With the proliferation of smartphones and the internet, people expect instant communication, which leads to the demand for messaging apps. Therefore, businesses and individuals rely heavily on in-app chat features apps for seamless communication. As a developer, if you wish to add a chat function with minimal effort, this guide is for you. It will highlight leading platforms offering live chat for Android apps and iOS with their detailed information.
Part 1: Creating Chat Features for Smartphone Apps: 10 Best Chat APIs
Real-time communication is a standard expectation of today’s world from technology, whether they belong to the corporate sector or college. Meanwhile, apps containing high-quality chat features are the most successful ones today. Thus, this section brings app chat APIs to make your app popular and worth using.
1. ZEGOCLOUD
Unlocking a top-tier in-app chat provider for Android and iOS communication app, ZEGOCLOUD. It is equipped with countless developer-friendly communication APIs and SDKs that are easy to integrate. Moreover, it provides more than 20 UIKits and customizable components, which can launch the chat feature in the shortest possible time.
In addition, the added chat feature supports one-on-one chatting and protected conversations. ZEGOCLOUD in-app chat API also facilitates a push notification feature to keep users updated. Plus, it allows users to update their profile personal data and create avatars, providing a world-class messaging experience.
Key Features
- Let users know their message is read through read receipt
- Show the unread message count to bring you back to the chat
- Supports rich multi-media attachment for interactions
- Store and retrieve past conversations from the server
- Create a public channel or private group for conversations
Pricing Plans
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $369
- Enterprise: Contact Us
Website: https://www.zegocloud.com/
2. QuickBlox
This chat API platform can prove a considerable choice for developers wishing to create messaging apps for Android and iOS. It provides app chat APIs and SDKs globally trusted by enterprises, developers, and startups. Additionally, it offers user management, authentication, and custom object options for chat features.
Key Features
- Create private and public groups
- Store and manage media content
- Push notifications to devices
Pricing Plans
- Starter: $107/month
- Growth: $269/month
- HIPAA Cloud: $430/month
- Enterprise: From $647
Website: https://quickblox.com/
3. mesibo
A good API saves developers significant time and effort, allowing them to focus on other core aspects. Therefore, this in-app chat API provider was designed with easy documentation for developers. In addition, it contains geographically redundant infrastructure and is secured with end-to-end encryption to keep users’ chats private and secure.
Key Features
- Send images, videos, and files as attachments in the chat
- Tag location and push notifications
- Typing indicator and search messages
Pricing Plans
- Self-Hosted: $0.01 per monthly active user
Website: https://mesibo.com/
4. PubNub
Organizations design their live chat for Android app and iOS messaging apps to create and execute business logic. Therefore, PubNut offers interactive APIs and SDKs for adding chat functionality to applications for handling communication in a community. Overall, it manages users’ permissions, mentions, presence, and metadata while moderating messages for spam.
Key Features
- Manage unread and historical messages
- Share images, files, and documents
- Empower chat users to send emojis
Pricing Plans
- Platform starter: $98/month
- Platform Pro: Contact sales
Website: https://www.pubnub.com/
5. Sinch
Through its in-app chat APIs and SDKs, Sinch can create and deliver personalized mobile messaging campaigns. It aims to streamline customer interaction in every app by providing personalized conversation channels. Furthermore, Sinch facilitates global phone calls, data, and flash call verification APIs to ensure secure communication.
Key Features
- Send timely notifications via the app
- Provides RCS for guided responses
- Lets you chat through popular channels
Pricing Plans
- Talk to an expert
Website: https://www.sinch.com/
6. TalkJS
This platform claims to integrate innovative messaging features in your Android or iOS app within 10 minutes through its APIs. Although it has flexible APIs and embeddable UIs, developers yet prefer to learn how to create a chat app in Android through its documentation. It’s a dedicated chat API provider with various chat features, aiming to boost user engagement regardless of use cases.
Key Features
- AI chatbots for advanced interaction
- Group and 1:1 call sessions
- Live-stream chat and in-app comments
Pricing Plans
- Basic: $279/month
- Growth: $569/month
Website: https://talkjs.com/
7. ApphiTect
Developing an app is time-consuming, but developers can save some time by using the app chat API from platforms like ApphiTect. This chat API platform offers on-premises hosting to let you host messages with complete control of security and infrastructure. On the other hand, it deploys multi-tenant cloud services and lets you publish the app immediately on the App Store and Play Store.
Key Features
- Cross-platform messaging
- Spell check and file transfer
- Group chat and push notifications
Pricing Plans
- Contact sales
Website: https://www.apphitect.ae/
8. GetStream
To rapidly shape your app’s communication, you can try GetStream API and SDK for chat messaging. This in-app chat provider has a world-class UX and is ready to facilitate communication with HIPAA Telemedicine Chat, marketplaces, virtual events, etc. Moreover, you can add message reactions to your app through this forum, as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp offer.
Key Features
- Show when users were active last time.
- Group chat messages within their replies
- Show text and image previews of URLs
Pricing Plans
- Start: $399/month
- Elevate: $599/month
Website: https://getstream.io/
9. Weavy
Weavy is also a good choice for choosing pre-built collaboration components for developing a communication smartphone app. It also offers secure and scalable APIs and SDKs to integrate chat features in your healthcare, fitness, education, or any other app. Besides, in-app chat API ensures that developers can customize every end of an app and achieve seamless front-end and back-end development.
Key Features
- File previews and contact mention
- AI chatbots for in-app interactions with AI
- Polls and virtual meetings with chat contacts
Pricing Plans
- Pro: $0.09/MEU
Website: https://www.weavy.com/
10. CometChat
Let’s end the app chat APIs and SDK listings by discussing the CometChat platform, which aims to increase user engagement. It supports frameworks like Angular, Vue, React Native, iOS, Android, and WordPress for API integration in apps. Additionally, CometChat Chat API enables app users to communicate beyond text chat through audio, location, file, video, and image attachments in chats.
Key Features
- Unread message count
- Chat history management
- Mentions and friends lists
Pricing Plans
- Growth: $149/month
- Scale: $349/month
Website: https://www.cometchat.com/
Wrapping Up
In short, this guide has provided the top 10 in-app chat APIs and SDK providers for Android and iOS apps. The overview of such messaging APIs and their main features might help you pick a perfect plan based on your budget.