Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Swedish telecom API platform ("telecom infrastructure for the web") for sending and receiving SMS and MMS, making and receiving phone calls, and managing virtual phone numbers. | Cross-channel messaging platform by Polish CPaaS company Vercom S.A. (Warsaw Stock Exchange listed), providing email, SMS, RCS, mobile push, Viber and WhatsApp through a single REST API and campaign panel. |
| Founded | 2011 | 2005 |
| Ownership | private | public |
| Employees | 10-50 | 51-200 |
| HQ city | Uppsala | Poznań |
| HQ country | Sweden (EU) | Poland (EU) |
What's the differenceMessageFlow edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (59 vs 33). 46elks is private and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (EU); MessageFlow is public and based in Poznań, Poland (EU).
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | No |
| RCS | No | Yes |
| No | Yes | |
| Viber | No | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | No | No |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | No |
| Voice | Yes | No |
| No | Yes |
What's the differenceThey share 1 channels. 46elks additionally offers MMS, Voice, while MessageFlow additionally offers RCS, WhatsApp, Viber, Email.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | No | 30-day trial: 100 SMS + 100 emails |
| Docs quality | med | med |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | — |
| Sandbox / test env | Yes | Yes |
| API types | REST | REST, SMTP |
What's the differenceOn API types, MessageFlow adds SMTP.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | No |
| Choose region | No | No |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 | No | Yes |
| HIPAA | No | No |
What's the differenceMessageFlow offers ISO 27001, while 46elks does not; MessageFlow offers SOC 2, while 46elks does not.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Retention policy | Not publicly documented in detail. 46elks' data protection policy states that personal data stays inside the EU on servers owned by 46elks and that system backups are stored for a maximum of 14 days; specific retention periods for message content and metadata are not published, and the service operates under EU ePrivacy directive 2002/58/EG and Swedish telecom law (LEK 2022:482, PTS rules). | All customer data is stated to be stored exclusively on servers within the EEA (Microsoft Azure, AWS). No overall retention period for message content is published; the API docs state sent SMS message data is kept and queryable for 60 days, and the privacy policy retains personal data for the duration of the service agreement plus statutory periods (e.g. accounting records). |
What's the difference46elks: Not publicly documented in detail. 46elks' data protection policy states that personal data stays inside the EU on servers owned by 46elks and that system backups are stored for a maximum of 14 days; specific retention periods for message content and metadata are not published, and the service operates under EU ePrivacy directive 2002/58/EG and Swedish telecom law (LEK 2022:482, PTS rules). MessageFlow: All customer data is stated to be stored exclusively on servers within the EEA (Microsoft Azure, AWS). No overall retention period for message content is published; the API docs state sent SMS message data is kept and queryable for 60 days, and the privacy policy retains personal data for the duration of the service agreement plus statutory periods (e.g. accounting records).
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go per message/minute from a prepaid account balance, with no startup fees and no minimum monthly costs. | Monthly subscription tiers priced by contact count (Starter from €69/month) with bundled email/SMS volumes and per-unit overages, plus a customizable Mix & Match plan (from €465/month); SMS rates vary by destination country. |
| SMS starting price | €0.047 per SMS part to Sweden (ex VAT); prices vary by destination country | Not published (per-country SMS rates shown only in an in-panel calculator; e.g. Grow plan €109/month includes 1,000 SMS) |
| Free developer credit | No | 30-day trial: 100 SMS + 100 emails |
What's the difference46elks and MessageFlow are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 215 | 190 |
| Direct operator connections | No | Yes |
| Published uptime SLA | No published uptime SLA (business-hours support SLA only; extended SLA available on request) | No published SLA (custom SLA available on Enterprise plans) |
What's the difference46elks leads on Countries covered (215 vs 190 for MessageFlow); MessageFlow offers Direct operator connections, while 46elks does not.
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | 46elks | MessageFlow |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 0.0 | 4.9 |
| G2 reviews | 0 | 11 |
| Ownership | private | public |
| Employees | 10-50 | 51-200 |
What's the differenceMessageFlow leads on G2 rating (4.9 vs 0 for 46elks); MessageFlow leads on G2 reviews (11 vs 0 for 46elks).
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