SMS comparisons

Honest comparisons.

These pages are written by the engineering team, not marketing. Where the other platform is the better pick, we say so, and each page names what it is great at before it names anything else.

Everyone here reaches the same carriers, so the comparison is about what sits on top of them: the shape of the send call, whether registration and delivery events live under the same host and key, and how much of the account an AI agent can operate without you.

If you find a claim on these pages that doesn't hold up, mail devs@bird.com and we'll fix it.

Every SMS comparison

Each page follows the same structure: what the other platform is great at, where Bird is different, a matrix table, side-by-side code, and an honest switching-cost estimate.

vs Twilio

Twilio has been the default SMS API for fifteen years. Its endpoint has barely moved since 2010, so almost any question about it already has an answer, and it ships helper libraries in more languages than Bird does. Bird wins on safe retries, one host and one key for sending and 10DLC registration together, and what an agent can do in the account without you.

Read the comparison

Keep reading

Bird SMSThe send API, senders, destinations, and what the channel covers.Migrate SMS from TwilioTwilio's Messages API mapped field by field onto Bird's send.SMS pricingPublished outbound rates per country, with carrier fees itemised separately.

Start with one channel.
Add the others when you're ready.

A test API key is yours immediately. Production unlocks when you add a payment method and verify a sender.

Get startedRead docs

Using Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex? Copy a setup prompt and your agent installs the Bird CLI and skills for you. Pick yours:

Cursor