Sendbird Chat vs Stream Chat

Sendbird Chat8.8Visit Stream Chat8.7Visit

Higher score Sendbird Chat #2 in Chat Api 8.8/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Sendbird

vs

Stream Chat #3 in Chat Api 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Stream Chat

• Sendbird Chat fits best

  Teams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps

• Stream Chat fits best

  Teams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation

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.

Side by side

Feature	Sendbird Chat 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Stream Chat 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.7
Ranking	#2 in Chat Api	#3 in Chat Api
Best for	Teams building chat into web, mobile, or game apps	Teams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$349/mo	—
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Integrations	2 integrations	7 integrations
Features Sendbird Chat 1/4 · Stream 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	React, iOS (Swift), Android, Flutter, React Native, JavaScript, Unity, Unreal, Angular, Node, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, .NET, Go, REST
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 direct, group, public, and private conversations with threads and reactions Offers client and server SDKs across a broad range of platforms Includes moderation tools, offline support, and push notifications
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	Start begins at $399 per month with annual billing Advanced moderation and filters start on the paid Start plan Some capabilities, including AI moderation and dedicated servers, are Enterprise features
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 →	Stream Chat is a hosted chat API and SDK platform for adding real-time messaging to web and mobile applications. It suits development teams that need more than direct messages: the product supports group conversations, public and private… Read the review →

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

• Stream Chat — where it wins

  • Supports direct, group, public, and private conversations with threads and reactions
  • Offers client and server SDKs across a broad range of platforms
  • Includes moderation tools, offline support, and push notifications

  Where it doesn't

  • Start begins at $399 per month with annual billing
  • Advanced moderation and filters start on the paid Start plan
  • Some capabilities, including AI moderation and dedicated servers, are Enterprise features

• Sendbird Chat8.8/10 · Paid

  A feature-rich chat API for teams that can accommodate paid plans starting at $349 per month.

  Visit SendbirdFull verdict →
• Stream Chat8.7/10 · Free plan

  Broad chat features and SDK coverage, with paid plans starting at $399 per month billed annually.

  Visit Stream ChatFull verdict →