Communication is the key and what else would be better than quick and safe conversations? Therefore, different chat APIs are developed to meet all server interactions. These real-time live chat API programs not only engage the users but also compile everything on a single platform. Now, here are the top 10 amazing message API lists and you can choose the one you love.
What is a Chat API and Chat SDK?
A chat API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of programming instructions and standards that enable developers to create applications that interact with chat platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Slack.
Chat APIs allow developers to integrate chat functionality into their own applications, which can include features like sending and receiving messages, creating chat groups, managing contacts, and more. By using an API for chat, developers can save time and resources by leveraging the existing infrastructure of popular chat platforms, rather than building their own chat system from scratch.
Additionally, chat APIs can provide developers with various tools and resources to help them customize and optimize their chat functionality, such as analytics and reporting tools, chatbot frameworks, and software development kits (SDKs) for various programming languages.
Essential Messaging API Features
Messaging APIs enable real-time communication in apps, enhancing user experience with features like security and seamless interaction.
1. Real-time Messaging
Real-time communication is essential for ensuring that messages are delivered instantly, providing a seamless and interactive user experience.
2. Multimedia Support
Being able to send images, videos, and other media makes the chat experience richer and more versatile, especially for modern apps that rely on visual communication.
3. Push Notifications
Push notifications help engage users by alerting them about new messages or updates, even when they’re not actively using the app.
4. Message History
Allowing users to access their past conversations is crucial for continuity, especially in apps where users need to reference previous chats.
5. End-to-End Encryption
Security is a priority. End-to-end encryption ensures that messages are private and protected from unauthorized access, building trust with your users.
6. Cross-Platform Support
The API should work seamlessly across multiple platforms (web, mobile, and desktop) to ensure consistent communication across devices.
Top 10 In-app Chat SDK & APIs of 2025
With the advent of technology, multiple live chat API platforms have been developed. It becomes difficult to choose the best platforms among hundreds of such platforms. Therefore, here are the top 10 messaging API platforms that you can use for your daily needs:
1. ZEGOCLOUD
On top of all comes the ZEGOCLOUD. With the help of this free chat API platform, you can get an interactive messaging service with high reliability and low latency. The simple and easy-to-use interface further adds to the functionality of this API chat system.
The best thing about ZEGOCLOUD messaging API is it is highly compatible with all Android, iOS, Web, Flutter, and React Native. Not only this but more than 200 countries are using this fully functional platform for real-time messaging scenarios. From video calls to millions of concurrent messages, you can rely on it for a smooth communication experience.
Features:
- Provides a real-time video and voice streaming
- Best to use for business needs and sales projects
- Comes with handless CMS and web accessibility
- Monitor online status and support historical messages
- Offer a one-to-one chat room for both parties
- Provide call invitations, and push system notification features
Price:
With well-developed and fully integrated features, ZEGOCLOUD offers competitive pricing. For startups and enterprises, it offers a 30-day free trial with 10,000 minutes. Besides this, enlisted below are different pricing plans:
- Basic Plan- Free with 8 business hours response time
- Premium Plan- $1000/month with 2 business hours response time
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2. Vonage Chat API
To power up your business experience and make a powerful connection between the two dealers, nothing is better than Vonage. This live chat API platform provides ultimate voice, video, and instant messaging features to its users. Unified communications, it makes the communication process easier for business dealers.
Moreover, over 100,000 businesses choose Vonage due to its simple integration and real-time analytics. It has successfully turned many business chats into multifold sales and revenues by providing versatile solutions and multiple use cases. Thus, if you want to innovate your business communications, using Vonage is the best option.
Features:
- Provides a high level of customer satisfaction
- Has added desktop plugins and business desktop app
- Comes with additional features for faxing and managing extensions
- Best for cloud house voice, video chats
- Has enhanced call forwarding options
- Integrates over 40 advanced call features
Pricing:
As per the advanced features, Vonage has flexible price rates. Just like other live chat API platforms, it provides multiple pricing plans depending on your employees and business needs. Let’s have a quick look at its various pricing plans below:
- Basic Plan- $19.99 per month
- Premium Plan- $29.99 per month
- Advanced Plan- $39.99 per month
3. Sendbird
To build a stronger community worldwide, you can use the Sendbird chat API platform. Whether it’s chat, video, voice, or messaging, you can get everything under this simplified chat box. Best of all, it drives customers and increases your business engagement with its pretty simple interface.
Sendbird has a built-in modern experience for its users so they can fully manage their online communications without wasting much time. Compared to other live chat API programs, it has advanced tools and features that add to its value in the market. Thus, you can use it to access all the premium voice and video functions.
