Sendbird

Name: Sendbird
Brand: Sendbird
Price: 399 USD
Rating: 4.4 (155 reviews)

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Chat and messaging API for apps

API Tools Communication Developer Tools

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4.4(155 across the web)

FreemiumVisit Website

Reviews onG2Capterra

155 reviews tracked

The 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?

Editorial review

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

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcesendbird.com ↗

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)

Sendbird holds an aggregate rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 155 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked March 18, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Chat APIVideo callingNotificationsModerationAnalyticsSDKs

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Aug 19, 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

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Sendbird worth the price?

65/100

Sendbird's pricing starts generously with a free Developer tier, but quickly jumps to $399/month for the Starter tier, which is quite expensive for up to 5K MAUs compared to some market alternatives.

The 'Custom' pricing for Pro and Enterprise suggests higher costs for advanced needs. This pricing structure is best for established businesses with significant budgets and a clear need for robust chat infrastructure.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Overage fees for exceeding MAU limits

Custom add-ons likely increase Pro/Enterprise costs

Dedicated servers for Enterprise are an additional cost

Higher MAU limits on Pro are custom priced

How Sendbird Compares to Competitors

Compared to Stream, which offers a similar Starter plan around $499/month for 5K MAUs, Sendbird's $399/month Starter tier is slightly more competitive. However, platforms like PubNub can offer more flexible pay-as-you-go models that might be cheaper for lower usage, making Sendbird's jump to $399 quite steep for smaller scale operations.

Reviews

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4.4/5

Across 155 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

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Best Sendbird Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

CometChatFreemium

Integrate real-time chat, voice, video, and AI copilots into any application or website.

4.5

StreamFreemium

Add chat and activity feeds to your app

4.5

PubNubFreemium

Build, manage, and optimize real-time interactive applications at scale.

4.5

See all API tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Sendbird vs CometChatHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Sendbird vs StreamHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Sendbird vs PubNubHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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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

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