The best RSC API providers are Zixflow, Twilio, Sinch, Infobip, CM.com, Route Mobile, Gupshup, MessageWhiz, Vonage, and Telesign.
Ever since SMS became publicized, brands have been using it as a primary marketing channel to communicate with their customers. With the onset of third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp or Messenger and lacking capabilities of SMS, they have switched from SMS for more engaging features.
However, Google has partnered up with GSMA to upgrade the basic messaging features of SMS and introduced RCS, a new channel that works directly from the default messaging app. RCS messaging comes with all the advanced communication functionalities, allowing users and businesses to share information effectively.
Having said that, before you can use RCS as a marketing channel, you need an RCS API service provider that can give you access to this channel along with the API to integrate it with your existing marketing framework. So, in this blog post, I’ve listed the 10 best RCS API providers to help you make an informed decision.
An RCS API provider allows you to adopt RCS as a marketing or messaging channel for your business communication. With a provider, you can send bulk messages and customize your messaging with personalized content. Without further ado, let’s dive into it starting with Zixflow.
Zixflow is a new-age marketing platform that is equipped with AI-powered, multi-channel engagement options to help you reach out to your customers. With Zixflow’s RCS messaging platform, you can send customized messages for enhanced interaction that help you boost your bottom line.
Additionally, Zixflow offers comprehensive API docs that are interactive and provide ready-to-use code for multiple languages for easy integration. The outstanding flexibility of the API makes Zixflow a viable choice for brands of various sizes.
The platform itself contains a native RCS campaign tool to set up and run marketing campaigns. Being a user-friendly solution, the editor doesn’t require you to have any coding experience to kickstart your initiatives. Just enter relevant information, select an RCS message template, and input the contact information of your customers.
Furthermore, sending messages is not the only thing you need to worry about. Customers can frequently reply to your messages and you have to respond to these messages quickly. So, to help you with that, Zixflow comes with a unified inbox to handle your communications and send instant replies.
The messages in your inbox can be sorted with multiple filters to view specific messages like unread, read, delivered, and so on. This way, you can see which messages need immediate attention, enabling you to build strong relationships with your audience.
Twilio is a leader in the communications API space, offering a robust, reliable, and scalable RCS API solution. Twilio’s RCS API stands out for its flexibility and scalability, making it an excellent option for you if you need a platform for handling high volumes of messages and complex customer journeys.
With Twilio, you can access various multimedia features such as rich media support, quick reply buttons, and carousels, allowing you to create visually appealing messaging experiences for your customers and drive them effectively across the stages of the sales funnel.
One of Twilio’s core strengths is its API documentation and developer resources, which are among the most comprehensive in the industry. This robust documentation allows advanced developers to integrate its offerings into their existing platforms.
While Twilio’s flexibility is a major advantage, it can also mean a steeper learning curve if you are a new user or have limited coding knowledge. In that situation, you would be better off using another platform that comes with in-built campaign features, like Zixflow.
Sinch provides an easy-to-use RCS API and offers scalability for businesses of all sizes. The platform provides a range of RCS options, from rich media and interactive features to analytics and reporting, resulting in an overall management of your RCS efforts.
Furthermore, the solution supports a range of use cases for RCS, from marketing campaigns to customer service interactions. Also, its user-friendly interface and extensive documentation make it easy to integrate RCS into your existing communications strategy.
With Sinch, you can segment your contacts into smaller marketing lists and craft personalized messages, allowing you to improve engagement and deliver relevant content based on customer preferences.
Having said that, the pricing for Sinch can vary depending on the number of RCS messages you send, and if you have a higher messaging volume, the cost of using the platform can add up quickly. In addition to that, although the platform is generally user-friendly, advanced customization and integration may require some level of technical expertise.
Infobip offers a comprehensive RCS API that emphasizes security and reliable messaging. With Infobip, you can provide interactive customer journeys using RCS and can even integrate RCS with other marketing options including WhatsApp, SMS, and email.
Infobip offers a global infrastructure and focuses strongly on security, making it an ideal choice for you if you prioritize data protection or operate in regulated industries like finance and healthcare.
As I mentioned before, Infobip, just like Zixflow, offers multichannel marketing capabilities that you can integrate into your broader communications strategy. This aspect of Infobip is well-suited for brands that want to implement a comprehensive outreach campaign that allows for seamless cross-channel communication.
CM.com offers a unique RCS API that allows you to create attractive and engaging messages with ease. It provides a sandbox environment for testing, making it user-friendly for developers looking to integrate RCS smoothly.
Moreover, CM.com’s API supports a range of multimedia functionalities, including image and video sharing, interactive buttons, and product carousels.
