17.5
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
Best Chat APIs in 2026
Chat APIs provide messaging features for apps and services, such as presence, typing indicators, message history, push notifications and moderation. They can connect through an API, SDK or hosted chat service. When choosing one for a Xiaomi or Redmi phone project, check Android support and the SDK platforms it lists. Compare delivery methods, notification handling, history and moderation, then review web, iOS,…
27.5
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
37.5
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
- 4
CometChat
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $239 a month - 5
mesibo
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $0.01 a month - 6
QuickBlox Chat API
QuickBlox Chat API provides chat SDKs, APIs and UI kits for developers adding real-time messaging to apps.
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $107 a month - 7
Scaledrone
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $19 a month - 8
Stream Chat
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $399 a month - 9
Twilio Conversations
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4Free plan - 10
Tinode
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.3From $1.50 a month - 11
Sceyt
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.2From $99 a month - 12
Easemob IM
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.1From CN¥500 a month - 13
Sendbird Chat
AndroidiOSWebAPI7.1From $349 a month - 14
PrivChat
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI6.9Free plan - 15
ejabberd
Free planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.8From €200 a month - 16
Emitter
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.8From $10 a month - 17
OpenIM
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI6.8Free plan - 18
TalkJS
AndroidiOSWeb6.8From $279 a month - 19
Applozic
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.7From $149 a month - 20
Dendri
Free planWebAPISelf-hosted6.7From $29 a month - 21
Tigase XMPP Server
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.7From $175 a month - 22
ChatKitty
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.6From $400 a month - 23
JuggleIM
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.4 - 24
Prosody IM
AndroidiOSAPILinux6.3 - 25
MirrorFly
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.2
Choosing well
Check Android and SDK coverage
Android support matters when your chat client runs on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone. Confirm that the API lists Android access and an SDK that fits your app.
Web, iOS, API, self-hosted and Linux options can affect how you build the rest of the service. Apphitect IM, for example, lists Android, iOS, web, API and self-hosted platforms.
Compare free plans and trials
A free plan can help you build without an initial subscription. Pricing examples include free plans with paid tiers from $10 or $29 per month, while other services list higher starting prices or pricing on request.
Trial terms differ. Applozic lists a 28-day trial, while JuggleIM is free and open source. Check what the free offer includes before moving a project to paid usage.
Match the messaging features
Compare presence support, typing indicators, push notifications, delivery methods and message history against the experience your app needs.
Moderation tools can matter for user-generated conversations. Review the available controls and how they fit your message flow before selecting an API.
Choose hosted or self-hosted
Hosted services can provide an API and managed chat infrastructure. A self-hosted option gives you a deployment path to run yourself when that fits your requirements.
Check licensing and platform details carefully if you need to read or change the code. Open-source status, such as JuggleIM's listing, can affect that choice.
Questions people ask
Do these Chat APIs support Android?
Android is listed as a platform for this category, but support differs by product. Check the individual API's platform and SDK details before building an Android client.
Can I start with a free Chat API plan?
A free plan is offered by products in this category. Terms vary, so review limits and the paid starting point before deployment.
Are free trials available?
Trial availability differs by product. Applozic lists a 28-day trial, while JuggleIM lists a free, open-source offering.
What chat features should I compare?
Compare presence, typing indicators, push notifications, SDK platforms, delivery methods, message history and moderation tools.
Can I self-host a Chat API?
Self-hosted platforms are represented in this category. Confirm that the product you choose lists self-hosting and check its deployment and licence details.