Google RCS for Business vs Gupshup

Google RCS for Business lets brands send rich-media messages to customers on Android and iOS, including read receipts, analytics, and a Verified icon. Agents can send one-way notifications or support two-way conversations about transactions, customer service, promotions, and other business needs. Rich cards, media, and suggested interactions can guide users through conversations. Agents send messages through an API using HTTP requests with JSON payloads; configured webhooks deliver user messages and events. Agent logic can use a natural language understanding module such as Dialogflow to choose responses. Google lists one-time password, transactional, promotional, and multi-use agent categories, with rules that may vary by country. Businesses typically work with messaging partners to build and maintain agents, and launches require brand verification and approval by Google, carriers, or both. Carriers set rates through their rate cards; billing methods differ for conversational and non-conversational messages, and no fixed public price is listed. Unsupported devices receive a 404 response, so agents should use another channel such as SMS. RBM does not provide end-to-end encryption, and Google says it is not HIPAA compliant.

Gupshup provides conversational AI for marketing, commerce, and customer support. Its agents use conversational context to take actions such as booking appointments, cancelling tickets, and making EMI payments. Teams can set engagement rules, connect business tools, apply guardrails, and define a trusted source of truth. Complex conversations can be escalated to human support.

The platform lists WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, web and app, RCS, and voice channels. It supports trigger campaigns and drip journeys, with metrics to measure their performance. Other listed capabilities include a visual flow builder, AI bot generation, knowledge-base answers, lead qualification, and conversation routing. Integrations include Salesforce Marketing Cloud, MoEngage, CleverTap, Oracle Responsys, WebEngage, Bloomreach, and Braze, alongside custom integrations and more than 500 plug-and-play options.