Save 50-70%
on SMS Costs
Look, Twilio is great. It's the name everyone knows in SMS APIs. But every time I talk to a Shopify store owner about their messaging costs, the reaction is the same: "Wait, I'm paying HOW much per text?" If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
Why Are People Looking for Alternatives?
Here's the thing about Twilio—it's built for enterprise companies with enterprise budgets. For a typical Shopify store, the math starts to hurt pretty quickly:
- Twilio charges $0.0079+ per SMS in the US
- Add carrier fees, long code fees, and compliance surcharges
- A store sending 10,000 messages/month can pay $100-150+
- The same volume on alternatives: $40-70
Real Cost Example
A fashion store sending 5,000 order notifications + 2,000 cart recovery messages monthly was paying $98/month with Twilio. After switching to Alintro with Plivo integration: $34/month. That's 65% savings.
Okay, So What Are the Options?
Alintro (BYO Gateway)
Save 50-70%$0 platform + your gateway cost
Pros
- Connect 100+ gateways
- No per-message markup
- Full Shopify integration
- WhatsApp + SMS
Cons
- • Requires gateway account
Best for: Merchants who want maximum flexibility and savings
MessageBird
Save 30-50%$0.005-0.02/message
Pros
- Good coverage
- API-first
- Omnichannel
Cons
- • Less Shopify-specific
- • Support varies
Best for: Technical teams building custom solutions
Vonage (Nexmo)
Save 20-40%$0.006-0.02/message
Pros
- Reliable delivery
- Global reach
- Good API
Cons
- • Complex pricing
- • Enterprise-focused
Best for: Larger businesses with technical resources
Plivo
Save 40-60%$0.004-0.015/message
Pros
- Very affordable
- Good documentation
- Reliable
Cons
- • Smaller ecosystem
- • Limited integrations
Best for: Cost-conscious developers
Sinch
Save 25-45%$0.007-0.02/message
Pros
- Strong in messaging
- Good WhatsApp support
Cons
- • Less known
- • Varying regional support
Best for: WhatsApp-focused businesses
The Real Money Saver: Bring Your Own Gateway
Here's where it gets interesting. The absolute best way to save money is to cut out the middleman markup entirely. Most SMS apps charge you their rate (which already includes their profit margin). But what if you could just... not pay that markup?
How Alintro's BYO Gateway Works
- 1Sign up with any of 100+ supported SMS gateways (Plivo, Vonage, MessageBird, etc.)
- 2Enter your gateway API credentials in Alintro settings
- 3Alintro sends messages through YOUR account at YOUR rates
- 4No per-message markup from Alintro - just the flat monthly subscription
Before You Switch: Things to Check
Coverage
Make sure they support countries where your customers are
Delivery Speed
Messages should deliver in seconds, not minutes
Compliance
TCPA, GDPR, and carrier compliance built-in
Transparent Pricing
Watch for hidden fees, carrier surcharges, etc.
My Recommended Setup (If I Were Starting Today)
If a friend asked me how to set this up, here's exactly what I'd tell them:
- Install Alintro - Full Shopify integration with automated notifications
- Sign up with Plivo or MessageBird - Best price/reliability balance
- Connect via BYO Gateway - Pay gateway rates, no markup
- Enable WhatsApp - Even better engagement, competitive pricing
Summary: Which Alternative is Right?
| If you... | Choose... |
|---|---|
| Want maximum savings + Shopify integration | Alintro + BYO Gateway |
| Need a drop-in Twilio replacement | Plivo or MessageBird |
| Focus on WhatsApp + SMS | Sinch or Alintro |
| Have technical resources | Vonage or direct API |
Ready to Save on SMS?
Install Alintro free and connect your preferred gateway. No per-message markup.
Install Free on Shopify