GatewayAPI
Danish SMS, RCS and email API with per-operator pricing and a separate EU-hosted setup on Hetzner
Quick Overview
| Company | ONLINECITY.IO ApS (CVR 27364276) |
|---|---|
| Category | Communication APIs |
| Headquarters | Odense, Denmark |
| Founded | 2003 |
| EU Presence | EU (Denmark) |
| Data Location | Two completely separated setups. The EU setup (gatewayapi.eu, chosen at signup) runs in a Hetzner Online GmbH data center in Germany, which the vendor says is EU-owned. The hosting of the global (.com) setup is not described on the pages checked; the Google Cloud claim could not be verified from the vendor's own pages. |
| Open Source | No |
| Compliance | Annual ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3402 auditor's statements on GDPR (as already listed in sms-api; not re-verified here) |
| Pricing | By default you pay only for the traffic you send, with no subscriptions or monthly fees (except in countries that require a short code). Prices are per operator in the chosen country, shown in EUR by default (DKK selectable for RCS). RCS from EUR 0.0410 per message. Email pricing is not shown on the pricing page. Creating an account is free. Exact per-country SMS rates are in a downloadable price list or on request. |
| Free Option | Free account, no subscription; you pay only for traffic sent (no free credit stated on the pricing page) |
| Replaces | Twilio, Vonage, MessageBird |
Detailed Review
GatewayAPI is a Danish messaging API run by ONLINECITY.IO ApS in Odense. It covers SMS, RCS business messages and email through one API, with HLR number lookup, virtual numbers, short codes and keywords on top. The scope is narrower than the large CPaaS platforms: there is no voice, video or WhatsApp listed on the pages we checked.
The distinguishing feature is the choice of setup. At signup you can pick gatewayapi.eu, a completely separated setup that the vendor says runs in a Hetzner data center in Germany, owned by an EU company. The global setup is separate, and its hosting is not described on the pages we opened, so check the data processing terms before choosing it for personal data.
Pricing is pay-as-you-go in euros with no subscription by default, charged per operator in the destination country. The server-rendered page does not show the country table, so you need the price list or sales to budget. Compared with the larger platforms on this page, expect fewer channels and a smaller ecosystem, in exchange for simple billing and a Danish contracting entity.
What GatewayAPI does well
- Danish contracting entity (ONLINECITY.IO ApS) under Danish law
- Separate EU setup on Hetzner, selectable at signup
- No subscription or monthly fee by default
- SMS, RCS and email in one API, plus HLR lookup
- Free account, pay only for traffic sent
Where GatewayAPI falls short
- No voice, video or WhatsApp listed, unlike the larger CPaaS tools
- Per-country SMS prices not visible on the server-rendered pricing page
- Global setup hosting not documented on the pages checked
- Short codes and virtual numbers are charged separately
Standout feature. A separately hosted EU setup you choose at signup, with a plain pay-per-message model and no subscription.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Danish contracting entity (ONLINECITY.IO ApS) under Danish law
- Separate EU setup on Hetzner, selectable at signup
- No subscription or monthly fee by default
- SMS, RCS and email in one API, plus HLR lookup
- Free account, pay only for traffic sent
Cons
- No voice, video or WhatsApp listed, unlike the larger CPaaS tools
- Per-country SMS prices not visible on the server-rendered pricing page
- Global setup hosting not documented on the pages checked
- Short codes and virtual numbers are charged separately
Alternatives to GatewayAPI
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GatewayAPI?
GatewayAPI is a Danish messaging API run by ONLINECITY.IO ApS in Odense. It covers SMS, RCS business messages and email through one API, with HLR number lookup, virtual numbers, short codes and keywords on top. The scope is narrower than the large CPaaS platforms: there is no voice, video or WhatsApp listed on the pages we checked.
Where is GatewayAPI based?
GatewayAPI operates from Odense, Denmark, which places it under EU (Denmark). Compliance: Annual ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3402 auditor's statements on GDPR (as already listed in sms-api; not re-verified here).
What does GatewayAPI cost?
By default you pay only for the traffic you send, with no subscriptions or monthly fees (except in countries that require a short code). Prices are per operator in the chosen country, shown in EUR by default (DKK selectable for RCS).
RCS from EUR 0.0410 per message. Email pricing is not shown on the pricing page. Creating an account is free. Exact per-country SMS rates are in a downloadable price list or on request.. Free account, no subscription; you pay only for traffic sent (no free credit stated on the pricing page).
Who is GatewayAPI best for?
Nordic teams wanting EU-only hosting option. A separately hosted EU setup you choose at signup, with a plain pay-per-message model and no subscription.
What are the drawbacks of GatewayAPI?
No voice, video or WhatsApp listed, unlike the larger CPaaS tools. Per-country SMS prices not visible on the server-rendered pricing page. Global setup hosting not documented on the pages checked. Short codes and virtual numbers are charged separately.
Is GatewayAPI a good alternative to Twilio?
GatewayAPI is built as a European alternative to Twilio: Danish SMS, RCS and email API with per-operator pricing and a separate EU-hosted setup on Hetzner. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does GatewayAPI compare to other Communication APIs?
GatewayAPI is one of several European Communication APIs we cover. It is most often compared with Twilio, Vonage, MessageBird.