Pre-built components
Components
Ethora’s SDK ships every essential chat element — message lists, user avatars, typing indicators, and more — for quick and easy integration.
React Native Chat SDK: Cross-Platform Messaging Component
Build cross-platform chat apps with Ethora’s React Native chat component. Works with Expo and bare React Native — includes 1:1 and group messaging, AI chatbots, file sharing, push notifications, and full UI customization out of the box.
Expo & bare RN
Open-source (AGPL)
1,000 MAU free
Cross-platformOne codebase — iOS & Android
AI chatbots includedWith push notifications built in
Secure by default, at every layer.
End-to-end encryptionSelf-hostableHIPAA-ready
Key Benefits of Ethora Chat SDK
Ethora’s Chat SDK is designed to make building cross-platform chat apps intuitive, no matter what you build them for.
Custom message component
Customizable
A flexible chat component adapts seamlessly to your app’s design and behaviour — feature extensions, layout changes, and theming included.
Live chat experience
Realtime
React Native live chat boosts engagement across platforms. Instant delivery, typing indicators, read receipts, and presence create a natural conversation.
Advanced chatbox
Scale
Built for performance and scale — group messaging, media attachments, and moderation tools that keep a smooth user experience at any size.
One codebase, both platforms
Cross-platform
Ship iOS and Android from a single React Native codebase, then drop to native Swift or Kotlin per screen when you need it — same backend, same data.
Why Choose Ethora Chat SDK for React Native?
Our extensive React chat library integrates easily into your app’s ecosystem, making Ethora a perfect choice for any React Native messaging app.
Comprehensive library
A wide range of ready-to-use components lets you build solutions with minimum code and maximum flexibility.
Seamless integration
Develop quickly and save months of work using your existing React Native devtools.
Scalability and security
Ethora’s backend delivers real-time communication for any number of users, with enterprise-level security keeping conversations private.
Full customization
Ready-to-use UI components are easily customized to match your brand identity and UX.
Everything Included Out of the Box
Whether you’re building a simple messenger or a full support platform, Ethora’s React Native chat SDK ships with every feature you need. Select any feature to see the details.
Instant 1:1 and group message delivery with notifications across iOS and Android, without any friction.
Create private conversations, group chats, and invite-only rooms with member and admin controls.
Native push on both platforms — Apple Push Notification service on iOS and Firebase Cloud Messaging on Android — keeps users engaged.
Let users share images, videos, and documents directly within a conversation for richer, more engaging communication.
Real-time activity indicators make conversations flow naturally and feel immediate.
Let users react to messages with emoji for quick, expressive feedback and a fun, open environment.
Local caching queues messages offline and syncs full history across devices once the connection is restored.
Chat window, message list, input field, and channel selector — drop them in and customize to match your brand.
Get started
Ship cross-platform chat with Ethora’s React Native SDK.
Add secure, real-time messaging to your iOS and Android apps today — no credit card required.
Free tier available
Enterprise SLA
No vendor lock-in
Quick Start: Build a React Native Chat App
Get a fully functional chat app running on iOS and Android in minutes. Ethora’s React Native SDK works with both Expo managed workflow and bare React Native projects.
-
Create a new React Native project
bash# With Expo (recommended for quick start) npx create-expo-app my-chat-app cd my-chat-app # Or with bare React Native CLI npx react-native init MyChatApp cd MyChatApp -
Install the Ethora SDK
bashnpm install @ethora/react-native-sdkThe SDK handles all native dependencies for XMPP connectivity, push notifications, and file uploads. For Expo projects, the managed workflow is fully supported — no ejecting required.
-
Add the chat screen to your app
tsximport { ChatScreen } from "@ethora/react-native-sdk"; export default function App() { return ( <ChatScreen appId="YOUR_APP_ID" appSecret="YOUR_APP_SECRET" /> ); } -
Run on iOS and Android
bash# iOS npx expo start --ios # or: npx react-native run-ios # Android npx expo start --android # or: npx react-native run-androidYour chat app launches with full messaging — 1:1 chats, group conversations, file sharing, push notifications, and typing indicators. To connect your own backend, sign up at app.chat.ethora.com and use your App ID.
The source code is available on GitHub. For enterprise deployments, you can deploy Ethora on your own infrastructure.
Expo and Bare React Native: Both Fully Supported
Whether your team uses Expo’s managed workflow or a bare React Native setup, Ethora’s chat SDK integrates seamlessly. The SDK API is identical in both environments — no code changes when you migrate.
Expo managed
Install with npm only — native modules auto-link via the Expo config plugin. Push through the Expo Notifications API, files via Expo DocumentPicker, plus built-in OTA updates. The fastest way to start.
Bare React Native
Full native access with npm install + pod install. Firebase (Android) and APNs (iOS) push, react-native-document-picker uploads, CodePush updates, and custom native code whenever you need it.
