Bird vs Linq

Bird supports 36 of the 77 features compared here, and Linq supports 63.

Feature comparison

Feature	Bird	Linq
iMessage messaging
iMessage	Not supportedNo iMessage support	Supported
Group chats	Not supported	SupportedPro plan. Up to 31 recipients. No read or delivery receipts in groups.
Group management	Not supported	SupportedAdd and remove participants and leave a group, iMessage groups only, 3-member minimum.
Group name and photo	Not supported	SupportedSet display_name and group_chat_icon on group chats.
Mentions	Not supported	SupportedGroup chats only. Notifies iMessage recipients even in a muted chat.
Tapbacks	Not supported	SupportedSix classic tapbacks or any emoji, send and receive via reaction webhooks.
Threaded replies	Not supported	Supportedreply_to with optional part_index. iMessage only.
Typing indicators	Not supported	SupportedSend and receive, in direct and group chats. iMessage only.
Read receipts	Not supported	SupportedMark chats read and receive message.read. One-to-one chats only.
Edit and unsend	Not supported	PartialEdit text up to 5 times within 15 minutes. Delete does not unsend from the recipient's device.
Message effects	Not supported	Supported11 screen and 4 bubble effects.
Animated text effects	Not supported	Supportedtext_decorations animations: big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, jitter.
Stickers	Not supported	SupportedPeel emoji or images onto messages, send stickers, or place them inline in text.
Formatted text	Not supported	SupportedBold, italic, underline and strikethrough ranges, plus animated text. iMessage only.
Attachments	Not supported	SupportedUp to 10MB by URL, 100MB with pre-upload.
Live Photos	Not supported	Not listed
Rich link previews	Not supported	Supportedlink parts render as rich previews on iMessage and RCS.
Voice messages	Not supported	SupportedDedicated voice memo endpoint renders the native iMessage voice bubble.
Contact cards	Not supported	SupportedSend .vcf files as media parts.
Polls	Not supported	SupportedCreate, add options, vote and read tallies, with poll webhooks. Not as a chat's first message.
Chat backgrounds	Not supported	SupportedColor, animated or photo backgrounds, in direct and group chats.
Location sharing	Not supported	SupportedRequest, read and stop Find My shares. Live location is a $79/mo add-on on Pro.
iMessage apps	Not supported	SupportedPro plan. Cards from your own Messages extension, or Linq-hosted cards (Experiences).
Live app cards	Not supported	SupportedUpdate App Card replaces a delivered iMessage app or Experience card in place.
Sender name and photo	Not supported	SupportedContact card API sets name and photo, shared per chat via Name and Photo Sharing.
FaceTime calls	Not supported	Not supportedDocs say the API does not place or answer calls.
Delivery status	Not supported	Supportedsent, delivered, read and failed webhooks. Groups report sent only.
iMessage availability check	Not supported	Supportedcheck_imessage and check_rcs endpoints.
Focus and Notify Anyway	Not supported	Not listed
Numbers and delivery
Managed lines	Not supportedNo iMessage support	Supported
Dedicated numbers	SupportedLocal, mobile, toll-free and short code numbers by country	SupportedPaid lines are dedicated. Provisioned by Linq, no self-serve number API.
Shared numbers	SupportedBird-managed shared short codes; built-in SMS templates pick the sender	SupportedFree Hobby tier uses a Shared Line, inbound-first, 20 contacts.
Bring your own number	PartialWhatsApp coexistence and verified voice caller IDs only; no hosted SMS found	Not listed
Line pooling	Not supportedNo sender pool; the sender is set per send	SupportedManaged load balancing (Pro): send without from and Linq picks and fails over lines.
SMS fallback	Not supportedNo iMessage support; RCS and push can fall back to SMS	Supported
RCS fallback	Not supportedNo iMessage support	SupportedOrder is iMessage, then RCS, then SMS.
Outbound-first messaging	SupportedBusiness-initiated SMS; WhatsApp needs approved templates	SupportedFree Hobby tier is inbound-first. Docs recommend inbound-first flows to avoid flagging.
Calls on the iMessage number	Not supportedNo iMessage support	PartialAPI forwards inbound calls on the line; outbound needs caller-ID masking via another provider.
Other channels
SMS	PartialSMS only in the API; outbound MMS not supported yet (media_urls reserved)	Supported
RCS	BetaPrivate beta with limited access	Supported
WhatsApp	Supported	BetaSeparate WhatsApp API in beta. Access by request, no SLA.
Telegram	PartialVerify one-time passcodes only, through Telegram Gateway	Not supportedNot offered
Slack	Not listed	Not supported
Email	SupportedIncludes the SparkPost email platform	Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email handles.
Phone calls	SupportedVoice over SIP trunks, with call sequences	PartialAPI does not place or answer calls; it forwards inbound calls. Calling lives in the Linq Blue app.
