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Head-to-head · Chat Api

Stream Chat vs Gupshup

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Stream Chat #3 in Chat Api 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Stream Chat
Gupshup #4 in Chat Api 8.6/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Gupshup

Stream Chat leads on 1 check, Gupshup on 0, and 1 is 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 scoreStream Chat · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Stream Chat
  • Most featuresStream Chat · 1 of 4

Stream Chat scores higher on our rubric for chat api: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

Stream Chat offers free plan; Gupshup doesn't.

Stream Chat is the better fit for teams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation. Gupshup is the better fit for businesses building cross-channel messaging bots.

  • Stream Chat fits best

    Teams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation

  • Gupshup fits best

    Businesses building cross-channel messaging bots

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Side by side

Feature Stream Chat 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Gupshup 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #3 in Chat Api #4 in Chat Api
Best for Teams seeking broad SDK coverage and moderation Businesses building cross-channel messaging bots
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — $0.001/unit usage-based
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Integrations 7 integrations 500+ integrations
Features Stream Chat 1/4 · Gupshup 0/4
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 ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
SDK platforms React, iOS (Swift), Android, Flutter, React Native, JavaScript, Unity, Unreal, Angular, Node, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, .NET, Go, REST Not checked yet
Group size limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Visual and code-based bot builders support different creation workflows.
  • Deploy journeys across WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, web, RCS, and voice.
  • Live-agent handoff, analytics, and 500 integrations extend bot operations.
Cons
  • 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
  • The $0.001 messaging fee applies to all messages.
  • WhatsApp fees are billed at actuals and vary by country and message type.
  • Its focus is chatbot journeys and multichannel messaging, not in-app chat APIs.
Our verdict

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 →

Gupshup is a conversational AI and messaging platform for businesses building customer engagement, marketing, commerce, and support experiences. It is aimed at mid-market and enterprise teams that want to automate conversations across…

Read the review →
  1. Stream ChatChat Api 8.7Free plan
  2. GupshupChat Api 8.6Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Gupshup — where it wins

    • Visual and code-based bot builders support different creation workflows.
    • Deploy journeys across WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, web, RCS, and voice.
    • Live-agent handoff, analytics, and 500 integrations extend bot operations.

    Where it doesn't

    • The $0.001 messaging fee applies to all messages.
    • WhatsApp fees are billed at actuals and vary by country and message type.
    • Its focus is chatbot journeys and multichannel messaging, not in-app chat APIs.

More comparisons

All chat api comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update