Introduction
Thinking about adding a real-time chat function into your app?
Then you have reached the right destination, as In-app communication is now key to keeping users engaged. People expect to chat instantly and share messages fast and without interruption across different apps, from social media or e-commerce, to healthcare, or on-demand services.
In fact, one report from Grand View Research on the Messaging Application API Market states the global messaging API market was outlined at USD 46.75 billion in 2024, at USD 54.96 billion in 2025, and is observed that by 2030, it will reach USD 130.87 billion.
If you’re planning to integrate chat, voice, or video into your app, a Chat API will let you do it more quickly and intelligently.
That's why, to save you from the effort and to help you choose the right solution, we’ve put together a list of the Top 10 Real-Time Chat API Providers in 2026. So, let's check it out,
What is Chat API?
If you’ve ever used an app that allows you to chat instantly, a Chat API is what enables that. A Chat API is a software tool through which developers can add the feature of messaging to their applications in a quick and easy manner.
It has pre-built, ready-to-set system services for one-on-one chat, group messaging, push notifications, and indicators of typing.
On top of that, the Chat APIs also provide useful features like built-in tools, protocols, and SDKs for instant messaging, group chat, and even voice or video call functionality.
These APIs handle complex backend tasks like real-time updates, message storage, and tough security measures. Not only that, many Chat APIs include user presence indicators, read receipts, syncing messages across web, mobile, and desktop applications seamlessly, receipts, and media sharing for better engagement.
Chat APIs are a big time-saver for developers. They come with features already built-in, this way you
don't have to code them from scratch, plus they help make sure everyone gets messages consistently.
Modern Messaging APIs now support multiple platforms, which means they can keep messages synced across web, mobile, and desktop apps.
These APIs are wonderful tools that businesses can use to focus on the user experience while the API is handling the infrastructure, scaling, and updates.
Top 10 Real-time Chat API in 2026
The Top Real-Time Chat API Solutions in 2026: Mirrofly, Sendbird, Apphitect, Twilio, Cometchat, Pubnub, Agora, TalkJs, Getstream, and Ably.
1. MirrorFly
“The #1 Real Time AI Chat API & SDK”
Best For: Businesses that require high customization, scalability factor, and complete ownership over data that too with high security.
In modern times, MirrorFly is one of the best customizable in-app communication API and SDK solutions. Mirrorfly Chat API is a trusted global enterprise for building secure and scalable communication apps without starting from the ground up, saving a huge amount of time.
It supports streaming chat, audio, and video. With MirrorFly's streaming chat API, you can get access to real-time one-on-one or group chat with very low latency.
Then it comes with all the essential messaging features like reactions, read receipts, typing indicators, and media sharing. That is exactly what today’s users expect from a modern chat experience. What makes it stand out is the complete control over your data and hosting.
What’s more, MirrorFly also has AI-powered chat moderation, summaries, and chatbot integration functionalities that make conversations smarter. Therefore, making it a perfect solution for businesses looking for a flawless Chat API integration and overall future-ready.
MirrorFly’s Core Functionalities:
- 1-on-1 and group chat
- Real-time messaging,
- Analytics and Reporting
- Real-time Chat Translation
- Customizable chat UI kits
- Image & video Attachment
- Read Receipts and Delivery Status
- Chat Moderation Tools
- Screensharing
- Full data ownership
- Message summarization tools
- Custom Metadata and Tags
- Unlimited chat search
- Topic-based Chat
- Enterprise-level encryption
- HIPAA & GDPR adherence.
MirrorFly Pricing:
- Easy Plan- Free for lifetime
- Essentials Plan- $399/month (up to an MAU range of 5,000)
- Premium Plan- $999/month (up to MAU 5,000)
- Enterprise Plan- Custom quote
2. Sendbird
“The Leading Global Chat API for Businesses”
Best For: Apps that require a global-scale messaging feature that needs to scale globally with robust moderation.
Sendbird is a well-known player in the realm of real-time Chat API and messaging infrastructure, designed to help apps scale global communication with ease. It’s used by leading companies in industries ranging from healthcare to fintech to marketplaces.
What differentiates Sendbird is its ability to scale for larger user bases. That too, while reducing latency, while keeping your chat functional, secure, and reliable. It includes features like message threading, message translation, and advanced moderation profiles.
Also, developers love how well it integrates with any app because of its lightweight SDKs. Overall, it is a strong but user-friendly solution designed for both corporations and developers.
