Bandwidth alternative
Bandwidth sells voice, messaging, and emergency APIs for companies building their own products. Your team writes the code that ties them together. AI Chat is a finished assistant you text from the Messages app on your phone.
Bandwidth helps builders ship communications infrastructure. We help you get your own day done.
If you are weighing us against ChatGPT, read Why Use AI Chat SMS When You Can Just Use ChatGPT?. For other platforms in this group, see our Telnyx and Plivo pages.
What Bandwidth says
The site on bandwidth.com calls Bandwidth "an enterprise communications platform with voice, messaging, and emergency APIs for your communications stack." The homepage hero frames it as "Voice, Messaging, and Emergency. Trusted by the best," plus "AI-ready enterprise integrations and APIs."
On messaging APIs, Bandwidth pitches "One API for all of your text messaging," with coverage across 120+ countries and options for alphanumeric, global 2-way, toll-free, short code, and 10DLC messaging.
Their SMS messaging FAQ is clear about the product shape: "Do you have an out-of-the-box SMS solution?" Answer: "No, but our SMS API allows you to build the solution that's right for you and your customers." Same FAQ: "Do you offer a free SMS API?" Answer: "No. If you need access to our SMS API for proof of concept development or testing, please request a trial account."
US outbound messaging prices from Bandwidth's pricing page, as of Nov 6, 2026:
| Number type | SMS outbound | MMS outbound |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. 10DLC | $0.004 per message | $0.015 per message |
| U.S. Short code | $0.008 per message | $0.020 per message |
| U.S. Toll-free | $0.007 per message | $0.020 per message |
Bandwidth notes that rates do not include any applicable taxes or fees, and that full product pricing is available on request. Carrier surcharges are listed separately on Bandwidth's carrier surcharges help article.
Those figures are messaging API usage charges. They are not the same kind of price as AI Chat's assistant subscription.
What you get if you text us
Save one number: (305) 588-2170. It works in the US and Canada, right inside Messages. There is nothing to install. Your first 50 messages are free, with no account or card.
iPhone and Mac users see real iMessage blue bubbles. Other phones get SMS or RCS from their carrier.
Remind me Tuesday at 4pm to call the dentist
Done. I'll text you Tuesday at 4:00 PM to call the dentist.
Send me a short brief on mortgage rates every Monday at 7
You got it. Mortgage rate brief every Monday at 7:00 AM.
Reminders show up as texts. You can ask for a daily brief on any topic, set alerts, and count on long term memory between chats. Web search, /image, and personas through /mode all live in the same thread.
Link Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Outlook. Text /connect gmail or /connect calendar, or just ask in plain words. You get a sign in link that you control.
AI Chat is the product itself. There is no API to learn, no number to rent, and no communications stack to assemble.
After the free messages, Unlimited is $15 a month with 100 a day and 2,000 a month fair use. You can also pay as you go, starting at 200 messages for $10.
Side by side
| AI Chat SMS | Bandwidth | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Today. Text (305) 588-2170 in the US and Canada. | Today. Sign up or request a quote at bandwidth.com. |
| Price | 50 free messages, no card. Then $15/month Unlimited, or pay as you go from $10. | US outbound 10DLC SMS $0.004 / MMS $0.015 per message; short code $0.008 / $0.020; toll-free $0.007 / $0.020 (pricing page, Nov 6, 2026). Taxes or fees not included. Carrier surcharges extra. |
| Product | A personal AI assistant in Messages. | Enterprise voice, messaging, and emergency APIs for builders. |
| Who it is for | People who want an assistant they can text. | Developers and companies building communications into products. |
| Reminders | Yes. They arrive as texts. | You build them yourself with the API. |
| Memory | Yes. Long term, across chats. | Communications APIs; you build the assistant layer. |
| Briefings | Yes. Daily briefs on any topic. | You build the system that sends them. |
| Gmail | Yes. /connect gmail. | Communications APIs; you build the assistant layer. |
| Google Calendar | Yes. /connect calendar. | Communications APIs; you build the assistant layer. |
| Docs, Sheets, Outlook | Yes. Same /connect list. | Communications APIs; you build the assistant layer. |
| Messaging APIs | No. We are the finished product. | Yes. SMS and MMS APIs for 10DLC, short code, toll-free, and more. |
| Numbers you rent | No. One shared public number. | Yes. Automated phone numbers via APIs (ordering, porting, management); inventory across ~70 countries. |
| Voice / Emergency APIs | No. We are a texting assistant. | Yes. Voice and emergency APIs (homepage). |
| Image gen and personas | Yes. /image and /mode. | Communications APIs; you build the assistant layer. |
| Coverage | US and Canada. | Global messaging options, with 120+ countries on their messaging APIs page. |
Where Bandwidth wins
Bandwidth fits a team that needs messaging APIs with enterprise-grade throughput, deeper deliverability insights, hands-on support, phone numbers, voice, and emergency APIs. They sell that plumbing. We do not.
Where we win
AI Chat is ready the moment you send a text. You get 50 free messages, $15 Unlimited, and one number to save. There is no code to write and no number to rent.
Reminders, briefs, alerts, memory, personas, and /image all live in one thread. Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Outlook connect with /connect.
Which one you want
Building messaging or voice into a product? Pick Bandwidth.
Want an assistant for yourself, starting today? Text us.
FAQ
Can I get my own number from AI Chat? No. Everyone texts the same public number, (305) 588-2170.
What does Bandwidth charge for US 10DLC SMS? U.S. 10DLC outbound SMS is $0.004 per message on Bandwidth's pricing page, as of Nov 6, 2026. Rates do not include applicable taxes or fees. Carrier surcharges are listed separately.
Is Bandwidth a personal texting assistant? No. Bandwidth sells communications APIs. Their SMS FAQ says they do not have an out-of-the-box SMS solution; you build with their API.
Do Bandwidth rates include carrier fees? No. The pricing page says rates do not include any applicable taxes or fees. Carrier surcharges are published on Bandwidth's carrier surcharges help article.
Does AI Chat work with Gmail and Calendar?
Yes. Text /connect gmail or /connect calendar and follow the link.
Text it today
No download needed.
Text (305) 588-2170. Fifty free messages. US and Canada. Standard message rates apply.
Ready to text your AI?
No app to download. Text us to start — one tap opens Messages with our number. 50 free messages to start.
Text (305) 588-2170
US & Canada only. Standard message rates apply.