6 Best Twilio Alternatives for 2025

If you’re looking for a Twilio alternative, you may have been concerned about one or two of these potential issues:

• A steep learning curve — Twilio is a developer-first platform. Non-developers may have difficulty setting up and managing the software.
• Pricing concerns — Twilio's pricing can become expensive as usage scales.
• Bloated feature line-up — Twilio has many features, some of which you may not need.
• Limited support — Twilio doesn’t offer live chat and phone customer support for some of its products.

Whatever the reason, we’ve rounded up 6 Twilio alternatives you can consider.

Some of the things we looked at when creating this roundup include:

• The platform’s core functionality
• Pricing
• User review and reputation

Read on.

1. Mobile Text Alerts — Best Alternative for Text Messaging

Mobile Text Alerts is the best Twilio alternative for business SMS.

While Twilio caters primarily to developers, its steep learning curve can be a roadblock for non-technical users. In contrast, Mobile Text Alerts offers a no-frills, no-code interface that allows users to send SMS, schedule messages, and automate workflows in a cinch.

Need a custom SMS solution? No problem! Mobile Text Alerts has REST API, offering similar flexibility to Twilio’s messaging API.

Furthermore, Mobile Text Alerts offers personalized 1-on-1 onboarding, ensuring you get the support you need to start sending messages in minutes, unlike Twilio’s selective customer service.

Pros

• Easy to use even for non-developers
• Reliable customer support
• More affordable than Twilio
• More texting capabilities than Twilio
• Tons of helpful tutorials

Cons

• Character limits (but that's fixable by using MMS instead of SMS for long messages)

Features

• SMS Automation – Allows you to set up auto-replies, drip campaigns, and scheduled messages.
• Custom API – Enables you to build a tailored SMS system for your business.
• Integrations – Lets you connect to 3-party apps via Zapier
• 1-on-1 Inbox – Provides a personalized inbox for direct and back-and-forth conversations.
• Multiple Opt-in Methods – Helps you grow your subscriber list with text-to-join, web forms, QR codes, and contact imports.
• AI-Powered Tools – Assists you with AI-generated message suggestions and images to enhance campaigns.
• Message Rollover – Ensures unused texts carry over indefinitely for annual plans or one month on monthly plans.
• Reporting & Delivery Monitoring – Gives you insights into message performance to optimize your SMS campaigns.
• iMessage Support – Allows for longer messages, larger image attachments, and message encryption.

Pricing

Mobile Text Alerts pricing is structured as follows:

Note:

• Each plan has a 14-day trial.
• Annual plans allow you to save up to 25%

Start Free Trial

Reviews

Versatility and competitive pricing are a hit with users, as shown in these Mobile Text Alerts reviews.

“Very happy with being able to send mass texts to groups and target audiences.” - Nicole S. — Getapp

“Quick and affordable SMS alerts.” - Walter — SoftwareAdvice

2. Plivo — Best Alternative for Voice

Although Twilio boasts a robust Voice API, it often comes with higher costs and complicated carrier relationships. Plivo, by comparison, allows you to get comparable services but at a relatively lower price.

Sure, Twilio’s product line includes call tracking, IVR, and conferencing, but Plivo takes it a notch higher with additional features like voicemail transcription and dynamic caller ID.

Furthermore, Plivo is available in over 200 countries with direct in-country carrier connections compared to Twilio’s 180, providing a wider reach.

Pros

• Lower latency for higher voice quality
• Transparent pricing with volume discounts
• Innovative call management features like call whisper, call hunting, and multiparty calls

Cons

• The API still requires developer knowledge, but the documentation is easier to follow than Twilio’s

Features

• Direct-to-carrier connectivity – Ensures lower latency and higher call quality.
• Voicemail transcription – Converts voice messages into text for easy reference.
• Dynamic caller ID – Enhances call personalization and response rates.
• Call queueing & transfer – Streamlines inbound call management.
• Call feedback API – Collects real-time call insights for troubleshooting.
• Text-to-speech & call whisper – Creates engaging call experiences.
• Regional PoPs & intelligent routing – Minimizes audio lag with real-time optimization.

Pricing

Plivo uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model for voice services, so you only pay for what you use. Additionally, you can get volume-based discounts as your usage grows.

The platform also offers committed spend volume discounts for businesses looking for more predictability. This structure allows you to pay a flat rate with monthly spending commitments.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how much you’ll expect to pay for Plivo’s voice service as a bare minimum.

Note:

Plivo doesn’t expressly offer a trial account. You can, however, request for one by contacting the company.

Reviews

Plivo has attracted positive reviews and high ratings, with most users saying they’re satisfied with its offerings.

"Great Experience" - Jeff M. — G2

"Their ease of Integration and robust support make it straightforward to build and manage communication." - Shantam K. — G2

Some customers say they’ve experienced problems debugging the software, though.