Also, small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, can benefit from CM.com’s straightforward setup process and supportive resources, streamlining the onboarding process without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
The platform also offers detailed analytics to help you track your engagement and improve campaign performance over time. However, CM.com’s CRM integrations are somewhat limited compared to larger providers like Twilio or Infobip, or the ones that have a native CRM like Zixflow, which may be a drawback if your business is heavily reliant on CRM data for customer interactions.
Route Mobile is a global leader in cloud communications, specializing in SMS, voice, and RCS solutions. Its RCS API provides features like rich media, quick reply buttons, and advanced analytics to improve customer engagement.
Furthermore, the API is particularly well-suited for large-scale enterprises seeking robust, multimedia-rich messaging options that drive higher customer engagement. Route Mobile offers features like interactive buttons, image, and video support, and analytics tools that help you track performance and optimize sales engagement.
One of the advantages of Route Mobile is its scalability, which accommodates even the largest, most complex messaging campaigns. This makes it ideal for multimedia corporations and enterprises requiring a robust infrastructure.
That being said, the RCS API may be less suitable for smaller companies due to its enterprise pricing and relatively complex setup process, which often requires technical expertise for initial integration and customization.
Gupshup is a popular messaging platform, especially for businesses seeking multichannel communication. Known for its user-friendly interface, Gupshup provides a highly customizable RCS API you can use to send various kinds of RCS messages to accommodate marketing and customer support.
With interactive features and multimedia support, Gupshup enables you to craft tailored customer journeys without a significant learning curve.
Additionally, its multichannel integration options allow you to consolidate your marketing efforts, which is especially useful for you if you are aiming to combine different channels into a single strategy.
While Gupshup’s platform is accessible and easy to use, it does have some limitations in analytics and advanced performance tracking, making it less suitable for you if you want an in-depth reporting or analytics dashboard.
MessageWhiz is a messaging provider that emphasizes conversion-driven communication, particularly for RCS campaigns by focusing on achieving measurable engagement results. The platform is perfect for you if your business depends heavily on marketing initiatives.
On top of that, MessageWhiz includes contact segmentation, targeted messaging, and rich media options. This makes it ideal for e-commerce brands that use RCS for promotional purposes and need to see direct results from the efforts.
Being a conversion-based solution, the platform provides powerful performance metrics and tracking capabilities, which allow you to gain insights into your RCS marketing campaigns’ effectiveness and make informed adjustments.
On the other hand, if you don’t need to focus too much on marketing or if you want a generalized RCS application, some of the platform’s conversion-focused features may be unnecessary.
Vonage is a well-known communications provider with a suite of APIs for messaging, voice, and video, including a robust RCS API. With Vonage, you can leverage RCS to create interactive, media-rich conversations with customers internationally.
With its extensive global infrastructure, Vonage is able to support reliable, secure messaging, making it a go-to choice for you if you cater to a worldwide audience.
Plus, if you are a developer, Vonage offers extensive API documentation and help resources to ensure that the setup of the API goes smoothly. Although the solution comes with advanced marketing functionalities, the advanced customization may require technical know-how to implement, making it a better choice for enterprises with in-house developers or a development team.
Lastly, on this list of best RCS API providers is Telesign. Similar to Infobip, Telesign is also known for its security and authentication features, allowing you to use it for sending RCS OTPs and for other secured conversations.
Due to its robust framework and a strong emphasis on security, businesses operating in industries like healthcare, finance, and e-commerce can utilize it to send encrypted messages without worrying about data leaks or privacy breaches.
Telesign’s RCS API includes multimedia support, enabling businesses to deliver interactive messages while ensuring that all communications adhere to strict security protocols.
Beyond security, the platform is flexible enough that you can use it to send bulk messages to customers and expand your reach as you grow. One thing to keep in mind is that Telesign’s services are primarily geared toward messaging volumes, and the pricing reflects this.
Additionally, if you don’t require high-security features like identity verification you might find the platform to be overly specialized. This is because its strength lies in secure and compliant communications rather than broad customer engagement or marketing.
Incorporating RCS into your marketing and communication strategy is an investment that enhances customer engagement and boosts brand loyalty.
With modern RCS features like media-rich content, interactive carousels, CTA buttons, and read receipts, you can effectively drive customer engagement and use it to get more sales.
However, before you can think about implementing RCS into your marketing roadmap, you need to get an RCS service provider that also includes an API for seamless integration across all the channels.
So, check out the RCS API providers mentioned in this list to understand what unique advantages they offer. At the end of the day, the right choice will depend on multiple factors, such as your budget, requirements, and your business goals.
Having said that, if you are looking for an omnichannel marketing suite that not only includes RCS but also gives you access to other communication channels like WhatsApp, SMS, and email, then Zixflow should be your go-to option. Sign up for a free 7-day trial and see the platform in action!