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Twilio is a cloud-based communication platform that enables developers to integrate voice, messaging, and video capabilities into applications through APIs. However, if you find that Twilio is inadequate for your use, you should consider using a Twilio alternative. Read on to find out why you should consider alternatives to Twilio, what the qualities are to look for, and what platforms you should pick.
If you need workarounds to make Twilio work for your business, then it’s time to consider using an alternative to Twilio.
Here are the reasons why Twilio might not be the platform for your business.
Twilio can be expensive. Each service that Twilio offers needs to be paid for. Outbound SMS, inbound SMS, marketing campaigns, routing conversations, and automation are just some examples of features that need to be paid for.
And to make the most out of Twilio, you’ll need to use several services at once. This makes it too expensive for smaller businesses to make full use of Twllio unless they have the scale.
While Twilio has many features, the features you need might not be available. From reporting and analytics to automation, every feature missing can lead to lost time or missed opportunities.
For example, merging duplicate contacts or AI Agents could be features that are crucial for your business. Even the number of channels like WhatsApp API, TikTok, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and Viber, or other third-party software integrations such as Hubspot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zapier or Make.
Twilio is mainly built for developers. Its tools require users to have coding expertise and a deep understanding of APIs to fully utilize. Setting up workflows, integrating multiple communication channels, or customizing automation often involves writing code or working with technical documentation that can overwhelm non-technical users.
Without dedicated technical teams, it’s difficult to integrate Twilio into business processes seamlessly.
The default customer support that Twilio provides is very limited. On the default plan, Twilio users are only allowed access to web support with no guaranteed response time. If you need guaranteed support times and live chat support, you’ll need to pay at least $250.00 per month.
For smaller businesses, they need to accept slow response times, even when they are facing major technical issues. This itself could be a deal breaker for many companies.
So, you heard of the issues that businesses might have about Twilio. What are factors you need to consider when looking for an alternative to Twilio?
When searching for a Twilio alternative, focus on platforms that cater to your business needs while addressing most, if not all, of Twilio's limitations. Whether your focus is omnichannel communication, reliability, scalability, or automation, the best Twilio alternatives should meet these core criteria
By prioritizing these features, you can ensure your business has a communication solution that meets needs and supports your growth. Here are the key capabilities to prioritize in your search and why they matter for your communication strategy.
The best Twilio alternatives have an omnichannel inbox, consolidating all channels into a single platform. This allows businesses to manage conversations from one interface instead of juggling between tools, ensuring a consistent customer experience.
An omnichannel inbox has additional features like merging duplicate contacts from multiple channels and the ability to monitor agent performance through analytics.
Reliability is paramount when it comes to customer communication. A platform with high uptime ensures your business stays connected with minimal interruptions. This is particularly crucial for industries like healthcare, finance, and e-commerce, where even brief downtimes can lead to significant customer dissatisfaction and revenue loss.
Also consider stability of a platform whenever a new feature is released. Features like the newly released WhatsApp Business Calling API or TikTok Messaging Ads should work reliably when used.
Adding on from the previous section, as a business expands, their communication needs become more complex. A strong alternative to Twilio should be capable of handling high volumes of messages without sacrificing performance. Scalability is especially important for businesses that experience seasonal spikes or rapid growth.
Businesses that use Twilio tend to send and receive messages at fairly large scales. Therefore, a good Twilio alternative should have advanced automation capabilities to send auto reply messages, route inbound messages, qualify leads, and more.
Ideally, these capabilities should be present in a no-code automation builder that allows non-technical users to build.
Software that requires a steep learning curve or technical expertise can hinder business operations. A great Twilio alternative should prioritize ease of use, featuring an intuitive interface and straightforward setup processes. Businesses should be able to deploy the platform and train teams quickly, without needing to rely on technical specialists.
A good Twilio alternative should be intuitive. Businesses shouldn’t require dedicated technical teams to set up and use the software.
Access to reliable customer support can make or break your experience with a communication platform. As business messaging tools are long term investments, it’s crucial you get adequate support to improve their overall success.
A good support team should minimize downtime and disruptions, guidance for complex integrations, onboarding and proactive problem resolution,
Look for providers with comprehensive and responsive assistance, ensuring issues are addressed promptly.
Now that you know what to look for in Twilio alternatives, let’s check out the top 6 options for you.
Turn customer conversations into business growth with respond.io. ✨
Manage calls, chats and emails in one place!
In this section, we’ll go over the best alternatives to Twilio, highlighting some of the best options available. We’ll go through the features, limitations, pricing, and ratings and review.
Respond.io stands out as a robust solution for businesses looking to unify their messaging efforts. It offers a centralized platform for managing multiple messaging channels with advanced automation tools, making it an ideal choice for businesses that need to scale efficiently.
Scale conversations with stability and reliability: Respond.io supports high volumes of incoming and outgoing messages without taking a performance penalty.
Excellent customer support: Agents are available 24/5 and supports multiple languages including English, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish
Comprehensive channel and software integration: Seamlessly connects with CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and other business tools through Zapier and Make
Advanced reports and analytics: Get an overview of how your team and campaigns are performing from closed conversations to the number of broadcasts sent.
Ease of use: Respond.io is built to be as user friendly as possible even to non-technical teams.
