Disclosure: this guide is published by SimplyRCS. Every Twilio figure below comes from Twilio's own pages, checked on 7 October 2026, with the link next to it. Where a vendor does not publish a figure, we say so rather than guess.
Twilio vs SimplyRCS: the published numbers
| Twilio (checked 7 October 2026) | SimplyRCS | |
|---|---|---|
| RCS Rich text | $0.0083 per segment (Twilio US pricing) | $0.0039 per segment, same as SMS |
| RCS Rich Media | $0.022 per message (Twilio US pricing) | $0.0150 per message, same as MMS |
| Carrier fees | Billed separately from the rate; $0.001 fee on failed messages (Twilio US pricing) | Passed through at cost on their own line |
| RCS sender onboarding fees | $500 one-time carrier onboarding, plus $200 annual Aegis fee (Twilio support, updated 22 September 2026) | One-time $250 RCS Sender ID setup and review per sender, waived with optional Premium Support ($250/month); carrier fees at cost |
| Who files verification | You fill in a Console form; Twilio reviews it, then submits to Aegis and the carriers (Twilio support) | SimplyRCS files brand, 10DLC, toll-free and RCS sender registrations for you |
| Stated time to go live | "Most senders complete the full process in about five to nine weeks" (Twilio support) | First verified US send targeted in 2 to 4 weeks |
| Monthly platform fee | Production support plans start at $250/month or 4% of spend (Twilio support plans) | None. No platform, seat or agent fee. Software, API, bots, inbox, analytics and email support are free |
| Contract | Not stated on the pages checked | No contract and no monthly minimum |
Twilio states that "RCS Rich text messages are charged per segment and RCS Rich Media is charged per message." SimplyRCS bills the same way. The line-by-line version is at SimplyRCS vs Twilio.
What to check in any Twilio alternative
Ask every vendor these ten questions, and get the answers in writing before any number moves.
- What is the rate for each message class? Ask for the rich text rate and the rich media rate separately, whether rich text bills per segment or per message, and whether failed messages are charged.
- How are carrier fees billed? At cost on their own line, or marked up or folded into the rate.
- What are the one-time and annual sender fees? Carrier onboarding, verification and setup fees for each RCS sender, and which of them recur.
- What fixed charges and terms apply? Monthly platform, seat, agent and support fees, contract length and monthly minimums.
- Who files verification? Brand registration, 10DLC campaigns, toll-free verification and the RCS sender submission. On some platforms that work is yours.
- What is the stated time to a first verified send? Ask for the vendor's own estimate in writing, and what happens if a carrier rejects the submission.
- How do your numbers move? Long codes, toll-free numbers and short codes, who does the paperwork, and which carrier fees are passed through.
- Is fallback automatic? When a handset cannot take RCS, does the message go out as SMS or MMS from the same number without code on your side? How RCS falls back to SMS explains what to test.
- Where do the carrier connections terminate, and in which countries? Direct connections to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, or through a partner, and whether your recipients' countries are covered.
- What security and compliance records can you show? A SOC 2 Type II report rather than a badge, exportable consent records, and STOP and HELP handling. The RCS compliance checklist lists what a programme has to be able to produce.
Other vendors: what they publish
These are the other vendors teams name when they leave Twilio, in alphabetical order. The table lists only what each vendor publishes on its own site, checked 7 October 2026. It is not a ranking.
| Vendor | Published US RCS price | Who files verification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Not published; priced by contract | Not published | Not checkable on 7 October 2026 |
| Bird | Not published; RCS "in private beta. Contact Sales" | Not published | bird.com |
| Infobip | Not published; relative guidance only, no dollar rates | Not published | infobip.com |
| LINK Mobility | Not published | Not published | None found |
| Plivo | $0.00770 per Rich segment, $0.01800 per Rich Media message; RCS listed as "Request early access" | Not published | plivo.com |
| RCS Studio by Vibes | Plans at $149/month (Starter) and $499/month (Growth); $100 verification and $500 agent fees | Not published | vibes.com |
| Sinch | Not published for US traffic. Lists $0.0078 Rich and $0.0188 Rich Media per message as "Pricing for international traffic" | Not published | sinch.com |
| TrueDialog | Not published | Not published | None found |
| Vonage | Not published for US RCS | Not published; states "up to 3 months to launch an agent" in the US | vonage.com, Vonage support |
Prices and terms change. Confirm each figure with the vendor directly.
