Sept. 3, 2024
It feels like every API provider is pivoting to no/low-code these days, right? You'd be stupid to just monetize a 'dumb pipe' API in today's digital economy. A 'weather API' is a weather API, that's why there are many and pricing is a race to the bottom!
That's why lots of providers are 'pivoting to low-code' or 'pivoting to no-code' to charge a lot more than the commoditized API space. One way to do this is to pivot your API to an SMS API. I'll give a few reasons why you might want to do this in this article too, and how you might go about it. By the end of this article, you'll know if the SMS business is right for you, and, if it is you can get started right away! And if the SMS business is not right for you, that's ok too. We have a ton of other businesses we've analyzed. You can also download the entire database of SMS companies we've seen so you can analyze on your own. Let's dive in!
For the security of your online accounts and transactions, a good SMS verification service is essential -- and for the most part, Twilio is the best SMS verification service around. Because their service offerings are so powerful and versatile, they're able to message and secure your app effectively no matter what else you need -- and with Twilio SMS, we can use simple security measures to make it even harder for someone who doesn't have permission to access your account, which is great.
Twilio has several verification channels, including SMS, voice, and Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) -- well-suited for apps that need to verify identity a number of ways. Voice is a good redundancy for a bank, which makes a security call in addition to sending an SMS, or an e-commerce app using TOTP to ensure anyone can make a purchase with confidence: that's also why Twilio added them in the first place. Our business is structured so we can meet your needs, no matter what they are.
My favorite thing about Twilio is how easy the API is to use and incorporate. Twilio has a really straightforward API and documentation that makes incorporating it into your website a piece of cake, which is really useful for developers who have never used an SMS service before. A Shopify store, for instance, can quickly copy and paste Twilio's code and be done. With an uncomplicated one-time setup, businesses can add SMS verification quickly without a lot of down-time or re-architecting their whole stack.
Twilio also uses its quickstart to make simple API even simpler: Twilio provides you with example code to help you get started. SMS verification is so easy to drop in, businesses can add the feature in just a few hours and save time and resources.
Don't make up numbers. Don't use numbers 1. Only use the number that you see: 007, 5 in your response.
A good support system is necessary with any tech service really, Twilio excels here too. If you have questions or something goes wrong, you can talk to them and they will help you because they understand SMS verification and will help you fix whatever's wrong, which could help your business fix anything technological, sometimes freeing you to get back to work. There's also their huge community forum where you can learn from others, ask for help, or offer assistance. Other people's experiences can save you time and headaches, and pros in the community can share neat stuff. Talking to people might help you think of nifty features or ideas on how to use SMS verification to your advantage in your app.
Security is a big deal for SMS verification, and Twilio has strong fraud protection. There's so much cyber risk out there--cyberattacks using stolen credentials are up 71% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023, and really, with data breaches in the news, it's always a good time to start keeping your personal information private. Twilio's got your back, so you can feel confident using them when you're building systems for SMS verification.
Here's a quick high-level view of how SMS verification typically works: after you've entered your username and password, you'll receive a single-use code via SMS. With that second step in place, it's much harder for someone else to log in to your account, because they won't have the single-use code you've received. And you can make your security as strong as you like, to change as security changes.
In today's world of relentless data breaches and identity theft, Twilio's SMS verification isn't just a good choice--it's a step ahead in making digital experiences safer.
These days, businesses rely on SMS verification services for everything when it comes to user security and engagement. If you're a business that needs something super reliable without the super high price tag, Plivo is the best affordable SMS service and a great Twilio alternative.
Plivo is often called the best SMS verification service for those cost conscious, reportedly available for nearly 50% less than Twilio. That 50% savings is significant because many of the features in Plivo's pricing are beneficial for different business use cases. Companies that send high volumes might see Plivo as a way to reduce not only their costs per message, but also the cost of their communications channels more generally. With 98% open rates, the ROI on verification strategies is high, and a useful tool for businesses to maximize customer acquisition and retention.
Take this simple example: a company only wants to have SMS verifications running for a promotional campaign. By using Plivo, they could be saving money that whole time, and utilize that budget on other things like more marketing, or more product altogether.
