Effective communication helps to keep the team working on the right projects with the right attitude.” – Alex Langer
If you move with the above quotes, then I must say that you are well aware of communication and its demand in the current global market.
However, this demand has emphasized the need for a chat platform which indeed has turned the attention of both start-ups and proficient developers to build their own free chat apps. This has made them look out for the best chat APIs and SDKs that are available in the market.
So, here I have tried to feed their needs with my supportive research and reviews on some of the best chat platform API providers for mobile and web in 2023.
Looking into the chat statistics, over 20% of millennials are more likely to use live chat with a global market scale projection expected to reach $987.8 million by 2025.
Table of Contents
What is a chat platform?
A chat platform is a place where conversations take place. People use communication for various purposes and need to either talk with their friends and family, chat with their co-workers for team collaborations, or contact customer support to solve their queries.
Meanwhile, for different kinds of chat needs, there are different kinds of chat platforms. For example, use WhatsApp, Line, or Viber to chat with friends and family. Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Google Chat for team collaborations And in-app chats like MirrorFly, Aphhitect for customer support centres, and other such use cases
Each chat platform has its own features and benefits. Here in this article, you can find a comparison of the best 12 chat service providers of 2023.
Comparison of the 12 Best Chat Service Providers of 2023
Since the market is filled with so many best picks to consider, sometimes finding a unique real-time chat solution can be a big deal. So, here we’ve broken down eight of the best online chat solutions providers for you to have a better understanding of what they like, their offers, compatible platforms, and much more.
1. MirrorFly
Leading Chat Platform for Developers and Enterprises.
Founded in 2008. In the early stage, this brand has launched the market as “ContusFly” but, in the later run in 2019 the brand has been renowned as “MirrorFly,” marking it’s all-time presence in all modes of communication including chat, voice, and video.
MirrorFly mainly targets connecting people and businesses across the world in real-time through multiple platforms. Today, it has reached the place where it has been recognized as the best chat API and SDK provider for iOS, Android and web apps.
MirrorFly Chat Platform Features
- Free Chat Platform
- Multi-platform support
- Whitelabel Chat Platform
- 100 Customizable Solutions
- Unlimited Video and Voice Calling
- SIP/VoIP Calling
- End-to-end security
- Hire development team
- 150+ Chat Features
Supportive Platforms :
- Android, iOS, and Web Apps
Why Choose MirrorFly Chat API & SDK?
MirrorFly is the most powerful and developer-friendly API and SDK provider with chat, voice and video features that are mostly looked up for
- 100% customizable with over 150 + chat features that can be integrated effortlessly into any existing or pre-built device and apps.
- Support 1M+ concurrent users.
- White-label chat solution facilitated with a ready-made platform
- Self-hosted infrastructure with on-cloud/on-premises option
- Available in both month-on-month subscriptions and one-time license fees.
- Enables high-end security with HIPAA, GDPR, AES-256, and much more.
2. TroopMessanger
Best Messaging Provider for Team Collaboration
Troop Messenger is a stand-alone platform with instant messaging that provides its service for all kinds of businesses in the form of on-premise chat, SaaS, or real-time messaging API and SDK.
It is a user-friendly official chat solution that contains contemporary features for any business needs and necessities. Moreover, it synchronizes the conversations and files across all the platforms parallelly where its array of commands allows you to have instant message interaction with one-on-one or group conversation.
It provides super-proven security protocols for secure data of messages, calls, videos, and files with the customization of your chat UI as per your business requirements.
Troop Messanger Chat Platform Features
- One on one Messaging
- Audio Messaging
- Bulk Messaging option to communicate with multiple users at once
- Secure & Reliable
- Read Markers
- Recall, edit, and delete
- Live location tracking
Supportive Platforms :
- iOS, Android & Web Apps
3. Apphitect
Fully Customizable Chat App for Developers and Enterprises.
Apphitect is a leading instant messaging API provider with offline messaging facility that provides several features like personal-chats, social interaction type, etc. Apphitect is a UAE based real time communication API and SDK provider founded in 2008.
It provides a custom built personal online chat app experience to their users with enriched UX, voice and video call integration with native messaging SDK support, multimedia sharing, etc.
