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Software · head to head

8x8 vs Twilio

8x8 logo

8x8

Software

Enterprise-grade unified communications

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Twilio logo

Twilio

Software

Cloud communications platform for SMS, voice, and video

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Twilio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 8x8 listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited; Twilio pricing becomes unpredictable with carrier fees and additional charges for compliance, recordings, and phone number rentals
  • They diverge on capability: 8x8 covers Voice calling, Twilio covers SMS messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8x8 and Twilio actually diverge.

Attributes where 8x8 and Twilio differ
Attribute8x8Twilio
Starting price$29.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWeb, APIs, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, PHP, C#
Founded19872008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8x8

  • Voice calling
  • Video meetings
  • Team messaging
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail
  • Call routing
  • Analytics
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Twilio

  • SMS messaging
  • Voice calls
  • Video conferencing
  • Programmable communication
  • HubSpot
  • Zapier
  • Mobile support
  • API support

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8x8

  • Business communicationnot Twilio
  • Customer contactnot Twilio
  • Remote worknot Twilio
  • Continuitynot Twilio

Twilio

  • Customer engagementnot 8x8
  • Lead generationnot 8x8
  • Customer supportnot 8x8
  • Sales automationnot 8x8

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8x8

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited

Twilio

  • Pricing becomes unpredictable with carrier fees and additional charges for compliance, recordings, and phone number rentals
  • Phone number rentals are required for every number used, with carrier fees varying by region and billed separately
  • Dashboard is not optimized for mobile use and logs are difficult to access

Pricing, plan by plan

8x8

$29.99/month
  • Pro$29.99/month
    • Calling and meetings
    • Video conferencing
    • Team messaging
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

Twilio

Free
  • Pay-as-You-Go$undefined/mo
    • Usage-based pricing
    • No monthly minimum
    • SMS, voice, video, messaging

Which should you pick?

Choose 8x8 if

  • You need voice calling.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video meetings.
8x8 review

Choose Twilio if

  • You need sms messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, APIs, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, PHP, C#.
  • You also want voice calls.
Twilio review

Questions people ask

Is 8x8 or Twilio better?
Neither clearly leads. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month and Twilio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8x8 or Twilio?
Twilio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/month for 8x8 and Free for Twilio.
Does 8x8 or Twilio run on more platforms?
8x8 runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Twilio runs on Web, APIs, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, PHP, C#.
Can I use Twilio for free?
Yes. Twilio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month.
What is 8x8 best used for?
8x8 is most often used for business communication, customer contact, remote work, continuity. Of those, business communication and customer contact are not what Twilio is typically brought in for.
What can 8x8 do that Twilio cannot?
8x8 covers Voice calling, Video meetings, Team messaging, Call recording. Twilio covers SMS messaging, Voice calls, Video conferencing, Programmable communication. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Twilio: What is Twilio's pricing model?

Twilio uses pay-as-you-go usage-based pricing with no monthly minimums or contracts. SMS costs $0.0083 per US message, voice calls cost $0.014 per minute, phone numbers cost $1.15 per month.

Source
Twilio: Does Twilio offer a free tier?

Yes, Twilio offers a free trial indefinitely with no credit card required for limited usage, plus a 7-14 day free trial period on paid plans.

Source
Twilio: What communication channels does Twilio support?

Twilio supports SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, MMS for messaging; Voice API and SIP Trunking for voice; Email via Twilio SendGrid; Video API; and Chat via Conversations API.

Source
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Related pages

More on 8x8

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