Top 10 Real-time Messaging API & Chat SDK in 2024

Top 10 Real time Chat SDK's and in app Messaging API's of 2024 for your android,ios &web. Scale your business, launch your chat app, and turn-up your conversation rate by embedding the most outstanding features.

According to the Statista Research Report, almost 2.77 billion users were using the over-the-top messaging apps on a regular basis to communicate. This figure has been expected to move over by 3 billion users in 2024.

If you are a Business Owner looking to invest in either building your own chat solution by choosing a real-time Chat SDK or planning to buy a subscription model realtime Chat Solution and use, then this article will guide you better. Additionally, you can find the details about the best-rated and top-used realtime Chat SDK Tools. 

Realtime Messaging Chat App: Communication tool for Effective Collaborations

The purpose of having a realtime chat as a communication tool in organizations is to enable an effective, Convenient private and group communication at the workplace.  

How efficient is your Business? Re-think on the multiple investments you make to enhance the Business Production? Is your team using emails to communicate? Hold on! You are losing out on utilizing your team's efficiency.

"On average, it takes 90 minutes for a person to respond to an Email, but it takes only 90 SECONDS to respond to a text message."

With minimal interference, organizations can boost the efficiency of communication and collaboration of teams with instant messaging.

Top 10 Chat API & Messaging SDK Providers For 2024 [Compared & Reviewed]

Based on several criteria and detailed analysis, here is the list of top 10 inapp Messaging Platforms that provide the best messaging API & chat SDK Solutions.

1.MirrorFly- Most-Developer Friendly Messaging API

#1 Rated Enterprise Communication Solution, suitable for enterprises of all sizes. The all-in-one real-time Chat App Solution comes with WebRTC embedding enabling HD video interactions and a powerful VOIP Calling with dynamic voice experience. Adhering to HIPAA, & GDPR Compliances, the high scalable messaging infrastructure can connect 10M+Users and Facilitate 1B+conversations.

Features 

• Highly scalable
• Secure File Sharing
• Self-hosted chat solution
• SIP & VoIP calling
• 100% cusotmization
• Hire Dedicated Team
• Real-time Notification
• Multichannel
• Live Broadcasting & Streaming

Pros

• On Cloud & On-hosting Premises is facilitated.
• Enriched UI/UX Designs multiplies user engagement.
• Whitelabel Solution ensures you retain your brand identity.
• Over 250+ Technical Teams to Support the users.

Cons

• No live recording

Platform : Android,ios & Web

Price: One-time License Cost, Monthly subscription

2.Twilio-Programmable Instant Messaging API

The Programmable instant Messaging API that comes with advanced software empowers the message delivery across multichannel and adheres to compliances. Twilio facilitates over 795+B interactions with 99.999% API uptime for reliable high-volume messaging. 

Features 

• Voice & Video Calls
• Cross-Channel messaging.
• Two-factor Authentication
• Multimedia Support
• Proactive Notifications
• Mass Alerts

Pros

• Facilitates high-volume conversation and low latency.
• Scalable based on messages and users.
• Has a free trial subscription for 50 users or first thousand messages.
• Allows Integration of communications at critical touchpoints for user engagement.

Cons

• Varying Pricing based on users and number of messages

Platform : Android,ios & Web

Price: Free & Paid

3.Apphitect IM-A leading Instant Messaging API & Chat SDK provider

A leading Instant Messaging API & Chat SDK provider in the Apphitect IM, comes with several features including personal-chats, social interaction type, and offline messaging. A 100% customizable API that uses cutting-edge technologies like Erlang, Apache Cassandra, and AWS.

Features 

• Push notifications & Offline messages
• Presence Indicator & social integrations
• Geolocation tracking
• Video & Voice Calling
• Screen sharing 
• Multimedia sharing

Pros

• Offers Unlimited Storage and Own cloud hosting.
• Has a zero down time possibility.
• Reliable and Scalable.
• Easy Integration and comes with 24x7 support.

Cons

• Nearly requires ten business days to integrate Chat API into a Website.

Platform : Android,ios & Web

Price: Paid

4.PubNub- Best In App Chat API

PubNub is a popular in app messaging API provider dedicated to doing the chat right, during traffic spikes and at massive concurrency with a 99.999% API uptime SLA. PubNub's Chat API ensures user retention and engagement with advanced moderation tools.

