Twilio: pay-as-you-go communications APIs
Twilio is a usage-based platform for phone numbers, messaging, voice and email APIs. The email trial and pay-as-you-go pricing mean a small project pays only for what it actually uses.
Free trial: 100 emails a day for 60 days
How I use Twilio
I use Twilio in two places: my working phone number runs through Twilio, and Twilio Email delivers The Side Piece newsletter.
What makes it different?
Phone numbers, messaging, voice and email APIs share one usage-based account, billed per message, minute and rented number rather than per seat.
Competitors
- Vonage: Communications APIs for voice, SMS and video
- Amazon SES: Email-sending API on AWS
Product source checked 2026-09-11.
Who it is for
Sending email programmatically and running phone numbers, messaging or voice from one account.
Who can claim it?
The email trial covers 100 emails a day for 60 days, subject to the provider's trial terms; paid email plans start at $19.95 a month. Phone numbers are rented monthly, with usage billed per message or minute.
Limits and availability
After the trial, email sending moves to paid plans. Phone numbers carry a monthly rental on top of usage, and international rates vary by country. Prices are shown in US dollars.
Billing and renewal
Usage-based billing after the trial: email plans from $19.95 a month, plus any rented numbers and per-use charges.
- Currency shown
- USD
- Tax basis
- Provider’s checkout terms
- Card required
- Provider’s signup terms
- Expiry
- The free email trial runs 60 days from signup; the provider's trial terms apply.
- Public research date
- 11 Sept 2026
- Source checked
- 11 Sept 2026