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The Bandwidth Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Bandwidth in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPANovember 2026

Bandwidth

The Insider’s Guide

Voice, messaging and number APIs on its own carrier network

Bandwidth, as pictured on bandwidth.com

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among business phone systems, read from Bandwidth’s own pages.

Made by Bandwidth Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com

1.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Bandwidth’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Bandwidth’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

1.6

GPA, above 7 of the 77 other business phone systems we grade

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.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Bandwidth, taken from its own pages and our grades.

It's a carrier for developers rather than an office phone with desk phones or an app, and its full pricing is on request.
From our report card of Bandwidth
  1. 1

    Best for voice and text APIs on its own carrier network

    Bandwidth sells voice, messaging and number APIs on its own network, billed by use.

  2. 2

    You can try it first

    Free trial through a Build developer account; terms not stated

  3. 3

    It runs on Web

    Web.

  4. 4

    Voice API

    Embeds calling in an application with 6-second billing increments, recording, conferencing, answering machine detection, text-to-speech and media streaming.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    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.

  7. 7

    A 1.6 GPA, above 7 of 77

    That is against the other business phone systems we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    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.

Bandwidth at a glance

Pricing
Free trial
Free plan
No
Free trial
Free trial through a Build developer account; terms not stated
Runs on
Web
Made by
Bandwidth Inc.
Category
Business Phone Systems
Our grade
1.6 GPA, weak

The report card

Best for voice and text APIs on its own carrier network

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.

ToolGPA report cardBandwidthGraded Nov 13, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyCUS 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 trialDA free trial through a Build developer account, with terms not stated.
FeaturesDVoice, messaging, SIP trunking and numbers as APIs. It needs your own app or phone system to be useful.
Ease of useDNo store rating on record. It's built for developers who write code against it.
Platforms and integrationsBWeb, with Teams, Zoom Phone, Webex Calling, Genesys Cloud CX, Five9 and Google Voice SIP Link.
Grade point averageWeak, out of 4.01.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Bandwidth is for

  • Fits if you're building calling or texting into your own software
  • Works for phone providers who need a carrier network

Who it is not for

  • Not for you if you want a desk phone or softphone app, as there isn't one
  • Watch out: rates are US figures, exclude taxes and fees, and SIP trunking pricing is on request
  • Pricey if you text a lot, as 10DLC is $0.004 for SMS and $0.015 for MMS, and short codes cost more
  • Skip it if you want to know the trial's terms first, as they aren't stated

Good to know

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.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

1

plan

Bandwidth is a paid product with a free trial.

That's usage billing, so it can't be set against per-seat prices.
From our grade for value for money

  • 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.

Trying it first

Free trial through a Build developer account; terms not stated

Read from bandwidth.com on Nov 13, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Web

Voice, messaging and number APIs on its own carrier network. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, business phone line, business texting.

Voice, messaging, SIP trunking and numbers as APIs.
From our grade for 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.

Where it runs

  • Web

What it works with

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Zoom Phone
  • Webex Calling
  • Genesys Cloud CX
  • Five9
  • Google Voice SIP Link

Bandwidth is made by Bandwidth Inc.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

7/77

Other business phone systems it is graded above

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).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 78 business phone systems we grade, cut by the letter each got. Bandwidth’s own letter is outlined.

  • CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 77
  • DFree plan and trialAbove 45 of 77
  • DFeaturesAbove 0 of 77
  • DEase of useAbove 0 of 77
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 14 of 77

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

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.

What you could not

  • Phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network.
  • Texts from a business number, registered with the carriers.
  • It plugs into other products, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone and Webex Calling among them, and has an API.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.

What this rests on. Bandwidth’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Plivo, Telnyx, Flowroute, Skyetel and Ytel

The 5 tools Bandwidth is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

12

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Bandwidth free?

No, Bandwidth is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial through a Build developer account; terms not stated.

How much does Bandwidth cost?

Bandwidth lists one plan. Volume-based pricing: custom pricing.

What platforms does Bandwidth work on?

Bandwidth is available on Web.

Does Bandwidth have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Bandwidth is listed for Web.

Does Bandwidth have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Bandwidth is listed for Web.

Is Bandwidth open source?

Bandwidth is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.

Does Bandwidth have an API?

Yes. Bandwidth offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does Bandwidth integrate with?

Bandwidth's listing names Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone, Webex Calling, Genesys Cloud CX, Five9 and Google Voice SIP Link.

Who makes Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is made by Bandwidth Inc.

What are the alternatives to Bandwidth?

The closest alternatives to Bandwidth in our directory are Plivo, Telnyx, Flowroute, Skyetel and Ytel.

How does Bandwidth compare with other 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.

Could I make my own version of Bandwidth?

To replace Bandwidth you would be making phone numbers and calls carried over the phone network.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Bandwidth’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Bandwidth Inc. Prices change, so check bandwidth.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

7,721

Tools graded, in 95 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 7,721

    tools graded

  • 95

    categories

  • 739

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Bandwidth: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bandwidth

Know someone choosing between business phone systems?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/bandwidth/guide

ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

See our other guides

The best-graded business phone systems after Bandwidth, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Bandwidth’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Bandwidth is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bandwidth Inc. Prices and plans change: check bandwidth.com before you buy.