Google RCS for Business vs Helo.ai

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.

Helo.ai is a business messaging and customer engagement platform available through the web and API. Its products cover SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, voice, email, and chatbots, with automated campaigns across SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, and email. RCS messages can include verified sender IDs, rich media, buttons, carousels, images, and videos. Helo Convo is a no-code AI agent for WhatsApp, web, and apps; the company says it can be configured from a prompt in five minutes. Agents can handle voice notes, respond in customers’ languages, connect to integrations, and hand conversations to human agents. Shortify creates branded, trackable short URLs with real-time insights. Helo Verify supports verification by SMS, email, or WhatsApp and includes SIM binding to help prevent SIM-swap fraud. The platform also offers API and low-code integration services, including CRM and ERP connections. Helo.ai says it encrypts data at rest and in transit and stores and processes data in India unless otherwise agreed. It does not claim formal GDPR or CCPA certification. Pricing is custom, with no numerical price listed.