3. Vonage — Best Alternative for Phone Number Service

Vonage is one of the best Twilio alternatives for business phone numbers if you want more control.

It offers a VBC Admin Portal, letting you add users, monitor calls, and manage numbers without coding, while Twilio requires API integration.

Vonage also includes call recording as a standard feature, whereas Twilio needs extra setup.

Plus, the platform is a complete business phone system with a built-in call center, Single Sign-On (SSO), and SCIM for easy team access. In contrast, Twilio only provides phone numbers through APIs, meaning you must build your own system for call management.

Pros

• Easy-to-use phone management system
• Includes call recording at no extra cost
• Local, toll-free, and international company numbers
• No coding required for setup

Cons

• Unreliable customer service

Features

• Local Phone Numbers – Allows businesses to establish a local presence with phone numbers in various markets.
• Toll-Free Numbers – Enables customers in the U.S. and Canada to call your business free of charge.
• International Company Numbers – Provides international phone numbers to facilitate communication with customers in other countries.
• Call Recording – Allows you to record all inbound and outbound calls for any or all users within your organization.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) and System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM) – Allows you to use existing company credentials to log in to Vonage Business Communications quickly.
• Vonage Call Center – Lets you create a flexible, scalable call center solution for your business
• .Smart Numbers – You can program any phone number to create customized customer and employee experiences tailored to your business,

Pricing

Vonage has a pay-as-you-go pricing model for phone numbers.

The pricing is updated every 4 hours and can fluctuate based on carrier costs and the current exchange rate (between USD and EUR).

Reviews

Vonage checks most boxes for its phone number service, according to users.

“So far it is getting my work done. I can recommend for cost and reliability if you can see your number marked spam.” - Suhas H. — Capterra

On the flip side, users complained about the slow customer care support.

“Backend issues take a bit to get resolved.” - Khushboo B. — Capterra

4. Mailchimp — Best Alternative for Marketing and Transactional Email

Mailchimp is a worthy alternative to Twilio if you're looking for an all-in-one email marketing solution.

It offers powerful native features, including a built-in CRM, campaign automation, A/B testing, and audience analytics. While Twilio provides similar capabilities, they’re only accessible through SendGrid integration, adding an extra layer of complexity.

In contrast to Twilio’s developer-first approach, Mailchimp is designed with marketers in mind. Hence, you can easily create, schedule, and optimize email campaigns without much configuration, thanks to intuitive features like drag-and-drop editors and customizable templates.

Pros

• Unified platform for marketing and transactional emails
• Easy-to-use tools for automation and audience segmentation
• Fast onboarding with expert guidance

Cons

• Templates are not that customizable

Features

• Marketing Automation – Enables businesses to create personalized customer journeys via behavior-triggered email sequences.
• A/B Testing – Allows users to test different versions of subject lines, content layouts, or call-to-actions to determine which version works best.
• Built-in CRM – Helps businesses organize contacts, track interactions, and segment audiences for more targeted campaigns.
• Transactional Email Delivery – Ensures time-sensitive messages like password resets, order confirmations, and notifications are delivered promptly to inboxes.
• Audience Analytics – Provides insights into campaign performance, open rates, click-through rates, and audience engagement.
• Drag-and-Drop Tools: – Helps simplify email creation.

Pricing

Note:

Mailchimp offers a 14-day trial to test the platform.

Reviews

Users hail MailChimp’s ease of use and its collection of email marketing tools.

"Great platform to start with." - Nicola B. – Capterra

"A tool with seamless features." - Vikas C. — Capterra

However, some users think it’s expensive as your usage grows.

5. Zoom Video SDK — Best Alternatives for Video and Conferencing

Twilio and Zoom both offer video features like HD video, screen sharing, chat, and APIs to integrate real-time communication into your apps.

However, the latter runs Zoom's world-renowned video infrastructure, inherently making it a Twilio alternative worth exploring.

A notable differentiator is Zoom’s broad platform support. With compatibility across macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and the web (covering eight platforms in total), it provides developers with more options than Twilio.

In addition, developers can fully control the UI design, including video layouts and third-party live streaming integrations.

While helpful, Twilio’s virtual backgrounds and layout customizations don't offer the same depth of flexibility for building tailored user experiences.

Pros

• Industry-leading video quality and reliability
• Generous free minutes (10,000 per month)
• Real-time actionable performance insights

Cons

• Some advanced analytics may have additional costs

Features

• HD Video & Audio – Delivers high-quality video and audio for clear communication across devices and networks.
• Customizable Video Layouts – Gives developers full control over how videos appear, including options like speaker view, grid view, and custom layouts.
• Real-Time Engagement Tools – Offers video, audio, screen sharing, and in-session chat to foster interactive communication.
• Server-Side APIs & Webhooks – Provides APIs for managing meetings, users, and sessions, plus webhooks for real-time event triggers and notifications.
• Scalable Infrastructure – Built on Zoom's global cloud infrastructure, supporting up to 1,000 participants per session without compromising performance.
• Custom Video Streams – Supports custom video streams for unique use cases, including live streaming and third-party integrations.