Features 

• Private, group Chat.
• MultiChannel messaging
• ChatBot Device Chat
• Ready-made UI/UX designs
• Real-time Notifications
• Community Chats 
• Live event Messaging

Pros

• Powers real-time use cases alongside the chats
• Scalable and reliable
• Facilitates over 2 trillion message delivery in a month.
• Offers over 75 SDKs to choose.

Cons

• The standard plan does not feature access to PubNub functions, HIPAA and GDPR compliance.

Platform : Android,ios & Web

Price: Free & Paid

5.Cometchat- Scalable in-App chat with cross-platform compatibility

Cometchat is a Colorado-based top chat SDK & messaging API provider, offering in app messaging solutions to small to large scale enterprises. With WebRTC-enabled HD video and voice calling across multiple platforms. Cometchat also features the "Sandbox" package exclusively for small enterprises and individuals.

Features 

• One-on-One text chat
• Group chat
• Voice calling
• Voice conference
• Video calling
• Video conference

Pros

• Has CometChat Go, a chat plugin with no-codes.
• Offers White-label UI
• Features auto-scales according to your need
• Suitable for the marketplace, on-demand services, Edu-tech, Live Stream.

Cons

• Slightly priced higher.

Platform : Android,ios & Web

Price: Free & Paid

6.Sendbird-One of the Leading Chat API & Messaging SDK Provider

The US-Based Chat API & in app messaging SDK provider is one of the most trusted and reliable Chat SDK providers. Send bird comes with AES 256 Encryption data protected and facilitates @Mentions in chats, enables global language translation and supports over 1,000,000 concurrent connections per application and 500,000,000 messages every day.

Features 

• User muting
• Image filtering
• Smart throttling
• Spam flood protection
• Chat moderation
• Managing moderator roles & permissions
• Profanity filters
• Announcements

Pros

• Offers various types of private group channels which are fit to your use cases, such as 1-on-1 messaging, WhatsApp style closed group chat.
• Allows chat users to freeze a chat channel 
• Infrastructure is on AWS, enabling scalability.
• A free trial on all Pro Features is available.

Cons

• The starter plan does not provide access to essential chat features like announcements and delivery receipts.

Platform : Android,ios.

Price: Free & Paid

7.Quickblox- A Ready Whitelabel Chat API Solution

A leading Whitelabel Chat API Solution that allows flexible data Storage. The WebRTC embedding allows High-quality one-on-one Voice and Video calls. Quickblox comes with clean and simple UI/UX designs.

Features 

• Integrate on existing user-management
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• File Sharing
• Video & Voice Calling
• Screen sharing 
• Multimedia sharing

Pros

• Available with support and poses no license restriction. 
• Dedicated servers facilitating Scalability
• Offers Q-Municate a ready-made messaging app for QuickBlox users.
• Encrypted, secure and adheres to regulatory compliances.

Cons

• Specifically suitable for healthcare, E-commerce, Marketplace and finance but does not support other industry use-cases.

Platform: Android, Web & IOS

Price: Free & Paid

8.Applozic- Chat API & Messaging SDK Platform for Every Industry's Need

Applozic is known for its infrastructure that allows a seamless chat experience is a cross-platform Chat SDK. A powerful Chat API that integrates on platforms and primarily aims to take customer service to the next stage. Easily Integrate using CocoaPods or as a gradle dependency.

Features 

• Multiparty Chat
• Push Notifications
• Real-time Components
• Location tracking and Media Sharing
• Internationalization
• Chat History

Pros

• Suitable for Marketplace, E-commerce, Customer Support, HEalthcare and Finance Industries.
• Has Advanced Encryption and prevents eavesdropping.
• Provides Multi-level Authentication.
• Facilitates Multi-Tenant Hosting for light usage with controlled connections and MAU Levels.

Cons

• It does not have an in-built VoIP feature or WebRTC.

Platform: Android, Web & iOS

Price: Free & Paid

9.Agora- A CPaaS (Communication-Platform-as-a-Service) Provider

Agora empowers over 40,000,000,000 minutes of human connection per month. The Hyper scalable Chat SDK allows real-time voice and video calls with Live Interactive Streaming. Agora.io comes with a network that monitors and enroutes the path for sub-second latency across 250+data centers.

Features 

• Video Call
• Voice Call
• Live Interactive Video Streaming
• Live Interactive Audio Streaming
• Recording
• Real-time Messaging

Pros

• Has customizable UI and Pre-integrated third-party Extensions.
• Compatible in all popular platforms and offers minimal mobile-battery consumption.
• Provides 24x7 development and operational support.
• Has 400ms average global latency with 99.99% uptime.

