API Comparison
Telebase vs Twilio Lookup
Twilio Lookup is the default choice for carrier and number type lookups because Twilio is already in most fintechs' stacks. Telebase is a specialist alternative: it bundles carrier, country, number type, active status and SIM swap detection into a single query at a flat price, with no enterprise contract required for SIM swap. This page compares what each returns, what each costs and where they differ for fraud and KYC use cases.
Pricing and feature data checked July 2026 from Twilio's published pricing page. Verify current rates at twilio.com before making procurement decisions.
Signal comparison
| Signal | Twilio Lookup | Telebase |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier (network operator) | ✓ (Line type intelligence, $0.008) | ✓ (included in base query) |
| Number type (mobile / landline / VoIP) | ✓ (Line type intelligence, $0.008) | ✓ (included in base query) |
| Active status | ✓ (Line Status, separate charge, tiered from $0.007) | ✓ (included in base query) |
| Country (ISO code) | ✓ (country_code, returned in the free validation response) | ✓ explicit ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 field |
| SIM swap detection | Contact sales (not self-serve, negotiated price) | Launching. $0.03/query, same price. Early access open. |
| SIM swap timestamp (simSwapAt) | Available in enterprise SIM swap product | Launching. Included in base query when swap is detected. |
Pricing comparison
Twilio Lookup uses separate charges for each data type. To retrieve carrier, number type and active status in one call, you combine the Line type intelligence add-on ($0.008 flat) with the Line Status add-on (tiered from $0.007 at low volumes). That is a minimum of $0.015 per query for the two signals combined, before any volume discount.
Telebase charges $0.03 per query for all signals in a single call: carrier, country, number type, active status and the launching simSwap field. The price is flat with no tiers, no bundles and no add-on configuration.
| What you need | Twilio Lookup cost | Telebase cost |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier + number type only | $0.008 per query (Line type intelligence) | $0.03 per query |
| Carrier + number type + active status | $0.008 + $0.007 = ~$0.015 per query at low volumes | $0.03 per query |
| All of the above + SIM swap detection | Contact sales (negotiated, volume commitment likely required) | $0.03 per query, launching, no contract |
Twilio is cheaper if you only need carrier and number type and you run high volumes. Its tiered pricing means the per-query cost drops significantly at scale. Telebase is the simpler choice if you want everything in one call at a predictable flat price, or if you need self-serve access to SIM swap detection without a sales conversation.
Developer experience
Twilio Lookup is part of Twilio's wider platform. If you already have Twilio in your stack for SMS or Verify, the authentication and billing are shared. Adding Lookup is a configuration change rather than a new vendor.
Telebase is a standalone API. A single endpoint, a single Bearer token, and a single response object that includes all available signals. There is no SDK required and no platform to sign up to. New accounts receive a $5.00 starting balance, enough for around 165 test queries at no cost.
The real endpoint is:
curl -s 'https://telebase.fatcatremote.com/api/lookup?phone=%2B447700900000' \ -H 'Authorization: Bearer tb_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
{
"phoneNumber": "+447700900000",
"active": true,
"carrier": "EE",
"country": "GB",
"numberType": "mobile",
"simSwap": "UNKNOWN", // launching for GB, DE, NL and FR
"simSwapAt": null,
"_meta": { "activeSource": "LINE_STATUS" }
}
Phone numbers must be E.164 with the leading + URL-encoded as %2B. All signals are returned in a single call.
Which is right for your use case?
Twilio Lookup may be the better fit if: you are already using Twilio for SMS or OTP delivery and want to keep vendors consolidated; you run very high query volumes and benefit from Twilio's volume discounts; or you only need carrier and line type without active status or SIM swap.
Telebase may be the better fit if: you want carrier, number type, active status and SIM swap detection in a single call at a flat price; you need self-serve SIM swap access without a sales process; or you are a fraud or KYC team that wants a specialist tool rather than a feature of a communications platform. See the full carrier lookup API documentation for integration detail.