Vonage — formerly Nexmo — is a communications API for SMS, voice, WhatsApp and phone-number verification, and the closest direct rival to Twilio. Pricing is pay-as-you-go per message or minute, with free trial credit to start. Here's the cost, the free credit, and how to get a key.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trial credit free | ~$2 credit | on sign-up, no card to test |
| SMS (US, outbound) | ~$0.0079 / msg | + US carrier fees |
| Verify API (2FA) | ~$0.05 / verification | billed per successful check |
| Voice (US, outbound) | ~$0.0139 / min | per-minute, destination-based |
Vonage doesn't have a permanent free tier, but new accounts get trial credit (typically a couple of dollars/euros) so you can send test SMS, place test calls and try the Verify API without paying. It's enough to validate an integration end to end. Once the credit runs out you top up and pay per use — there's no monthly minimum, so a low-volume app stays cheap.
1. Sign up at the Vonage API Dashboard (dashboard.nexmo.com).
2. Your API key and API secret are shown on the dashboard home, with trial credit attached.
3. Buy or rent a sender number if your destination requires one.
4. Pass key + secret on requests (or a signed JWT for Voice / Verify v2).
Send an SMS:
On US SMS, Twilio and Vonage are within a fraction of a cent of each other (~$0.0079); the real differences are ecosystem and docs, where Twilio leads, versus Vonage's often simpler verification pricing. For email instead of SMS, see SendGrid or Resend. Budget SMS routes include Plivo, MessageBird/Bird and Amazon SNS. To compare per-message costs at your real volume, use the email/SMS cost calculator and the API alternatives finder.
No permanent free tier, but sign-up includes a couple of dollars of trial credit — enough to test SMS, voice and Verify without a card. After that it's pay-as-you-go.
Sign up at the Vonage API Dashboard; your API key and secret appear immediately with trial credit. Pass both on requests, or a JWT for Voice/Verify v2.
For US SMS they're nearly identical (~$0.0079/msg). Vonage's Verify (2FA) pricing is often simpler; Twilio has the broader ecosystem and documentation. Compare on your exact volume and countries.
For A2P (application-to-person) SMS in the US, carriers add pass-through fees on top of the Vonage rate and require brand/campaign registration. These apply across all SMS providers, not just Vonage.
Not affiliated with Vonage. Prices are reference estimates — always verify on the official pricing page.