Cons

• The Realtime Messaging feature is still in the BETA Phase.

Platform: Android, Web & iOS

Price: Free & Paid

10.Mesibo- Real-time Chat API Provider

Mesibo utilizes best-in-class message switching technology and codecs ensuring a low latency delivery with best calling experience. While it is compatible with Android, ios and Web apps, it supports multiple languages. A developer-friendly platform that offers everything to make a realtime app.

Also Read: Angular Vs React: Which One is Best for your App in 2023?

Features 

• One-on-one messaging
• High Quality Video and Voice calls
• Push Notifications
• White-label solution
• Group Messaging
• Security Encryption

Pros

• Allows on cloud hosting and download and use on own-premise.
• Provides Moderation and Filters based on your need.
• Allows adding own encryption and key exchange mechanism.
• Demo is available.

Cons

• Real-time storage and bandwidth is not available in the on-premise Deployment.

Platform: Android, Web & iOS

Price: Free & Paid

A custom-built chat app offers many benefits to organizations including the below.

1. Instant Communication- Message on the Go!

These Chat Apps never interrupt or cause a disturbance that affects the workflow. While you are still using another app, you can respond instantly to the received chat message in real-time.

For instance, if you are a Financial Consultant and in the middle of an appointment, when you receive any queries from your other clients through the Chat App, you can instantly send them a response without disturbing the ongoing work.

2.Purposeful Conversation- Give Preference to what is more important

Many times, the organization has multiple teams who work on the same tasks but exercise different functionalities, in such a case, the Project Manager posts updates in the chat groups.  A real time enables to streamline the collaboration between teams and increase productivity.

3.Collaborate to Overcome Challenges

Overcoming the Business Challenges during the Pandemic was possible due to the all-in-one Chat Solutions. With employees not able to come to the office and adapt a remote working style, Enterprise Chat Apps with live chats, collaboration tools, file and screen sharing, group video calling enabled effective remote & virtual working environment to many.

4.Confidentiality that Values More

When you build your own Enterprise Chat App, you are ensuring that you have full access and control over the organization's communication network. A custom build chat app will facilitate you to build a multi-layered access and role-based control messaging app. Further, with end-to-end encryption, you can ensure that the communications exchanged will be accessible only to team members and not to any third-party vendors.

In recent times, Many businesses sustained their work amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, by incorporating one or the other all-in-one Chat apps, as these enabled them to maintain a team bonding through the online team community, despite being at a remote distance and allowed them to collaborate and work effectively.

Read Also : Complete Guide To Chat Architecture

Building or Buying: Choose the Best that fits your Chat App Requirement

"Customization is the latest trend of Technology & Innovation".

The best solution to look for is going for customizing a one that suits your requirement. Many technology companies and software service providers have developed the best Chat SDK, API and tools. However, not every provider offers customization features to its users. Some provide variations and price them accordingly  enabling to Build real time chat sdk.

Points to note before opting a Subscription-based Chat Solution

• Limitations on the Storage 

Several Chat solution providers allow you to store limited data over the cloud and charge higher for higher storage requests.

• Unavailability of UI Customization

The User Interface defines user engagement and helps users identify your brand, with no UI customization it reduces user engagement.

• Limited USER 

When an organization prefers to broadcast a chat for hundreds or thousands of users, the scaling up of users is again available based on pricing. Thus, limiting concurrent users every time.

• Storage and Accessing Limitations

A subscription-based Chat solution comes with limitations on chat message retention, accessing, resulting in loss of several important conversations. Contrarily, the real-time Chat SDK tools providers multiple benefitting offers.

• Limitless Scalability for Future

Limitless Scalability is the buying reason for a Chat SDK. However, the subscription chat solution does not favour this.

• Monetize if you need

When you go for building a real-time Chat sdk for a website , you have plenty of options to monetize that includes sponsorship, in-chat payments and more.

• Pay Only Once

Put a full stop to upgrades and Pay only once for the Chat SDK and Customize according to your requirements.

List Of Top 10 Chat SDK Comparison Choose The Righ Chat SDK For Business Communication

Wrapping Note

The analysis on the features, Pros and Cons with compatibility and pricing options, it is clear that all the top ten Chat API providers distinctively differ by technologies and Features. Now, you can try from the listed providers who meet your specific business requirement. Building and using a Chat application will increase your business productivity.