Google RCS for Business vs SMS.es Business Messenger

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.

SMS.es Business Messenger provides RCS business messaging through a REST API and web interface, with campaign management, webhooks and automatic SMS fallback. Its Campaign API can create, clone, list, retrieve, update, activate, pause and delete campaigns. RCS messages can include rich cards, carousels, suggested replies, action buttons, high-resolution images and video, location sharing and branded sender identity. OAuth2 client credentials provide API access, and tokens are valid for seven days. Configured webhooks report delivered, read and user-reply events in real time. To connect an RCS agent, create it in Google's RCS console and provide its Agent ID, region and webhook URL. RCS requires explicit opt-in, which can be managed with web forms and keyword rules. Before launch, the agent can message only test devices; public availability follows approval by each carrier. The setup guide identifies Android devices using Google Messages and iOS 18 or later as supported test devices. The Inicio tier lists €0.004 per message, and Empresa lists €0.0032 per message; both show free. Empresarial pricing is custom and not specified.