The Best Chat Api in 2026
We researched chat API products using information on vendors’ official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings consider each product’s core job, value for money, and verified features to help teams compare options for adding real-time messaging to their software with a chat API.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Twilio Conversations#1 of 269.2/10A developer-focused messaging API spanning chat, SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
Free plan
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Runner-up
Sendbird Chat#2 of 268.8/10A feature-rich chat API for teams that can accommodate paid plans starting at $349 per month.
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Top-ranked free plan
Stream Chat#3 of 268.7/10Broad chat features and SDK coverage, with paid plans starting at $399 per month billed annually.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 26 tools, best first
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Best forTeams building chat plus SMS and messaging channels
A developer-focused messaging API spanning chat, SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
- Moderation tools
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Twilio -
Best forTeams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps
A feature-rich chat API for teams that can accommodate paid plans starting at $349 per month.
- Moderation tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Sendbird -
Best forTeams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation
Broad chat features and SDK coverage, with paid plans starting at $399 per month billed annually.
- Moderation tools
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Stream Chat -
Best forBusinesses building cross-channel messaging bots
Build AI-assisted chatbot journeys and deploy them across messaging channels.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Gupshup -
Best forTeams adding custom chat across app platforms
A flexible chat SDK with broad conversation tools and a free entry plan.
- Moderation tools
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit PubNub -
Best forApps needing rich media and large-community chat
A media-rich chat SDK with community messaging, moderation, and usage-based plans.
- Moderation tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Agora Chat -
Best forDevelopers adding realtime chat to apps
A developer-focused chat API with core messaging features and a free entry tier.
- Moderation tools
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Ably Chat -
Best forTeams self-hosting scalable, open-source chat
A self-hosted chat API with broad SDK coverage and support for groups up to 100,000.
- Moderation tools
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenIM -
Best forTeams wanting open-source cloud or self-hosted messaging
A flexible chat foundation for teams that can work within its group-topic limits.
- Self-hosted option
- Group chat
- Moderation tools
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Tinode -
Best forTeams building self-hosted chat for desktop and mobile
A self-hosted chat backend with broad messaging features and flexible transport options.
- Moderation tools
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit PrivChat -
Best forTeams needing self-hosting plus chat and calling
A broad real-time communications API with a free non-commercial plan and a $49 monthly production minimum.
- Moderation tools
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit mesibo -
Best forApps needing multimedia chat across mobile and desktop
Multimedia chat for mobile and desktop, with a free plan and paid tiers from $99/month.
- Moderation tools
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit ZEGOCLOUD -
Best forTeams wanting a conventional chat API with moderation
A conventional chat API with broad messaging features and moderation, from $107 per month.
- Moderation tools
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit QuickBlox -
Best forTeams wanting chat, calling, and built-in moderation
Broad chat and calling APIs with moderation, but free use is capped at 100 users.
- Moderation tools
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit CometChat -
Best forTeams building open-source chat with admin controls
A broad SDK and API toolkit for teams embedding chat with moderation controls.
- Moderation tools
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit JuggleIM -
Best forSmall teams self-hosting a compact chat backend
A compact, self-hosted chat backend with messaging APIs, rooms, presence, and AI bots.
- Self-hosted option
- Group chat
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit ChatAPI -
Best forSmall teams seeking open-source basic messaging
A self-hosted Firebase chat SDK for teams building basic mobile and web messaging.
- Self-hosted option
- Group chat
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Chat21 -
Best forTeams needing straightforward cloud chat APIs
A cloud chat API for direct and group messaging across web and mobile apps.
- Group chat
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit LeanCloud -
Best forTeams needing self-hosted, white-label chat
A self-hosted chat platform with white-label options and broad messaging features.
- Moderation tools
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit MirrorFly -
Best forTeams prioritizing prebuilt chat interfaces
Prebuilt chat interfaces and messaging APIs, with production plans starting at $279/month.
- Moderation tools
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit TalkJS -
Best forTeams requiring end-to-end encrypted chat
A chat SDK with Signal Protocol encryption, but paid plans start at $249 per month.
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-hosted option
- Group chat
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Lowkey Chat -
Best forDevelopers building peer-to-peer collaborative apps
A focused WebRTC toolkit for peer collaboration, with self-hosting and managed plans.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Dendri -
Best forEnterprise teams building AI bots with human handoff
A visual platform for AI bots, multichannel conversations, and human handoff.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit EnableX -
Best forTeams adding knowledge-based AI agents to chat
A no-code builder for knowledge-trained chat, voice, and multilingual AI agents.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit QuickBlox -
Best forTeams needing broad SDK and moderation coverage
Messaging APIs with broad SDK coverage, moderation tools, and cloud or self-hosted deployment.
- Self-hosted option
- Group chat
- Moderation tools
6.2/10★★★☆☆Try NetEase Cloud IM -
Best forNot suitable for chat API buyers
Dedicated compute infrastructure, not a chat API; look elsewhere for messaging features.
2.0/10★☆☆☆☆Visit Tencent Cloud
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Moderation tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twilio Conversations | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 2 | Sendbird Chat | No | $349/mo | Yes | 8.8 |
| 3 | Stream Chat | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 4 | Gupshup | No | $0.001/unit usage-based | 8.6 | |
| 5 | PubNub Chat | Yes | $98/mo | Yes | 8.4 |
| 6 | Agora Chat | Yes | $349/mo | Yes | 8.3 |
| 7 | Ably Chat | Yes | $29/mo | Yes | 8.2 |
| 8 | OpenIM | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.9 |
| 9 | Tinode | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 10 | PrivChat | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.7 |
| 11 | mesibo | Yes | $49/mo | Yes | 7.6 |
| 12 | ZEGOCLOUD In-app Chat | Yes | $99/mo | Yes | 7.5 |
| 13 | QuickBlox Chat API | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 14 | CometChat | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 15 | JuggleIM | Free | Yes | 7.2 | |
| 16 | ChatAPI | Free | 7.1 | ||
| 17 | Chat21 | Yes | Free | 7.0 | |
| 18 | LeanCloud Realtime | 6.9 | |||
| 19 | MirrorFly | No | Yes | 6.8 | |
| 20 | TalkJS | Yes | $279/mo | Yes | 6.7 |
| 21 | Lowkey Chat SDK | No | $249/mo | Yes | 6.6 |
| 22 | Dendri | Yes | $29/mo | 6.5 | |
| 23 | EnableX Dialogs Cloud | No | 6.4 | ||
| 24 | QuickBlox AI Agent Builder | No | $50/mo | 6.3 | |
| 25 | NetEase Cloud IM | Yes | Yes | 6.2 | |
| 26 | Tencent Cloud Bare Metal Server | 2.0 |
Head-to-head All 22 comparisons →
- Twilio Conversations vs Sendbird Chat
- Twilio Conversations vs Stream Chat
- Twilio Conversations vs Gupshup
- Twilio Conversations vs PubNub Chat
- Twilio Conversations vs Agora Chat
- Twilio Conversations vs Ably Chat
- Twilio Conversations vs OpenIM
- Sendbird Chat vs Stream Chat
- Sendbird Chat vs Gupshup
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How we rank chat api
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update