Comparison
Overview
Company snapshot and where each provider is based.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Belgian business-messaging platform by Xtreme Internet Solutions offering an SMS gateway API, bulk SMS marketing software, WhatsApp Business API, voice messages and email-to-SMS with EU-only hosting. |
| Founded | 2011 | 2004 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 1-10 |
| HQ city | Uppsala | Dilsen-Stokkem |
| HQ country | Sweden (EU) | Belgium (EU) |
What's the differenceSmstools edges ahead on the overall messaging.dev Score (56 vs 33). 46elks is private and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden (EU); Smstools is private and based in Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium (EU).
Channels
Which messaging channels each provider can send and receive on.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | No |
| RCS | No | No |
| No | Yes | |
| Viber | No | No |
| Facebook Messenger | No | No |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Apple Messages for Business | No | No |
| Voice | Yes | Yes |
| No | No |
What's the differenceThey share 2 channels. 46elks additionally offers MMS, while Smstools additionally offers WhatsApp.
Developer Experience
How quickly a developer can sign up and send a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service onboarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free developer credit | No | Free test credit on sign-up |
| Docs quality | med | high |
| Documentation | Open ↗ | Open ↗ |
| SDKs | — | PHP, Node.js, Python, Ruby, PowerShell |
| Sandbox / test env | Yes | Yes |
| API types | REST | REST, SMTP |
What's the differenceOn SDKs, Smstools adds PHP, Node.js, Python, Ruby, PowerShell; on API types, Smstools adds SMTP.
Data & Compliance
Data residency options and enterprise compliance certifications.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| US data residency | No | No |
| Choose region | No | No |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | No |
| SOC 2 | No | No |
| HIPAA | No | No |
What's the difference46elks and Smstools are closely matched on data & compliance — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Data Retention
How long message content and metadata are stored, and whether that is configurable.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | Not publicly documented in detail. Smstools states all data is stored on servers located in Europe under GDPR-compliant processes, with AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit, and a Data Processing Agreement is available on request, but no specific message content/metadata retention periods are published. |
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). Smstools: Not publicly documented in detail. Smstools states all data is stored on servers located in Europe under GDPR-compliant processes, with AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit, and a Data Processing Agreement is available on request, but no specific message content/metadata retention periods are published.
Pricing & Credits
Pricing model and the cost of a first message.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go per message/minute from a prepaid account balance, with no startup fees and no minimum monthly costs. | Pay-as-you-go per message with volume discounts; no subscription, setup fee or monthly minimum, with a personalised rate sheet issued on registration. |
| SMS starting price | €0.047 per SMS part to Sweden (ex VAT); prices vary by destination country | From €0.025 per SMS to the USA (rates vary by destination country and volume) |
| Free developer credit | No | Free test credit on sign-up |
What's the difference46elks and Smstools are closely matched on pricing & credits — no material differences in the tracked fields.
Reach & Reliability
Global coverage and delivery dependability.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 215 | 200 |
| Direct operator connections | No | Yes |
| Published uptime SLA | No published uptime SLA (business-hours support SLA only; extended SLA available on request) | 99.99% (uptime SLA) |
What's the difference46elks leads on Countries covered (215 vs 200 for Smstools); Smstools offers Direct operator connections, while 46elks does not.
Company & Trust
Independent reviews and company profile.
| Field | 46elks | Smstools |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| G2 reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Ownership | private | private |
| Employees | 10-50 | 1-10 |
What's the difference46elks and Smstools are closely matched on company & trust — no material differences in the tracked fields.
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