What is Twilio?

Twilio is a cloud communications platform as a service (CPaaS) company. It provides a suite of APIs that allow developers to programmatically make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and perform other communication functions using its web service APIs.

Main Features

- Programmable Messaging for global SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp

- Programmable Voice for making and receiving phone calls

- Programmable Video for embedding high-quality video into apps

- SendGrid Email API for automated transactional and marketing emails

- Intelligent authentication and verification services

Use Cases

- Building automated appointment and alert notification systems

- Creating secure user verification via SMS or voice

- Developing in-app video calling for telehealth or remote work

- Powering fast marketing campaigns across multiple channels

- Enhancing customer support with intelligent chat and voice bots

Common Questions

- What is Twilio used for? It is used to add communication features like texting, calling, and video into software applications.

- Is Twilio a paid service? Yes, it operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on usage.

- Does Twilio offer a free trial? Yes, it offers a free trial credit for new accounts to test its services.

Pricing Plan

- Pay-As-You-Go: Pricing is based on usage per service, such as cost per message for SMS or per minute for voice calls. No upfront commitments.

- Elastic SIP Trunking: Priced per minute for inbound and outbound calls, with monthly charges for phone numbers.

- SendGrid Email API: Offers a Free plan for starter needs, with paid plans (Essential, Pro, Premier) scaling with features and email volume.

- Phone Numbers: Monthly recurring fees for owning phone numbers in different countries, with costs varying by region and number type.

- Volume & Commitment Discounts: Custom pricing is available for high-volume users who commit to a specific spending level.