What are the core features of Twilio's communication APIs?

Twilio offers programmable SMS, MMS, and voice call APIs for inbound and outbound communication. It also includes a video conferencing API for real-time interactions, an email API, and two-factor authentication for enhanced security, ideal for developers building robust communication features.

Is Twilio suitable for startups needing scalable communication solutions?

Yes, Twilio is best for startups looking for cost-effective and scalable communication APIs. Its usage-based pricing and comprehensive set of programmable APIs for SMS, voice, and video allow startups to integrate powerful communication features without high upfront costs.

Twilio

Cloud communications APIs for SMS, voice, and video

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Shyft Score

Directory quality rating

Verified

70/100

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Our take

The verdict on Twilio

AI-generated

Twilio offers robust, programmable communication APIs with global reach. Its pay-as-you-go model is cost-effective for low-volume users, but the complexity may be daunting for non-technical teams.

Strengths

Pay-as-you-go pricing
Global SMS and voice APIs
Strong security features

Limitations

Steep learning curve
Usage costs can escalate quickly
No free tier

Best for: Engineering teams needing scalable, programmable communication

Try Twilio's free tier to see if it fits your workflow.

See how Twilio fits your stack

Benefits

Why teams choose Twilio

Enhanced customer engagement through seamless communication channels

Increased operational efficiency with scalable cloud infrastructure

Improved security with built-in two-factor authentication

Cost savings by leveraging pay-as-you-go pricing model

Faster time-to-market with pre-built communication APIs

About

What is Twilio?

Twilio is a cloud communications platform providing APIs for SMS, voice, video, and email. Developers integrate programmable communication features into applications, enabling scalable customer engagement without managing infrastructure.

Key capabilities

Programmable SMS and MMS messaging

Voice call API for inbound and outbound calls

Video conferencing API for real-time video communication

Email API for sending and receiving emails

Two-factor authentication for enhanced security

At a glance

Capabilities

API

Use cases

What you can do with Twilio

Send transactional SMS for order confirmations, shipping updates, and appointment reminders

Build AI chatbots that handle customer support requests via SMS

Add voice and video calling to web and mobile applications

Create virtual phone systems with call routing and voicemail for distributed teams

Send secure notifications and two-factor authentication codes via SMS

Best for

Developers building communication features into applicationsBusinesses needing scalable communication solutionsStartups looking for cost-effective communication APIs

Pricing

Twilio pricing

Twilio starts at $0.0075 per SMS

Starting at $0.0075 per SMS

Ecosystem

Connected ecosystem

MCP servers, AI skills, and integrations that work with Twilio

MCP servers

Use Twilio with AI agents via these MCP servers

voice call

Empower AI assistants to make and manage voice calls effortlessly.

npx 58

openapi-mcp-server

Model Context Protocol server to expose OpenAPI specs.

npx0

Browse all MCP servers

Integrations

SlackSalesforceZendeskZapierMicrosoft TeamsShopifyGoogle CloudAWSHubSpot

AI & automation capabilities

REST API

MCP ServerN/A

WebhooksN/A

Free TierN/A

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Twilio and its capabilities

Twilio's SMS messaging is usage-based, starting at $0.0075 per SMS. This allows businesses and developers to pay only for the messages they send, making it a cost-effective solution for scalable communication needs.