Add real-time messaging to your Android app with Ethora’s open-source chat SDK. Supports both Kotlin and Java, with 1:1 and group chat, AI chatbots, push notifications, file sharing, and full UI customization. Install via Gradle and start building in minutes.
Everything you need to ship a native-feeling chat experience on Android — fast, secure, and reliable.
Native UI
In our SDK, you’ll find message bubbles, typing indicators, conversation lists, and other UI components. All of them are fully configurable, making it ideal for building in-app chat Android experiences that feel native to your app.
Realtime
Real-time chat for Android apps guarantees the instant delivery of messages and synchronization across devices, as well as eliminates lags during communication.
Security
End-to-end encryption, compliance with data privacy requirements (GDPR/CCPA), and options for message auditing and moderation make Ethora a fully secure chat SDK for Android.
Reliability
Ethora includes local message caching and synchronization to provide communication even if you’re in a place without a stable internet connection.
Performance
Our SDK runs efficiently even on low-spec devices. Its optimized codebase allows you to build a live chat for Android apps without slowing it down or draining the battery life.
Our Android chat SDK is an open-source solution allowing fast integration while maintaining full customization. It provides a full-stack Android chat framework that is:
Built to handle a growing number of users without re-architecting.
Fits any app architecture, from a simple messenger to a complex product.
Integrates with Android Studio, Kotlin, Java and standard Android libraries.
Clear documentation and idiomatic APIs get your team productive fast.
Whether you’re building a simple messenger or an advanced chat interface, Ethora’s Android messages SDK has all the features you may need. Select any feature to see the details.
Let users react to messages with emoji for quick, expressive feedback.
Show when someone is composing a message for a real-time, conversational feel.
Share images, files and documents directly within a conversation.
Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) delivers instant alerts for new messages and activity.
Support both 1:1 conversations and group chats with member and admin controls.
Keep conversations organized with threaded replies to specific messages.
Show delivery and read status so users always know when a message was seen.
Add secure, real-time messaging to your Android app today — no credit card required.
Ethora’s Android SDK installs via Gradle and supports both Kotlin and Java projects. The full source code is open-source on GitHub.
Add the Ethora SDK to your module-level build.gradle:
dependencies {
implementation ‘com.ethora:chat-sdk:latest’
}Sync your project and ensure you have minSdkVersion 24 or higher.
In your Application class or main Activity, configure the connection to your Ethora backend — either cloud-hosted or self-hosted:
// Kotlin
val config = EthoraConfig.Builder()
.setHost("your-server.ethora.com")
.setAppId("your-app-id")
.build()
EthoraChat.initialize(applicationContext, config)// Java
EthoraConfig config = new EthoraConfig.Builder()
.setHost("your-server.ethora.com")
.setAppId("your-app-id")
.build();
EthoraChat.initialize(getApplicationContext(), config);Use the pre-built chat Activity or Fragment, or build custom UI on top of the messaging core:
// Launch the chat room list
val intent = EthoraChatActivity.newIntent(this)
startActivity(intent)
// Or embed as a Fragment
supportFragmentManager.beginTransaction()
.replace(R.id.container, EthoraChatFragment())
.commit()Run on emulators and physical devices, distribute beta builds via Firebase App Distribution or Google Play internal testing, then publish to Google Play. Ethora handles the messaging infrastructure so you can focus on your app.
The Ethora Android SDK is written in Kotlin but provides full Java interoperability. Whether your project uses Kotlin, Java, or a mix of both, the SDK integrates without friction. It supports Android API level 24+ (Android 7.0 Nougat and above), covering 97%+ of active devices, and works with Android Studio, Gradle, and ProGuard/R8.
Idiomatic Kotlin APIs with coroutine support for async messaging, extension functions, and sealed classes for type-safe event handling.
Java-friendly interfaces with callback patterns, Builder classes for configuration, and standard Android lifecycle integration.
Compose-compatible components for modern Android UIs. Use composable chat screens alongside traditional XML layouts in the same project.