Apple Messages for Business	Supported	Not listedAI context page mentions it, but no product page or docs were found.
Unified channel API	PartialOne REST API and SDK, but each channel has its own send endpoint and payload	PartialiMessage, RCS and SMS share one API. WhatsApp is a separate API with its own keys and SDKs.
Developer tools
REST API	Supported	Supported
TypeScript SDK	Supported@messagebird/sdk on npm	Supported@linqapp/sdk
Python SDK	Supportedmessagebird-sdk on PyPI	Supportedlinq-python
Other SDKs	SupportedGo and PHP; Swift and Kotlin clients for Realtime only	SupportedOfficial Go SDK.
CLI	Supportedbird CLI with JSON output, also runs the MCP server locally	Supported@linqapp/cli: signup, sending, and a local webhook listener.
Webhooks	Supported	Supported
Signed webhooks	SupportedStandard Webhooks, HMAC-SHA256	SupportedHMAC-SHA256, Standard Webhooks format, with replay protection.
MCP server	SupportedHosted at mcp.bird.com with OAuth, or local over stdio	Supported@linqapp/sdk-mcp with docs search and code execution tools.
Open source	Not supportedClosed platform; SDKs, n8n node and agent skills are MIT-licensed	PartialSDKs, CLI and adapters are Apache-2.0 or MIT on GitHub. The messaging platform is closed.
Self-hosting	PartialOnly the PowerMTA email software is licensed for your own servers	Not supportedLinq describes itself as fully managed, in contrast to self-hosted options.
Local testing	PartialSimulated SMS destinations and an email sandbox, no handset needed; SMS tests are billed	Not listedThe CLI streams webhooks locally, but tests still use a real phone.
Custom channel providers	Not listed	Not listed
Event replay	SupportedReplay API for failed deliveries from a 3-day attempt log; 8 retries over about 27.5 hours	PartialRetries for 30 minutes; after that, re-fetch chats or ask Linq for a manual replay.
OpenTelemetry	Not listed	PartialW3C trace IDs on every response and webhook for OTel backends. No export of Linq spans by default.
No-code integrations	SupportedZapier app and verified n8n node; Make listed as coming soon	SupportedLinq Blue works as a GoHighLevel messaging provider. No n8n, Make or Zapier found for the API.
CRM integrations	SupportedAttio app; HubSpot and Salesforce connectors on the Engagement Platform	SupportedVia Linq Blue: GoHighLevel, HubSpot and Salesforce.
Built for AI agents
Agent framework	PartialAI Employees builder on the Engagement Platform (app.bird.com) only	PartialNo own framework. Maintains a Vercel Chat SDK adapter and OpenClaw and Hermes plugins.
Agent framework integrations	PartialRoutes inbound messages to Claude Managed Agents and Grok Bot; no Vercel AI SDK, LangChain or Mastra	SupportedLinq-maintained Vercel Chat SDK adapter, plus OpenClaw and Hermes Agent plugins.
Streaming replies	Not listedNo edit or streaming API for SMS, WhatsApp or Apple Messages found; Realtime pub/sub serves your own app	Not supportedDocs say the Chat SDK adapter buffers streams into one final message.
Agent group chats	PartialWhatsApp groups API: create groups, share invite links, send and receive group messages	Not listed
Human handoff	SupportedFree shared Inbox; Apple Messages and WhatsApp guides cover AI to human handoff	Not listed
Audit logs	SupportedConfiguration and security changes, not message activity	SupportedDashboard Activity page plus account-change webhooks with actor and origin.
Message history API	SupportedList endpoints for SMS, WhatsApp, email and Apple Messages conversations	Supported
Plans and compliance
Free plan	SupportedFree email tier of 1,000 emails a month and free shared Inbox; SMS and WhatsApp are paid	SupportedHobby: $0, up to 20 contacts, through the CLI.
Public pricing	Supported	SupportedPro from $260/mo. Enterprise is custom.
No per-message fees	Not supportedBilled per message or segment from a prepaid balance	Supported
Uptime SLA	Not supportedNo public SLA; terms exclude downtime liability unless an Order Form says otherwise	SupportedContractual SLAs on the Enterprise plan; marketing cites 99.95%
Isolated infrastructure	PartialDedicated email IPs and IP pools only	SupportedDedicated lines across 4 data centers on paid plans; Hobby uses a shared line
SOC 2 Type II	PartialTrust Center lists a SOC 2 Type I report (Sept 30, 2026); site pages say Type 2	SupportedType I and Type II, reports for 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
GDPR	SupportedDPA and subprocessor list published	SupportedDPA covers GDPR and UK GDPR, with Standard Contractual Clauses.

Checked on each provider's own site and docs on 2026-10-25. “Not listed” means the provider does not mention it.

Pricing

Which should you choose?

Choose Bird if you need bring your own number, Telegram, email and Apple Messages for Business.

Choose Linq if you need iMessage, group chats, group management and group name and photo.

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