Apphitect Chat Platform Features
- Geolocation tracking
- Voice/video calling and recording
- Voice/Video conferencing
- VoIP/SIP calling
- Screen Sharing
- Presence indicator & social integrations
Supportive Platforms
- Android,iOS & Web Applications
Why Choose Apphitect Instant Messaging API &SDK?
Apphitech instant messaging APIs and SDKs are mostly preferred by developers for being fully customizable with over 150+ real time chat features with easy integration into any mobile and web app. Since it is a SaaP-based model it is made available at one-time license cost with a self-hosting option of on-cloud/on-premises services enabling unlimited storage space. It provides a safe and secure end-to-end encryption over conversation and data.
4. Sendbird
Best Chat Provider for Web and Mobile Apps
Sendbird is a leading chat platform for websites and mobile devices which was founded in 2012. It takes care of most of the operational complexities under the same roof, providing a rich chat service with voice and video calling experience.
Sendbird Chat Platform Features
- Direct and group calling
- Image filtering for better clarity
- Multi-device support
- Chat moderation
- Duto-reconnect across any device
- Call recording and quality scoring to have a track of data
Supportive Platforms :
- iOS, Android, and Web Apps
Why Choose Sendbird Chat API?
Sendbird is mostly liked by the developer mainly for its interesting features that can be shared with encrypted files and autotranslations within the chat. It could be the choice for enterprises to have user support but when it comes to pricing, it may be a challenging one for small start-ups to rely on.
4. Stream (formerly Getstream)
Highly Scalable Chat App Across Web and Mobile Apps.
GetStream.io is an enterprise-grade chat and activity feed provider that builds a scaled in-app chat app in days. It was established in 2014 and has served over billions of end-users. It is one of the popular ones among other activity feeds that have supported Twitter, Instagram, Salesforce, etc.
Stream Chat Platform Features
- Threaded conversations for emails, newsgroup,s and Internet forums
- Spam and profanity protection for better chat experience
- Edit and delete messages to avoid miscommunication
- Direct and group chats to discuss about certain topic
- E2E encryption via TLS for protective conversation
- BGP + DNS routing to have a control on entire system
Supportive Platforms :
- iOS, Android and Web Apps
Why Choose Stream Messaging API?
GetStream.io has a beefy chat SDK that is available with numeros custom features and vast UI options that can be utilized to modify the chats. However, besides the broad spectrum of features it’s the high price that can make someone closed off, mostly for the small and startup enterprises. Other than that it could be considered good.
5. Rocket.chat
Leading Open-Source Chat Service Provider
Rocket.chat is an open-source team chat platform for websites and mobile devices that was established in 2015 provides a robust communication platform bringing infinite tools and people together. It unites all forms of communication under a single roof regardless of the user’s device. It is an omnichannel platform that reduces cost and increases team performance by making use of several tools.
Rocket Online Chat Platform Features
- Audio and video
- Screen sharing
- File sharing
- Emojis
- Live chat
- SMS and CRM Integration
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web
Why Choose Rocket.chat API?
Rocket.chat is considered by most of the developers as its an open source with self hosting option. In addition it is easy to integrate with any 3rd party device. It provides complete control over the data and privacy issues.
7. PubNub
Real-time messaging API provider
PubNub is one of the most popular real-time communication platforms which was established in 2010 that provides service for sending data between devices in real-time. It builds real-time features into mobile, web, AI/ML, IoT and Edge computing applications. It has highly reliable and secure chat APIs when it comes to one-to-one, group, and live event messaging with in-app alerts and notifications.
PubNub Chat Platform Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Device targeting
- Proactive Chat
- Reporting/Analytics
- Canned Responses
- Mobile Alerts
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile & Web Applications
Why Choose PubNub Communication API & SDK?
PubNub is mostly liked by developers since they provide a real-time messaging-as-a-service wherein you will never have to manage your own server. Here, the users can manage multi-tenant space quite easily but with coding PubNub still lacks supporting the binary encoded messages where it only guarantees full data replication for their Pro pricing plans.
8. Weavy
Transforms every interaction into conversation
Weavy is the conversation SDK platform that allows you to build chat app features into applications and web pages. Weavy was founded in 2014, and its flexible SDK and REST APIs provide you with a customized messaging tool to build your chat app.
