Sendbird

Overview

Sendbird is a world-leading communication platform that provides developers with APIs and SDKs to integrate high-quality chat, voice, and video features into their applications. Used by global giants like Reddit, DoorDash, and Hinge, Sendbird handles massive scale, offering everything from basic messaging to advanced AI-powered customer engagement and moderation tools.

What it does

• Provides APIs for real-time 1-on-1 and group chat messaging.
• Enables high-fidelity in-app voice and video calling.
• Offers 'Sendbird AI Chatbot' for automated customer engagement and support.
• Includes advanced moderation tools (image filtering, profanity detection, user banning).
• Features 'Business Messaging' to send notifications and marketing messages via apps.

Who it's for

• Mobile App Developers
• Product Managers
• CTOs
• Enterprise Digital Teams

Why it works

• Scalability: Capable of supporting millions of concurrent users on a single platform.
• Speed to Market: Reduces months of complex infrastructure work to days with ready-made SDKs.
• Reliability: Guarantees 99.9% uptime for mission-critical apps like food delivery or telehealth.
• Global Compliance: Fully compliant with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO standards for secure communication.

Founder story

Founded in 2013 by John Kim (CEO), Harry Kim, Brandon Jeon, and Forest Lee in Seoul, South Korea. The founders originally built a social network for moms (Smile Family) but realized the most valuable part of their tech was the underlying chat infrastructure. They pivoted to 'Sendbird' and moved to San Mateo, California, to scale globally.

Alternatives

• Twilio
• PubNub
• Cometchat
• Stream Messaging

Comparison overview

• Twilio: Stronger for SMS/Telephony; Sendbird is the superior specialist for in-app rich chat and social engagement.
• Stream: A close rival; Sendbird is often preferred by larger enterprises for its deep moderation and scale pedigree.
• Sendbird is the 'Stripe for Chat', the default choice for global-scale apps.