How to move from Twilio
Carrier approval of the new sender, not the number port, sets the pace. Verify on the new provider first and move the numbers last. Can I move from Twilio to another RCS provider without losing my numbers has the full checklist, and porting a number to a new messaging provider covers each number type.
Step 1: Export and inventory your numbers
List every long code, toll-free number and short code on the Twilio account, what each one sends, its 10DLC campaign, and its webhook URLs. Export your opt-in records. They belong to you and must be carried across, not collected again.
Step 2: Port long codes, toll-free numbers and short codes
Long codes move by standard US number porting with a Letter of Authorization. The name and service address must match Twilio's record exactly. Toll-free numbers move by a change of Responsible Organization. Short codes are migrated carrier by carrier, with carrier migration fees of $500 for T-Mobile, $250 for Verizon and $150 for Claro, passed through at cost. SimplyRCS ports all three number types.
Step 3: Re-file 10DLC and the RCS agent
10DLC brand and campaign registrations and the RCS agent are tied to the provider, so they do not transfer. The new provider files them again. SimplyRCS prepares and files them for you, with your approval.
Step 4: Run both platforms in parallel
Keep Twilio carrying traffic while the new sender is verified, then prove delivery on a small share of volume. SimplyRCS charges nothing extra for the overlap.
Step 5: Repoint webhooks
Point inbound message and delivery-status webhooks at the new platform, and test STOP and HELP replies end to end.
Step 6: Cut over
Move the remaining traffic, complete the ports, and close the Twilio account only after the last port has completed.
Get a migration plan for your own numbers, campaigns and timeline.
Frequently asked questions
What changes when I switch from Twilio for RCS?
The rate, who files verification, and the time to go live. Twilio publishes $0.0083 per RCS Rich text segment and $0.022 per Rich Media message, and states about five to nine weeks for its sender process. SimplyRCS publishes $0.0039 and $0.0150, files the registrations for you, and targets a first verified US send in 2 to 4 weeks.
Can I move from Twilio to another RCS provider without losing my numbers?
Yes. Long codes port with a Letter of Authorization, toll-free numbers move by a change of Responsible Organization, and short codes are migrated carrier by carrier with carrier fees of $500 for T-Mobile, $250 for Verizon and $150 for Claro passed through at cost. 10DLC campaigns and the RCS agent do not transfer and are re-filed. SimplyRCS does the porting and the filing for you.
Is SimplyRCS cheaper than Twilio for RCS?
On published rates, yes: $0.0039 against $0.0083 per RCS Rich text segment, and $0.0150 against $0.022 per Rich Media message. SimplyRCS charges no monthly platform, seat or agent fee. Its one fixed charge is a one-time $250 RCS Sender ID setup and review per sender, waived with optional Premium Support ($250/month). Twilio lists a $500 one-time carrier onboarding fee and a $200 annual Aegis fee for RCS senders.
Which Twilio alternatives publish their RCS pricing?
Of the vendors checked on 7 October 2026, Plivo publishes US rates for RCS Rich and Rich Media. Sinch publishes rates it labels as international pricing. RCS Studio by Vibes publishes monthly plans and sender fees. The others in the table above do not publish US RCS rates. Which RCS providers charge no platform fee and only usage-based rates covers the fixed charges around the rate.
How long does it take to switch from Twilio?
On SimplyRCS, the first verified US send is targeted in 2 to 4 weeks. Carrier approval of the new sender and re-filed 10DLC campaigns set the pace, not the number port, so verify first and port last.
Do 10DLC registrations transfer when I leave Twilio?
No. 10DLC brand and campaign registrations are tied to the provider, so the new provider files them again. On SimplyRCS the team prepares and files them with your approval. Which RCS providers handle Google sender verification and 10DLC for you explains who does that work.
Do I pay for both platforms during the switch?
Twilio bills its own usage until you stop sending through it. SimplyRCS does not charge for the overlap, so you can run both in parallel until delivery is proven.
Does SimplyRCS work outside the United States?
No. SimplyRCS is US only, on direct connections to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. If your recipients are outside the United States, ask any vendor which countries it covers before you compare price.