A Twilio alternative for small business texts and calls
How a small business can text and answer customers without a Twilio account: its own Android phone, Telegram, WhatsApp and an existing phone system. What works, what it costs and what still needs Twilio.
Twilio is a good service, but a small business often does not need to open an account, buy a number and register for carrier texting just to answer customers. The Speakvora agent connects to things you already have, and it follows the workflows you set up, so it is not a free-talking assistant unless you add your own AI key.
What can replace Twilio
| You want to | Use | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Text and answer texts on your existing number | Your own Android phone with the free SMS Gateway app | Android only; the phone stays on; customer-service volume |
| Answer customer messages for free | A Telegram bot | Text only; customers must message the bot first |
| Answer WhatsApp messages | Meta's WhatsApp Cloud API | Text only; replies free within 24 hours; about an hour to set up |
| Answer calls on your number | Your existing office phone system, through a SIP extension | Tested with Asterisk; no outbound calls; unencrypted SIP only so far |
When you still need Twilio
- You have no phone system to connect and want calls answered.
- You want the agent to place outbound calls.
- You want business texting at volume from a registered number.
What it costs
A Speakvora bundle is a one-time price from $14 to $199 per business location, with no per-message or per-call fee from us. Your own phone plan, Meta (for WhatsApp) or phone provider bills you directly, and your own AI provider bills you if you add an AI key.
Questions
Is this a free replacement for Twilio?
For texts and messages from your own Android phone, Telegram and WhatsApp it removes the need for a Twilio account. Calls need a phone system you already have or a Twilio account. The software itself is open source and the bundle is a one-time price.
Do I keep my phone number?
Yes for texts through your own Android phone, which uses the number on that phone. For calls, your phone system sends the calls you choose to the agent and your number stays where it is.
Does it need carrier registration for texting?
Texts sent from your own phone and SIM do not go through the business-texting registration that US numbers on Twilio need. Keep volume to what a person could send, because carriers filter bulk texting from personal SIMs.
Browse industry bundles All the connections The open-source agent