Omnichannel Communication Platform MessageBird: The Story
The communication platform MessageBird is an AI-powered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that helps businesses manage their leads efficiently. MessageBird was founded in 2011 by Robert Vis, founder and CEO, along with co-founders René Feiner, Bob Violier, Ihab Matta, and Adriaan Mol as Mobile Tulip, and later renamed to MessageBird.
Originally launched as an SMS and telecommunications service, the platform evolved over the years into a comprehensive cloud-based solution integrating various communication channels such as emails, Instagram DMs, and web chats. Through strategic acquisitions, the company expanded its portfolio and, since the introduction of Bird CRM in 2024, offers a wide range of CRM services.
The all-in-one platform generated around €823 million in revenue in 2024 and employed several hundred staff members. However, by the end of 2022, the company had to lay off approximately 31% of its workforce to adapt to changing market conditions.
In 2024, the company was renamed Bird following the launch of Bird CRM. Despite these changes, Bird remains a leading CRM platform, offering powerful cloud solutions for businesses of all sizes—with a flexible pricing model that adapts to varying business needs.
Source: (MessageBird Wikipedia](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/MessageBird)
Source: Bird (https://bird.com/de/about)
MessageBird WhatsApp MVP
MessageBird expanded its communication channels primarily through mergers and acquisitions. To offer its customers a WhatsApp Business API product, MessageBird developed an MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
Several companies, including the waterdrop® team, tested this tool but quickly encountered product limitations and frustrations. In particular, the lack of system stability, limited automation, and poor integration with email and voice services made long-term use difficult.
Since it is currently unlikely that Bird will focus its development resources on the WhatsApp division, many customers are left with no choice but to seek an alternative solution like the WhatsApp marketing tool Chatarmin.
MessageBird WhatsApp should therefore be tested with caution. But currently, such WhatsApp marketing providers are hard to find. Chatarmin is THE alternative.
MessageBird WhatsApp Business Account Migration
To migrate a WhatsApp Business Account, you need approval from the current Business Service Provider (BSP). With MessageBird, this turned out to be a surprisingly complicated task.
In recent months, Chatarmin has supported numerous companies in successfully migrating their WhatsApp Business Accounts. While this worked smoothly with other systems, switching from MessageBird proved particularly challenging. This is especially surprising as some companies had relied exclusively on WhatsApp as their only solution and had no additional marketing channels like email or a comprehensive contact center available.
Since the costs for MessageBird's WhatsApp solution were initially low due to its MVP status, there was little resistance at first. However, experience shows that migrating a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) – including number, company profile, verification, and quality status – from MessageBird can be problematic.
Companies should therefore thoroughly evaluate whether using MessageBird WhatsApp is worthwhile in the long run or whether a more flexible solution would be better suited for their brand.
The Difference Between an MVP and a Full Solution
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) may be sufficient in the initial phase of a project, but when it comes to customer satisfaction and loyalty, it is far from enough. Companies need reliable and functional tools to successfully implement their marketing strategies. An MVP may enable a quick market launch, but often shows weaknesses in functionality and user-friendliness, as is the case with MessageBird’s WhatsApp solution.
The Importance of Analytics and Data Integration
In today’s digital marketing landscape, data and its analysis are of crucial importance – it's the only way to get to know your target audience better. Without detailed analytics and a deep understanding of customer interactions, it is nearly impossible to design effective marketing campaigns. The use of Google Sheets clearly highlights the deficiencies of the MessageBird solution. In contrast, Chatarmin offers comprehensive analytics and integrations that enable data-driven decision-making.
MessageBird Alternatives: Chatarmin Scores with Thought-Out Software
Compared to competitor MessageBird, Chatarmin offers several decisive advantages that make it the better choice for companies relying on effective WhatsApp marketing and a CRM that significantly simplifies communication with customers.
Specialization in WhatsApp Marketing
Chatarmin is specifically designed for WhatsApp marketing and offers high-converting campaigns, payment links, and automated WhatsApp journeys. In contrast, MessageBird is more of a general communication tool that covers many different channels but does not offer the same depth and specialization in WhatsApp. This specialization allows for targeted and efficient customer communication.
Integration with Your Tech Stack
Chatarmin integrates seamlessly with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, marketing automation tools like Klaviyo, Shopware, and many others. These deep integrations allow companies to manage their marketing and sales processes directly within WhatsApp. MessageBird also offers integrations, but not in the same comprehensive and specific way as Chatarmin.
Transparent and Fair Pricing
Chatarmin, as an alternative to MessageBird, offers a simple and transparent pricing structure with clear costs for different features. This makes it easier for companies to plan their budgets and avoid unexpected additional costs. MessageBird, on the other hand, may have more complex pricing structures due to its wide channel coverage, which are not always as clear and transparent.
