Plivo
Plivo is a cloud communications platform that provides voice, SMS, WhatsApp, and conversational AI APIs for businesses.
Our verdict
Who it's for
Cloud communications API platform
Who should look elsewhere
Self-service plan limited to $2,500 monthly usage
Pros
- +Pay-as-you-go pricing keeps costs low for startups and scaling teams
- +AI agent builder enables deployment without engineering resources
- +Global coverage with phone numbers in 190+ countries
- +Reliable infrastructure trusted by Fortune 500 companies
- +Comprehensive API documentation with SDKs for major languages
Cons
- −Self-service plan limited to $2,500 monthly usage
- −Enterprise features like HIPAA compliance require higher-tier plans
- −AI agent builder is newer and less mature than dedicated CCaaS platforms
- −No built-in contact center UI-requires custom development or integration
- −Pricing complexity with per-minute and per-message rates
Key features
- ✓Programmable voice API with SIP trunking
- ✓SMS and MMS messaging API
- ✓WhatsApp Business API integration
- ✓No-code AI agent builder with drag-and-drop flows
- ✓Multilingual support for 10+ languages
- ✓Phone number provisioning in 190+ countries
- ✓Real-time call analytics and recording
- ✓Two-factor authentication and verification API
- ✓Toll-free and local number management
- ✓Webhook and REST API for custom integrations
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US long code / short code SMS | $0.0077 | month | $0.0077 to send or receive; Plus carrier surcharge; Official US table on plivo.com/sms/pricing/us |
| US toll-free SMS | $0.0079 | month | $0.0079 in and out; Plus carrier surcharge |
| US MMS | $0.018 | month | Long code $0.0180; Toll-free and short code $0.0200; Plus MMS carrier surcharge |
| Number rental | $0.5 | month | Long code $0.50/month; Toll-free $1.00/month; Short code $500/month billed quarterly plus $1,500 setup |