Linq Alternatives with Human handoff

14 providers support human handoff: human handoff or takeover of agent conversations.

Providers with human handoff

Photon

Open-source agent framework with managed iMessage
Starting price
$25/month (Pro)
Free plan
Free: shared iMessage lines, up to 10 users (2.0 beta: 25 shared iMessage assignments and $100 credit)
BetaA person can reply in a conversation from the 2.0 beta Inbox

Blooio

One API for iMessage, WhatsApp and Apple Messages
Starting price
$39/month (Starter, shared number)
Free plan
Free trial: 20 messages total on a shared number, no credit card
PartialHandoff webhook events, documented for Apple Messages for Business chats.

Sendblue

iMessage API and CRM texting for sales and agents
Starting price
$100/month per line
Free plan
Free sandbox: shared number, up to 10 verified contacts, no webhooks
SupportedShared team inboxes with assignment, and agents that escalate to a rep.

LoopMessage

iMessage, SMS, RCS and WhatsApp on one number
Starting price
$59.99/month per sender (Light)
Free plan
Sandbox: $0, 5 contacts, testing only; free shared plan for schools and non-profits
PartialPeople can reply from Slack, email or the embedded inbox; no agent handoff controls.

Chert

iMessage and FaceTime numbers for AI agents
Starting price
$25/month (Shared)
Free plan
24-hour trial: 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line
SupportedSlack reply triage with approve-to-send drafts, plus a console reply pane.

MessageBlue

iMessage API for agents, with bring-your-own-number
Starting price
$100/month per line
Free plan
$0 with your own number and Mac, all features, limited seats
SupportedTeam inbox for manual replies; pause the agent or block it per contact.

Twilio

Global CPaaS for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and voice
Starting price
$0.0083 per US SMS segment
Free plan
30-day free trial, no card, with 100 SMS and 75 voice minutes
SupportedAI agents hand off to human agents in Flex with context

Bird

Email, SMS, WhatsApp and Apple Messages APIs
Starting price
$0.0035 per US outbound SMS segment plus carrier fees
Free plan
Free email tier of 1,000 emails a month; free shared Inbox
SupportedFree shared Inbox; Apple Messages and WhatsApp guides cover AI to human handoff

Telnyx

Low per-part SMS pricing with carrier fees at cost
Starting price
$0.004 per US SMS part plus carrier fee
Free plan
Trial account with $5 testing credit
PartialVoice AI Assistants can warm-transfer calls to a person; no agent inbox for text

Vonage

Messages API for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, Viber and email
Starting price
$0.00860 per US SMS on a long virtual number, plus carrier fees
Free plan
Free credit at signup with no card, and a free Messages API Sandbox capped at 100 messages a month
SupportedAI Studio Live Agent Routing node hands chats to human agents with history

Infobip

Global CPaaS and Apple Messages for Business provider
Starting price
$0.0075 to $0.0083 per US SMS (indicative)
Free plan
60-day free trial, no card, up to 100 messages per channel to your verified number
SupportedAI agents and chatbots hand off to human agents in Conversations

Sinch

CPaaS with 13 messaging channels in one API
Starting price
$0.0078 per US 10DLC SMS, plus carrier fees
Free plan
Free developer account with an SMS sandbox and test credit
SupportedChatlayer hands off to Contact Pro, Salesforce Service Cloud, Genesys and others

Texting Blue

Shared team iMessage inbox on your own iPhone number
Starting price
$19/month per number
Free plan
3-day free trial
PartialShared inbox where staff can reply in any thread; no agent handoff controls

Apple Messages for Business

Apple's official business chat in the Messages app
Starting price
Free from Apple; MSP fees vary
Free plan
Apple charges nothing; an MSP is still required
SupportedA live agent path is mandatory; bot-only deployments are not approved

Not supported or not listed

  • Linq
    Not listed
  • messages.dev
    Not listed
  • Claw Messenger
    Not listed
  • BlueBubbles
    Not listed