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Head-to-head · Chat Api

Sendbird Chat vs Ably Chat

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Sendbird Chat #2 in Chat Api 8.8/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Sendbird
Ably Chat #7 in Chat Api 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Ably Chat

Sendbird Chat leads on 0 checks, Ably Chat on 2, and 1 is 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 scoreSendbird Chat · 8.8/10
  • Lowest starting priceAbly Chat · $29/mo
  • Free planonly Ably Chat

Sendbird Chat scores higher on our rubric for chat api: 8.8 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

Ably Chat offers free plan; Sendbird Chat doesn't. Ably Chat is cheaper to start at $29/mo against $349/mo.

Sendbird Chat is the better fit for teams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps. Ably Chat is the better fit for developers adding realtime chat to apps.

  • Sendbird Chat fits best

    Teams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps

  • Ably Chat fits best

    Developers adding realtime chat to apps

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Side by side

Feature Sendbird Chat 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Ably Chat 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.2
Ranking #2 in Chat Api #7 in Chat Api
Best for Teams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps Developers adding realtime chat to apps
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $349/mo $29/mo (best)
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Integrations 2 integrations 8 integrations
Features Sendbird Chat 1/4 · Ably 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 iOS, Android, JavaScript, Flutter, Unity, Unreal, .NET JavaScript, React, React Native, Kotlin (Android), Kotlin (JVM), Swift
Group size limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports one-to-one, group, open, and supergroup channels
  • Includes offline messaging, search, receipts, rich media, and push notifications
  • Offers moderation tools, analytics, data export, and post-event webhooks
  • Supports 1:1 chat, group rooms, presence, typing indicators and reactions
  • Includes persistent history, push notifications and moderation workflows
  • Free plan includes 6M monthly messages and 200 concurrent connections
Cons
  • No permanent free plan; paid pricing starts at $349 per month billed annually
  • Translation, data export, image moderation, and supergroup channels require Pro
  • Enterprise pricing is custom
  • Standard and Pro plans also charge for usage
  • Free plan is capped at 200 concurrent channels and connections
  • Enterprise pricing is custom
Our verdict

Sendbird Chat provides SDKs, UI kits, a Platform API, and messaging infrastructure for adding real-time chat to web, mobile, game, and other applications. It suits teams that need more than basic direct messaging: channel options include…

Read the review →

Ably Chat gives developers a chat SDK and API for adding realtime conversations to applications. It covers 1:1 messaging, group rooms and livestream chat, with presence, typing indicators, reactions, message editing and deletion. The…

Read the review →
  1. Sendbird ChatChat Api 8.8Paid
  2. Ably ChatChat Api 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Sendbird Chat — where it wins

    • Supports one-to-one, group, open, and supergroup channels
    • Includes offline messaging, search, receipts, rich media, and push notifications
    • Offers moderation tools, analytics, data export, and post-event webhooks

    Where it doesn't

    • No permanent free plan; paid pricing starts at $349 per month billed annually
    • Translation, data export, image moderation, and supergroup channels require Pro
    • Enterprise pricing is custom

  • Ably Chat — where it wins

    • Supports 1:1 chat, group rooms, presence, typing indicators and reactions
    • Includes persistent history, push notifications and moderation workflows
    • Free plan includes 6M monthly messages and 200 concurrent connections

    Where it doesn't

    • Standard and Pro plans also charge for usage
    • Free plan is capped at 200 concurrent channels and connections
    • Enterprise pricing is custom

More comparisons

All chat api comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update