MessageBird vs MessageMedia
Compare MessageBird and MessageMedia based on observed SMS API performance, features, and pricing
Live performance comparison
Real-world performance data from messages sent through Knock
| Provider | Message volume | Growth | Status page updates (30d) | Status page updates (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1M | 5th of 7 ↑ | 0 | 0 |
| <1M | 6th of 7 ↓ | 0 | 0 |
From January 23rd to April 23rd, Knock routed <1M messages through MessageBird and <1M through MessageMedia. MessageBird reported 0 status page updates over the last 90 days, while MessageMedia reported 0.
Response time
Response time measures how long each provider takes to accept an SMS API request from Knock, including connection overhead and any automatic retries. Lower values mean faster message hand-off.
| Provider | Median (p50) | p90 | p95 | p99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320ms | 418ms | 440ms | 518ms |
| 224ms | 605ms | 640ms | 736ms |
The chart above shows each provider's daily median response time (p50) from January 23rd to April 23rd. The top-line number is an average of these daily values: MessageBird averaged 320ms compared to 224ms for MessageMedia. MessageBird's highest daily p50 was 473ms; MessageMedia's was 588ms. MessageMedia is 96ms faster at the median, which can add up at high volumes.
The 90th percentile (p90) captures the slowest 10% of requests, revealing how each provider handles moderate stress. Averaged across all days, MessageBird has a p90 of 418ms compared to 605ms for MessageMedia. The highest daily p90 was 862ms for MessageBird and 666ms for MessageMedia. MessageBird handles these slower requests 187ms faster, suggesting more consistent performance across the board.
The 99th percentile (p99) represents the long tail — the slowest 1% of requests. Averaged across all days, MessageBird reached 518ms at p99 while MessageMedia reached 736ms. The highest daily p99 was 7528ms for MessageBird and 922ms for MessageMedia, indicating the worst-case response time during spikes or provider-side congestion. MessageBird shows a tighter tail, which may matter for time-sensitive SMS notifications like one-time passwords or real-time alerts where even rare delays can impact user experience.
Error rate
Error rate tracks the ratio of 5xx responses and timeouts to total SMS API requests. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
| Provider | Avg. daily error rate | Highest daily rate | Peak error date | Zero-error days | Days above 0.01% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00% | 0.00% | Jan 23 | 78 | 0 |
| 0.00% | 0.00% | Jan 23 | 91 | 0 |
Averaged across the date range, MessageBird shows a 0.00% daily error rate compared to 0.00% for MessageMedia. The highest single-day error rate was 0.00% for MessageBird and 0.00% for MessageMedia. Both providers show similar reliability levels, with error rates well within acceptable thresholds. Knock automatically retries failed requests to both providers, minimizing the impact of transient errors on end-user delivery.
About these metrics: Data represents messages sent through Knock during the specified period. Response time measures time from Knock to provider acceptance. Error rate includes only provider 5xx responses and timeouts.
Recent MessageBird incidents
Recent status page incidents for MessageBird
No incidents reported in the last 90 days
Recent MessageMedia incidents
Recent status page incidents for MessageMedia
No incidents reported in the last 90 days
Pricing comparison
| Provider | Plan | Per message | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| MessageBird | Local number | $0.0003 | $31 |
| MessageMedia | Custom | — | Custom |
MessageBird
Bird (formerly MessageBird) publishes per-country rate cards rather than a single headline price. US outbound SMS via local numbers costs $0.00031 per message, with short codes at $0.0009 and toll-free at $0.00147. Carrier surcharges apply on top. International rates vary widely by destination.
MessageMedia
Custom pricing based on volume and destination. Contact sales for a quote. No publicly listed per-message rates.
US carrier surcharges
All US A2P SMS sent via 10DLC incurs mandatory carrier fees on top of the provider base rate. Most providers pass these through at cost.
| Carrier | Outbound SMS | Inbound SMS |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | $0.0045 | $0.0025 |
| AT&T | $0.003 | $0.003 |
| Verizon | $0.004 | $0.00 |
| US Cellular | $0.005 | $0.00 |
Pros and cons
MessageBird
MessageMedia
Pros
- Strong global coverage with direct carrier connections in 190+ countries
- Unified API across SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other channels
- Visual flow builder enables non-technical users to create messaging workflows
- Now part of Bird, offering an expanded platform for customer engagement
Pros
- Backed by Sinch's global carrier network for reliable delivery
- Strong presence in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific markets
- Pre-built integrations with popular business tools and CRMs
- Supports both API-driven and web portal-based messaging workflows
Cons
- Pricing is published as per-country rate cards rather than simple headline rates, making comparison harder
- Rebranding to Bird has caused some confusion in documentation and branding
- Smaller developer community compared to Twilio
Cons
- Pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales
- Developer documentation is less comprehensive than Twilio or Telnyx
- Brand identity can be confusing due to Sinch acquisition and rebranding
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MessageBird and MessageMedia?
MessageBird (now Bird) is an omnichannel communications platform with global SMS coverage and a unified messaging API. MessageMedia is a Sinch-owned business SMS platform with strong Asia-Pacific coverage and enterprise integrations. MessageBird is best suited for global omnichannel messaging, while MessageMedia is geared toward enterprise business messaging.
Which is cheaper, MessageBird or MessageMedia?
Bird (formerly MessageBird) publishes per-country rate cards rather than a single headline price. US outbound SMS via local numbers costs $0.00031 per message, with short codes at $0.0009 and toll-free at $0.00147. Carrier surcharges apply on top. International rates vary widely by destination. Custom pricing based on volume and destination. Contact sales for a quote. No publicly listed per-message rates. The best value depends on your sending volume and destination countries.
Which is faster, MessageBird or MessageMedia?
Based on real-world data from Knock, MessageBird has a median SMS API response time (p50) of 320ms compared to 224ms for MessageMedia.
Which is more reliable, MessageBird or MessageMedia?
From January 23rd to April 23rd, MessageBird showed an error rate of 0.00% while MessageMedia showed 0.00%. Both rates are within acceptable thresholds for production SMS delivery, and Knock automatically retries failed requests to minimize the impact of transient errors.
Which is more popular, MessageBird or MessageMedia?
On the Knock platform, MessageBird handled <1M messages from January 23rd to April 23rd compared to <1M for MessageMedia. MessageBird is currently trending upward in adoption, while MessageMedia is seeing declining volume.
Can I use both MessageBird and MessageMedia together?
Yes. Knock enables you to integrate multiple SMS providers into a single notification workflow. You can use MessageBird and MessageMedia side by side, route traffic between them, or migrate from one to the other without changing your application code.
What are the main pros and cons of MessageBird vs MessageMedia?
MessageBird strengths include strong global coverage with direct carrier connections in 190+ countries and unified api across sms, whatsapp, telegram, and other channels. MessageMedia strengths include backed by sinch's global carrier network for reliable delivery and strong presence in australia, new zealand, and asia-pacific markets. On the other hand, MessageBird drawbacks include pricing is published as per-country rate cards rather than simple headline rates, making comparison harder, while MessageMedia drawbacks include pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales.
Use either provider with Knock
Knock enables you to integrate MessageBird, MessageMedia, or any combination of SMS providers into a single notification workflow. Manage templates, orchestrate cross-channel delivery, and switch providers without changing your code.