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Looking for the best Twilio alternatives? This article brings to you a list of carefully hand-picked 10 communication API platforms that can replace Twilio’s features from your apps.
We’ll focus on the criteria like pricing and features to help you take your in-app conversations a step further. Without any further ado, let’s dive right into the details:
Table of Contents
List of Best 10 Twilio Alternatives & Competitors in 2023
Here are some of the top 10 best Twilio Alternatives and Competitors are MirrorFly, Agora, GetStream, PubNub, Vonage, Cometchat, Sinch, Bandwidth, etc… choose your provider today based on their features, pricing, and more.
The table below lists the best alternatives to Twilio and outlines their top features.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| MirrorFly | E-commerce, Online Education, Healthcare, Fintech, Gaming, Recruitment, Telemedicine, Social and dating apps, Enterprise apps, and other apps that need user interaction within the app. |
| Agora | Healthcare, Gaming, Social media, E-commerce, financial and education apps. |
| GetStream | Social networking, Healthcare, E-commerce, e-learning, gaming, media, and travel-related businesses. |
| PubNub | Gaming, IoT, Education, Logistics, Social networking, and online collaboration apps. |
| Vonage | Small and Mid-Sized Businesses that depend on in-depth know-how and customer data in order to optimize user experiences. |
| Cometchat | Marketplace, Education, Social Media, Gaming, E-commerce, and Customer service are the industries covered by Cometchat. |
| Sinch | Organizations that require Rich communication services, social media messaging, and the ones that run SMS campaigns. |
| Bandwidth | Businesses that involve networking and wireless IoT connection |
| Telnyx | Telecommunications, IT, NPOs, mining, and other industries use Telnyx as their communication API provider |
| MessageBird | Social media apps where users interact with each other directly via instant messaging. For example, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. |
1. MirrorFly
MirrorFly is considered as the best Twilio alternative by developers around the globe for its highly efficient in-app communication SDKs. Most developers who would like to migrate from Twilio prefer to choose MirrorFly for the following reasons:
- The SDKs are easy to integrate
- The quality of features video, voice, and chat is comparably better than Twilio.
- Above this, the platform also provides 2 different communication solutions:
Self-hosted and Cloud SDKs, giving developers a greater flexibility to build in-app communication as per their requirements and preferences.
MirrorFly – #1 The Best Alternative to Twilio API
As mentioned above, MirrorFly offers 2 different solutions and the following table are some of the best features offered in both solutions.
| Self-hosted Chat Solution | Cloud Solution | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 1. Fully customizable chat SDK 2. Complete White-label Solution 3. Flexibility to host on your own servers | 1. Free chat SDK 2. 21-day Free trial of video & voice calling SDKs 3. Dedicated cloud servers 4. Multi-tenancy Support |
| Pricing | SaaP: One-time License Cost Custom pricing | SaaS Plans: Monthly Pricing Easy: Completely FREE Essentials: Starts at $399/ 5k users Premium: Starts at $999/ 5k users |
- Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux
- Tech Stacks: JavaScript, Kotlin, Swift, React JS, Java
- Use Cases: Healthcare, Financial, E-learning, Gaming, E-commerce, Social, Dating
2. Agora
Agora is a go-to option for developers looking for a CPaaS provider with video, voice and messaging features similar to Twilio. Plus, the cost of Agora is comparatively lesser than Twilio making it a budget-friendly choice when it comes to migration. And, considering the user experience, Agora is well-known to offer a better Ux with its global infrastructure consisting of 200+ data centers around the world.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Voice and video calling In-app messaging Live interactive streaming Screen Sharing Cross-platform support | Chat: Pricing starts at $349/month Voice Calling: starts at $0.99/1,000 minutes Video Calling: starts at $3.99/1,000 minutes Signaling: $14.50/1,000 monthly peak daily active users (DAU) Live Streaming: starts at $0.59/1,000 minutes for audio Whiteboard: starts at $1.40/1,000 minutes |
Looking to Recreate your Existing Agora Platform?
3. GetStream
GetStream, a popular in-app chat provider is another good option if you are planning to switch from Twilio. This is because firstly Getstream focuses only on in-app messaging features and is one of the providers in the market providing an extensively advanced chat SDK. On the other hand, GetStream can handle chat traffic quite better than Twilio and allows you to customize the chat UI as per your preferences.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Chat SDK Activity feeds Chat analytics Easy integration Customization with Machine learning Real-time updates | Monthly Packages Startup: $499 (10,000 MAU/500 Concurrent Connections) Standard: $1,299 (25,000 MAU/1250 Concurrent Connections) Premium: $2,299 (50,000 MAU/2500 Concurrent Connections) Enterprise: Volume Discounts for Millions of MAU |
Looking to Recreate your Existing GetStream Platform?
4. PubNub
PubNub is a potential alternative to Twilio, for its real-time communication features. It supports millions of concurrent users and lets you flexibly scale your apps as per your needs. It has a competitive pricing with Twilio and allows you to integrate third-party services and platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Real-time messaging User presence detection End-to-end encryption Third-party integration Global presence Built-in redundancies | Free: $0/month Starter: Starts at $49/month Pro: Custom Pricing |
Looking to Recreate your Existing PubNub Platform?
