Communication·Standings
Compare Chat APIs for Your App
Chat APIs let you add messaging to an app; the choice depends on the features you need and the platforms your app runs on.
Compare presence support, typing indicators, push notifications, message history, moderation tools and delivery methods. The signal score is out of 10; the API, open-source and free-tier marks show those published details.
- 32 platforms
- 2 with a public API on this page
- 23 with a free tier
- Checked 23 Sept 2026
- 1 C
ChatKittychatkitty.comMessaging core with open-source integrations, conversations, channels, and inbox tracking.
- 2 PC
PubNub Chatpubnub.comPubNub Chat SDK lets developers add custom real-time chat to mobile, game, or web experiences without managing complex infrastructure.
- 3 PI
Prosody IMprosody.imProsody is an XMPP communication server designed to be easy to set up and configure and efficient with system resources.
- 4 E
ejabberdejabberd.imejabberd is an open-source server for XMPP messaging, MQTT, SIP, and Matrix.
- 5 TC
Twilio Conversationstwilio.comConversation service linking customer chats across channels with persistent context; free plan, from $0.05/user/month.
- 6 M
mesibomesibo.comCloud or self-hosted messaging, voice, video, and conferencing with offline and scheduled messages.
- 7 P
PrivChatprivchat.devSelf-hosted open-source chat infrastructure with QUIC, TCP, WebSocket, rich media, and sync.
- 8 ZIZEGOCLOUD In-app Chatzegocloud.com
ZEGOCLOUD describes In-app Chat as a chat SDK, API, and UIKit for adding messaging to mobile and web apps.
- 9 AC
Ably Chatably.comRealtime chat API and SDK for web and mobile apps, with free and paid plans.
- 10 C
CometChatcometchat.comIn-app chat with voice and video calls, files, voice notes, threads, and read receipts.
- 11 SScaledronescaledrone.com
Scaledrone is a real-time messaging toolkit for adding chat, updates, data sync, and collaboration to apps.
- 12 O
OpenIMopenim.ioFree communication infrastructure with chat, calls, meetings, media messages, and 100K-member groups.
- 13 OOpenfireigniterealtime.org
Openfire is a real-time collaboration server based on the XMPP protocol.
- 14 QCQuickBlox Chat APIquickblox.com
QuickBlox provides chat SDKs, APIs, and UI kits for adding real-time messaging to apps.
- 15 S
Sceytsceyt.comSceyt is a customizable in-app chat API with pre-built UI kits for websites and apps.
- 16 SC
Stream Chatgetstream.ioStream Chat adds real-time direct messages, group conversations, livestream chat, and support flows to apps.
- 17 TTalkJStalkjs.com
Chat API with ready-made interfaces for direct/group chat, files, search, and voice; free plan, from $279/month.
- 18 TTinodetinode.co
Free, unlimited open-source messaging platform with peer or group topics, presence, and message publishing.
- 19 EEmitteremitter.io
Emitter is a real-time publish-subscribe messaging service for connecting online devices.
- 20 TXTigase XMPP Servertigase.net
Java messaging server with group chat, archives, and multi-server scaling; free, paid from $175/mo.
- 21 J
JuggleIMjuggle.imOpen-source cloud or private-cloud messaging with SDKs, REST APIs, webhooks, and chatrooms.
- 22 SC
Sendbird Chatsendbird.comSendbird Chat provides SDKs and a chat API for building in-app messaging experiences.
- 23 MMongooseIMerlang-solutions.com
Open-source XMPP server for business messaging with multi-tenancy, groups, and delivery confirmation.
- 24 D
Dendridendri.devPeer-to-peer realtime features for chat, presence, video, and shared documents over WebRTC.
- 25 EI
Easemob IMeasemob.com
Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this board are open to sponsors. Take #1 · Other ways to advertise
How to choose
Which platforms does my app need to run on?
Choose a tool that supports the platforms your app uses. The board compares SDK platforms and includes web, iOS, Android, Linux, API and self-hosted options.
Check the platform marks for a specific tool before deciding; support can differ between tools.
Which chat features should I compare?
Start with the chat features your app needs, then compare presence support, typing indicators, push notifications, message history and moderation tools.
Delivery methods are another comparison point. Check the feature details for the tools you are considering.
How can I compare free plans and paid pricing?
Check whether a tool has a free plan, a free trial or a paid price, since those are different offers. Pricing notes may give a starting price or say pricing is on request.
For example, Ably Chat lists a free plan and paid pricing from $29 per month, while Applozic lists a 28-day trial and no free plan.
Should I look for a self-hosted or open-source chat API?
If you need to host the software yourself or inspect and change its code, check the self-hosted and open-source marks separately. They describe different things.
The board compares self-hosted platform support and whether code is open source.
Questions
What is a chat API?
A chat API is a way to add messaging features to an app. Compare the platforms and chat functions it supports.
What should I compare when choosing a chat API?
Compare SDK platforms, delivery methods, presence, typing indicators, push notifications, message history and moderation tools.
Can I try a chat API for free?
Check whether it offers a free plan or a free trial; these are separate offers. The board marks both where listed.
What does self-hosted mean for a chat API?
It indicates support for self-hosted use. Check the tool's platform details to see whether that option fits your needs.
Does open source mean a chat API has a free plan?
No. Open-source code and a free plan are separate marks, so check both.
Some top positions on this board can be paid placements, standing where they were sold. The facts on each platform are not for sale. How we rank · Disclosure