Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Swedish telecom API platform ("telecom infrastructure for the web") for sending and receiving SMS and MMS, making and receiving phone calls, and managing virtual phone numbers. | Cloud messaging and chat-commerce platform offering SMS, WhatsApp, RCS and Apple Messages for Business APIs for businesses. |
| Founded | 2011 | 2000 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 250-500 |
| HQ city | Uppsala | Redwood City |
| HQ country | Sweden (EU) | USA |
What's the differenceClickatell edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (61 vs 33). 46elks is private and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (EU); Clickatell is private and based in Redwood City, USA.
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | No |
| RCS | No | Yes |
| No | Yes | |
| Viber | No | No |
| Facebook Messenger | No | No |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | Yes |
| Voice | Yes | No |
| No | No |
What's the differenceThey share 1 channels. 46elks additionally offers MMS, Voice, while Clickatell additionally offers RCS, WhatsApp, Apple Messages for Business.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | No | No |
| Docs quality | med | high |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | Python, PHP, Java, Node.js, C# |
| Sandbox / test env | Yes | Yes |
| API types | REST | REST, SMPP |
What's the differenceOn SDKs, Clickatell adds Python, PHP, Java, Node.js, C#; on API types, Clickatell adds SMPP.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | No |
| Choose region | No | No |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 | No | Yes |
| HIPAA | No | No |
What's the differenceClickatell offers ISO 27001, while 46elks does not; Clickatell offers SOC 2, while 46elks does not.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| Retention policy | Not publicly documented in detail. 46elks' data protection policy states that personal data stays inside the EU on servers owned by 46elks and that system backups are stored for a maximum of 14 days; specific retention periods for message content and metadata are not published, and the service operates under EU ePrivacy directive 2002/58/EG and Swedish telecom law (LEK 2022:482, PTS rules). | Not publicly documented in detail. Clickatell states it moved its data infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland (EU) in 2018 and directs GDPR/data-protection queries to [email protected]; specific message content or metadata retention periods are not published. |
What's the difference46elks: Not publicly documented in detail. 46elks' data protection policy states that personal data stays inside the EU on servers owned by 46elks and that system backups are stored for a maximum of 14 days; specific retention periods for message content and metadata are not published, and the service operates under EU ePrivacy directive 2002/58/EG and Swedish telecom law (LEK 2022:482, PTS rules). Clickatell: Not publicly documented in detail. Clickatell states it moved its data infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland (EU) in 2018 and directs GDPR/data-protection queries to [email protected]; specific message content or metadata retention periods are not published.
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go per message/minute from a prepaid account balance, with no startup fees and no minimum monthly costs. | Self-service prepaid pay-as-you-go credits, with quote-based enterprise plans (Connect, Interact, Transact) requiring sales contact. |
| SMS starting price | €0.047 per SMS part to Sweden (ex VAT); prices vary by destination country | $0.008 per SMS to the USA (published rate) |
| Free developer credit | No | No |
What's the difference46elks and Clickatell are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 215 | 190 |
| Direct operator connections | No | Yes |
| Published uptime SLA | No published uptime SLA (business-hours support SLA only; extended SLA available on request) | 99.90%–99.98% uptime (SLA, varies by plan) |
What's the difference46elks leads on Countries covered (215 vs 190 for Clickatell); Clickatell offers Direct operator connections, while 46elks does not.
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | 46elks | Clickatell |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| G2 reviews | 0 | 2 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 250-500 |
What's the differenceClickatell leads on G2 rating (4.3 vs 0 for 46elks); Clickatell leads on G2 reviews (2 vs 0 for 46elks).
Still deciding? Read the quickstart guides: