Bandwidth vs Stream: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Bandwidth and Stream side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Stream leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Bandwidth
Enterprise communications APIs
Stream
Add chat and activity feeds to your app
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Bandwidth | Stream |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan |
Category | API Tools Developer Tools | Communication API Tools |
Rating | 0.8/5 G2 0.8 69 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 53 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Data storage fees for recordings | Custom pricing for 'Scale' and 'Enterprise' can lead to high costs. |
Choose Bandwidth or Stream?
Choose Bandwidth if
- You need API tools features specifically.
Choose Stream if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want to chat and activity feeds
In-Depth Analysis
Bandwidth
Enterprise communications APIs
Bandwidth's usage-based pricing is fair and competitive for enterprise communication APIs.
Watch out
Data storage fees for recordings
Strengths
- Pro: Owns its own nationwide IP network for carrier-grade reliability
- Pro: Usage-based pricing with free inbound texting
- Pro: 99.995% uptime SLA with geo-redundant infrastructure
- Pro: Direct PSTN replacement in 40+ countries
- Pro: Powers major platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Genesys
Weaknesses
- Con: Enterprise-focused platform with steep learning curve
- Con: No self-service UI for non-developers
- Con: Pricing requires contacting sales for volume commitments
- Con: Limited out-of-the-box features compared to turnkey solutions
Key features
Stream
Add chat and activity feeds to your app
Stream's pricing model is generous for early-stage projects with its free 'Maker' tier offering 5M messages and 100 concurrent users.
Watch out
Custom pricing for 'Scale' and 'Enterprise' can lead to high costs.
Strengths
- Pro: Chat and activity feeds
- Pro: Good APIs
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Good documentation
- Pro: Scalable
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive at scale
- Con: MAU-based pricing
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Vendor lock-in
- Con: Feature complexity
Key features
Plans and prices: Bandwidth vs Stream
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | No plan prices on file | bandwidth.com/pricing read Oct 3, 2026 |
| Stream |
| getstream.io/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Bandwidth pricing and Stream pricing.
Key Takeaways
Bandwidth
- Worth considering for API tools
Stream
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 0.8/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Stream leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Stream has the higher user rating (0.8/5 from 69 reviews for Bandwidth, 4.5/5 from 53 reviews for Stream).
- Only Stream has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Bandwidth and Stream compare in 2026?
On the data below, Stream leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Stream has the higher user rating (0.8/5 from 69 reviews for Bandwidth, 4.5/5 from 53 reviews for Stream). Only Stream has a free plan.
What are Bandwidth and Stream used for?
Bandwidth: Enterprise communications APIs. Stream: Add chat and activity feeds to your app.
What does Bandwidth cost vs Stream?
Bandwidth has no public paid-plan price on file. Stream has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Bandwidth and Stream?
Bandwidth's main strength: owns its own nationwide IP network for carrier-grade reliability. Stream's main strength: chat and activity feeds.
Spotted an outdated price or a wrong fact? Suggest a correction: we check it against the vendor's own page. Work for one of these vendors? Claim your listing to update it yourself.