All features are included in every plan. Higher plans add infrastructure capacity and support options.
| Feature | Free $0/mo | Most popular Business $99/mo | Enterprise Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 and group messaging | Included | Included | Included |
| Typing indicators & read receipts | Included | Included | Included |
| Push notifications (FCM) | Included | Included | Included |
| Media & file sharing | Included | Included | Included |
| Message reactions | Included | Included | Included |
| User presence & status | Included | Included | Included |
| Message threading | Included | Included | Included |
| Kotlin & Java support | Included | Included | Included |
| AI chatbots | Included | Included | Included |
| End-to-end encryption | Included | Included | Included |
| Monthly active users | 1,000 | 5,000 | Unlimited |
| Concurrent connections | 100 | 250 | Unlimited |
| Tech support & SLA | Community | 99.9% SLA | 24/7 + dedicated |
| Self-hosted deployment | Not available | Not available | Included |
| Source code access (server) | Not available | Not available | Optional |
Ethora
The bottom line
Stream and Sendbird are well-known Android chat SDKs, but their entry pricing is 4–5x higher and neither offers self-hosted deployment or built-in AI features. Ethora provides the same core messaging at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to self-host for compliance-sensitive industries like healthcare and finance.
From regulated industries to consumer apps, Ethora adapts to how your users communicate.
HIPAA-compliant patient-provider messaging, care coordination, and AI triage assistants in Android health apps.
Explore healthcareSecure advisor-client communication, transaction alerts, and document sharing within banking and wealth apps.
Explore financeStudent-teacher messaging, study group chats, and AI tutoring assistants in e-learning platforms.
Explore educationBuyer-seller communication, order updates, and support chat in commerce apps.
Explore marketplacesInternal team messaging with SSO integration, role-based access, and self-hosted deployment for full data control.
Explore enterpriseDriver-rider or provider-customer chat in delivery, ride-hailing, and field service apps.
Explore on-demandEthora’s Android SDK connects to a proven backend stack designed for enterprise-grade messaging.
XMPP (ejabberd) for real-time messaging over WebSocket transport — reliable delivery and presence management.
Node.js / TypeScript REST API for users, rooms, authentication, file uploads, and push registration.
MongoDB for message history and user data, Redis for caching and session management.
MinIO (S3-compatible) for media attachments, documents, and profile images.
Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) integration via Ethora’s push service.
Real-time communication in 1-on-1 or group chats — typing indicators, read receipts, emojis, media sharing, and more.
Simple user onboarding via Google, Facebook, and other providers.
Instant notifications about new messages or other in-app activity.
Match chats with your branding quickly and easily.
Enhanced user experience with personalized replies and smart content moderation.
Building for multiple platforms? Ethora offers SDKs for every stack.
Swift-native messaging component for iOS apps.
Read moreCross-platform mobile chat with a single codebase.
Read moreOpen-source chat component for web apps.
Read moreDeploy on AWS, Azure, GCP or on-premises for enterprise-grade control.
Read moreAdd AI chatbots to your Android app with full data privacy.
Read moreSee pricing plans to get started.
Yes. The Ethora Android SDK is open-source and available at github.com/dappros/ethora-sdk-kotlin. You can inspect, fork, and modify the code. The SDK is licensed under AGPL. Commercial licenses are available for projects that require different terms — see pricing for details.
Our Android chat SDK supports both 1-on-1 chats and group chats, as well as additional features for conversations like group creation, member management, admin controls, media sharing, etc.
Yes, we support caching and local messaging to provide the ability to access messaging history and queue messages even without connection to the internet. Once the connection is restored, messages will be delivered.
We use end-to-end encryption to ensure secure data transmission. With Ethora your communications remain completely private.
Yes. Ethora offers self-hosted deployment on AWS, Azure, GCP, or your own on-premises infrastructure. Your Android app connects to your dedicated server instead of the shared cloud, giving you full control over data, compliance, and security. Enterprise plans include managed deployment by Ethora TechOps with an SLA.
Yes, you can modify them according to your needs. Style, extend, or replace any element to match the app’s design and UX requirements.
Start building your Android chat experience today — free to get started.
