# Bandwidth review (2026): is it worth paying for? > Voice, messaging and number APIs on its own carrier network Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Bandwidth sells voice, messaging, emergency calling and phone-number APIs, plus SIP trunking, that run on its own US network. It is aimed at developers, software platforms and enterprises that build calling and texting into their products or connect it to systems such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom Phone. - **Category:** Business Phone Systems - **Made by:** Bandwidth Inc. - **Website:** https://www.bandwidth.com - **Runs on:** Web - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you want a desk phone or softphone app, as there isn't one. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Bandwidth is a paid product with a free trial. - **Pricing model:** Free trial - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** Free trial through a Build developer account; terms not stated. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Volume-based pricing | Custom | Pay per use at published US rates, with volume pricing by quote; SIP trunking and full product pricing are available on request. | Read from https://www.bandwidth.com/pricing/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Bandwidth before buying. ## Key features - **Voice API:** Embeds calling in an application with 6-second billing increments, recording, conferencing, answering machine detection, text-to-speech and media streaming. - **Messaging API:** Sends SMS and MMS over 10DLC, short code and toll-free numbers, with RCS and alphanumeric sender options named in the product menu. - **SIP trunking and numbers:** Usage-based SIP trunking, number management, porting, caller ID and emergency calling for phone systems that run on premises or in the cloud. - **Authentication API:** Sends two-factor authentication codes and call verification to protect user sign-ins, billed per authentication or per call. - **Platform integrations:** The product menu lists Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and Operator Connect, Zoom Phone, Webex Calling, Genesys Cloud CX, Five9 and Google Voice SIP Link. ## Good for - Software teams building calling and texting into products - Companies connecting a carrier to Teams, Zoom Phone or Webex ## Worth knowing - Usage rates are quoted for the US: US local outbound calls are $0.0100 a minute and inbound $0.0055, as listed. - A 10DLC text is $0.004 outbound for SMS and $0.015 for MMS; short code and toll-free messages cost more. - It is a carrier and API platform, not a packaged office phone with desk phones or a softphone app. - Rates exclude taxes and fees, and SIP trunking and full pricing are given only on request. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 1.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Bandwidth sells voice, messaging and number APIs on its own network, billed by use. It's a carrier for developers rather than an office phone with desk phones or an app, and its full pricing is on request. - **Value for money: C.** US local calls are $0.0100 a minute out and $0.0055 in, with volume pricing by quote. That's usage billing, so it can't be set against per-seat prices. - **Free plan and trial: D.** A free trial through a Build developer account, with terms not stated. - **Features: D.** Voice, messaging, SIP trunking and numbers as APIs. It needs your own app or phone system to be useful. - **Ease of use: D.** No store rating on record. It's built for developers who write code against it. - **Platforms and integrations: B.** Web, with Teams, Zoom Phone, Webex Calling, Genesys Cloud CX, Five9 and Google Voice SIP Link. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Bandwidth's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among business phone systems - Bandwidth's GPA of 1.6 is higher than 7 of the 77 other business phone systems we grade, and level with 4. - It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 14 of 77) and worst on features (D, above 0). The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/business-phones ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** To replace Bandwidth you would be making phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 66 of the 77 other business phone systems grade higher. - You could not: Phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network. - You could not: Texts from a business number, registered with the carriers. - You could not: It plugs into other products, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone and Webex Calling among them, and has an API. - You could not: AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone, Webex Calling, Genesys Cloud CX, Five9, Google Voice SIP Link **Tags:** Public API, Business texting, Business phone line, AI features ## Alternatives - [Plivo](https://toolgpa.com/tools/plivo): Voice, SMS and AI voice agent platform billed by usage. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bandwidth-vs-plivo) - [Telnyx](https://toolgpa.com/tools/telnyx): Pay-as-you-go phone numbers, voice, SMS and SIP APIs. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bandwidth-vs-telnyx) - [Flowroute](https://toolgpa.com/tools/flowroute): SIP trunking, phone numbers and messaging billed by usage. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bandwidth-vs-flowroute) - [Skyetel](https://toolgpa.com/tools/skyetel): SIP trunking, phone numbers and messaging from a carrier network. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bandwidth-vs-skyetel) - [Ytel](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ytel): Browser-based outbound sales dialer with number health tools. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bandwidth-vs-ytel) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://www.bandwidth.com/pricing/ - https://www.bandwidth.com/ Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/bandwidth Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).