Sendbird’s Core Functionalities:
- Real-time conversations
- AI-powered message
- Translation in 100+ languages
- Typing & presence indicators
- Threading & contextual replies
- Interactive polls,
- Pinned messages
- Rich media sharing
- Smart notifications
- Customizable UI SDKs
- Secure data handling
Sendbird Pricing:
- Free Trial - Free to start
- Starter Plan - $349/month (for up to 5,000 MAU)
- Pro Plan - $599/month (for 5,000+ MAU)
- Enterprise Plan - Custom quote
3. Apphitect
“The Most Flexible Real-Time Chat SDK”
Best For: Companies that are looking for a self-hosted instant messaging SDK that provides complete code, ownership, customizable, and scalable messaging solution.
Apphitect offers a powerful real-time Chat API and SDK solution that offers full access to the source code of the chat; developers have complete control of customizing it and deploying the chat applications.
As one of the best chat APIs available, it offers various options for one-on-one communication, group messaging, file sharing, plus voice and video communication.
The platform also provides real-time sync, which means that your conversations will never be interrupted across mobile devices.
With Apphitect, you are able to host the solution on your own servers and have complete ownership of your data. The application is designed to be scalable so that your chat application can scale as your user base grows.
Apphitect’s Core Functionalities:
- White-label chat,
- Offline messaging option
- On-premises or cloud hosting
- Real-time messaging
- 100% Customizable Solution
- Chat History
- Activity Feeds
- Integration with Other Services
- Multi-tenant architecture
- Comprehensive chat analytics
- Data Migration
- Media File Encryption
- User Authentication & Authorization
- Full self-hosting
- Data ownership.
Apphitect Pricing:
- Publicly pricing is not clearly listed. Contact the sales team
- Cloud Subscription - Custom quote
- On-Premise License - Custom quote
4. Twilio
“Trusted by Enterprises for Global Communication”
Best For: Companies that are developing omnichannel, AI-integrated communication experiences with complete independence across SMS, chat, and WhatsApp.
Twilio is another top-notch conversation API that allows multi-channel messaging. It includes facilities like SMS, chat, and WhatsApp, for apps needing sturdy real-time communication.
It’s designed to help businesses build personalized communication experiences across different platforms effortlessly. With trustworthy uptime and global reach, Twilio make sure messages are delivered quickly and securely every time.
Twilio’s Core Functionalities:
- A variety of channel messaging
- Supports rich media
- Delivery & read receipts
- Message history
- Thread storage,
- Real-time updates,
- Participant & conversation management
- Roles and permissions,
- AI bot and workflow integration
- OpenAI partnership.
Twilio Pricing:
- Pay-per-active-user - Starting at $0.05 per active user/month
- Media Storage Add-On - Starting at $0.25 per GB/month
- Enterprise Plan - Custom quote
5. CometChat
“The All-in-One Chat & Video SDK”
Best For: Developers looking for a chat solution that is fast to use, scalable from worldwide platforms, and has built-in AI capabilities
CometChat allows you access to a fully equipped Chat API and SDK. That leads to real-time messaging, voice, and video in apps. It is made to offer smooth in-app communication while minimizing the effort involved in setup and development.
You can easily customize chat experiences with message history practices, typing indicators, and the ability to share media. Moreover, CometChat provides enterprise-scale security and reliability with the capability to scale for large user bases.
CometChat ’s Core Functionalities:
- 1-on-1 and group chat
- Threaded conversations,
- Rich media sharing
- Filteration via AI-based moderation,
- The custom UI kits & SDKs
- Multi-tenant architecture
- Web hooks for analytics
- GDPR adherence.
CometChat Pricing:
- Build Plan - Free for development (up to 100 users)
- Basic Plan - $239/month (or $109/month depending on source)
- Advanced/Pro Plan - $339 each month
- Enterprise Plan - Scale based customisable
6. PubNub
“Ultra-Low Latency Messaging Infrastructure”
Best For: Apps wanting secure, large-scale chat delivery.
PubNub offers users a real-time messaging API that was built with developers in mind for simplicity, reliability, and global scalability. Not only that, it supports error-free sharing of in-app messaging across industries.
It powers everything from live chats and gaming communication to IoT device updates. With built-in presence detection, message storage, and access control, PubNub helps developers create interactive and secure chat environments.
PubNub’s Core Functionalities:
- Real-time messaging,
- Publish & subscribe.
- Presence detection
- Message persistence
- Access Manager (PAM)
- JWT authentication,
- Push notifications
- Serverless functions
PubNub Pricing:
- Free Tier - 200 or less user
- Starter - $98/month for 1,000 MAU
- Enterprise - Custom pricing available
7. Agora
“Seamless Messaging Across Web & Mobile”
Best For: Apps that combine chat, video, and voice, involving e-learning and telehealth.
Agora Chat SDK provides real-time messaging, voice, and video chat, offering an end-to-end communication solution for today’s applications.
It provides reliable delivery of messages and supports one-to-one and group conversations. As well as AI-enhanced translation and smart moderation features.
Developers can integrate Agora Chat logic across apps and web using lightweight and flexible SDKs.
