Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CometChat VS SendBird

Compare CometChat VS SendBird and see what are their differences

CometChat logo CometChat

Seamless Real-Time Chat Integration for Your Applications.

SendBird logo SendBird

SendBird is messaging-as-a-service.
  • CometChat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-28

CometChat offers a comprehensive in-app chat SDK platform that equips businesses with the tools to integrate real-time chat, voice, and video into their applications. Our product is packed with versatile features and seamless integrations, making our SDKs, APIs, and UI Kits one of the easiest to use in the industry. Looking for swift launch and effortless management? Use our no-code widget to simply copy and paste your way to a fully integrated in-app chat.

Key functionalities of CometChat encompass sharing capabilities for files and screens, instant language translation, and personalization for layouts, languages, and colors. It also features typing indicators, last-seen notifications, read confirmations, emojis, and stickers.

The cost of the product is calculated based on the number of active users per month, and customer support is provided via email and phone.

  • SendBird Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

CometChat

$ Details
freemium $109.0 / Monthly (Based on the Monthly Active Users (MAUs))
Platforms
Java Kotlin Swift JavaScript ReactJS React Native Flutter Angular
Release Date
-

SendBird

$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
City
San Mateo
Founder(s)
Brandon Y Jeon
Employees
100 - 249

CometChat features and specs

  • Feature-Rich
    CometChat offers a comprehensive suite of features including text, voice, video chat, and more, which makes it versatile for various use cases.
  • Easy Integration
    The platform provides SDKs and APIs for multiple programming languages and frameworks, making it simpler for developers to integrate into their applications.
  • Customizable UI
    Users can customize the user interface to better fit the design aesthetics of their own app, offering flexibility for different branding needs.
  • Scalability
    CometChat is designed to handle a large number of users and messages, making it suitable for both small and large-scale applications.
  • Real-Time Communication
    The platform supports real-time communication, which is crucial for applications requiring instantaneous interaction such as customer support and social networking.
  • Rich Documentation
    CometChat comes with detailed documentation and tutorials, helping developers to easily understand and implement its features.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    The service supports web, iOS, Android, and other platforms, ensuring that you can provide a consistent experience across different devices.

Possible disadvantages of CometChat

  • Cost
    CometChat can be expensive for startups or small businesses compared to some open-source alternatives.
  • Complexity
    While feature-rich, the platform can be overwhelming and complex for developers who need just basic chat functionalities.
  • Limited Free Tier
    The free plan has limited features and usage caps, which may not be enough for apps that are scaling quickly.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite the rich documentation, there might be a learning curve involved, especially for developers who are new to real-time communication technologies.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Using a third-party service means relying on them for availability and performance, potentially leading to vendor lock-in.
  • Performance
    Some users have reported latency issues and performance lags, particularly during peak times, although this can vary based on server location and network conditions.

SendBird features and specs

  • Scalability
    SendBird supports enterprise-level scalability, enabling businesses to handle millions of users and messages with ease.
  • Feature-rich
    The platform offers a wide range of features including chat, voice, and video capabilities, as well as support for rich media, GIFs, and file sharing.
  • Customizability
    SendBird provides extensive APIs and SDKs that allow developers to customize and integrate the chat functionality seamlessly into their applications.
  • Robust moderation tools
    The service includes powerful moderation tools such as profanity filters, user banning, and admin message controls, which are essential for maintaining community standards.
  • Real-time messaging
    SendBird offers low-latency, real-time messaging that ensures a smooth and interactive user experience.
  • Cross-platform support
    SendBird is compatible with various platforms including iOS, Android, and web, which ensures a consistent user experience across devices.
  • Analytics and reporting
    The platform provides comprehensive analytics and reporting tools that help businesses gain insights into user behavior and engagement.

Possible disadvantages of SendBird

  • Cost
    SendBird can be quite expensive, especially for startups and small businesses, with pricing plans that may not be feasible for all budgets.
  • Complex setup
    The platform's extensive features and customization options can result in a steep learning curve and a complex setup process for new users.
  • API limitations
    Some users have reported limitations and restrictions in the API that can hinder more advanced customizations and integrations.
  • Customer support
    While SendBird offers customer support, some users have experienced slower response times and less satisfactory support resolutions.
  • Third-party dependencies
    The platform's performance may be affected by third-party dependencies and integrations, which can introduce unpredictability in service reliability.

Analysis of CometChat

Overall verdict

  • CometChat is a reliable and feature-rich platform that is well-regarded in the industry. It caters to developers looking for an efficient and scalable way to add communication features to their apps, providing a seamless user experience.

Why this product is good

  • CometChat is considered a good solution because it offers a comprehensive chat API and SDKs that enable developers to easily integrate real-time messaging, voice, and video chat functionalities into their applications. It supports a wide range of platforms, ensuring seamless communication across different devices. Additionally, it comes with features like rich media support, moderation tools, and robust security protocols, making it suitable for various use cases.

Recommended for

    CometChat is recommended for developers building applications that require real-time communication features such as messaging, voice, and video chat. It's particularly useful for industries like social networking, online gaming, telehealth, education, and customer support, where interaction is a critical component of the user experience.

Analysis of SendBird

Overall verdict

  • Yes, SendBird is considered a good option for those looking to implement reliable and feature-rich chat functionalities into their applications. Its user-friendly set-up, comprehensive features, and strong support make it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

Why this product is good

  • SendBird is a widely recognized platform for integrating chat functionalities into apps and websites. It is praised for its scalability, robust features, ease of integration, and strong customer support. The platform supports various communication capabilities such as group chats, 1-on-1 messaging, and chat moderation tools, catering to different business needs across industries. Additionally, SendBird provides a comprehensive API and SDKs for smooth and efficient deployment, making it suitable for developers aiming for customizable chat solutions.

