Overview

Twilio

Stacks11.5K

Followers8.8K

Votes521

Nexmo

Stacks184

Followers344

Votes56

Nexmo vs Twilio: What are the differences?

Introduction:

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Nexmo and Twilio, two popular cloud communications platforms. Both platforms offer a wide range of tools and APIs for SMS, voice, and video communication, but they differ in certain aspects that can affect your choice depending on your specific requirements.

Pricing Model: Nexmo and Twilio have different pricing models. Nexmo primarily focuses on pay-as-you-go pricing, where you are charged based on the number of messages or calls you make. On the other hand, Twilio offers both pay-as-you-go and volume-based pricing options, allowing you to choose the one that suits your business needs and usage patterns.
Global Coverage: Nexmo and Twilio have varying degrees of global coverage. Twilio offers a wide global footprint, covering a large number of countries and supporting a multitude of phone numbers. Nexmo also has global coverage but may have limitations in certain regions or with specific features. Therefore, it is essential to check the availability of your desired features and regions before making a decision.
Authentication and Security: Nexmo and Twilio have different approaches to authentication and security. Twilio provides Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) as a built-in feature, ensuring an additional layer of security for your applications. Nexmo, on the other hand, offers applications such as Verify for phone number verification, allowing you to authenticate users securely.
Integration and Partnerships: Both Nexmo and Twilio offer various integrations and partnerships, but they differ in the range and depth of their ecosystem. Twilio has built a robust partner network and integrates well with popular development tools, CRM systems, and cloud platforms. Nexmo also offers a good range of integrations but may have fewer options compared to Twilio. If you have existing systems or specific integration requirements, it is important to consider their compatibility.
Developer Experience and Documentation: Nexmo and Twilio provide comprehensive documentation and resources for developers, but their approach to developer experience may differ. Twilio has a well-established reputation for developer-friendly APIs, an extensive library of code samples, and comprehensive documentation. Nexmo also offers excellent developer resources, but it may have a relatively smaller community and documentation compared to Twilio.
Additional Platform Services: Apart from their core messaging and calling services, Nexmo and Twilio offer additional platform services that can further enhance your communication capabilities. Twilio provides services like TaskRouter for building intelligent routing systems, Flex for customizable contact center solutions, and Programmable Wireless for IoT connectivity. Nexmo offers services like Voice API for real-time voice communication and Conversation API for building multi-channel conversations. Depending on your requirements, these additional services can be a differentiating factor in choosing between the two platforms.

In summary, Nexmo and Twilio differ in their pricing models, global coverage, authentication and security approaches, integration and partnerships, developer experience, and additional platform services. Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and priorities.

Advice on Twilio, Nexmo

Finch

Ops at SLS

Jul 23, 2020

Needs adviceon

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Salesforce

Hey! We need an omnichannel inbox that's housed within Salesforce Sales Cloud that makes it super easy for our reps to respond to inbound communication (needs: clean inbox, provides historical context, etc.). We're a high-volume call center, and we get a ton of incoming SMS and email every day. We'd love a solution that lets us view all of that in one place — ideally Salesforce, as that's where our reps work, and we want to avoid needing them to switch between windows. Thanks!

189k views189k

Comments

ddeganis

May 16, 2022

Needs adviceon

WebRTC

I am doing some research on WebRTC and would really appreciate speaking to anyone who has recently completed an integration or has a project currently under way. Hoping to gain feedback about tools used, what you liked, or didn't like, and anything perspective you might be willing to share about your overall project experience as it relates to integrating interactive, live-streaming content and audience engagement

18.3k views18.3k

Comments

Mansoor

Sep 26, 2021

Needs adviceon

Firebase

Twilio

Agora

Hello,

My app will be a live streaming app (like tango, BigoLive) An app developer asked me to choose a tech stack and a team. expected auditions from (Bahrain-KSA-UAE-Kuwait-Oman)

200 (broadcaster) at a time (minimum) (for 12 hours a day);10K watching the 200 (like 50 to 500) each live.

What servers are the best to use and give smooth high quality like Bigolive? For live streaming, and texting, and everything.

Which one is the best combination for my app? (Firebase, AWS, Twilio. Agora)

Thanks

136k views136k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

Twilio	Nexmo
Twilio offers developers a powerful API for phone services to make and receive phone calls, and send and receive text messages. Their product allows programmers to more easily integrate various communication methods into their software and programs.	Nexmo connects your apps directly to carriers around the world. Integrate SMS and Voice messages using one simple API. Use Nexmo Verity to register users, verify transactions, and implement two factor authentication.
Phone- Phone Numbers API;Phone- Convert Text to Speech and Play Audio;Phone- Record Calls and Store Them;Phone- Create Conferences;Phone- API Queueing;Phone- Call Queues;Phone- Convert Speech to Text;Phone- Usage API;Phone- Status Callbacks and Logs;Phone- Global Reach;SMS- Supports Unicode;SMS- Message Queueing;SMS- Realtime API;SMS- Global Reach;SMS- Status Callbacks and Logs;SMS- Usage metering & API triggers;SMS- Voice Enabled Numbers;SMS- Short Codes;Two-factor authentication;Call tracking;Voice broadcasting;Cloud IVR;Mobile app distribution	Inbound SMS; Outbound SMS; Outbound Text-To-Speech Calls; Outbound VoiceXML Calls; Inbound VoiceXML Calls; Outbound SIP; Inbound SIP; Number Verification; Number Insight
Statistics
Stacks 11.5K	Stacks 184
Followers 8.8K	Followers 344
Votes 521	Votes 56
Pros & Cons
Pros 148 Powerful, simple, and well documented api 88 RESTful API 66 Clear pricing 61 Great sms services 58 Low cost of entry Cons 4 Predictable pricing 2 Expensive	Pros 18 For outbound and inbound SMS 13 Cheap 10 Simple REST API 4 Most reliable global communication vendor w/simple APIs 4 Broad coverage
Integrations
Google App Engine Bugsnag Zendesk Twilio SendGrid Parse	AppFog

What are some alternatives to Twilio, Nexmo?

Plivo

Plivo provides basic building block APIs in the form of Plivo XML and HTTP API, to create telephony apps, so developers can completely do away with learning the nitty-gritty of the telephony plumbing.

Agora

Agora.io provides building blocks for you to add real-time voice and video communications through a simple and powerful SDK. You can integrate the Agora SDK to enable real-time communications in your own application quickly.

OpenTok

It adds the clarity and emotion of face-to-face communication to your brand whether you're developing for the web, iOS, or Android. We make the integration of high-quality live video a breeze so that you can focus on building a great product.

ClickSend SMS

Send and receive SMS globally with the SMS gateway. Trust your business messaging with reliable, direct routes, and lightning fast message delivery.

MessageBird

At MessageBird we believe that communicating with a business should feel as natural as communicating with a friend. That's why our SMS, Voice and Conversations APIs continue to revolutionize company-customer interactions.

BulkSMS

BulkSMS.com is a leading SMS messaging service provider offering two-way SMS communication services. The BulkSMS gateway reaches across borders and connects to over 800 mobile network operators world-wide.

MessageMedia

It is a business mobile messaging service provider that enables businesses of all sizes and industries to deliver and manage SMS text messages from PC, web, email or API.

Postscript

Postscript lets you easily create and manage SMS marketing campaigns with detailed analytics designed to increase sales and revenue, not just clicks.

Braze

Braze is a comprehensive customer engagement platform that powers relevant and memorable experiences between consumers and the brands they love.

Infobip

It is a global leader in omnichannel engagement. We help our clients and partners overcome the complexity of consumer communications & grow their business.