Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 communications platform for messaging, voice, and email APIs |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
| Ownership | private | public |
| Employees | 10-50 | 3,000-5,000 |
| HQ city | Uppsala | Stockholm |
| HQ country | Sweden (EU) | Sweden (EU) |
What's the differenceSinch edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (92 vs 33). 46elks is private and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (EU); Sinch is public and based in Stockholm, Sweden (EU).
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | Yes |
| RCS | No | Yes |
| No | Yes | |
| Viber | No | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | No | Yes |
| Telegram | No | Yes |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | Yes |
| Voice | Yes | Yes |
| No | Yes |
What's the differenceThey share 3 channels. Sinch additionally offers RCS, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Apple Messages for Business, Email.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | No | Yes |
| Docs quality | med | high |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | Java, Python, C#, Node.js, PHP |
| Sandbox / test env | Yes | Yes |
| API types | REST | REST, SMTP, SMPP |
What's the differenceOn SDKs, Sinch adds Java, Python, C#, Node.js, PHP; on API types, Sinch adds SMTP, SMPP.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | Yes |
| Choose region | No | Yes |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 | No | Yes |
| HIPAA | No | Yes |
What's the differenceSinch offers US data residency, while 46elks does not; Sinch offers Choose region, while 46elks does not; Sinch offers ISO 27001, while 46elks does not; Sinch offers SOC 2, while 46elks does not; Sinch offers HIPAA, while 46elks does not.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | Sinch retains message and delivery records to provide the service and meet legal obligations; retention windows for message content are limited and, for some products, configurable via data-processing agreements. |
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). Sinch: Sinch retains message and delivery records to provide the service and meet legal obligations; retention windows for message content are limited and, for some products, configurable via data-processing agreements.
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go per message/minute from a prepaid account balance, with no startup fees and no minimum monthly costs. | Pay-as-you-go per message with volume and committed-use pricing |
| SMS starting price | €0.047 per SMS part to Sweden (ex VAT); prices vary by destination country | Approx. $0.0075 per US SMS segment (varies by volume; plus carrier fees) |
| Free developer credit | No | Yes |
What's the difference46elks and Sinch are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 215 | 150 |
| Direct operator connections | No | Yes |
| Published uptime SLA | No published uptime SLA (business-hours support SLA only; extended SLA available on request) | 99.95% |
What's the difference46elks leads on Countries covered (215 vs 150 for Sinch); Sinch offers Direct operator connections, while 46elks does not.
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | 46elks | Sinch |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| G2 reviews | 0 | 150 |
| Ownership | private | public |
| Employees | 10-50 | 3,000-5,000 |
What's the differenceSinch leads on G2 rating (4.3 vs 0 for 46elks); Sinch leads on G2 reviews (150 vs 0 for 46elks).
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