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Software · head to head

Twilio vs 8x8

Twilio logo

Twilio

Software

Cloud communications platform for SMS, voice, and video

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
8x8 logo

8x8

Software

Enterprise-grade unified communications

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Twilio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Twilio pricing becomes unpredictable with carrier fees and additional charges for compliance, recordings, and phone number rentals; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Twilio covers SMS messaging, 8x8 covers Voice calling.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Twilio and 8x8 differ
AttributeTwilio8x8
Starting priceFree$29.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, APIs, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, PHP, C#Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
Founded20081987

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 Twilio

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

Only in 8x8

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Twilio

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

8x8

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Twilio

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

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

Which should you pick?

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

Choose 8x8 if

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

Questions people ask

Is Twilio or 8x8 better?
Neither clearly leads. Twilio starts at Free and 8x8 at $29.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Twilio or 8x8?
Twilio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Twilio and $29.99/month for 8x8.
Does Twilio or 8x8 run on more platforms?
Twilio runs on Web, APIs, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, PHP, C#. 8x8 runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
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 Twilio best used for?
Twilio is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation. Of those, customer engagement and lead generation are not what 8x8 is typically brought in for.
What can Twilio do that 8x8 cannot?
Twilio covers SMS messaging, Voice calls, Video conferencing, Programmable communication. 8x8 covers Voice calling, Video meetings, Team messaging, Call recording. Both handle Slack, Salesforce, 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

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