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Head-to-head · Chat Api

PubNub Chat vs Agora Chat

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score PubNub Chat #5 in Chat Api 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit PubNub
Agora Chat #6 in Chat Api 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Agora Chat

PubNub Chat leads on 1 check, Agora Chat on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePubNub Chat · 8.4/10
  • Lowest starting pricePubNub Chat · $98/mo
  • Free planboth

PubNub Chat scores higher on our rubric for chat api: 8.4 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

PubNub Chat is cheaper to start at $98/mo against $349/mo.

PubNub Chat is the better fit for teams adding custom chat across app platforms. Agora Chat is the better fit for apps needing rich media and large-community chat.

  • PubNub Chat fits best

    Teams adding custom chat across app platforms

  • Agora Chat fits best

    Apps needing rich media and large-community chat

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Side by side

Feature PubNub Chat 8.4/10 Visit ↗ Agora Chat 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.3
Ranking #5 in Chat Api #6 in Chat Api
Best for Teams adding custom chat across app platforms Apps needing rich media and large-community chat
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $98/mo (best) $349/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile, Desktop Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Integrations 8 integrations 2 integrations
Features PubNub Chat 1/4 · Agora Chat 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 JavaScript, Kotlin, Swift, Unity, Unreal Android, iOS, Web, Windows, Flutter, React Native, Unity
Group size limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports direct, group, and public conversations with real-time messaging
  • Includes presence, typing indicators, history, reactions, and threads
  • Framework integrations span React, Vue, Angular, Electron, and more
  • 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
Cons
  • Starter costs $98 per month after the free plan
  • Free plan is limited to 200 MAU or 1M transactions
  • Advanced analytics, monitoring, and custom integrations require Pro
  • 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
Our verdict

PubNub Chat is a developer SDK for adding real-time chat to mobile apps, games, browsers, and other applications. It suits teams that want to build chat into a custom interface rather than adopt a ready-made messaging product.…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. PubNub ChatChat Api 8.4Free plan
  2. Agora ChatChat Api 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PubNub Chat — where it wins

    • Supports direct, group, and public conversations with real-time messaging
    • Includes presence, typing indicators, history, reactions, and threads
    • Framework integrations span React, Vue, Angular, Electron, and more

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter costs $98 per month after the free plan
    • Free plan is limited to 200 MAU or 1M transactions
    • Advanced analytics, monitoring, and custom integrations require Pro

  • 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

More comparisons

All chat api comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update