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Stream

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Add chat and activity feeds to your app

Free plan available, paid tiers above
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Reviews on G2
53 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Price
Free plan available, paid tiers above. Compare plans

Key facts

  • 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

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

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 evaluate Source getstream.io ↗

Ratings Across the Web

4.5 (53 reviews)

Stream holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 53 reviews across G2, last checked September 17, 2026.

G2 53 reviews
4.5/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Activity feeds
  • Chat
  • Video
  • AI moderation
  • Scalable
  • Multi-platform SDKs

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026

Stream plans and prices, checked October 2026
PlanPriceDetails
Maker

$0

Getting started

  • 5M monthly messages
  • 100 concurrent users
  • Chat SDK
+1 more
  • Basic support
Scale

Custom

Growing apps

  • Custom messages
  • Custom users
  • SLA
+1 more
  • Priority support
Enterprise

Custom

Large scale

  • Unlimited usage
  • 99.999% SLA
  • Dedicated infrastructure
+1 more
  • 24/7 support
View full pricing

Is Stream worth the price?

Good value

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

It's best for startups and developers needing a robust chat/feed API to get started without upfront costs.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

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

Potential for increased costs with priority/dedicated support.

Full Stream pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 53 verified user reviews on G2

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Best Stream Alternatives

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

CometChat logo
CometChat Freemium

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

4.6
Sendbird logo
Sendbird Freemium

Chat and messaging API for apps

4.4
PubNub logo
PubNub Freemium

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

4.3
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 CometChat Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Stream vs Sendbird Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Stream vs PubNub Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

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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