It empowers and transforms every customer’s interaction into a personalized conversational experience with its enriched APIs and SDKs, no matter whether the interaction took place in real-time or via a bot chat.
Weavy Chat Platform Features
- Reporting/Analytics
- Third-party integration
- Automated message formatting
- Rich preview
- Unread messages count.
- Typing indicators
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web Applications
Why choose a heavy messaging platform?
Weavy is mostly preferred by the developer as it is highly scalable and flexible enough to work with Objective-C and Swift on iOS. It can be easily allotted in AAR and JAR formats for developers by making use of Android Studio, Eclipse, or Netbeans. Its REST API allows communication with backend tools.
9. TalkJS
Best developer-friendly chat API provider
TalkJS is one of the most beloved developer-friendly chat API providers. Their highly customizable pre-built UI is most preferred by developers to integrate their APIs with new and existing platforms.
Its chat features are implemented in a way to increase user engagement, retention, and satisfaction across web and mobile apps. Moreover, these developer-friendly SDKs can be deployed on multiple platforms.
TalkJS Chat Platform Features
- Live stream chat
- One-on-one chat
- Group chat
- Prebuilt UI
- Client SDK for native mobile
- Cross-platform support
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web Applications
Why choose the TalkJS messaging platform?
TalkJS allows you to build your chat platform with a highly customizable UI kit that can cut your time and money in half. Most developers love to integrate APIs and SDKs from TalkJS into their UI kits and necessary functions to engage a chat app.
10. CometChat
Most secure in-app communication provider
Cometchat is one of the leading communication platform providers among developers and enterprises. They provide secure in-app chat, voice, and video APIs with enriched features.
Their customizable chat SDKs are highly secure and compatible with privacy regulations. They constantly keep evolving, increasing user engagement and retention.
CometChat Chat Platform Features
- Real-time messaging
- Single sign-on
- Hassle-free intergration
- No-code strategy
- Chat moderation
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web Applications
Why choose the CometChat messaging platform?
CometChat has a highly evolving developer community. More than 50,000 developers choose CometChat for real-time customizable messaging SDKs. They offer 100+ video, voice, and chat features.
11. Twilio
Feature enriched in-app video API provider
Twilio is the most secure in-app chat, voice, and video API provider among developers and enterprises. It offers 150+ enriched combined features like push notifications, file sharing, SIP and VoIP calling, and more.
Their SDKs are highly scalable and fully customizable. They offer secure end-to-end encryption according to AES security standards. The APIs and SDKs are compatible with privacy regulations.
Twilio Chat Platform Features
- In-app chat, voice, and video
- Real-time messaging
- One-to-one and group video calls
- Team meetings and collaborations
- Screen sharing
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web Applications
Why choose the Twilio Messaging Platform?
Twilio is a pioneer in instant messaging platforms. More than chat, they offer mesmerizing video calling features. They are highly preferred in IT sectors and large-scale enterprises to collaborate with teams and vendors.
12. Quickblox
Leading Live stream chat SDK provider
Quickblox is a communication platform that provides easy-to-use chat SDKs for enterprises. It offers powerful APIs with hassle-free integration across web and mobile apps. They offer secure SDKs with customizations.
Moreover, Quickblox chat and video SDKs promote high user engagement and retention in integrated apps. They also support third-party integrations like calendar integration, CRM integrations, CMS integrations, and more.
Quickblox Chat Platform Features
- One-on-one chat
- Group chat
- Push notifications
- Livestream chat
- Secure file sharing
Supportive Platforms
- Mobile and Web Applications
Why choose the Quickblox messaging platform?
Quickblox APIs are widely chosen by developers for their RESTful APIs. They allow you to directly interact with web browsers in real-time using WebRTC. With these super benefits, Quickblox is consistently working on making further developments and updates in order to derive an emerging user experience.
However, the above data is based on my reviews and research, which might differ from your perspective. But, I have tried my best to get you the most of the genuine details.
Moving forward, let’s have a look at the concept as to why these chat platforms are necessary for any business.
Do Businesses Really Need A Chat Platform, Let’s Explore!
