Head-to-head · Chat APIs
Tinode vs Sendbird Chat
Tinode leads on 1 check, Sendbird Chat on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreTinode · 6.5/10
- Free planonly Tinode
Tinode scores higher on our rubric for chat apis: 6.5 against 6.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #14 and #16.
Tinode offers free plan; Sendbird Chat doesn't.
Tinode is the better fit for open-source teams building hosted chat. Sendbird Chat is the better fit for established teams needing enterprise chat controls.
- Tinode fits best
Open-source teams building hosted chat
- Sendbird Chat fits best
Established teams needing enterprise chat controls
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Side by side
| Feature | Tinode 6.5/10 Visit ↗ | Sendbird Chat 6.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| Ranking | #14 in Chat APIs | #16 in Chat APIs |
| Best for | Open-source teams building hosted chat | Established teams needing enterprise chat controls |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Not published | $349/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile, Self-hosted | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | 3 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Features Tinode 4/4 · Sendbird Chat 4/4 | ||
| Presence support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Typing indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moderation tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| SDK platforms | JavaScript, Java | iOS, Android, JavaScript, Flutter, Unity, Unreal, .NET |
| Delivery methods | WebSocket, Tinode Push Gateway, Google FCM, stdout | persistent WebSocket connections, push notifications, webhooks, Platform API |
| Message history | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Tinode is an open-source messaging platform for organizations building chat experiences or private messaging services. It supports web, iOS, Android, API, and self-hosted deployments, with one-to-one conversations, group topics, read-only… Read the review → |
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 established teams that need more than basic messaging, particularly those… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Tinode — where it wins
- Persistent history, presence, typing indicators, and read receipts
- Self-hosting plus hosted Cloud deployment and support tiers
- Access controls, moderation tools, push adapters, and gRPC bindings
Where it doesn't
- Verified client SDK coverage centers on JavaScript and Java
- Advanced management and support require paid plans
- Cloud and support pricing is listed without a displayed currency for Cloud
Sendbird Chat — where it wins
- Supports one-to-one, group, open, and supergroup channels
- Includes moderation, search, analytics, export, and message retrieval
- Official SDKs cover iOS, Android, JavaScript, Flutter, Unity, Unreal, and .NET
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan
- Starter lacks translation, data export, and image moderation
- Enterprise pricing is custom
- Tinode6.5/10 · Free plan
A flexible open-source chat stack with self-hosting, moderation, and hosted deployment options.
Visit TinodeFull verdict → - Sendbird Chat6.4/10 · From $349/mo (annual)
A paid chat API suite for teams that need moderation, analytics, and export controls.
Visit SendbirdFull verdict →
All chat APIs comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update