The Problem
Why teams leave Twilio
Usage-based pricing is unpredictable
Costs scale linearly — no volume discounts until enterprise
Multiple products each have separate pricing
Voice, video, and messaging are billed differently
Compliance features (10DLC, etc.) add costs and complexity
What We Build Instead
Your custom communication tool
Communication platform with predictable pricing
SMS, MMS, and voice calling APIs
Multi-channel messaging (SMS, email, push)
Call center functionality with IVR
WebRTC video and audio integration
Compliance management for messaging
The Math
Twilio vs. custom build
Based on 10 seats at $50/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Twilio
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 10 seats
-$49,075
-248% less than Twilio
Pricing Breakdown
Twilio tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Twilio's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | Free | Free | SMS $0.0079/msg, Voice $0.004/min, Video $0.004/min, Email $0.001/email |
| Volume Discount | $500/mo | $420/mo | Committed use discounts, Priority support, Lower per-unit rates, Custom SLA |
| Enterprise | $2000/mo | $1700/mo | Custom pricing, Dedicated support, Security features, BAA/HIPAA |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $35,000–$60,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Twilio to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Twilio in 8-14 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1-2 weeksMap current communication channels, volumes, and API integrations
Architecture & Design
2 weeksDesign multi-channel communication platform with predictable pricing
Core Development
4-8 weeksBuild SMS, voice, video APIs with call routing and recording
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksPort numbers, migrate workflows, test all channels end-to-end
Deployment & Training
1-2 weeksLaunch communication platform and update application integrations
Total build time
8-14 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Twilio features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Twilio | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS/MMS Messaging | |||
| Voice Calling | |||
| Video Conferencing | |||
| Email Sending | |||
| WebRTC Integration | |||
| IVR & Call Routing | |||
| Call Recording | |||
| Number Management | |||
| Twilio Flex Contact Center | Build contact center tailored to your support workflow | ||
| Predictable Pricing | Flat-rate infrastructure cost, not per-message |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Twilio offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Twilio to ownership in 8-14 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Twilio usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom communication tool with only the features you need. 8-14 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Twilio, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.
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