SmartChat vs. Bird (MessageBird)
SmartChat vs. Bird (MessageBird).
SmartChat and Bird (MessageBird) differ mainly in pricing structure, fees per message and contract term. SmartChat names four plans from €0 to €999 per month and adds nothing to the Meta fees. On its US pricing page, Bird names its own fee of 0.0050 USD per outgoing WhatsApp message on top of the Meta fee. As of: 02.11.2026.
The comparison table at a glance.
The table shows only points that are documented for both providers. The information about Bird comes from the English-language US pages bird.com/en-us, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Prices there are in US dollars. Where Bird wrote it this way, the quote appears in quotation marks.
| SmartChat | Bird (MessageBird) | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Server in Germany | Bird.com Inc. names the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The pages checked do not name the hosting country |
| Pricing model | Monthly plan: Free €0, Starter €299, Basic €499, Pro €999 per month | Monthly deposit as credit per plan: Pay as you go 0, Startup 15, Growth 100, Scale 500, Scale 2,500 (USD) |
| discount | 24% for 3 months in advance, 37% for 12 months in advance | 10% (Scale 500) and 20% (Scale 2,500) off Bird's WhatsApp fee: “10% off Bird's WhatsApp outbound fee” |
| Markup on Meta fees | No markup. You pay Meta fees directly to Meta | Bird fee per outgoing WhatsApp message on top of the Meta fee: “Bird fee, all categories: $0.0050” |
| Setup and add-ons | No setup fee, no add-ons | “Setup and registration fees can also apply.” (no amount) |
| term and cancellation | No minimum term, no commitment. Cancel any time, without notice, up to 1 hour before the payment is taken; the paid time keeps running | Terms: “subscriptions will automatically renew for additional successive periods of equal duration to the Initial Term” |
| API | Yes | Yes (API usage is billed separately) |
| MCP | Yes | Yes |
| webhook | Yes | Yes |
| QR code for sign-up | Yes, in every plan | Yes: “QR code sign-up methods are available for all channels” |
| Sign-up via form | Landing page and website popup, in every plan | Sign-up forms |
| Double consent | Automatic double opt-in, in every plan | Lists can be set to double consent: “double consent requires an additional opt-in from the customer” |
| Source | SmartChat pricing and feature pages | Bird Privacy, pricing, WhatsApp pricing, terms, knowledge base |
Who fits what.
The following points state documented features, not a verdict.
SmartChat features
- Ready in 60 seconds. Enter your website and SmartChat AI builds your landing page, confirmation message and follow-ups.
- Consent with proof. Every sign-up goes through an automatic double opt-in. The consent record per contact shows date, time and method and can be retrieved as a PDF.
- Fees you know. SmartChat charges no extra per message. Sending costs no credits, and the Meta fees go directly from your Meta account to Meta.
- All sign-up methods included. Landing page, popup, QR code and Click-to-WhatsApp button come with every plan, even Free.
- Integrations at no extra cost. API, MCP, webhook, Zapier, Make and n8n are included in every plan.
Bird (MessageBird) features
- Campaigns and replies. The WhatsApp page describes campaigns to opted-in audiences and tracking the replies: “Launch targeted promotions, product drops, and back-in-stock campaigns to opted-in audiences and track resulting replies.”
- AI agents for inquiries. The same page describes agents that answer order inquiries and routine support: “Resolve order inquiries and routine support automatically from your live backend data”.
- Flows with the Flow Builder. Automations are billed per workflow call, and message costs come on top separately.
- developer tools. According to the pricing page, SDKs, CLI and MCP are included: “SDKs, CLI and MCP are included. Underlying API usage is separate.”
- data processing agreement. In the DPA, Bird calls itself a data processor, Dutch law applies, and standard contractual clauses are added. On hosting, it says: “All our hosting providers are ISO 27001 certified.”
Prices and sample calculation.
Bird bills with a monthly deposit as credit and fees per message. SmartChat bills with a fixed monthly price. That is why the price lists are shown separately.
Bird plans
The information comes from bird.com/en-us/pricing/whatsapp. The amounts there are in US dollars, and the fees also apply to the US price list. The WhatsApp pricing page states nothing about tax.
| Pay as you go | Startup | Growth | Scale | Scale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly deposit (USD) | 0 | 15 | 100 | 500 | 2.500 |
| Discount on Bird's WhatsApp fee | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 10 % | 20 % |
| Source | Bird WhatsApp pricing | Bird WhatsApp pricing | Bird WhatsApp pricing | Bird WhatsApp pricing | Bird WhatsApp pricing |
SmartChat plans
SmartChat lists four plans with a fixed price per month. All amounts are in euros per month.
| Free | Starter | Basic | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | 0 € | 299 € | 499 € | 999 € |
| Price per month when paying 3 months in advance (24% off) | 0 € | 227 € | 379 € | 759 € |
| Price per month when paying 12 months in advance (37% off) | 0 € | 188 € | 314 € | 629 € |
| Contacts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Messages | 100 one-time | 3,000 per month | 6,000 per month | Unlimited |
| team seats | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Credits for SmartChat AI | 500 one-time | 3,000 per month | 6,000 per month | 12,000 per month |
| Source | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing |
Sample calculation: 1,000 marketing messages
The calculation uses only the stated figures from Bird's US price list: the Meta fee for a marketing message there is 0.025 USD, the Bird fee 0.0050 USD. It says nothing about other differences between the plans.
| provider | Calculation | result |
|---|---|---|
| Bird (US price list) | 1,000 x 0.025 USD Meta fee + 1,000 x 0.0050 USD Bird fee | 25 USD + 5 USD = 30 USD |
| SmartChat | Meta fee directly to Meta, SmartChat charges no extra per message | SmartChat markup: €0 |
| Source | Bird WhatsApp pricing, SmartChat Pricing |
The amount of the Meta fee depends on the recipient's country and is set by Meta. That is why it is not in the SmartChat column.
