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Head-to-head · Chat Api

Agora Chat vs OpenIM

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Agora Chat #6 in Chat Api 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Agora Chat
OpenIM #8 in Chat Api 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit OpenIM

Agora Chat leads on 0 checks, OpenIM on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAgora Chat · 8.3/10
  • Free planboth

Agora Chat scores higher on our rubric for chat api: 8.3 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.

Agora Chat is the better fit for apps needing rich media and large-community chat. OpenIM is the better fit for teams self-hosting scalable, open-source chat.

  • Agora Chat fits best

    Apps needing rich media and large-community chat

  • OpenIM fits best

    Teams self-hosting scalable, open-source chat

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Side by side

Feature Agora Chat 8.3/10 Visit ↗ OpenIM 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 7.9
Ranking #6 in Chat Api #8 in Chat Api
Best for Apps needing rich media and large-community chat Teams self-hosting scalable, open-source chat
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $349/mo Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Mobile, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Integrations 2 integrations 7 integrations
Features Agora Chat 1/4 · OpenIM 1/4
Group chat Not checked yet Not checked yet
Self-hosted option Not checked yet Not checked yet
End-to-end encryption Not checked yet Not checked yet
Moderation tools ✓ ✓
Specs
SDK platforms Android, iOS, Web, Windows, Flutter, React Native, Unity Web, iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native, uni-app, Electron, C/C++, Unity
Group size limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports one-to-one, group, and large-community messaging
  • Rich media, offline delivery, receipts, translation, and moderation
  • SDK coverage spans web, mobile, desktop, Flutter, React Native, and Unity
  • Open-source server and SDKs support self-hosted chat deployments.
  • Supports groups up to 100,000, offline messages, and multi-device sync.
  • SDK coverage spans web, mobile, desktop, and cross-platform development.
Cons
  • Starter and Pro plans charge $0.05 per user beyond included thresholds
  • Enterprise requires a minimum commitment of 100,000 monthly active users
  • Analytics integrations are centered on Agora Analytics and Datadog
  • Self-hosting means teams manage their own deployment.
  • Business and Enterprise editions are contact-sales offerings.
  • Voice, video, and high availability are reserved for Enterprise.
Our verdict

Agora Chat is a real-time messaging SDK and API from Agora, Inc. It targets developers adding private, group, or large-community chat to mobile, web, desktop, and cross-platform applications. Use cases named by the vendor include…

Read the review →

OpenIM provides open-source communication infrastructure for developers adding in-app chat and messaging to their applications. Its self-hosted server, client SDKs, Server APIs, and webhooks cover one-to-one conversations, groups, message…

Read the review →
  1. Agora ChatChat Api 8.3Free plan
  2. OpenIMChat Api 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Agora Chat — where it wins

    • Supports one-to-one, group, and large-community messaging
    • Rich media, offline delivery, receipts, translation, and moderation
    • SDK coverage spans web, mobile, desktop, Flutter, React Native, and Unity

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter and Pro plans charge $0.05 per user beyond included thresholds
    • Enterprise requires a minimum commitment of 100,000 monthly active users
    • Analytics integrations are centered on Agora Analytics and Datadog

  • OpenIM — where it wins

    • Open-source server and SDKs support self-hosted chat deployments.
    • Supports groups up to 100,000, offline messages, and multi-device sync.
    • SDK coverage spans web, mobile, desktop, and cross-platform development.

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosting means teams manage their own deployment.
    • Business and Enterprise editions are contact-sales offerings.
    • Voice, video, and high availability are reserved for Enterprise.

More comparisons

All chat api comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update