In-app chat allows continuous and contextual engagement between businesses and users. It goes beyond just resolving issues to providing personalized support, guidance, and recommendations.
However, not all in-app chat solutions are created equal. The right platform can take your customer and user relationships to new heights.
This comprehensive guide dives into the 11 most capable in-app chat providers that can supercharge engagement. From niche capabilities to pricing models, get the complete low-down to determine which one fits your needs.
Defining In-App Chat and Its Benefits
In-app chat facilitates real-time, two-way text and multimedia communication within a mobile or web application. Users can instantly access help and support without leaving the app interface.
Compared to in-app messaging, chat enables interactive conversations as against one-way information sharing. Both collectively enhance user engagement for apps.
For businesses, in-app chat solutions provide:
- Perpetual user experience with no disruptions
- Personalized and contextual customer support
- Proactive technical troubleshooting within the app
- Upsell opportunities based on usage data
Now let‘s explore some leading tools to build in-app chat.
OneSignal: Robust In-App Messaging
While OneSignal isn‘t a full-fledged chat solution, its in-app messaging capabilities deserve a mention.
It lets you create pop-ups, prompts, and targeted campaigns without coding. You also don‘t need app store approval.
Notable features:
- Pre-made messaging templates
- Built-in analytics for optimization
- Caters to ecommerce carts, surveys, referrals etc.
OneSignal offers a free forever plan for up to 10,000 monthly active users (MAUs). Scalable paid plans are also available.
CometChat: Full-Stack In-App Chat SDK
CometChat provides a turnkey chat SDK for mobile and web apps. With support for 30+ languages, it enables text, voice, video messaging and calling.
Standout features:
- Drop-in SDK installation and setup
- One-on-one and group messaging
- Media sharing capabilities
- SDKs for Swift, Kotlin, React Native etc.
It has a free developer plan for testing. For unrestricted access, paid subscriptions are available.
Freshchat: Chat Meets Comprehensive Support
Beyond in-app chat, Freshchat provides customer service capabilities like:
- Intelligent chatbot creation
- Integration with WhatsApp Business
- Omnichannel messaging via web widgets
- Canned responses to save time
- Workflow automation for ticket routing
Supported in 33+ languages, it has a free plan for 100 agents. Upgrade via paid plans as required.
PubNub: Swift In-App Chat Setup and Deployment
PubNub expedites adding chat capabilities into apps via its real-time infrastructure and robust SDKs.
Critical features include:
- Media sharing attachments
- Read receipts and typing indicators
- User controls like banning and preferences
- Spam filtering and profanity control
PubNub‘s global chat network starts free for up to 1 million messages monthly. Higher tiers offer unlimited scale.
In-App Chat: Intelligent Chatbots for Automated Support
As the name suggests, In-App Chat specializes in in-app customer engagement powered by AI chatbots.
One or more bots can mimic human conversations to resolve common queries. Complex questions get routed to live agents.
The free plan supports 5,000 monthly active users. For more, pick suitable paid plans.
Twilio Conversations: Flexible In-App Chat APIs
Leading communications platform Twilio offers programmatic building blocks to add chat capabilities.
It provides pre-built SDKs and widgets along with REST APIs. This simplifies the integration complexity for developers.
You can also connect messaging across channels like WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, SMS etc.
Firebase by Google: Visually Build Contextual Campaigns
Google‘s Firebase enables creating targeted and contextual in-app campaigns with minimal coding.
For instance, prompt users to rate apps, offer first-time discounts, suggest related products etc. based on their journey.
Its visual editor and pre-defined event triggers simplify set up without extensive developer help.
MirrorFly: Add Robust Chat Capabilities Like Live Video
Mirrorfly equip apps with full-fledged messaging abilities like audio/video calling, offline messages, push notifications and more.
It also provides essential security aspects like encryption plus spam and fraud prevention.
MirrorFly has a free trial to test drive its platform. Paid plans unlock higher usage limits.
Stream Chat: Enterprise-Grade Scalable Messaging
Stream offers a secure and full-featured chat API to create custom in-app experiences quickly.
Its top highlights:
- HIPAA and GDPR compliant infrastructure
- Support for millions of concurrent chatters
- Add-ons like reactions, threads and typing indicators
- Analytics to optimize engagement
Stream provides a 30-day free trial to build real-time features. It offers metered plans for unlimited scale.
ZEGOCLOUD: Audio/Video Chat SDK for Gaming Apps
Tailored for interactive apps like games and live streaming, ZEGOCLOUD allows embedding chat along with audio/video communication.
It ensures low latency connections vital for uninterrupted experiences through optimized network routing.
ZEGOCLOUD offers 10,000 free minutes monthly to try out its high quality SDKs. Purchase add-on capacity as required.
Intercom: Consolidated Customer Engagement Suite
For end-to-end communication, Intercom converges chat, email, in-app messaging, bots, support tickets and workflows in one platform.
It provides the tools to track users across touchpoints and craft targeted campaigns to convert them. Customers get a unified experience whether on websites, mobile or other channels.
Intercom has customized pricing based on key requirements like number of contacts, data history etc.
Final Thoughts
In-app chat magnifies customer experiences by enabling conversations in context. The handy guide above summarizes the most versatile business solutions to match needs and use cases.
Many offer freemium versions to validate capabilities. For the best ROI, opt for tools aligning with scalability and integration requirements.
With robust in-app chat powering next-gen engagement, let users connect on their terms 24×7 across platforms.