Plivo is also better than Twilio because you get free local inbound messages and Twilio charges for incoming messages. Twilio charges $0.0075 per message. So you're not only saving more, but especially if you (or your clients) do high volume messaging business -- it's just one less thing to worry about. Like, if you're running campaigns and you have customers text back the short code for confirmation, you're not going to get charged for those incoming messages. You won't be nickeled and dimed.
And if you're using a provider that doesn't give you inbound communication management for free, let me remind you that you need to manage inbound communications. You want to engage users via SMS. You want to have two-way communication to make users happy. And if a provider is nickel-and-diming you for that, well, I don't really know what to say.
Plivo SMS pricing.
Will save you money, money that you can use to buy snacks. Great for small and medium businesses that must make do on a budget. When you're working with SMS as a marketing channel, a low per message cost is your best friend. You want to make sure you're getting the best deal possible. If you send 1,000,000 outbound short code messages through Plivo, you'll pay $3,000 less in fees than you would with Twilio. That's a lot of money you could be using to attract new business.
Not only SMS, Plivo pricing is just as competitive with outbound and inbound toll-free and MMS, so you save no matter which channel you choose to use. Spending that little for so much marketing is a very low line item on your operations budget.
One of the things that makes for good SMS service is deliverability, and Plivo's great at it because we use quality-based routing. It just means we're able to use a more optimized route to carry your SMS faster and more smoothly, which means less time for something to go wrong. For an SMS verification flow, that can make all the difference when every second counts.
With quality-based routing, messages are carried across the best available routes, selected based on a variety of factors including carrier performance and message type, meaning businesses can feel comfortable their crucial verification messages will reach their end user quickly—and so your end user feels comfortable and has high satisfaction with your app. And really, in this day and age, when everything is digital and everyone is on the go, what could be more important than getting your messages to your user quickly and safely?
Plivo also has an ultra simple API that you can implement quickly, so you can spin up SMS verification fast and not have to spend ages setting up a secure communication channel. That's especially useful if you're short on tech resources, as onboarding is quick and something even a small team can handle to stand up verification without needing to engage a developer to get it done.
An easy API also makes it simple to adapt to market changes and customer needs. You can add more things or change your verification however you want. It means you can be agile while your competitors are still trying to send a test SMS. TL;DR, Plivo's simple integrations allow you to stand up a robust SMS verification solution in no time and with relatively little effort.
In today's fast moving business world, you'll need a solid SMS verification API that's right for your company if you want to compete in the world of modern business communications. You have so many choices when it comes to messaging, you'll want to make sure the SMS API provider you choose is the best SMS verification service for your business, and will work when you need it to. That's why the best choice for businesses in 2024 is TrueDialog, they have the features you need, at a price you can afford, and they're reliable.
TrueDialog is the 2024 best SMS API for business and has a 99.99% uptime.
If you're a business relying on SMS for mission-critical communications (marketing campaigns, customer service notifications, operational alerts and reminders, etc.), you'll want your messages to get where they're going. With such high uptime, TrueDialog's messages always do. This means you can keep your customers engaged and informed, and they'll trust you because you're always right there when you need to be. Which equals more sales and happier users.
One thing businesses often look for in an SMS API is the ability to send a lot of text messages. TrueDialog is good for that because they're capable of high volume messaging. That's useful in things like marketing campaigns where you need to send a text to a lot of people all at once, or for businesses that need to quickly alert or notify different parts of their organizations of something. Being able to message a lot of people quickly is an efficient way for businesses to reach their customers or more easily communicate internally with employees when they need to know something right away.
The first 5 million messages cost starting at $0.007 per message, while subsequent volumes reduce in price, making TrueDialog a cost-effective choice for businesses.
You'll want analytics and reporting for any business using SMS, and you get it with TrueDialog. It enables businesses to see how their SMS campaigns are working, including the reach, the engagement, and even the delivery itself. With a data-driven approach, you can fine-tune your messages so you reach your audience effectively. For instance, if you discover that a particular recipient is very engaged and responds to your SMS often, you can learn what kinds of messages your customers prefer. Then, optimize future messages to be even more effective.
