Pick Stream if
chat / community teams who will stay on Build at $0 (1,000 MAU, 100 concurrent) while they open a first Message List, then buy Start at $399 / month billed annually ($499 monthly) for 10,000 MAU.
Read the Stream pageStream vs Twilio
Our take
Pick Stream if chat / community teams who will stay on Build at $0 (1,000 MAU, 100 concurrent) while they open a first Message List, then buy Start at $399 / month billed annually ($499 monthly) for 10,000 MAU. Pick Twilio if app teams who will stay on pay-as-you-go SMS at $0.0083 / message (no monthly platform tile) while they open a first Messaging Insights Overview, then buy Flex at $150 / named user / month only
Best for
Stream Messages you start inside the free bucket
Twilio Delivery % you chart at a public $
Free plan
Stream No free plan
Twilio No free plan
Lowest paid
Stream Enterprise $1
Twilio Functions $0.0001
Next step up
Stream Maker $100
Twilio Studio $0.0025
Runs where
Stream Hosted
Twilio Hosted
Watch out
Stream Build caps at 1,000 MAU and 100 concurrent
Twilio $0.0083 is per SMS, not a seat
Last checked
Stream 2026-10-23 · getstream.io/chat/pricing
Twilio 2026-10-23 · twilio.com/en-us/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Twilio if
app teams who will stay on pay-as-you-go SMS at $0.0083 / message (no monthly platform tile) while they open a first Messaging Insights Overview, then buy Flex at $150 / named user / month only if they need a contact-center seat.
Read the Twilio page