Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Business messaging platform for sending bulk SMS and RCS to mobile networks worldwide via web app, API, and SMPP. | French A2P mobile messaging platform (published by Calade Technologies) providing SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and text-to-speech APIs with data hosted in France. |
| Founded | 2000 | 2004 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 11-50 | 11-50 |
| HQ city | Cape Town | Marseille |
| HQ country | South Africa | France (EU) |
What's the differencesmsmode edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (53 vs 43). BulkSMS is private and headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa; smsmode is private and based in Marseille, France (EU).
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | No | No |
| RCS | Yes | Yes |
| No | Yes | |
| Viber | No | No |
| Facebook Messenger | No | No |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | No |
| Voice | No | Yes |
| No | No |
What's the differenceThey share 2 channels. smsmode additionally offers WhatsApp, Voice.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | 5 free test SMS on signup | 20 free test SMS credits |
| Docs quality | med | high |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | TypeScript/Node.js |
| Sandbox / test env | No | No |
| API types | REST, HTTP, SMPP, SMTP | REST, SMPP, SMTP, SFTP |
What's the differenceOn SDKs, smsmode adds TypeScript/Node.js; on API types, BulkSMS adds HTTP; smsmode adds SFTP.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | No |
| Choose region | No | No |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 | No | No |
| HIPAA | No | No |
What's the differenceSmsmode offers ISO 27001, while BulkSMS does not.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| Retention policy | Message data (content and metadata) is retained for 2 years and then automatically deleted from the system. Account/client data is kept for the duration of service use plus about 7 years after termination. EU-related client data is stored in AWS datacentres in Ireland with encryption at rest. | Data transiting the platform is stored encrypted on servers in France (two ISO 27001-certified data centers: Interxion MRS1 in Marseille and Scaleway DC4 in Paris) and is automatically deleted after 6 months; the retention period can be shortened on request, including deletion of message content immediately after sending. smsmode states data is never transferred outside the EU, and an optional HDS-certified hosting tier is available for health data. |
What's the differenceBulkSMS: Message data (content and metadata) is retained for 2 years and then automatically deleted from the system. Account/client data is kept for the duration of service use plus about 7 years after termination. EU-related client data is stored in AWS datacentres in Ireland with encryption at rest. smsmode: Data transiting the platform is stored encrypted on servers in France (two ISO 27001-certified data centers: Interxion MRS1 in Marseille and Scaleway DC4 in Paris) and is automatically deleted after 6 months; the retention period can be shortened on request, including deletion of message content immediately after sending. smsmode states data is never transferred outside the EU, and an optional HDS-certified hosting tier is available for health data.
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go prepaid credits: you buy credits and pay per outbound SMS, with per-message rates varying by destination network and country; no monthly, setup, or contract fees. | Prepaid pay-as-you-go credits with sliding-scale volume rates (SMS packs from 1,000 to 100,000), plus optional monthly subscription plans (€9-€499/month) billed on consumption. |
| SMS starting price | Not published (rates shown per destination network via an interactive slider/quote, not a single headline price) | France rates from €0.0610 excl. VAT per SMS on the 1,000-SMS pack down to €0.0450 on the largest prepaid pack (€0.0421 on the Premium subscription); rates vary by destination. |
| Free developer credit | 5 free test SMS on signup | 20 free test SMS credits |
What's the differenceBulkSMS and smsmode are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 213 | 166 |
| Direct operator connections | No | Yes |
| Published uptime SLA | No published SLA | 99.9% monthly platform availability (SLA); 99.95% claimed for SMPP routing |
What's the differenceBulkSMS leads on Countries covered (213 vs 166 for smsmode); smsmode offers Direct operator connections, while BulkSMS does not.
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | BulkSMS | smsmode |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 4.6 | 0.0 |
| G2 reviews | 266 | 0 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 11-50 | 11-50 |
What's the differenceBulkSMS leads on G2 rating (4.6 vs 0 for smsmode); BulkSMS leads on G2 reviews (266 vs 0 for smsmode).
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