Recommended for

    SendBird is recommended for enterprises, startups, and developers looking to enhance user engagement on their platforms with real-time chat features. It is particularly beneficial for industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, social media, and any other vertical that requires efficient user communication solutions.

CometChat videos

iOS Chat App Tutorial - Build a Fully-Featured App in Swift

More videos:

  • Demo - Code an Android Chat App in 30 minutes
  • Tutorial - What is CometChat? Introduction

SendBird videos

Sendbird Launches the Sendbird Calls API for In-app Voice and Video

More videos:

  • Review - The Beginning of SendBird and Entering Silicon Valley

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CometChat and SendBird)
Communication
37 37%
63% 63
Messaging
30 30%
70% 70
Chat SDK
21 21%
79% 79
Social & Communications
100 100%
0% 0

Questions and Answers

As answered by people managing CometChat and SendBird.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

CometChat's answer

-Sendbird

-Twilio

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

CometChat's answer

CometChat provides three methods of implementation. Startups and dev teams can quickly go live with the no-code widgets, while front-end developers can leverage the low-code UI Kits for quick starts and solid business logic. For those who want greater control, the SDKs and APIs offer a solid foundation for building custom messaging experiences.

Whether you're running a social community, marketplace, dating service, on-demand service, or ed-tech platform, CometChat can be tailored to fit your needs.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

CometChat's answer

-Java -Kotlin -Swift -JavaScript -ReactJS -React Native -Flutter -Angular

How would you describe your primary audience?

CometChat's answer

Any business that wants to seamlessly integrate real-time chat features into their applications and websites.

Whether you're running a social community, marketplace, dating service, on-demand service, or ed-tech platform, CometChat can be tailored to fit your needs.

User comments

Share your experience with using CometChat and SendBird. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CometChat and SendBird

CometChat Reviews

15 Best Twilio Alternatives 2022
What’s also great about CometChat is that it offers you more ways to implement their tools than Twilio. With CometChat, you can implement it in one of three possible ways: chat widgets, user interface kits, SDKs, and APIs.

SendBird Reviews

15 Best Twilio Alternatives 2022
Therefore, the biggest Sendbird’s advantage is something Twilio can’t do, and it’s to make an app social which is why Sendbird might be the right alternative for you if you run an app.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SendBird should be more popular than CometChat. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CometChat mentions (4)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2022)
    CometChat | Full Stack / Front-End Engineer | Remote | Full / Part-time Contract CometChat (https://cometchat.com) is an in-app communication platform that's fast and easy to use, with a wide range of integration options from widgets and pre-built UI kits to DIY with SDKs and APIs. We just raised a $10m series A and are growing quickly. We've decided to rebuild our developer documentation platform from scratch... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Feedback on developing with Sendbird or Stream SDK
    I would recommend CometChat. Their Sample apps give you a kickstart. Check out https://cometchat.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What is HIPAA?
    Here at CometChat, we are dedicated to sensitizing you on educational topics that will fill the gap in understanding the role of communicative technologies in improving lives. You can check out our products on our site that you can integrate with your website or app such as CometChat SDK and CometChat UI Kit. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • How to Build a Team Messenger Site With React (Slack Clone)
    Are you inspired enough as a developer? Are you starting your journey as a web developer? Or do you seek to improve your skills to the next level? If you said yes to any of the above questions, then this tutorial is for you. As a developer, you need to get your hands dirty and implement the best set of apps available in the market to get the right people interested in you. In this tutorial, we will be combining... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago

SendBird mentions (14)

  • Chat API pricing: Comparing MAU and per-minute consumption models
    The Monthly Active Users (MAU) model is one of the most widely used pricing models in the industry. Providers like CometChat, Sendbird, Twilio, and Stream charge based on the number of unique active users per month. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • WebSocket vs. HTTP communication protocols
    Fortunately, you don’t need to choose one over the other. The two communication protocols can, and often should, be used together, allowing each to do what it does best. If you need to implement real-time communication and streaming functionality in your applications, check out Sendbird. Sendbird’s APIs and client SDKs handle the technical heavy lifting for in-app chat, calls, and live streaming. Sendbird’s chat... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • SwiftUI vs. UIKit: What is the best choice for building an iOS user interface in 2024?
    After you've analyzed the SwiftUI vs. UIkit comparison, consider adding customer communications to your app to enhance user engagement, retention, and CSAT. You can do this with Sendbird, an all-in-one communications API platform for web and mobile apps. Sendbird's highly abstracted APIs empower developers to build robust and scalable communication experiences (for chat, notifications, and in-app calls) across web... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • 5 Best Instant Messaging APIs
    Sendbird Chat enables developers to implement chat and instant messaging by providing an SDK with ready-made chat UI components. They cover all the essential features you might expect, including voice and video, which makes it possible to deliver a comprehensive experience. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Custom vs. off-the-shelf React web notification systems: Which is better?
    Sendbird focuses on in-app messaging but also offers push notifications. It's designed to be highly customizable and can be a great fit if you want to offer your users a more interactive experience. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing CometChat and SendBird, you can also consider the following products

Digsby - Tagged makes it easy to meet and socialize with new people through games, shared interests, friend suggestions, browsing profiles, and much more.

Twilio - Brings voice and messaging to your web and mobile applications.

Cotap - Cotap is a simple, secure mobile messaging app for fast, easy workplace communication.

GetStream.io - APIs for the development of scalable newsfeeds and chat applications.

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Agora.io - Agora.io is a real-time communications provider delivering video and voice communications across devices and global networks.