Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Swedish marketing automation platform (Rule Communication Nordic AB) for email, SMS and RCS campaigns, with a REST API for transactional message sending. |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 10-50 |
| HQ city | Uppsala | Stockholm |
| HQ country | Sweden (EU) | Sweden (EU) |
What's the difference46elks edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (33 vs 28). 46elks is private and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (EU); Rule is private and based in Stockholm, Sweden (EU).
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | No |
| RCS | No | Yes |
| No | No | |
| Viber | No | No |
| Facebook Messenger | No | No |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | No |
| Voice | Yes | No |
| No | Yes |
What's the differenceThey share 1 channels. 46elks additionally offers MMS, Voice, while Rule additionally offers RCS, Email.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | No | No |
| Docs quality | med | med |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | Node.js, PHP |
| Sandbox / test env | Yes | No |
| API types | REST | REST |
What's the differenceOn SDKs, Rule adds Node.js, PHP; 46elks offers Sandbox / test env, while Rule does not.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | No |
| Choose region | No | No |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | No |
| SOC 2 | No | No |
| HIPAA | No | No |
What's the difference46elks and Rule are closely matched on data & compliance — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | Privacy policy states Rule only works with partners that process personal data within the EU/EEA (or that maintain an equivalent level of protection), keeps data only as long as a customer relationship exists or it remains relevant, and does not use marketing data older than 3 years. No specific retention period for message content or logs is publicly documented. |
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). Rule: Privacy policy states Rule only works with partners that process personal data within the EU/EEA (or that maintain an equivalent level of protection), keeps data only as long as a customer relationship exists or it remains relevant, and does not use marketing data older than 3 years. No specific retention period for message content or logs is publicly documented.
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go per message/minute from a prepaid account balance, with no startup fees and no minimum monthly costs. | Subscription tiers by contact-list size (free 250-contact plan without SMS, Professional from €595/month for 2,500 contacts, custom Enterprise) plus per-message SMS/RCS fees; a standalone SMS/RCS plan with unlimited contacts costs €100/month plus per-message rates. |
| SMS starting price | €0.047 per SMS part to Sweden (ex VAT); prices vary by destination country | From €0.04 per SMS (0.40 SEK per SMS in Sweden), on top of the monthly plan |
| Free developer credit | No | No |
What's the difference46elks and Rule are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 215 | 0 |
| Direct operator connections | No | No |
| Published uptime SLA | No published uptime SLA (business-hours support SLA only; extended SLA available on request) | No published SLA |
What's the difference46elks leads on Countries covered (215 vs 0 for Rule).
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | 46elks | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 0.0 | 4.5 |
| G2 reviews | 0 | 9 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 10-50 |
What's the differenceRule leads on G2 rating (4.5 vs 0 for 46elks); Rule leads on G2 reviews (9 vs 0 for 46elks).
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