MessageBird (Bird) vs Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)

MessageBird and Smooch (now Sunshine Conversations by Zendesk) both provide messaging solutions but serve different market segments. MessageBird offers omnichannel messaging from $25-$200/month, while Smooch provides conversation APIs priced at $19-$99 per agent monthly.

Both platforms focus on unified messaging experiences, but MessageBird targets business communication needs while Smooch specializes in conversational customer support integration.

MessageBird provides a complete omnichannel messaging platform with SMS, WhatsApp Business, email, and voice capabilities. Their platform excels at business communication workflows, marketing automation, and reliable message delivery across global markets.

Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) focuses on conversational customer support with unified messaging across web chat, social media, and messaging apps. Their strength lies in seamless handoffs between channels and integration with Zendesk's support ecosystem.

The key difference is MessageBird's broader business messaging approach versus Smooch's specialized focus on customer support conversations and agent productivity.

MessageBird uses volume-based pricing from $25/month for basic usage up to $200/month for high-volume messaging. This model works well for businesses with predictable messaging needs and scales based on actual usage rather than team size.

Smooch charges $19-$99 per agent per month depending on features and integrations needed. This per-agent model can become expensive as teams grow but includes comprehensive conversation management and support tools.

For small teams, Smooch may offer better value per agent. For larger teams or high-volume messaging, MessageBird's volume-based pricing typically costs less.

Choose MessageBird if you need comprehensive business messaging with transparent volume-based pricing. Choose Smooch if you want conversational support features with per-agent pricing that scales with team size.

Choose MessageBird if: You need business messaging across multiple channels, prefer volume-based pricing, or focus on marketing and transactional communications alongside support.

Choose Smooch if: You prioritize conversational customer support, need tight Zendesk integration, or want comprehensive agent tools with predictable per-seat pricing.

Alternative: Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate for up to 15 agents - combining the best of both worlds with comprehensive messaging features and predictable costs that don't scale with team size.