Although the impact of mobile phones with text messaging has become a more and more convenient form of communication. Instant messaging apps are still able to make their place in business communication with additional voice and video chat app features overcoming the language barriers in real time. Moreover, they have been proven successful enough in business scenarios – “quicker the process, the more chances of conversion.”
According to a report, it has been found that with real-time chat features nearly 63% of the customers are more likely to revisit a website or application. In fact, the real time online chat platform usage is expected to continue to grow by more than 87% within the next 12-18 months, which is more likely as the growth of a business by around 150%.
But of course, I do admit that these real time chat platforms can not build your business’s sales or assist you in making complex business decisions, but to some extent, they will participate in the success of your business by being a part of your supportive pillars.
It will help your business with monetization, third-party involvement, privacy, and security issues, which is not that safe with other platforms like WhatsApp, WeChat, etc., as they keep on updating their policy terms and conditions as per their needs.
On the whole, I can say that these real-time chat app efforts and usage can address your customer’s needs and save your business precious time.
With this clarity towards the real-time chat apps contribution in businesses, Let’s have a look at the major concept in the entire journey as to how to choose the best and right one for your business.
Recommended Reading
Want to Select the Right Live Chat Service Provider – 5Keyy Points
Whenever you are planning to build a chat application, there are certain key factors that need to be considered before making a perfect choice with chat API & SDK providers for your enterprises with communication.
So it is important to see whether these chat apps are meeting your business’s technical and non-technical needs or not. Thus, let me list out some of the major factors that need your high-level consideration
1. Multi-platform coverage
Be sure that your chat API & SDK providers are compatible enough to work with any existing third-party application like iOS, Android, or web app, providing a multi-platform with multi-device coverage.
2. Scalable chat solutions
To be the best chat platform, it is very integral to be able to adapt to audiences of any size. All this is based on your business needs with scalability whether it’s with one-to-one messaging, group chat, or open public channels, the chat app must be able to cope with all.
3. Secure enterprise communication
Security and safety are the key features that every business looks out for when it comes to their user’s data and interaction. Ensuring high-end security with encryption standard protocols including AES-256, GDPR, etc., can build customer’s trust.
4. Customizable
Creating a chat platform that meets all your business needs is what exactly you must look for. See to it whether your API & SDK provider offers 100% customization with easy integration of their APIs into any existing or pre-built device.
5. Price & Support
When it comes to pricing it is always better to go for a time license cost instead of a monthly subscription, as a one-time purchase of these APIs and SDKs will be comparatively cheaper than expected. Also, check for 24/7 customer support as it is very much necessary to have your queries clarified in the first place before getting into further trouble with your chat application.
Well, the above post is all about my review and research and of course, I’m not asking to go with it as it is. But, I simply want you to have some market idea with an online chat platform, that’s the reason I am here with my content.
So, now it’s up to you to make a decision that will benefit your company and their demands. Still, if you think you need some more clarity and guidance just feel free to contact me. I am with my dedicated development team, ready to assist you with your needs as to how to create a chat platform in a cost-effective way.
Wrapping Up!
Gratitude for investing time in reading this article and reaching this far. I hope you have a clear idea about chat platforms and the top providers in the market.
Yet choosing the right platform and provider might be a critical decision for certain use cases. Don’t worry, we have your back.
You can get in touch with a technical expert to discuss your requirements and get his guidance in choosing the right chat platform for your business.
Good luck in choosing the right chat platform, See you in the next post! Meanwhile, if you have any suggestions or questions, update them in the comment section below. Bye! Take care.
Hello Dear, I’m going to develop a LMS(learning Management System) and it will contain video conference facility . I’m interested to know about your MirrorFly Chat API. My site needs to host simultaneous meeting/conferece call via API as LMS system needs to do. Also need recording facility for those meetings. I want to know about Master account system’s detail pricing and plan. Please response as soon as possible. Thanks and Regards Chinmoy Karmoker
Hello Chinmoy, I am glad to know about your e-learning project and also that you are interested in our solution. Before getting in detail let me tell you that our MirrorFly chat platform API is compatable enough to satisfy all your application need. So, to brief about our real-time video calling API and SDK, it is fully customizable with over 150+ chat features that can be easily integrated into any iOS, Android or web app. We offer all these at one time license cost and to have more details with regards to pricing and other stuff, feel free to contact us to set an appointment to proceed further. Thank You!
