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Stream

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Add chat and activity feeds to your app

API ToolsCommunicationTeam Chat
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Reviews onCapterraSourceForge
75 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Chat and activity feeds

Biggest con

Expensive at scale

TL;DR - Stream

  • Stream is an API for building scalable chat and activity feeds
  • It provides real-time messaging with moderation and customization
  • Free tier available, paid plans based on monthly active users
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.5/5 across review platforms

What is Stream?

Editorial review
Stream provides chat and activity feed infrastructure. Real-time messaging for applications-communication features as service. The scalability is proven. The features are comprehensive. The integration is documented. Applications adding chat or feeds use Stream for communication infrastructure.

Available on: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux

how we evaluateSourcegetstream.io ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Chat and activity feeds
  • Good APIs
  • Active development
  • Good documentation
  • Scalable

Cons

  • Expensive at scale
  • MAU-based pricing
  • Learning curve
  • Vendor lock-in
  • Feature complexity

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(75 reviews)

Stream holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 75 reviews across Capterra and SourceForge, last checked March 18, 2026.

Capterra8 reviews
4.8/5
SourceForge67 reviews
4.3/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Activity feedsChatVideoAI moderationScalableMulti-platform SDKs

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Aug 26, 2026

Maker

Free

Getting started

  • 5M monthly messages
  • 100 concurrent users
  • Chat SDK
  • Basic support

Scale

null

Growing apps

  • Custom messages
  • Custom users
  • SLA
  • Priority support

Enterprise

null

Large scale

  • Unlimited usage
  • 99.999% SLA
  • Dedicated infrastructure
  • 24/7 support
Calculate your costView full pricing

Is Stream worth the price?

75/100

Stream's pricing model is generous for early-stage projects with its free 'Maker' tier offering 5M messages and 100 concurrent users.

However, the lack of transparent pricing for 'Scale' and 'Enterprise' tiers makes it difficult to assess overall value for growing and large applications. It's best for startups and developers needing a robust chat/feed API to get started without upfront costs.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Overage fees for exceeding 'Maker' limits are not specified.

Custom pricing for 'Scale' and 'Enterprise' can lead to high costs.

Specific feature access might be gated behind higher tiers.

Potential for increased costs with priority/dedicated support.

How Stream Compares to Competitors

Compared to Sendbird, which often has higher starting prices for similar message volumes, Stream's free 'Maker' tier is a significant advantage. However, without public pricing for 'Scale' and 'Enterprise', it's hard to directly compare costs for larger deployments, where Sendbird and PubNub also offer custom enterprise solutions.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 75 verified user reviews on SourceForge, Capterra

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Best Stream Alternatives

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

CometChat logo
CometChatFreemium

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

4.5
Sendbird logo
SendbirdFreemium

Chat and messaging API for apps

4.4
PubNub logo
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.

Stream vs CometChatHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsStream vs SendbirdHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsStream vs PubNubHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

Best API ToolsBest Communication ToolsBest Team Chat ToolsBest Free API ToolsBest Free CommunicationBest Free Team Chat

Stream FAQ

How does Stream support real-time communication within applications?

Stream provides the underlying infrastructure for real-time messaging, enabling applications to integrate comprehensive chat and activity feed functionalities. This allows developers to add communication features as a service, rather than building them from scratch.

Which teams would benefit most from using Stream?

Teams developing applications that require robust communication features, such as in-app chat or dynamic activity feeds, would find Stream most beneficial. It is particularly suited for development teams looking for scalable API tools to enhance user interaction.

How is Stream priced?

Stream offers a free tier for initial use, with paid plans available for applications requiring more extensive usage and advanced features. Its pricing model is based on Monthly Active Users (MAU).

Can Stream handle a large number of concurrent users?

Yes, Stream is designed with proven scalability to manage a high volume of concurrent users and messages. It provides reliable infrastructure for applications needing to support extensive real-time communication.

What kind of trade-offs should developers consider when adopting Stream?

Developers should be aware of the potential for increased costs at scale due to its MAU-based pricing model, as well as a learning curve associated with its comprehensive features. There is also a consideration for vendor lock-in due to its specialized infrastructure.

How does Stream compare to Sendbird for integrating chat features?

Stream, like Sendbird, offers comprehensive chat and activity feed infrastructure for applications. Stream is noted for its good APIs and active development, providing a robust solution for real-time communication needs.

Does Stream offer good documentation for developers?

Yes, Stream provides well-documented APIs and integration guides to assist developers in implementing its chat and activity feed functionalities. This helps streamline the process of adding communication features to applications.

Source: getstream.io

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