and conferencing, enabling developers to integrate communication features into applications easily.
- Simple SDKs: Plivo’s SDKs for Python, Ruby, PHP, Node.js, Java, and more make it easy for developers to start building quickly, with clear documentation and tutorials to streamline implementation.
2. Real-Time Analytics and Reporting
- Detailed Insights: Plivo provides real-time analytics for voice and messaging campaigns, allowing businesses to monitor performance, track delivery, and optimize communication strategies.
- Error Reporting: Developers can use detailed error codes to troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly.
3. Easy Scalability
- Built for Scale: Plivo’s platform is designed to handle high-volume messaging and voice traffic, making it a great fit for growing businesses and enterprises.
- Auto-Scaling Features: Plivo’s infrastructure automatically scales with demand, ensuring reliability even during traffic spikes.
Key Advantages Over Twilio
- Lower Costs: Plivo’s pricing is often more competitive, especially for international SMS and voice services.
- Simpler Pricing Model: Plivo offers transparent and predictable pricing, reducing the complexity associated with Twilio’s variable costs.
- Focused Features: While Twilio supports a broader range of APIs, Plivo excels in delivering reliable and scalable voice and messaging solutions without unnecessary overhead.
7. Telnyx
Telnxy has been one of the top picks of business communication platform users and is a great Twilio alternative. The Telnyx voice API allows developers to build Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems that capture both touch-tone (DTMF) and voice inputs from customers interacting with an application. To minimize latency issues, the platform uses an edge-stack approach to route data via the closest server to each application
The Telnyx API lets users receive commands dynamically throughout a call for granular-level, interactive command and control. To increase call clarity and security, the platform uses a private global IP network that is purpose-built for real-time communications. Users can switch on advanced Artificial Intelligence features with simple API commands or fork media in real-time to feed advanced AI models. Here’s why Telnyx stands out:
1. Programmable Messaging
- Global SMS and MMS: Telnyx provides scalable messaging services with competitive pricing, high delivery rates, and support for two-way messaging in many regions.
- Rich Messaging Features: Support for SMS, MMS, and messaging over platforms like WhatsApp and Viber makes Telnyx a great choice for businesses that want omnichannel communication capabilities.
- Short Codes and Long Codes: Telnyx offers both short codes for high-volume messaging and long codes for personalized communication.
2. Developer-Friendly Platform
- Comprehensive APIs: Telnyx offers APIs for voice, messaging, fax, number management, and wireless connectivity. These APIs are well-documented and designed for ease of use.
- Multi-Language SDKs: Telnyx supports popular programming languages like Python, Ruby, Java, and Node.js, enabling developers to integrate features quickly.
- Self-Service Portal: Telnyx’s Mission Control Portal allows users to manage services, monitor usage, and scale resources with ease.
3. Advanced Features
- Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC): Telnyx allows businesses to integrate their existing telecom providers with its platform, providing flexibility for hybrid setups.
- WebRTC Capabilities: Telnyx supports WebRTC for real-time communication, making it a great choice for building browser-based voice or video applications.
- Programmable Fax and IoT Connectivity: Telnyx offers APIs for fax services and IoT SIM cards, broadening its appeal beyond traditional communication use cases.
Key Advantages Over Twilio
- Better Pricing: Telnyx offers competitive rates for voice and messaging services, making it more cost-effective for businesses with high traffic.
- Private Network: Its private backbone ensures higher quality and reliability for calls and messages compared to Twilio’s use of public internet routes.
- Comprehensive Self-Service Portal: Telnyx’s Mission Control Portal simplifies managing services, while Twilio often requires external tools or integrations.
- Flexible BYOC Option: Businesses with existing telecom setups can benefit from Telnyx’s flexibility to integrate their own carriers.
8. Vonage Communications APIs (formerly Nexmo)
Formerly known as Nexmo, Vonage Communications APIs offers a range of Application Programming Interfaces, each with a specific function in mind.
Using the low latency, carrier-grade Vonage network, the Voice API enables businesses to deliver high-quality voice experiences for live interactive video calls, virtual tech support, telehealth appointments, remote learning, and other applications. The Video API facilitates the staging of fully programmable and customizable live video sessions.
The Vonage SMS API empowers organizations to automate the sending and receiving of text messages in most countries. Its functionality extends to real-time messaging on popular social applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber.
Finally, the Verify API allows businesses to use two-factor authentication and security protocols to prevent hackers and bots and easily validate customers worldwide at scale. Here’s why Vonage could be a great option:
1. Broad Communication Capabilities
- Omnichannel Messaging: Vonage supports SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, and more, making it ideal for businesses looking to engage customers across multiple platforms.
- Programmable Voice and Video: In addition to messaging, Vonage provides APIs for voice calls and video conferencing, allowing businesses to build interactive and engaging communication solutions.
- Unified Communication API: Vonage consolidates multiple communication channels into a single API, reducing integration complexity.
2. Rich Messaging Features
- Two-Way Messaging: Vonage supports two-way messaging across SMS, WhatsApp, and other channels, ideal for customer support and engagement.
- Personalized Messaging: Businesses can send targeted, personalized messages using Vonage’s APIs, enhancing customer engagement.
- Short Codes and Long Codes: Vonage offers short codes for bulk campaigns and long codes for conversational messaging.
3. Video and Unified Communication Solutions
- Vonage Video API: Vonage excels in video communication with APIs for HD video calls, live streaming, and webinars, making it ideal for telehealth, education, and remote work applications.
- Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS): Vonage’s all-in-one communication platform combines voice, video, and messaging for seamless collaboration.
Key Advantages Over Twilio
- Stronger Video Capabilities: Vonage’s video API offers advanced features like real-time transcription and multi-party conferencing, which are more robust than Twilio’s video options.
- Streamlined Omnichannel Support: With a single API for multiple channels, Vonage reduces the complexity of integrating various communication tools compared to Twilio.
- Competitive Pricing: Vonage often provides better pricing for voice, video, and messaging services, especially for high-volume use cases.
A Final Word…
Remember, Twilio is still the gold standard when it comes to the best CPaaS providers. If you choose to remain on your beloved Twilio platform, you have the option of plugging in IDT into your Twilio account using BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) and saving up to 50% on Twilio Programmable Voice. Furthermore, if you’d like to run a price analysis on the options available to you as alternatives to Twilio, visit our price calculator.