Hi. My name is Lewis, product manager we are looking best chat platform API for our applications. We have a platform that prescribes exercise to patients with health conditions via an app and provides information back to their clinical team via our portal. We were looking in to being able to send messages from the clinical team via the EXi portal to the patient via the EXi app and vice versa. It was just a quick message to see if this is something that could be done? We have many clinical teams, so it would have to be set that the clinicians could only send messages to their patients. We are based in the UK. Thanks.
Hello Lewis, Your project sounds great. I am glad to let you know that our real time chat API and SDK could be the best fit for your projects needs. Since, our chat platform is 100% customizable with 150+feature option, you can integrate any number of features as per your business demands. To have more clarity about our solution, feel free to drop your details for us to set an appointment to proceed further. Thank You!
Hi, We’re a startup from Pakistan, We provide all-in one education solutuion as SaaS. We need to integrate video call and social features to our service. Our clients will be schools, colleges and universities.
Hello Shakil, great to know about your all-in one education solution. Of course, our MirrorFly Chat Platform its offered video calling API and SDK would be able to accomplish your projects need with full customization and easy integration option of over 150+ video, voice and chat features. To have more clarity with our features and functionality, kindly drop your detail with us for our team to contact you to proceed further. Thanks!
Hello, we are seeking a voice chat software to connect users for a two party call without dialing-A strictly data connection. Additionally, scheduling and scheduling reminders would be a +.i think MirroFly Chat Platform its could be right choice for organization please share me pricing details ASAP
Hello Bill, I am glab that you have considered our chat platform APIs and SDKs for your project. Of course, our solution would be a right choice for you as our APIs moves alond with any 3rd party device effortlessly with end-to-end customization. So, kindly drop your detail with our team for us to contact you to proceed further. Thank You!
Hi Team, We are looking at exploring how we can use MirrorFly Chat Platform to enhanace our video calling journey. It would be great of we couldconnect over a call and we are looking for one time payment solution
Hi Nithin, I am glad to tell you that our real time voice, video and chat APIs and SDKs facilitated with 100% customization of over 150+ chat features is available at one time license cost. So, you can be relaxed and proceed further to drop your details for our team to contact you for further. Good Luck and Thank You!
Hello, I’m reaching out to you on behalf of my developers. We’re creating a room-based chat/messenger application where there can be 100s of rooms and each room can have 1000+ users. In each of these rooms, users may share their cams and can also speak without sharing cams. Please can you let me know if Mirrorfly license for video/ audio can work for us and what is the cost in this scenario? Your prompt answer is really appreciated.. Best regards Abraham
Hello Abraham, Your project seems to be to interesting. I am glad that you have considered us for the same. With respect your query of course, CONTUS MirrorFly’s chat API and SDKs do support all your video and audio related demands. It is easy to integrate as well as fully cusotmizable so you can be stressfree with our solution. For pricing our solution is available at one time license cost wherein you can purchase once and have lifetime authority. To know more in detail about pricing related issues feel free to contact us. Thank You!
Hi, I am part of a team developing an online resource for people living with dementia and their carers. I was wondering if you have API for integrating MirrorFly Chat API with an existing product? Thanks, Kevin
Hello Kevin, Thanks for enquiring our chat APIs and SDKs. Yes, all our chat APIs are 100% customizable and easily to integrate into any existing 3rd party device like iOS, Android or web app, so you need not have to worry about. But still if you think to have more clarity. Kindly, contact us to set an appointment to proceed further. Thank You!
Hello, Actually we are building web application and we want to use your mirrorfly chat API and service for video call meetings, Meeting recordings, whiteboard. So, How are you charging? In our system we may have thousands of users and would like anyone to host meeting. Whether it is possible or not? Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks!
Hello Gohel, Its great to know about your application and that too with such a large audience engagement, sound great. Of course, our real time communication APIs and SDKs are highly flexiable and fully customizable to get in with all your application’s needs. To know more about the features and highlights, feel free to contact us to proceed further. Thank you!
