SMS Provider Research Comparison
Introduction
This report documents the research of SMS integrations for Educado. Three SMS providers are researched. For each provider the price per 1000 SMS messages as well as pros and cons for integrating the provider are described.
LabsMobile
LabsMobile offers SMS APIs for different purposes. Of most interest for Educado is the OTP API.
Cost per 1000 SMS:
- 13.15 € in Brazil
- 45.4 € in Denmark
- 75.3 € in The Netherlands
Other conditions:
- Free verification of codes
- Minimum purchase of 10 USD / 9 EUR (packs last 18 months)
- Limited free trial
Pros:
- Straightforward API for OTP services
- Endpoints: sendCode, resendCode, validateCode, checkCode
- Easy management of verification workflows
- More APIs available if customization needed
- Standard HTTP requests (no npm package required)
- Clear documentation with Node.js examples
Twilio
SMS
Cost per 1000 SMS:
- 50 € in Denmark or Brazil
- 145 € in The Netherlands
Twilio also offers verification via WhatsApp, widely used in Brazil.
Cost per 1000 messages: - $89 (Verify costs $50 + WhatsApp fee $39), regardless of country
Cons:
- Requires npm package (twilio)
- Documentation less clear than others
Infobip
Infobip offers full SMS coverage in Brazil with fast number leasing and free trial.
Cost per 1000 SMS:
- €25 in Brazil
- €38 in Denmark
- €80 in The Netherlands
Notes:
- Possible hidden fees (choice of SMS provider may increase costs)
- OTP available only as 2FA, making integration more complex
- Requires installing SDK npm package
Cons:
- Larger bundle size, potential compatibility issues
- More convoluted OTP setup
Recommendation – LabsMobile
LabsMobile provides the most cost-effective and straightforward option for Educado’s OTP requirements.
- Lower pricing across regions compared to Twilio and Infobip
- Clean, well-documented API for code verification workflows
- No extra SDKs required → reduced integration complexity
- Avoids compatibility issues on older devices
Comparison Table
| Provider | Price/1000 (Brazil) | Price/1000 (Denmark) | Price/1000 (Netherlands) | Pros | Cons | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio SMS | €50 | €49.59 | €145.39 | Global coverage, integrations, 1000 free SMS (US) | High prices, hard-to-read docs, failed msg fee $0.001 | Not recommended |
| Twilio WhatsApp | $89 flat rate | $89 flat rate | $89 flat rate | Popular in Brazil, supports Verify API | Requires WhatsApp account, Verify very expensive, needs npm package | Recommended only if WhatsApp is preferred |
| LabsMobile | €13.15 | €45.4 | €75.3 | Cheap, free trial, no SDK needed, clear docs, easy OTP API with multiple endpoints | Minimum purchase 10 USD / 9 EUR (packs last 18 months) | Best option |
| Infobip | €25 | €38 | €80 | Full Brazil coverage, free trial, OTP with built-in pin verification | Requires proprietary SDKs, OTP only via 2FA, possible hidden fees, heavier integration process | Not recommended |