Globally, 6.37 billion smartphones are in use and every smartphone user utilizes messaging service on their phones.

This is the right opportunity that businesses should encash upon to be readily available to their customers. To provide exceptional customer experience, companies should choose the best messaging API & SDK to meet their business requirements for their messaging app. In this article, we will discuss the top ranked and reviewed API & SDK providers for 2022.

What do you mean by messaging API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. Messaging API helps the developers to utilize a single programming interface to implement multiple messaging technologies to create an application. It is a ready-to-use solution that does not require backend development. 

In layman language, it is a programming interface that facilitates sending and receiving of text messages and any other attachments within an application. Businesses can integrate messaging API within their existing applications to be able to send and receive messages using the application.  

Comparing the top 5 in app messaging API & SDK providers for mobile app – which is best for 2022

1.CONTUS MirrorFly

CONTUS MirrorFly is an API & SDK provider that businesses can use to build chat applications and integrate chat features into existing mobile and web applications. It is a highly scalable chat messaging API that is capable of supporting millions of users simultaneously. This means businesses of any scale can use CONTUS MirrorFly. Developers can use this chat messaging API to create chat groups, super chat groups, broadcast live streaming content and channels that can connect over a thousand users at the same time.

Features

• Message broadcast
• One-to-one chat
• Group chat
• Push notification
• File transfer
• Cross-platform messaging
• Chat history
• Location sharing
• Geolocation
• File transmission

Pricing

One-time license cost & Monthly Subscription

Advantages

• Easy to use
• Quick integration 
• Round-the-clock customer support
• Low downtime
• Multi-lingual support
• Unlimited channels
• In-app messaging

Disadvantages

• Poor internet connectivity on the user’s end causes an issue with push notifications

Platform

Android, iOS, web applications

2. PubNub

PubNub is a service provider for the transmission of data in real-time between devices. is one of the most secure data streaming networks in the world. PubNub API and SDK is a real-time messaging API that enables users across the world to connect, manage and measure the real-time in-app chat SDK solution in apps and IoT devices. It is popular in the market since it facilitates the developers to build applications for web browsers, mobile, desktop, and server.  

Features 

• One-to-one chat
• Group chat
• Push notifications 
• Manage chat rooms
• Manage users
• Use emojis
• Read receipts
• Save messages

Pricing

$49 per month. Pricing is based on the features that the client chooses in the package.

Advantages 

• Native cross-platform push notifications
• Automatic retry for dropped connections
• Playback of real-time events
• Recording and storing of events
• Channel groups, object metadata 
• Can create channels
• Can send a message over encrypted channels
• Well documented libraries
• Multi-lingual to cater to a global audience

Disadvantages

• Classic HTTP sockets
• High pricing
• Documentation
• The message limit is 1,800 bytes

Platform

Android, iOS

3. Twilio

Twilio Messaging API is a cloud communication service that facilitates text messaging using web service APIs. The real-time messaging API can also be integrated into existing mobile applications. Twilio has a ready-to-use infrastructure for messaging that saves time and money for companies. Businesses can send and receive messages, and retrieve and modify message history using Twilio API & SDK.

Features

• Multi-channel notifications API
• Task routing
• Authorization
• One-to-one chat
• Group chat
• Natural language processing
• Channel creation
• Track message feedback
• Manage messaging service

Pricing

Monthly subscription -a customized plan

Advantages 

• Global user interface
• Reasonable pricing 
• Easy configuration
• Auto-stop feature
• Delete media from a message
• Fetch and update from a message
• Fetch and update shortcodes from the account

Disadvantages

• No live customer support
• Viewing analytics makes UXI heavy
• Not very mobile friendly
• High pricing when compared to competitors
• Need improvement in the reporting dashboard

Platform

Android, iOS

Recommeded to read : A Complete guide to choose the right in-app chat solution for web & mobile

4. Sendbird

Sendbird messaging API facilitates chat messaging on mobile applications and web applications. It is a fully customizable API & SDK that can be used by any business vertical across the world. Sendbird’s native chat SDK is easy-to-use for applications built on JavaScript, Unity, Android, iOS, and Flutter. It also offers voice calls, video calls, and group calls.

Features

• Moderation
• Announcement
• Webhooks
• One-to-one chat
• Group chat
• Offline message
• 100% customizable
• Chat notifications
• Configurable workflow
• Collaboration tools

Pricing

$399/month

Advantages

• Easy-to-build and deploy
• Fully customizable
• Impressive front-end and back-end solution
• Integration with other API & SDK
• Customized solution 
• Customized pricing
• Public and private group chats
• Simplified message monitoring

Disadvantages

• Lack of multi-user per account 
• Lack of flexibility with moderation 
• High-end pricing
• Poor customer support
• Lack of proper documentation

Platform

Mobile application, web application

5. Getstream

Getstream is an easy-to-use instant messaging API for businesses of any size. It is a plug-and-play solution that has an infrastructure for enabling chat in a new application or integrating it into an existing application. Getstream’s SDK helps in in-app engagement, retention, and conversion for organizations that use live chat apps to offer customer support to their clients.

Features

• HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliant
• A secure, private, and reliable solution
• Fully customizable
• Highly scalable
• Multi-tenancy support
• Chat API, SDK, UI/UX kit
• Highly scalable
• Highly reliable
• Machine learning personalization 
• Notification feed
• Timeline feed

Pricing

$499/month $2,299/month based on the package

Customized pricing is also available based on the features and support required by the company

Advantages

• 100% customizable
• Scalable up to 1 million users in a channel
• Multi-tenancy
• Fully secure solution
• One-to-one chat
• Group chat
• Creation of channels within the app
• Can be used to build chat apps within days
• Emoticons and reactions

Disadvantages 

• High-end pricing is not suitable for small businesses 
• 24/7 customer support not available 

Platform

Android, iOS, web applications

Conclusion

Choosing the right in-app messaging API provider matters for app developers like you. A real time messaging API provides tons of features and makes engagement a smooth process for an application. While there are multiple chat messaging APIs available in the market, it is better to invest in a reliable online messaging API provider that offers diverse