I am looking for a Whitelabel chat platform for the real estate application its similar Nobroker app. we have plan to launch next year march. we are seeking best chat platform providers . please contact me ASAP
Hi Ramana, Glad to know from you about your project. Brief about our chat APIs and SDKs, its highly customizable with over 150+ chat features that can be easily integrated into any existing mobile and web platform and for sure our solution could be the best fit for your real estate app. If you want you can try our demo version too by contacting our sales team. To proceed further feel free to contact us. Thank You!
Hi Parthiba,
Thanks for listing best chat platform providers, But you have missed the top chat platform provider of rocket chat(rocket.chat) this is a best open source chat platform API market . If you have any opportunity update your valuable list. Please let me know will send more details through mail.
Regards,
Richard
Hello Damon
Thanks for your valuable comments and i got your mail and i have mentioned 4th place in rocket.chat platform have a look .once again thanks for inputs
I think very very detailed article for those who try to build chat platform . There are some drawbacks in each chat api platform so you should choose any of them carefully. I suggest you Apphitect
A good chat api provider list.I am doing some research since I am building my own chat app . I am learning the pros, cons, what features people need, what people don’t and so on. This list helped a lot.
Thanks for putting this together here parthibakumar
I have used 2 of listed above one is Sendbird & MirrorFly API. Both of them are really great. But this post had cleared some myths about other chat service providers. Thanks for this informative article.
I was looking for this information relating to best chat platform providers. You have really eased my work, loved your writing skill as well. I like how you have researched and presented these exact points so clearly. Please keep sharing more!
Parthiba, you make EVERYTHING so easy to understand. Thank you soooooo very much. You speak to the very experienced and the professional.
Great information article for a novice to decide free and paid API for chat platform. We get to know the various chat platform and info about them all in one place.
HI Parthiba,
This is actually the first time I am visiting your website. I found it accidentally while searching for some blogs that provide information regarding chat platform providers. I am bookmarking your blog for future reading too as the content here is really useful.
Hoping to come back soon to read more updates.
Thanking you
Vinoth
Excellent article. As I would see it, extraordinary compared to other chat platform is Capture One, despite the fact that learning it is more troublesome than lightroom.
Thanks for this. And Keep writing. Cheers 🙂
My husband and I want to start making chat app for our business, so I wanted tips on chat service providers. I didn’t know you should consider the computer you have when deciding what chat api providersyou want to use. I’ll have to keep that in mind and look around for chat platform that has superb color grading, thanks to this post!
Nice post Parthiba! Some good pointers. I like the suggestions you made in the chat platform providers comparison. That gives some good ideas on what stuff to buy if I ever have the guts to make chat app for my business :).
Very informative and helpful. I want to build own chat app for my business need and it will really help me lot to choose best chat service providers
Thanks !!
Parthiba, you did a super amazing job on this content. it is definitely worth bookmarking. You just inspired me to go ahead and give best chat platform comparison
Thanks, always.
Wow what an Epic Blog post Parthiba thank you so much and I am on the way to select to best chat api providers for dating app definetly this post will help me to get success
Great stuff as always mate. Looking forward to digging into this properly and experimenting!
This is an AMAZING comparsion article about Chat platform providers. Thanks for sharing all the insights and direction on what I can do, both for my own business and my clients.
I look forward to starting to implement these. I appreciate your work Parthiba.
Thanks for another lengthy & super-informative post . Can’t wait to dig in & absorb all the knowledge about chat api providers
Thanks so much for this! I LOVE the tips you provide for free! Just getting started choose best chat platform for business needs and I feel like I have a better idea where to go from here.
A good list.
I am doing some research since I am building my own chat platform . I am learning the pros, cons, what features people need, what people don’t and so on.
This list helped a lot.
Thanks for putting this together.
Thanks. I found a few good ideas in your article and choosing best chat platform providers my mobile app.
Nice post . Great content,your writing is so clear and helpful.good work Parthiba
True….totally agree that chat platform market is booming. It’s a market that can be exploited by anyone. One can even take the help of chat platforms like MirrorFly to take advantage of a booming market
Very Informative blog! Thank You guys, the article is really helpful. It taught me the best chat platform providers. Thank You for sharing your insights.