Features:
- No lags and best for socializing
- Has combined chat, voice, and video features
- Support live chats with push notifications enabled
- Provides an initiative user interface
- It can be used for gaming, live-streaming, and digital health services
- Offers 8% increased user retention
Pricing:
Sendbird demands the payout due to its modern and advanced in-chat experience. It provides different price rates for different employees, developers, and social media users. Here are three different pricing plans you can choose from Sendbird:
- Free Plan- 10 concurrent connections
- Starter 5K Plan- $399/ month
- Pro 5K Plan- $599/ month
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4. TalkJS
One of the simplest and best chat API platforms is Talkjs. The personalized features and the high response rate have made it one of the best chat apps in the market. With its fully functional management system, you are just one click away from interacting with the World.
Moreover, Talk/s is compatible with all Android, iOS, and older Windows versions so it is easy to operate on every system. You can talk to anyone with its easy-to-use interface without any fear of call lags or internet disruptions. Not only this but the voice chat features enable you to fully express your emotions over the globe.
Features:
- Provides read receipts feature to its users
- Enable you to share high-resolution files and media
- Support offline messages and stored chats
- User-friendly and has built-in advanced messaging features
- Comes with live chat API integrations
Pricing:
Being the simplest chat box, Talk/s provides reasonable plans for small and large individuals and business persons. You can for sure access its 30-day free trial and enjoy all voice, and video features on the one hand. Discussed below are its different pricing plans:
- Basic Plan- $279 / month
- Growth Plan- $569 / month
- Enterprise Plan- Customized
5. Twilio
For personalized communications and global interactions, what would be better than the Twilio chat API platform? It is trusted worldwide for flexible all-in-one messaging and 1:1 automation. You can connect anywhere in the globe due to its highly integrated system that features a one-hand solution for voice, video, and email.
Best of all, Twilio messaging API offers a proactive and convenient communication platform to experience a stress-free chat environment. From flexible workflow to seamless cross-channel communication, it empowers your business in new and innovative ways.
Thus, you can trust Twilio message API in terms of smooth and unified communications.
Features:
- Has a programable messaging interface
- Best for sending and receiving emails
- Popular as WhatsApp business chat API platform
- Easily monitor voice, video, and emails
- Offers a simple entry point into the telephony world
- Comes with step-by-step encryption
Pricing:
Twilio messaging service API has made its mark in the live chat industry and is popularly known due to its unique functionalities. Thus, the pricing rates are made per minute depending on your locality and use case. Here are the multiple pricing plans for Twillio:
- $0.0085/min
- $14.95/month
- $0.005 for WhatsApp
- $0.05 per active user per month
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6. GetStream
Enhance useful interactions with people across the world using GetStream in-app chat API for website and mobile. After all, this messaging API allows users to design any chat module with custom functionalities in the desired layout. Moreover, GetStream is a complete solution for chats, offering functions like typing indicators, threads, reactions, read state, and much more. Meanwhile, this application comes with cross-platform support alongside different components.
For developers, GetStream provides an easy integration facility that offers direct and hassle-free access to the API. In fact, there are documents available for developers that make it convenient for them to understand the integration process.
Features:
- Comes with multi-tenancy support
- Secured with GDPR, HIPAA, Soc2
- Supports over 5 million concurrent connections
- Experience emotions and reactions
- You can edit and delete the messages
- Link preview can be done
Price:
GetStream is a perfect solution for establishing effective communication with text messages. Overall, this API is user-friendly and comes with a free trial as well. Meanwhile, you can also purchase its plans that come with different concurrent connections and MAU. Here are its pricing packages:
- Startup: $499/month
- Standard: $1,299/month
- Premium: $2,299/month
7. PubNub
Many people prefer chat communications rather than voice chats or video chats, and PubNub is an excellent solution for all these people. After all, it allows people to establish meaningful in-app chat connections to build communities across borders. Moreover, the provided chat support is efficient such that messages are transferred instantly with no disruptions.
Subsequently, this messaging SDK allows teams to collaborate on important projects through group and large-scale messaging. Moreover, PubNub also manages the user’s metadata, mentions, presence, and other permissions. With option file sharing, users can participate in projects and share their work updates through images or documents.
Features:
- GIFs could be added
- Chatbot integration is possible
- Use emoji reactions during chats
- Push notifications by mobile device integration
- Ban users for spam or flag messages
- Backed with cloud infrastructure
Price:
With PubNub, not only can end-users benefit, but it also facilitates developers with straightforward integrations through ready-made code blocks. Besides that, PubNub can be used as a free trial, and its pricing plan includes the following:
- Starter: $49/month
8. CometChat
Chatting with your loved ones is now easier, faster, and more convenient with CometChat, which is a perfect in-app chat API. Furthermore, this chat API is a great support for all developers with its prebuilt UI Kits and chat SDKs, as it allows them to make custom applications without coding. On the other hand, users can leverage its top-class chat support that delivers instant messaging inside 1-on-1 or group chats.
Interestingly, this messaging API also allows embedding extensions by which users can connect efficiently while also experiencing push notifications and message moderation. Overall, this API is a great utility as an in-app messaging service.