5. Vonage
Vonage is a popular Twilio alternative that serves as both B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Communication) platform to enable omnichannel communications to businesses and direct consumers. This communication platform (CPaaS) service consists of over 1600 carriers around the world with a reliable network.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Vonage Meetings Call Conference Call Forwarding & Flip Contact history and logs Click-to-dial Do Not Disturb Call Screening | Mobile: $19.99 / month per line + taxes & fees Premium: $29.99 / month per line + taxes & fees Advanced: $39.99 / month per line + taxes & fees |
6. Cometchat
Cometchat is one of the leading communication API providers for businesses and organizations and well-known Twilio alternatives. It offers real-time conversational features like text messaging, voice and video calls along with unique engagement capabilities. With respect to ease-of-use, Cometchat is considered as one of the most flexible and reliable SDKs in the market.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Instant Chat & Messaging Call Recording Audio/ Video Conferencing Fax Management File & Media Sharing | Startup: $149/month Growth: $399/month Scale: $749/month Enterprise: Custom Pricing |
7. Sinch
Sinch APIs are built to be developer-friendly and fairly easy to use, making it one of the most convenient Twilio alternatives. You can easily migrate to Sinch’s features without missing out on any essential features from Twilio. Also, the use of REST APIs allows you to integrate full libraries of communication features with enhanced functionalities, into any Android and iOS apps easily.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Chat & Messaging Live Chat Multi-Channel Communication Voice Recognition Third-Party Integrations Alerts & Notifications Content & Communication Management | Not Available. Need To Contact Their Sales Team for Pricing Info |
8. Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a communication API provider that gives developers the tools they need to build communication capabilities like voice and messaging into their apps and systems. Additionally, the provider also lets you increase engagement with third-party integrations like CRMs and helpdesks.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Instant Messaging/ Internal Messaging Call Routing Online Account Management SIP Trunking Hosted PBX Conferencing Dashboard | Communication APIs Emergency Access Enterprise Cloud |
9. Telnyx
Telnyx can be a good option to consider if you are planning to migrate from Twilio, and would like to opt for a cloud-based communication platform with SMS, voice, and data services. With Telnyx APIs, you’ll be able to flexibly add communication capabilities, and scale with ease whenever needed.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Access Controls/ Permissions Call recording Call routing SIP Trunking Reporting & Statistics Unified Communications Self-service portal | Elastic SIP Trunking: Starting at $0.0035/min Voice API: Starting at $0.002/min SMS API: Starting at $0.004 Fax: Starting at $0.0070/page. Wireless: Starting at $0.01/MB. Verify API: Starting at $0.03/Verification Identity Services & Data: Starting at $0.0015/LRN lookup Networking: Starting at $100/month (AWS 50Mbps) |
10. MessageBird
MessageBird is a cloud-based communication solution that offers SMS, voice calling and instant messaging features to web and mobile apps. The provider has designed its APIs to help businesses reach their customers globally via multiple modes of communication and across a variety of devices and platforms.
| Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Online Booking Recurring Appointments Call/Chat Rescheduling Alerts, Notifications & Reminders Activity Tracking Automated Responses | Distinct Pricing for Applications, Messaging, SMS & Voice Support Plans Coach+: $500/month Business: $2,500/month First Class: $5,000/month Private: Custom Pricing |
Conclusion
All things considered, all the Twilio alternatives mentioned in this article helps you build a wide range of communication features into your app. The platforms differ from each other in terms of cost, features, scalability, security and reliability. However, it is important to carefully evaluate each of them and choose the right one that aligns with your needs.
Need to know more about a specific provider? Comment below and we will get their details for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which are the Best Twilio Alternatives & Competitors in 2023?
Some of the top 10 Alternatives to Twilio are as follows,
1. MirrorFly – The #1 SaaS & Self-hosted SDK Alternative To Twilio!
2. Agora – A CPaaS Communication API Provider Similar To Twilio!
3. GetStream – Popular In-app Video & Chat API Provider With Advanced Features!
4. PubNub – The Best Real-time Communication API Provider In Town!
5. Vonage – A Reliable Twilio Alternative With Rich Features!
6. Cometchat – A Leading Twilio Alternative Of Video, Voice, and Chat APIs!
7. Sinch – The Most Convenient & Secure Alternative Of Twilio APIs!
8. Bandwidth – An Effective Communication API Provider With Best Capabilities!
9. Telnyx – A Unique Communication API Provider Serving Best Twilio Alternative!
10. MessageBird – The Leading Omnichannel Portal For All RTCs!
How is MirrorFly able to offer its services at a lower cost than Twilio?
MirrorFly has a simple and flexible pricing structure when compared to Twilio. It offers you both self-hosted and cloud solutions, making it more budget-friendly for users. In general, a self-hosted solution is available for a one-time license cost and is suitable for apps with high-usage volume and the cloud solution would be a convenient choice for businesses with low usage volumes.
What are some use cases that customers migrate from Twilio to MirrorFly for?
Users migrate from Twilio to MirrorFly for highly engaging video; voice and chat features, end-to-end encryption security, 99.999% uptime SLA, <3ms average response time, response chat UI kit and enterprise-grade HIPAA and GDPR compatibility.
How does MirrorFly call quality compare to Twilio?
MirrorFly and Twilio are both leading in-app communication providers. While the voice and video calls provided by these platforms depend on different factors like network conditions and the device performance, there are a few metrics that make MirrorFly a better alternative to Twilio. They include latency and average response time less than 3ms and adaptive frame bitrate that adjusts the video quality to suit the network bandwidth of the user’s internet connection.
Is there a free alternative to Twilio?
MirrorFly has a simple and flexible pricing structure when compared to Twilio. It offers you both self-hosted and cloud solutions, making it more budget-friendly for users. In general, a self-hosted solution is available for a one-time license cost and is suitable for apps with high-usage volume and the cloud solution would be a convenient choice for businesses with low usage volumes.
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