User-Friendliness and Support
Chatarmin places great importance on a user-friendly interface and provides comprehensive customer support, including a private Slack Connect channel and ChatGPT integration for advanced automations. Customer service is available around the clock, which is especially important for companies with high communication volumes. MessageBird also offers support, but Chatarmin’s personalized and specialized service is a clear advantage.
GDPR Compliance
Chatarmin is 100% GDPR compliant and was developed in Austria. This compliance ensures that all data processing procedures meet the strict European data protection requirements. This is especially important for companies operating in the EU. MessageBird is also GDPR compliant, but Chatarmin’s focus on this aspect and its origin from an EU country offer additional security.
Increased Customer Loyalty and Revenue Growth
By enabling real-time conversations via WhatsApp and sending direct CTAs and payment links, Chatarmin improves customer retention and increases your company’s revenue. These specific features are especially beneficial for e-commerce companies. MessageBird may offer similar features, but Chatarmin’s specialization in WhatsApp makes these tools more effective and user-friendly.
Positive User Reviews
The products of the MessageBird alternative Chatarmin also prove their value in the positive reviews from users. A high degree of personalization allows it to meet the requirements of a wide variety of companies.
Summary: Comparison Between MessageBird and the Chatarmin Alternative
Specialization
MessageBird
Broad: Bird is a full omnichannel communication platform that covers many different options such as SMS, email marketing, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other messaging channels.
General: The platform is designed to serve a wide range of communication needs, but without in-depth specialization in any specific channel.
Chatarmin
Focused: Chatarmin is specifically developed for WhatsApp marketing and offers high-converting campaigns, payment links, and automated WhatsApp journeys.
Specialized: The platform focuses on optimizing WhatsApp marketing and offers deep functionality in this area.
Integration
MessageBird
Versatile: Offers integrations with various CRM and marketing platforms, but the depth and specificity of integrations may vary.
M&A-driven: Many additional communication channels were added through acquisitions, which can lead to an inconsistent integration experience.
Chatarmin
Seamless: Deeply integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Klaviyo, and Shopware, enabling direct management of marketing and sales processes within WhatsApp.
Targeted: Integrations are specifically designed to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of WhatsApp marketing.
Pricing
MessageBird
Complex: The pricing structure may be more complex and less transparent due to its wide channel coverage, making budgeting more difficult.
Variable: Costs can vary significantly depending on the communication channel used and the extent of usage.
Chatarmin
Transparent: Offers a simple and transparent pricing structure with clear costs for various features.
Predictable: Simplifies budgeting through clear and fair pricing without hidden additional costs.
Customer Retention and Revenue Growth
MessageBird
Versatile: Offers features to improve customer retention across various channels but is not specifically optimized for WhatsApp.
Broad approach: Features are broad in scope, making specialization in a single channel more difficult.
Chatarmin
Effective: Through real-time conversations via WhatsApp and direct CTAs and payment links, Chatarmin improves customer retention and increases revenue.
Specifically optimized: Special tools and features are designed to maximize the effectiveness of WhatsApp marketing.
User Reviews and Feedback
MessageBird
Mixed: Has a broad user base with mixed reviews depending on the channels used and specific use cases.
Stable: Provides a stable platform but may not offer deep WhatsApp specialization.
Chatarmin
Positive: Many users report significant improvements in their communication processes and higher customer satisfaction.
Feedback-oriented: Actively uses user feedback for continuous improvement and optimization of the platform.
Conclusion
While Bird offers a broadly based communication platform that covers various channels, Chatarmin is the top choice for companies specifically focused on WhatsApp marketing.
Warning About MessageBird WhatsApp
There is now a wide range of WhatsApp marketing tools and high-quality alternatives to MessageBird. At this point, it is absolutely unnecessary to rely on underdeveloped WhatsApp marketing providers like Bird. The market has become too consolidated and competitive.
Tip
If you still want to set up WhatsApp via MessageBird, please do so on a dummy account with a dummy Facebook Business Account, so you are not testing with your “real” infrastructure. Otherwise, you’ll waste valuable time and nerves at the latest when you try to migrate your WABA (WhatsApp Business Account) to another provider like Chatarmin.
Chatarmin: THE MessageBird Alternative for WhatsApp
Looking at the comparison, it becomes clear that although Bird offers a broad range of services, this breadth comes at the expense of quality—particularly on the WhatsApp platform. Additionally, a reliable email integration and effective contact center software are lacking to ensure seamless customer communication.
Software solutions like Chatarmin score with their extensive expertise in targeted and effective WhatsApp marketing. A definite plus for any sales and marketing team aiming to expand the potential of WhatsApp in their business and ensure holistic customer support via email and other channels.
