Twilio
by Twilio Inc.
Cloud communications platform providing APIs for SMS, voice, email (SendGrid), video, and WhatsApp messaging with usage-based pricing. Twilio is a cloud communications platform founded in 2008 by Jeff Lawson and headquartered in San Francisco. The company went public on the NYSE in 2016 (ticker: TWLO) and reported $4.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | May 2026 | Twilio |
| IPO | 2016 (NYSE: TWLO) | May 2026 | Twilio SEC filing |
| Annual Revenue | $4.1 billion (FY2024) | May 2026 | Twilio 10-K |
| Customers | 300,000+ active customer accounts | May 2026 | Twilio |
| SMS Pricing | From $0.0079/message (U.S. domestic) | May 2026 | Twilio |
| Products | SMS, Voice, Video, Email/SendGrid, WhatsApp, Segment, Flex | May 2026 | Twilio |
| SendGrid Acquisition | Acquired SendGrid in 2019 for $2 billion | May 2026 | Twilio |
| Segment CDP | Twilio Segment — customer data platform for event-driven automation | May 2026 | Twilio |
About Twilio
Twilio is a cloud communications platform founded in 2008 by Jeff Lawson and headquartered in San Francisco. The company went public on the NYSE in 2016 (ticker: TWLO) and reported $4.1 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024. As of April 2026, Twilio serves more than 300,000 active customer accounts worldwide.
The platform provides a suite of communication APIs: Programmable SMS (from $0.0079/message for U.S. domestic), Programmable Voice (from $0.013/minute inbound), Programmable Video, WhatsApp Business API, and email delivery via SendGrid (acquired in 2019 for $2 billion). Developers integrate these APIs into applications to send notifications, verification codes, marketing messages, and support communications programmatically. Twilio Verify handles two-factor authentication, and Twilio Conversations provides multi-party messaging across SMS, WhatsApp, and chat.
Twilio Segment (acquired in 2020 for $3.2 billion) is a customer data platform (CDP) that collects, cleans, and routes user event data across marketing, analytics, and data warehouse tools. Segment enables event-driven automation by unifying customer data from websites, mobile apps, and servers into a single customer profile. Twilio Flex is a programmable contact center platform that can be customized with code. Pricing is usage-based with no minimums — organizations pay only for what they use, with a free trial that includes $15 in credit.
Integrations (8)
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Questions About Twilio
Twilio vs SendGrid: which messaging platform should you use?
Twilio is a messaging and voice platform focused on SMS, WhatsApp, voice calls, and programmable communications; SendGrid (a Twilio subsidiary) focuses on transactional and marketing email. They are complementary rather than competitive: use Twilio for SMS, voice, and WhatsApp; use SendGrid for email. Many teams use both through the unified Twilio platform.
Can you automate WhatsApp with Zapier?
Yes, partially. Zapier supports WhatsApp automation through the WhatsApp Business API via Twilio, Meta's Cloud API partners, or third-party WhatsApp Business integrations (e.g., WATI, Respond.io). Direct WhatsApp personal account automation is not permitted by Meta's terms. Business-API messaging is the only supported path.
What are the best Twilio alternatives in 2026?
The top Twilio alternatives in 2026 are SendGrid (Twilio-owned email API), Vonage (voice and messaging APIs), and Plivo (cost-effective communications API). SendGrid is the standard choice for email delivery, while Vonage and Plivo compete on voice and SMS pricing.
What are the best SendGrid alternatives in 2026?
Brevo, Mailchimp, and Customer.io are the top SendGrid alternatives in 2026. Brevo provides multi-channel email at 76% lower cost for high-volume senders. Mailchimp offers all-in-one marketing with templates. Customer.io provides event-driven behavioral messaging.
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