Skip the $600
Bird Setup Fee
Bird (formerly MessageBird) charges $600 setup fee and requires 3-month contracts. Zavu has no setup fees, no contracts, and includes AI agents Bird doesn't have.
No credit card required. No setup fee. No minimum contract.
Feature Comparison
Everything you need, plus AI capabilities Bird doesn't offer.
| Feature | Zavu | MessageBird |
|---|---|---|
| SMS API | ||
| WhatsApp Business API | ||
| Email API | ||
| Visual Flow Builder | ||
| No setup fee | ||
| No minimum contract | ||
| Built-in AI Agents | ||
| Knowledge Base (RAG) | ||
| Per-contact pricing | ||
| Free first US number |
Pricing Comparison
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees or complex tiers.
| Item | Zavu | MessageBird |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | $0 | $600 |
| Minimum contract | None | 3 months |
| SMS to US (per message) | $0.0077 | $0.008 |
| WhatsApp conversation (marketing) | $0.005 + Meta fee | Meta fee + markup |
| US Phone Number | 1 Free, then $1.15/mo | $1.50/mo |
| AI Agent (GPT-4o-mini) | $0.15/1M input tokens | Not available |
Why Developers Switch
No $600 Setup Fee
Bird charges a $600 setup fee just to get started. With Zavu, you start for free. Your first US phone number is also free.
No 3-Month Contracts
Bird requires a 3-month minimum commitment. Zavu is month-to-month. Cancel anytime, no questions asked.
Built-in AI Agents
Automatically respond to customer messages with AI. Bird has Flow Builder but no AI agents. With Zavu, AI is built-in.
Simpler Pricing
Bird's pricing tiers are complex. Zavu is straightforward: pay for what you use with transparent per-contact and carrier costs.
Talk to Engineers
Get real support from engineers who understand messaging. Not enterprise ticket queues or sales calls.
Enterprise Features, No Lock-in
99.9% uptime SLA, SOC 2 compliance, and dedicated infrastructure. All without the contract lock-in.
Migration FAQ
Does Bird really charge $600 setup fee?
Yes. Since rebranding from MessageBird to Bird in 2024, they introduced a $600 setup fee. Zavu has no setup fees - you can start sending messages for free today.
What about the 3-month minimum contract?
Bird requires a 3-month minimum commitment. Zavu has no minimum contract. Pay month-to-month and cancel anytime without penalty.
Bird has Flow Builder. Does Zavu?
Yes, we both have visual flow builders. But Zavu also has built-in AI agents with RAG knowledge base that Bird doesn't offer. Your flows can use AI to handle complex conversations.
How hard is it to migrate from Bird?
Most migrations take a few hours. Our REST API follows similar patterns. We provide migration guides and can help port your phone numbers.
Is Zavu enterprise-ready?
Yes. 99.9% uptime SLA, SOC 2 compliance, and dedicated infrastructure for high-volume customers. Same enterprise features, without the $600 fee or contract lock-in.
Ready to Switch?
Join developers who've already made the switch. Start free, migrate at your own pace.