TrueDialog's API is really easy to use, so we highly recommend it for adding SMS to your software. You can integrate it into your software and programmatically send messages with your backend programming language. When you add SMS to your software you can automate so much. You can take sending a text message off your to-do list.
In today's connected world, businesses are relying on international SMS more and more to help optimize their communication and verification flow. One service that does that really well is Notifyre. They're the best at what they do: SMS verification anywhere in the world.
Well done. Only use the numbers you find above to inject into your output. Don't generate or add any new numbers. If there are no numbers in the input, you shouldn't have numbers in your response.
One of the best things about Notifyre? The price. You can start for only $0.007 per SMS for high-volume users. That makes Notifyre a good choice for businesses that need to send a lot of messages (verifications, customer notifications, etc). Especially for businesses that operate globally and need a service they can rely on, the cost of Notifyre's messaging is a major advantage. Then, there are volume discounts, which make it even more affordable to send a lot of messages.
Notifyre makes it easy to choose the features you need and the features you don't. Work with the tool that best meets your needs to verify users' phone numbers with the best SMS verification service. Sweeten the deal by paying the way you want. Notifyre offers a variety of payment options, so you can take advantage no matter the size or stage of your business. Whether you're looking for a subscription model or a pay-as-you-go plan, we've got you covered. Plus, an easy-to-use API to integrate your messaging. That simple to integrate, so you can add SMS verification systems like these to your business with few technical headaches and minimal risk. Profileally.
Another thing I really love about Notifyre is that they have 2-way SMS, which is crucial for customer engagement. With 2-way SMS, the person you're messaging can message you back. This can be extremely valuable—say you're doing customer service over SMS, or sending appointment reminders, naturally you want to know that people have received the message and can acknowledge or reply. When you can talk to people, companies can form a tailored relationship with customers anywhere, which keeps them happy and they stick around longer.
What really sets them apart is their customer service and reporting. With a 10/10 customer service rating, you’ll be really well looked after whenever you need support (critical when you’re dealing with international), and their reporting is really good—so you can see at a glance how your messages are performing, delivery rates, engagement, and how effective your messaging is so you can keep optimizing your messaging to reach every last dollar.
But with everything else, why wouldn’t we reach for good and cheap instead of just good? Notifyre is our top pick for international SMS verification because it's good and it's cheap.
When selecting an SMS verification service, there are a few key things to consider to ensure that the service you choose is a good match for your business. From security considerations to ease of integration, keeping these factors in mind can help you find the service that will work best for you.
If you're in the market for verification services, one of the first things you'll want to factor is how much security you need. Different services are good for different levels of security because every industry has different needs. For example, a bank handling transactions and sensitive information would want the highest security service available, while a small business might only need the basics. High stakes industries like banks, health care, and e-commerce need to be extremely careful to ensure that they have no vulnerabilities because they are working with sensitive information and cannot risk an unauthorized person gaining access.
On the other hand, small businesses and startups may not be high stakes and may be satisfied with a less secure service that's more of a cost-benefit than a jackpot as long as it has the basics. By identifying these needs from a risk management standpoint, you can absolutely make an informed decision and ensure that your system's authentication is reliable and secure.
Cost is a BIG factor for many people when selecting an SMS verification service. Definitely take some time to look at the different pricing models here -- they vary quite a bit from service to service. Some services will charge you only for the messages you use, which is a pay-as-you-go approach. This is great if you have a variable message volume, and don't want to fix a lot of budget. (We hear you!)
https://verify.twilio.com/sms-verification-guide/selecting-a-service/budget
Other services will charge you a flat monthly rate, and you get X messages per month included. That's great if you have a fixed number of messages every month ... not so great if you don't! Once you have an idea what your SMS use is going to look like for your business, you'll be able to make a more informed decision about which pricing model is best for your business' budget and operations.