Agora’s Core Functionalities:
- Real-time single & group messaging
- multimedia support,
- Offline message synchronization,
- AI translation
- User management
- Smart moderation
- Cross-platform SDKs
- Custom message types
Agora Pricing:
- Free Plan- For 500 MAU
- Starter Plan - $349/month (for up to 5,000 MAU)
- Pro Plan - $699/month (for up to 10,000 MAU)
- Enterprise Plan - Custom quote
8. TalkJS
“Perfect for Marketplaces & SaaS Platforms”
Best For: Marketplaces and SaaS apps looking for production-ready chat with a customizable UI setup
TalkJS provides built-in components (UI) for developers to add in-app messaging quickly. These features can be personalized.
It allows for one-on-one and group conversations with real-time updates. The platform enables push notifications to keep users engaged.
Also, provides data privacy with secure authentication and GDPR compliance to protect users' information.
TalkJS’s Core Functionalities:
- Real-time 1:1,
- Group & public chat
- Customizable chat UI
- Multilingual support,
- APIs, SDKs, & webhooks,
- GDPR compliance.
TalkJS Pricing:
- Basic Plan - $279/month (for up to 10,000 MAU)
- Growth Plan - $569/month (for 25,000 MAU)
- Enterprise Plan - Custom quote
9. GetStream
“Designed for High-Performance Apps”
Best For: companies looking for enterprise-grade custom messaging apps. That is built for social engagement, team collaboration, and virtual events.
Stream Chat API provides enterprise-level chat infrastructure that guarantees swift and dependable messaging in real-time, across all devices.
It provides a chat experience at an advanced level with features like threads, reactions, and moderation.
Developers can customize the entire UI to conform to their app’s brand guidelines. Stream's chat SDK is built to scale and is secure. Which is why top global apps trust Stream for their communications tools.
GetStream’s Core Functionalities:
- Threaded replies & reactions,
- API key authorization
- Usage monitoring,
- Rate limiting & activity tracking
- JWT-based authentication
- Cloud infrastructure.
Pricing: Free usage services are available, but for proper use, the starting price of the plan is $399/month for 10,000 MAU.
GetStream Pricing:
- Market Plan- Free for 1000 MAU
- Starter Plan- $399/month for 10,000 MAU.
10. Ably
“Secure, Low-Latency Delivery Worldwide”
Best For: Apps that need perfect performance and ultra-low latency, and at the same time have live communication or collaboration features.
Ably delivers a powerful real-time messaging API that is built specifically for high demand and safe worldwide communication.
It ensures ultra-low latency message delivery with reliable data synchronization across devices. The platform supports features like presence detection, message history, and publish and subscribe architecture.
Ably’s globally distributed network guarantees consistent performance and enterprise-grade reliability.
Ably ’s Core Functionalities:
- Publish-subscribe messaging
- Token-based authentication,
- Fine-grained access control using
- Configurable key,
- Presence & connection state management
- Low-latency,
Ably Pricing:
- Free Plan - Free to start
- Standard Plan - $29/month + usage
- Pro Plan - $399/month + usage
- Enterprise Plan - Custom quote
How To Choose the Right Chat API Provider
There are hundreds of Chat API providers available in the market, and new ones appear every day. And there is a reason many don't sustain in the market, as some focus on flashy features, while others focus on core messaging capabilities. So with all these sets of choices, which one do you choose for the business?
Here’s a basic list of criteria you should use to understand and find the provider who fits best with your business.
1. Experience and expertise
This is very important that you always need to check if a provider has a successful history in real-time messaging and communications APIs. Make sure they understand your platform requirements and can recommend the right tech stack.
2. Level of Customization
Pre-built APIs are helpful, but the functions may not align with your workflows. Therefore, choose a provider that allows customization for features, branding, and user experience.
3. Full Data Control
You should maintain complete control over your messages, users, and data. The provider should enable integration without compromising privacy.
4. White-Label Options
Your chat solution should reflect your brand, not the provider’s. White-label options make sure an error-free and consistent brand experience.
5. Safety and Regulations
In order to protect customer info, it is a must for the provider to obey both local and international rules. This includes GDPR and HIPAA, which help prevent potential legal issues.
6. Performance and Low Latency
Real-time messages have to be quick and dependable. It makes sure each message, call, or notification is delivered without any delays.
Editor’s Recommendation: MirrorFly
For a platform that combines customization, enterprise-grade security, full data control, and scalability, Mirrorfly Chat API stands out in 2026.
MirrorFly gives options for self-hosting with the entire source code or a managed cloud SaaS variant. It also includes end-to-end encryption, multi-platform integration, and white-labeling.
If you want a Chat API solution that is free, in control, and reliable, then definitely MirrorFly is the option.
Want to know more? Contact their experts to get started on your real-time chat integration today.
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