Pricing

Note:

Zoom offers a free trial for its Video SDK, allowing you to use up to 10,000 session minutes per month at no charge.

Reviews

Customers love Zoom Video SDK quality, as seen in this review.

“No-brainer user interface with good video and sound quality.” - Henri A. — G2

Some, however, would prefer live support.

“I would rather have live support for customer service than just email.” - Mark S. — Capterra

6. BriteVerify — Best Alternative for Validating Phone Numbers

Twilio validates phone numbers with formatting, carrier lookup, and line status checks. It primarily focuses on helping improve message deliverability and prevent SMS fraud.

However, BriteVerify offers a broader solution by verifying phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses in one platform.

Furthermore, BriteVerify is more inclined to prevent bad data from entering your system. This makes it a good Twilio alternative for users keen on maintaining a clean and accurate database.

In addition, BriteVerify’s real-time and bulk validation ensures businesses reach only real, active contacts across multiple channels.

Pros

• Real-time validation at the point of entry
• More complete data verification (phone, email, and address) in one platform
• Bulk phone number validation to clean up existing databases.

Cons

• Lacks call forwarding checks

Features

• Real-Time Phone Number Validation – Instantly verifies phone numbers to prevent fake or mistyped data from entering your system.
• Bulk Phone Number Validation – Helps clean up your databases by identifying inactive or invalid phone numbers, ensuring accurate contact lists.
• Multi-Channel Verification – Validates phone numbers, email, and mailing addresses, keeping all contact data reliable.
• CRM & Marketing Platform Integration – Integrates with popular CRMs and marketing tools, enabling easy validation within existing workflows.
• Data Maintenance – Continuously updates and verifies contact data, reducing wasted marketing spend and improving engagement rates.

Pricing

Reviews

Users across the board seem to agree that BriteVerifydelivers what it promises going by sentiments such as these.

"Verification made easy." - Christopher W. — G2

We also came across this review.

"I don’t like that it won’t bill you for each list uploaded but instead bills you for a whole chunk." - Rafal Z. — Capterra

Things to Consider in a Twilio Alternative

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a Twilio alternative.

Cost

As you’ve seen, pricing structures differ across Twilio alternatives. Hence, compare pay-as-you-go rates, subscription models, and volume discounts before choosing one option over the other.

Some platforms offer lower messaging or voice call costs, while others bundle features at a fixed rate. Ideally, you want an alternative whose pricing aligns with your usage.

Integrations

A good Twilio alternative should work with other business tools your business uses, such as CRM, marketing software, productivity tools, and more.

Therefore, consider alternatives with pre-built integrations or flexible APIs to minimize development time. The easier it is to integrate, the faster you can start to maximize the platform's capabilities.

Features

Different Twilio alternatives cater to different communication needs. Some focus on SMS and voice, while others offer video conferencing, chat, and omnichannel messaging.

Identify the core features your business requires, whether that’s automated workflows, AI-powered messaging, or real-time analytics, to ensure you’re spending money on a worthwhile solution.

Support and Onboarding

Look for a platform with 24/7 support, live chat, or dedicated account managers.

A smooth onboarding process, including documentation and training resources, can reduce the learning curve and help your team adapt quickly.

Security

Security should be a consideration if your business handles sensitive customer data. Therefore, ensure the alternative you choose follows industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2 compliance.

In addition, end-to-end encryption, role-based access control, and secure APIs can help protect your data from breaches and unauthorized access.

Scalability

Your communication needs may grow, so choose a platform that can scale with your business.

Consider Twilio alternatives that support high message volumes, global coverage, and flexible infrastructure. A scalable solution should allow you to expand without compromising performance or reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Alternative to Twilio?

Although there are many alternatives to Twilio, choosing one over the other primarily depends on your specific needs. Mobile Text Alerts, for instance, is a robust option for business texting, while Plivo offers cost-effective voice APIs.

Is There a Free Version of Twilio?

No. There’s no free version of Twilio. However, you can sign up for a limited free trial to experiment with some of the platform’s features before committing.

Is Twilio Free to Send SMS?

No, Twilio is not free to send SMS.

You can get started for free with a trial account, but sending SMS incurs costs based on phone number fees, per-message charges, carrier fees, and applicable taxes.

By comparison, Mobile Text Alerts offers 50 free messages upon sign-up, so you can start sending business SMS right away.

Grab 50 Free Messages With Mobile Text Alerts

Mobile Text Alerts offers a 14-day free trial with 50 complimentary messages.

The trial allows you to explore our entire platform with access to every premium feature.

The best part?

You don’t need a credit card to create your account.

What are you waiting for?

Get Your 50 Free Messages with Mobile Text Alerts