SMS API Comparison 2026

// npm install @vonage/server-sdk
const { Vonage } = require('@vonage/server-sdk');
const vonage = new Vonage({
  apiKey: API_KEY,
  apiSecret: API_SECRET
});

const resp = await vonage.sms.send({
  to: '15559876543',
  from: '15551234567',
  text: 'Your verification code is 482901'
});

console.log(resp.messages[0]['message-id']);
// 0A000000FFFFFFFF

// npm install telnyx
const Telnyx = require('telnyx');
const telnyx = Telnyx(API_KEY);

const message = await telnyx.messages.create({
  from: '+15551234567',
  to: '+15559876543',
  text: 'Your verification code is 482901'
});

console.log(message.data.id);
// 4010128a-1234-5678-abcd-ef0123456789

// npm install plivo
const plivo = require('plivo');
const client = new plivo.Client(AUTH_ID, AUTH_TOKEN);

const response = await client.messages.create({
  src: '+15551234567',
  dst: '+15559876543',
  text: 'Your verification code is 482901'
});

console.log(response.messageUuid);
// ["eba5e5a1-1234-5678-abcd-ef0123456789"]

// npm install @aws-sdk/client-sns
const { SNSClient, PublishCommand } = require('@aws-sdk/client-sns');
const sns = new SNSClient({ region: 'us-east-1' });

const result = await sns.send(new PublishCommand({
  PhoneNumber: '+15559876543',
  Message: 'Your verification code is 482901',
  MessageAttributes: {
    'AWS.SNS.SMS.SMSType': {
      DataType: 'String',
      StringValue: 'Transactional'
    }
  }
}));

console.log(result.MessageId);
// a1b2c3d4-5678-90ab-cdef-EXAMPLE11111

# Twilio via cURL
curl -X POST https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts/$SID/Messages.json \
  -u "$SID:$TOKEN" \
  --data-urlencode "Body=Your verification code is 482901" \
  --data-urlencode "From=+15551234567" \
  --data-urlencode "To=+15559876543"

# Telnyx via cURL (50% cheaper)
curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/messages \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"from":"+15551234567","to":"+15559876543","text":"Your verification code is 482901"}'

// Vonage Verify v2 — with adaptive routing
// Step 1: Start verification
const response = await vonage.verify2.newRequest({
  brand: 'MyApp',
  workflow: [{
    channel: 'sms',
    to: '15559876543'
  }]
});
const requestId = response.request_id;

// Step 2: Check code
const result = await vonage.verify2.checkCode(
  requestId, '482901'
);
console.log(result.status); // "completed"

// Telnyx Verify — simple OTP API
// Step 1: Create verification
const verification = await telnyx.verifications.create({
  phone_number: '+15559876543',
  verify_profile_id: PROFILE_ID,
  type: 'sms'
});

// Step 2: Submit code for verification
const result = await telnyx.verifications.byPhoneNumber(
  '+15559876543'
).verify({ code: '482901' });
console.log(result.data.response_code);
// "accepted"