Not built for developers: Respond.io doesn’t offer granular level of control of the platform. That being said, it has an API to enable developers to integrate messaging capabilities into their existing platforms or applications.
Learning curve: Users unfamiliar with automation builders might have some trouble setting up Workflows of complex operations on the first try.
It has 4 pricing tiers:
Starter from $79 per month
Growth from $159 per month
Advanced from $ 279 per month
Enterprise which has a custom pricing plan
Respond.io has very positive reviews from G2 with 4.8 out of 5 starts with 253 reviews and Capterra with 4.2/5 stars with 12 reviews.
If your business primarily relies on WhatsApp for customer communication, Wati offers a focused and intuitive solution. Designed for SMEs, Wati is easy to set up and comes with basic automation features.
WhatsApp API specialist: Tailored solutions for WhatsApp Business API.
Shared inbox: Facilitates team collaboration on customer inquiries.
Quick setup: Wati is an intuitive platform that’s mainly focused on SMEs.
Limited channel support: Primarily focuses on WhatsApp, with minimal support for other platforms.
Basic analytics: Analytics tools are not as advanced as other platforms.
It has 3 pricing tiers:
Growth from $49 per month
Pro from $ 99 per month
Business from $ 299 per month
Wati has positive reviews with 4.6 out of 5 starts from G2 and 4.7 out of 5 starts from Capterra.
Telnyx is a developer-friendly platform offering APIs for messaging and voice. Its affordability and global reach make it a strong contender for businesses seeking cost-effective Twilio alternatives.
Programmable APIs: Offers flexibility for custom voice and messaging solutions.
Global reach: Facilitates international communication with competitive rates.
Advanced security: Focuses on secure communications with encryption options.
Steep learning curve: API integrations can be challenging for non-technical users.
Unintuitive UI: The interface may not be as user-friendly as competitors.
SMS starts at $0.0025 per message, with custom pricing for voice services based on usage
It has 4.7 out 5 stars on both G2 and Capterra with 291 and 122 reviews respectively.
Sinch supports a variety of communication channels, including SMS, email, and voice, making it a versatile option for businesses looking for omnichannel capabilities.
Omnichannel messaging: Supports popular messaging channels like SMS, MMS, RCS, email, Facebook and Instagram.
Voice and video APIs: Enables seamless in-app communication.
User verification: Offers solutions for multi-channel verification.
Global coverage: Operates in over 60 countries.
Developer tools: Extensive documentation and SDKs for integration.
Limited integrations: Fewer native integrations with third-party tools.
Variable support response: Users report inconsistent support response times.
SMS starts at $0.0078 per message, with custom pricing available upon request.
Users on G2 rates Sinch at 3.9 out of 5 stars with 29 reviews.
Bandwidth is a U.S.-centric platform offering reliable voice and SMS services. Its focus on compliance and carrier-grade solutions makes it ideal for businesses with regulatory requirements.
Carrier-grade network: Ensures reliable voice, messaging, and emergency services APIs.
Compliance tools: Supports regulatory compliance for telecom services.
High Uptime: Designed for consistent and reliable communication.
US-centric: Primarily serves the U.S. market; limited international coverage.
Complex pricing: Requires consultation for detailed pricing information.
Businesses need to contact Bandwidth for tailored pricing. However, charges are only for outbound messages
Users rated Sinch 4.5 out of 5 stars on G2 and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
MessageBird, or Bird, supports multiple communication channels and offers advanced automation through its Flow Builder, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to streamline communication.
Reports: Users can gain analytics on the inbox, agent performance and team performance. Metrics include response time, resolution time and customer satisfaction.
Supports in-chat payments: Businesses can send customers one-click payments within conversations.
AI chatbot and analytics: Bird has AI chatbots that offers intelligent answers while it’s AI analytics can intelligently segment your customers on a granular level.
Omnichannel communication: Bird supports a variety of channels including SMS, voice, email, Facebook and Instagram.
SMS starts at $0.006 per message, with customizable plans available. There are also no message markups on Bird.
Bird has 4.1 out of 5 stars on G2 and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
Now that you’re familiar with the best Twilio alternatives, which should you choose?
If you’re seeking a platform that combines omnichannel capabilities, advanced automation, and robust customer support, respond.io is the best choice for businesses.
Respond.io has the total package when it comes to managing customer conversations. If you’re convinced about moving to respond.io from Twilio, why not sign up for a free respond.io trial today?
Turn customer conversations into business growth with respond.io. ✨
Manage calls, chats and emails in one place!
Consider factors such as pricing, scalability, supported communication channels, ease of integration, and customer support quality.
Many Twilio alternatives are designed with non-technical users in mind. Respond.io and Wati are notable examples of being very user friendly.
Many Twilio alternatives offer competitive pricing, with tiered plans or pay-as-you-go options that better suit small and medium-sized businesses. Platforms like Respond.io combine cost-effectiveness with comprehensive features.
If you want to have a further dive into business messaging platforms, here are some articles to read:
Benjamin Steve Richard joined respond.io as a Content Writer in 2023. Holding a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London, Benjamin provides invaluable resources on messaging apps for businesses to help them leverage customer conversations successfully.
Everything you need to know about Instagram Sales and how to sell on Instagram DM. Increase your business sales by selling on Instagram with respond.io.