Chat and messaging API for apps
Visit WebsiteReviews onG2Capterra
155 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free plan available, paid tiers above
Biggest pro
Good chat API
Biggest con
Per-MAU pricing
TL;DR - Sendbird
- Sendbird is a chat and messaging API for apps and websites
- It provides in-app chat, voice, and video with moderation tools
- Free tier available, paid plans based on monthly active users
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.4/5 across review platforms
What is Sendbird?
Sendbird provides chat and messaging infrastructure. In-app chat, voice, and video-communication features as a service.
The features are comprehensive. The scale is proven. The integration is documented.
Applications adding chat features use Sendbird for communication infrastructure.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good chat API
- UIKit components
- Moderation tools
- Push notifications
- Good documentation
Cons
- Per-MAU pricing
- Expensive at scale
- Learning curve
- Feature limits by tier
- Vendor lock-in
Ratings Across the Web
4.4(155 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Chat APIVideo callingNotificationsModerationAnalyticsSDKs
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Jul 10, 2026
Developer
Free
- 100 MAUs
- 10 concurrent connections
- All Pro features
- Community support
Starter
$399/month
- Up to 5K MAUs
- 5% MAU peak connections
- Unlimited messages
- Standard support
Pro
Custom
- Higher MAU limits
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- Extended capabilities
Enterprise
Custom
- Custom MAUs
- Dedicated servers
- Data export
- Custom add-ons
Reviews
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4.4/5
Across 155 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra
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Sendbird FAQ
How does Sendbird facilitate adding chat functionality to an application?
Sendbird provides a chat and messaging API that allows applications to integrate in-app chat, voice, and video communication features. It offers the underlying communication infrastructure as a service, simplifying the development process for adding real-time interactions.
Which teams would benefit most from using Sendbird?
Development teams looking to embed comprehensive chat, voice, and video communication directly into their applications would find Sendbird most beneficial. It is particularly useful for those who need robust infrastructure and tools like UIKit components and moderation features.
How is Sendbird priced?
Sendbird offers a free tier for initial use and testing. For more extensive usage and access to advanced features, paid plans are available, with pricing typically based on monthly active users (MAU).
What kind of limitations should developers consider when choosing Sendbird?
Developers should be aware of Sendbird's per-MAU pricing model, which can become expensive at scale. There is also a learning curve associated with its comprehensive features, and certain functionalities may be limited depending on the chosen pricing tier.
Can Sendbird support push notifications for in-app messages?
Yes, Sendbird includes push notification capabilities as part of its messaging infrastructure. This allows applications to alert users to new messages or activities even when they are not actively using the app.
How does Sendbird compare to Stream for chat infrastructure?
Sendbird, like Stream, provides a comprehensive chat API and related infrastructure for applications. Sendbird is noted for its good chat API, UIKit components, and moderation tools, offering a robust solution for in-app communication needs.
Source: sendbird.com