Features:
- Offers chat, voice, and audio support
- Reading and typing indicators
- Provides SSO user authentication
- Has automated bot software
- Have online presence indicators
- Supports media attachments
Price:
CometChat is a scalable platform that can be customized as per desired features and functions. Furthermore, it provides SDKs for almost all popular programming technologies. When it comes to pricing, it calculates packages based on MAUs, and these packages include:
- Essentials: $109/month
- Pro: $529/month
9. QuickBlox
Build your real-time messaging app with QuickBlox in-app chat API that provides fast messaging across Android, iOS, or Web platforms. Apparently, this message API comes with feature-rich functionalities that can effectively extend a user’s chat experience in a real-time scenario. Of course, the chat is fully secure with its compliance with GDPR, which means user data isn’t at risk of compromise.
Apart from that, users can create private group chats, public group chats, and even one-to-one chats. Meanwhile, this API also allows you to integrate voice and video calling to extend your in-app chat functionality.
Features
- Offline messages are supported
- Dynamic messages with links and metadata
- Allows chatbot integrations
- Show all unread messages count
- Share pictures, videos, and audio
- Show the user’s online/offline status
Price:
Above all, QuickBlox can build your chat applications in minimal time with its ready-made code blocks and resources. With simple integrations, your application would be ready with customized functionality. Meanwhile, there is an option to use this platform as a free trial. For further advanced features, review its paid pricing plans here:
- Starter: $99/month
- Growth: $249/month
- HIPAA Cloud: $399/month
10. Agora
With Agora Chat SDK, create powerful in-app chat support for your application convincingly. Moreover, this platform has built-in resources to make chat applications with simple integrations. Hence, developers don’t need to code from scratch, and this will save valuable time and money for businesses. Meanwhile, Agora also allows you to add chat extensions with likes of stickers and emojis that create a fully immersive chat experience.
Secondly, this messaging API provides rich media messages by which you can share GPS locations, media files, thumbnails, or even push notifications. Apart from that, experience a fully secure chat with TLS/SSL encryption embedded.
Features
- Messages can be translated
- Offline messaging is available
- Chat history could be exported
- Messages can be recalled or deleted
- Users can read receipts
- Push notifications facility supported
Price:
Agora is an industry-leading in-app chat API that can establish purposeful virtual connections through means of messaging and chats. Therefore, users across the world can effectively collaborate and communicate. When it comes to pricing, it depends on MAUs. The pricing includes the following:
- Starter: $349/month
- Pro: $699/month
The Most Developer-Friendly Chat API/SDK – ZEGOCLOUD
Now, you have a list of the best live chat API platforms to build a chat app for all your business and social communication needs. You can choose the one according to your budget and daily needs. All of them have different functions with different sets of piercings.
However, if you are still confused about choosing the one, ZEGOCLOUD chat API & SDK should be your first priority. Why? The reason is that ZEGOCLOUD is the best Twilio API alternative that manages your live chats and comes with reasonable price rates.
Why ZEGOCLOUD’s In-app Chat
For developers, ZEGOCLOUD is the only suitable live chat API platform as it provides social interactions and live call streamings for super live chat. Hence, you can choose it for a more safe and more encrypted messaging environment. Enlisted below are some unique functionalities that make ZEGOCLOUD stand out from the rest:
- It is a trusted and secure chat box
- It is perfect for work collaborations and gaming
- For students, it has an online interactive communication system
- It can easily monitor smart watches safety cameras etc
- It is compatible with all web versions, Flutter, and React Native
What are you waiting for? Sign up on ZEGOCLOUD now and get yourself free from all kinds of communication problems.
Conclusion
Selecting the right chat API for your web, mobile, or desktop app is crucial for ensuring seamless communication and enhancing user experience. Whether you’re looking for a powerful real-time messaging platform, robust security features, or scalability to support a growing user base, the APIs we’ve discussed offer a variety of solutions to meet diverse needs. By evaluating the features, pricing, and support options of each, you can choose the best fit for your application’s requirements and future growth. With the right chat API in place, you’ll be able to foster better connections and offer a more interactive, engaging experience for your users.
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FAQ
Q1: What is the best chat API?
The best chat API depends on your specific needs. Some popular options include ZEGOCLOUD, SendBird, and Twilio, which are known for their real-time messaging, scalability, and security features. It’s important to consider factors like pricing, integrations, and customization options before choosing the best one for your app.
Q2: Who is the best chat app?
The best chat app varies depending on the platform and use case. Some of the top chat apps include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram for personal use. For business or customer support, apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord are widely used.
Q3: Is chat API free?
Many chat APIs offer free tiers with limited features, such as a set number of messages or users. For more advanced features, higher usage, or enterprise-level services, most chat APIs operate on a subscription or pay-as-you-go model. Be sure to check the pricing structure of each provider to determine which fits your needs and budget.
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