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Dr. Ismail Zakaria

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Best HIPAA compliant texting tools

6 tools compared. Checked 6 Nov 2026.

Texting is where the fine print matters most. Some vendors offer a BAA but leave SMS outside it, so read the exclusions on each page.

Where to start

Be careful here. Twilio lists SMS and MMS as eligible on Security or Enterprise Edition, but it suits teams with a developer. Dialpad is simpler, though its BAA stops at its own systems and doesn’t reach the patient’s phone. Quo says SMS and MMS aren’t covered at all.

All 6 tools side by side

5 offer a BAA on at least some plans
ToolResultWhere the BAA applies
DDialpadOn some plansAll paid accounts
GGoHighLevelOn some plansPaid add-on or Enterprise
QQuoOn some plansBusiness and Scale, not Starter
RRingCentralOn some plansListed products, paying customers
TTwilioOn some plansSecurity or Enterprise Edition, eligible products
IiMessageNo BAAApple’s license bars PHI on iPhone and iPad
Listed by how openly the BAA is offered, then by name. No vendor paid for its place.
D

Dialpad

On some plans

Company admins on paid Dialpad accounts can sign a BAA online, after which Dialpad says all its products can be used by healthcare customers.

Covered: All paid Dialpad accounts.

Left out: BAA reaches only Dialpad’s environment, not the patient’s end of an SMS.

See the full Dialpad result and proof
G

GoHighLevel

On some plans

HighLevel offers a BAA through a HIPAA add-on listed at US$297 per month, available to agencies on any plan, or included in its Enterprise plan. Accounts are not set up for HIPAA by default.

Covered: Agency accounts on any plan with the paid HIPAA add-on, or Enterprise where HIPAA is included; BAA signed and HIPAA turned on per sub-account.

See the full GoHighLevel result and proof
Q

Quo (formerly OpenPhone)

On some plans

Quo offers a BAA on its Business and Scale plans, but SMS/MMS and third-party integrations are not covered services under it.

Covered: Business; Scale.

Left out: SMS and MMS are not a Covered Service, and more.

See the full Quo result and proof
R

RingCentral

On some plans

RingCentral offers its own BAA to paying covered entity customers for a listed set of products, and will not accept a customer’s BAA.

Covered: RingEX; RingCX; RingCentral Fax; RingCentral Contact Center; RingCentral Engage Digital; RingCentral AI Conversation Expert; RingCentral AI Quality Management; RingCentral AIR Pro; RingCentral AI Receptionist; RingCentral AI Supervisor Assist; RingCentral AI Agent Assist; Customer Engagement Bundle.

Left out: Third-party channel communications on Engage Digital, and more.

See the full RingCentral result and proof
T

Twilio

On some plans

Twilio signs a BAA only with customers on Security Edition or Enterprise Edition, and PHI workflows may use only products on its HIPAA Eligible list.

Covered: Security Edition; Enterprise Edition.

Left out: SendGrid email, including Verify email and Flex email, and more.

See the full Twilio result and proof
I

iMessage

No BAA

Apple’s iOS and iPadOS license and its iCloud terms both say HIPAA covered entities and business associates will not use those services to handle PHI, and no Apple BAA for iMessage was found.

See the full iMessage result and proof

Before you choose

  • Confirm the BAA covers your exact plan and every feature you’ll use.
  • Get the BAA signed before any patient data goes in.
  • Turn on the settings the vendor requires, and train your staff on them.

This isn’t legal advice. A BAA is one requirement. Your clinic still has to set the tool up correctly and control who has access. Vendors change their terms, so confirm before you sign. PHI means protected health information, which includes patient data.