Add chat and activity feeds to your app
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75 reviews trackedThe 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?
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
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)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Activity feedsChatVideoAI moderationScalableMulti-platform SDKs
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Jul 7, 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
Reviews
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4.5/5
Across 75 verified user reviews on SourceForge, Capterra
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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