A Twilio answering machine detection alternative
Twilio answering machine detection is a setting on calls you create through Twilio's Voice API. If your calls run through VICIdial or another Asterisk dialer on your own trunks, nomoVM gives you AI answering machine detection without moving your traffic to Twilio.
How Twilio AMD works
When you create an outbound call with Twilio's API, you can ask for machine detection (the MachineDetection parameter). Twilio then reports who answered in an AnsweredBy value such as human, a machine value, fax or unknown, either before connecting the call or asynchronously, depending on how you set it up. It applies to calls placed through Twilio.
Side by side
| Twilio AMD | nomoVM | |
|---|---|---|
| How you turn it on | A parameter when creating a call through their API | One EAGI line in your dialplan, or the WebSocket API |
| Works with VICIdial and Asterisk dialplans | Not directly: it's a setting on calls placed through their API | Yes: same AMDSTATUS variable |
| Carrier | Their network | Any SIP trunk or carrier |
| Verdict time | Depends on mode and settings | About 2 s, up to 3.2 s when unclear |
| Call screening as its own result | See their docs | Yes (SCREENING) |
| Recorded "Hello?" robots | See their docs | Fingerprint check across calls |
| Audio the model heard | See their docs | Playable in call logs, 1 to 90 days, deletable |
| Pricing | Per call, on top of their call charges (see their pricing page) | Free to 30,000 calls a month; from $99 for 1 million |
Based on Twilio's public documentation at the time of writing (2026-11-12). Products change: check their current docs and pricing before deciding.
When Twilio AMD makes sense
If your application already places calls through Twilio's API (for example, a custom app or a voice agent built on Twilio), their built-in option is the shortest path: no extra integration.
When nomoVM is the better fit
- You run VICIdial, GoAutoDial or another Asterisk dialer and want to keep it.
- You use more than one carrier, or want to be free to change carriers.
- You want to see and hear why each call was judged the way it was.
- You want a flat monthly plan that doesn't grow with every attempt.
- You want to resell AMD under your own brand (white-label).
See how nomoVM decides: AI answering machine detection explained, and our measured accuracy. Comparing more options? Read compare answering machine detection options.
Stop sending voicemail to your agents
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