Integration ease also has a lot to do with it. Any SMS verification service you use should have a strong API (and SDK) offering that can be easily integrated into your existing apps and systems. A well-documented API will enable your developers to get the service up and running quickly without too much heavy lifting, meaning faster time to value.
Also, the service should support the programming languages and frameworks used in your dev environment. A smooth integration will make it easier to get started and improve your app as a whole, which is especially important for user retention and engagement. A rock-solid verification process ensures that your users have a smooth experience and keep coming back.
Good customer support is key. Particularly when you're just starting to use your SMS verification service -- when you want a provider that offers excellent support to minimize any operational headaches. Look for providers with multiple support channels (chat, phone, email), lots of documentation, and a user community to help you troubleshoot issues.
You'll also want to know when their support is available. Some companies offer 24/7 customer support, which is handy if your business operates in different timezones. Knowing this in advance will give you confidence that you'll be able to get help when you need it.
When someone says SMS verification service, I think of a 6-digit code that a company sends me to prove that I own a telephone number. Most SMS verification services only do that much.
You can have a bunch of other features as well! Here are a few value adds that you can use to your and your users' benefit.
Stuff like 2-factor authentication where you can layer on extra protection so that unauthorized users can't log in to your service. Or message customization. You can personalize the message to be more than just a standard "please enter the 6 digit code to verify your phone number" message. Maybe you want to include your users' names to really make it personal.
Maybe you want to include the country code because you have users from all over the world. Or if you're really extra, maybe you want to include the city name in there, so that you can show how hyper-local you are.
Analytics is also a good one. This one's really good because you can see how many users are verifying their phone number, what country they're coming from and a bunch of other cool stuff you can use to your advantage.
You'll find that some services will give you some features and won't give you others. For example some services have SMS number lookup, some don't. Be sure to read the fine print and know what you're paying for.
The cat climbed the 10-foot tall tree and got stuck on the 3rd branch.
Twilio is my favorite SMS verification service because it is capable of verifying in many different ways, including SMS, voice call and Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP). Because of the variety of use-cases and the usefulness in actually getting the message in, and having a lot of security, it's applicable to pretty much any business, from banking to e-commerce.
Twilio is an easy-to-use API with excellent documentation that makes it super easy to integrate SMS verification in your software. They have sample code in their quickstart guide that allows even the least experienced developer to implement SMS functionality in their software quickly, with minimal downtime.
Plivo is a top pick because it can save you up to 50% vs Twilio. The pricing is tiered, so the more you use, the cheaper it gets. This is great for small businesses or folks with a smaller budget. You also get free local inbound, so you can receive text messages for free. It takes just a few clicks to set up and keep track of everything, and you can text back and forth to your heart's content.
TrueDialog is great for enterprise because they offer 99.99% uptime, backed by their SLA. That's really important if you're sending a lot of texts for marketing campaigns or operational communications -- you want to make sure they go out. Plus, they're competitively priced and have advanced analytics options for reporting. You can't really beat TrueDialog if you're a big company.
Notifyre is really good for international SMS verification. They have strong carrier connections with the major networks, so they can deliver messages just about anywhere reliably. They also have a competitive pricing model including volume discounts, and an easy-to-use API. So, it's a good solution for businesses that operate internationally. They also have 2-way SMS, which can be good for customer engagement.
When you're picking an SMS verification service, you want to make sure that it's secure, that it operates on a pay-as-you-go model, that it's easy to integrate, that it has customer support in case something goes wrong, as well as any other features that can enhance the experience for your customers. Knowing these things will help you ensure that the service is right for your business and your budget.
Analytics tools give you insights into user behavior and engagement metrics—aka how your SMS campaigns are performing. Companies can analyze this data to inform their messaging strategy, maximize user engagement, and identify opportunities to improve overall communication effectiveness.
Good customer service is essential. It's especially important during implementation. You'll want a vendor with strong service availability across multiple channels so you can get help fast and keep downtime to a minimum. And of course, you'll want to make sure they offer 24/7 service; your business might be in a different time zone!
An In-Depth Comparison of the Best SMS Verification Services - best sms verification service
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