VoIP Provider/Carrier and Client… What’s the Difference?

This section explains the difference between a VoIP Provider/Carrier and a Client. It’s fundamental to understand these terms when creating a new account in the Smart Carrier Portal.

When creating a new account, you’re asked for the Role of the account: VoIP Provider/Carrier or Client. Here’s the difference:

AspectVoIP Provider/CarrierClient
What they are
  • A Carrier is who you connect to in order to deliver or receive communications (calls, SMS, etc.).
  • They are the back-end providers that make the system’s telecom functions possible.
  • Users typically add or configure Carriers so they can route traffic through them and manage rates, routing preferences, and quality metrics.
  • A Client is someone who uses your platform or services (e.g., they send calls or messages using your system).
  • They are your customers, not your providers.
  • Users typically create Clients to manage their accounts, track usage, billing, and assign them specific routes or rate plans.
Direction of serviceYou connect to them.They connect to you.
From your perspectiveYou buy connectivity and services from them.You sell services and bill your clients.
ExamplesSmart Carrier, Twilio, BandwidthYour resellers, enterprise customers, call centers
How the money flowsYou pay the carrier for services.The client pays you for the services you provide.
Backward Accounts Forms Forward