Fits less well, when.
At SmartChat
- You want to send over channels other than WhatsApp. SmartChat only sends via WhatsApp.
- You want to put together flows yourself in a builder. SmartChat has no chatbot builder. SmartChat AI replies to messages, and in the Basic and Pro plans, SmartChat builds your automation.
- You need multiple WhatsApp numbers in one account. One account has 1 WhatsApp number. For multiple numbers, you create multiple accounts.
- You want to resell SmartChat under your own name. There is no white label.
With Bird (MessageBird)
- You want to plan the cost per message in advance. On top of the Meta fee comes the Bird fee, and automations are billed per workflow call.
- You want to start without a setup fee. Bird writes: “Setup and registration fees can also apply.” The page names no amount.
- You want prices in euros. The US pages checked name the amounts in US dollars.
- You want a subscription without automatic renewal. Bird's terms name the automatic renewal of subscriptions.
FAQ about SmartChat and Bird (MessageBird).
How does SmartChat differ from Bird (MessageBird)?
SmartChat charges a fixed monthly price with no markup on Meta fees. On its US pricing page, Bird names a deposit as credit per plan and a Bird fee per outgoing WhatsApp message. All documented points are in the table, as of 02.11.2026.
Does Bird charge a fee on top of Meta's?
Yes, according to the US pricing page: Bird names its own fee of 0.0050 USD per outgoing WhatsApp message, on top of the Meta fee. SmartChat adds nothing to the Meta fees.
What does Bird cost per month?
Bird names a monthly deposit as credit: Startup 15, Growth 100, Scale 500 and Scale 2,500 US dollars, none for Pay as you go. The information comes from the US page, as of 02.11.2026.
Which plans does SmartChat have compared to Bird?
SmartChat has four plans: Free for €0, Starter for €299, Basic for €499 and Pro for €999 per month. With 3 months in advance you save 24%, with 12 months in advance 37%.
Where are the servers of SmartChat and of Bird?
SmartChat's servers are in Germany. Bird.com Inc. names the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The pages checked for Bird do not name the hosting country; the DPA only says that the hosting providers are ISO 27001 certified.
Does a subscription renew automatically at Bird?
According to Bird's terms, subscriptions renew automatically for the same duration. The exact deadlines are in the terms. SmartChat has no minimum term; you cancel any time and without notice, up to 1 hour before the payment is taken.
Can I use SmartChat for free?
Yes. Free applies with no time limit and no credit card, with 100 messages and 500 credits one time. Landing page, popup, QR code and double opt-in are already included there.
How does contact consent work with SmartChat?
Whoever signs up via landing page or popup confirms once in WhatsApp. Double opt-in runs automatically. For each contact, SmartChat saves date, time and method and provides them as a PDF. They can unsubscribe with STOP.
Do SmartChat and Bird have an API and MCP?
Yes, both. SmartChat includes API, MCP (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini), webhook, Zapier, Make and n8n in every plan. With Bird, SDKs, CLI and MCP are included, and API usage is billed separately according to the pricing page.
Can I build my own flows with SmartChat?
SmartChat has no chatbot builder. In Free and Starter, the fixed double opt-in automation runs; Basic brings 3 automations (2 of your own), Pro unlimited. In Basic and Pro, SmartChat builds your automation for you.
Are there add-ons or setup fees with SmartChat?
No. SmartChat has no add-ons, no setup fee and no hidden costs. Bird writes on its pricing page that setup and registration fees may apply, without naming an amount.
For whom is SmartChat a weaker fit than a platform like Bird?
If you want to send over channels other than WhatsApp, use several numbers in one account or offer SmartChat under your own name, SmartChat is a weaker fit. SmartChat sends only via WhatsApp and has no white label.
Try SmartChat for free.
Start with the Free plan: no time limit, no credit card. Your WhatsApp marketing system is ready in 60 seconds.
Sources and date. All information about Bird (MessageBird) comes from the provider's public pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Prices and features may change. SmartChat is the provider of this page. This comparison was written by SmartChat and is not legal advice.
Bird (MessageBird): Bird privacy policy · Bird DPA · Bird terms · Bird pricing · Bird WhatsApp pricing · Bird WhatsApp · Bird opt-in and consent · Bird sign-up forms
SmartChat: SmartChat pricing · Landing page · Website popup · Click-to-WhatsApp button · Double opt-in · proof of consent · API · MCP
Bird (MessageBird) is a trademark of its respective owners. Found an incorrect statement? Please report it via Contact.
Last updated: By SmartChat Team