# Hibira vs TalkJS: chat APIs compared

> TalkJS includes a finished chat interface and starts at $279 a month for 10,000 users; Hibira starts free for 500 users and $49 for 1,000, on a plain JSON API.

Source: https://hibira.io/compare/talkjs
Updated: 2026-11-10

TalkJS is a chat API with a ready-made chat interface you drop into a page, priced for apps with thousands of users. Hibira's Chat API covers the same core, stored conversations with read receipts, unread counts and push to offline users, with plans that start small. The differences are where pricing starts and how much of the interface is ready.

## At a glance

| | TalkJS | Hibira Chat API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free plan | Development mode with every feature, not for live users | 500 monthly active users, in production too |
| First paid plan | Basic: $279 a month with 10,000 monthly active users; extra users $0.04 each | Chat 1K: $49 a month for 1,000 monthly active users |
| Next plan | Growth: $569 a month with 25,000 monthly active users; extra users $0.03 each | Chat 5K $149, 20K $349, 60K $799 a month; paying yearly gets two months free |
| Message history | Unlimited | Last 30 days always; with a Chat add-on, older messages are archived and still returned by the API |
| Ready-made interface | A complete chat interface you embed, with themes | A React and JavaScript conversation view in @hibira-io/chat-ui, and a Filament chat page |
| Realtime events beyond chat | Not part of the product | The same connection carries your other realtime features |

TalkJS figures are from its [pricing page](https://talkjs.com/pricing/), checked on 2026-11-10.

Hibira's Chat API plans are on the [Chat API page](https://hibira.io/chat).

## When TalkJS is the better fit

- You want a finished, themeable chat interface with as little front-end work as possible.
- You already have close to 10,000 active chat users: TalkJS Basic includes them for $279 a month.

## When Hibira is the better fit

- You are starting out: 500 users are free in production and 1,000 cost $49 a month.
- You want your own interface, or the ready view in @hibira-io/chat-ui, on top of a plain JSON API.
- Your app also needs realtime features beyond chat, such as live updates or presence, on the same connection.
- Your users read Chinese, Japanese or Korean, and the word filter and search should understand them.

See what the API does on the [Chat API page](https://hibira.io/chat) and build the interface with [@hibira-io/chat-ui](https://hibira.io/guides/chat-ui).

## Common questions

### Is Hibira an alternative to TalkJS?

Yes, for in-app chat with stored history, read receipts, unread counts, reactions, files, moderation and push to offline users. TalkJS gives you a more finished interface; Hibira starts cheaper and shares a connection with your realtime features.

### How much does TalkJS cost?

On 2026-11-10, TalkJS Basic cost $279 a month with 10,000 monthly active users and Growth $569 a month with 25,000, with development mode free. Source: [TalkJS pricing page](https://talkjs.com/pricing/).

### What counts as a monthly active user on Hibira?

A user who sends a message or marks a conversation read in a calendar month (UTC), counted once across all of your apps. People who only receive messages aren't counted.