Feature Matrix: What’s Included
Ethora’s React Native chat SDK includes everything you need for production-ready mobile messaging. All chat and AI features are on every plan — you only pay for scale.
| Feature | Free $0/mo | Most popular Business $149/mo | Enterprise Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 and group messaging | Included | Included | Included |
| Push notifications (iOS + Android) | Included | Included | Included |
| File, image & video sharing | Included | Included | Included |
| Typing indicators & read receipts | Included | Included | Included |
| Emoji reactions | Included | Included | Included |
| Offline message queue | Included | Included | Included |
| AI chatbot integration | Included | Included | Included |
| Monthly active users (MAU) | 1,000 | 5,000 | Unlimited |
| Tech support | Community | Email & chat | 24/7 phone |
| SLA guarantee | Not available | 99.9% | 99.99% |
| Self-hosted / on-premises | Not available | Not available | Included |
| End-to-end encryption | Not available | Not available | Included |
| HIPAA / SOC2 compliance | Not available | Not available | Included |
Included Included
Not available
How Ethora Compares to Other React Native Chat SDKs
Evaluating React Native chat SDKs for your mobile app? Here’s how Ethora compares to the main alternatives:
Ethora
StreamCloud only
CometChatCloud only
SendbirdCloud only
Open source
Yes (AGPL)
Partial (UI kit)
No
No
Self-hosted option
Yes (AWS, on-prem)
No
No
No
Free tier
1,000 MAU
Trial only
Trial only
Trial only
AI chatbot built-in
Yes
No
No
Add-on
Expo support
Yes (managed)
Partial
Bare only
Bare only
Native iOS & Android SDKs
Yes (Swift, Kotlin)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Web SDK (React)
Yes (npm)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Protocol
XMPP (ejabberd)
Proprietary
Proprietary
Proprietary
Starting price
Free / $149/mo
$499/mo
$149/mo
$399/mo
Where Ethora wins
6 of 9 categories
2 / 9
1 / 9
1 / 9
Cross-platform with native fallback. Start with React Native to ship iOS and Android from one codebase, then switch individual screens to Ethora’s Swift or Kotlin SDK for platform-specific performance — same backend, so users and history carry over. Unlike cloud-only vendors, Ethora also offers self-hosted deployment for regulated industries like healthcare and finance.
Case studies: in-app chat for iOS and Android
Healthcare: self-hosted patient messaging for a multi-clinic digital health platform in Canada
VITALL is a Canadian digital health platform used by hospitals, clinics and private practices.
Ethora runs as a self-hosted chat server in VITALL’s own AWS account in Canada, with one isolated tenant per clinic, chat in the practitioner portal and in native iOS, Android and React Native patient apps.
Users, rooms and clinics are provisioned by VITALL’s backend through the Ethora API.
- Self-hosted in the customer’s AWS account in Canada
- One isolated tenant per clinic, created by API
- Web portal, iOS, Android and React Native SDKs
Insurance: in-app chat for a workers’ comp health insurance provider (HIPAA compliant)
Atom Advantage provides workers’ compensation and health insurance solutions in the United States.
On Ethora they built Atom Connect: secure, case-based chat between injured workers, nurses and case managers, embedded in their claims portal and a white-label mobile app. HIPAA and SOC 2 compatible.
Less manual work for case managers and a better experience for injured workers.
- Chat embedded in the case managers’ web portal
- White-label iOS and Android app for injured workers
- One secure room per claim, created automatically by API
Education: CRM-integrated member community app for an international honour society
Golden Key International Honour Society recognises high-achieving university students through chapters around the world. Its member app connects them across chapters and countries.
Social sign-on is bridged to existing CRM membership records, with verified email account linking and a verifiable trail for educational certificates.
- Cross-platform iOS and Android app
- CRM-linked member sign-in
- Verified email account linking
Communities: fan chat app with second-screen rooms and digital collectibles
A cross-platform social app uniting the automotive community around racing events.
Fan rooms for teams and drivers, second-screen events, and collectibles handed out and traded through chat bots.
- Cross-platform iOS and Android app
- Fan rooms and second-screen events
- Collectibles distributed in chat
Communities: white-label secure messenger app for iOS and Android
A privacy-focused venture launched its own messenger, HABLAR, on the Ethora engine.
The first branded iOS and Android build ran in the first week; the project then added calls, disappearing messages, screenshot alerts, referrals and in-app purchases.
- Branded iOS and Android app from one codebase
- Chat server, push and QR invites included
- 86 of 86 regression scenarios passed
Energy: dedicated chat server, AI-agent rooms and a React Native app for a procurement platform
Preshent is a US platform for energy-project procurement with AI-driven decision support.
Ethora provides the conversation layer: a chat room per project workspace shared by people and the AI agent, a dedicated chat server in Preshent’s own cloud, push notifications and a React Native app.
- 1,130 chat rooms, one per workspace
- AI agent as a participant in every room
- Dedicated chat server, 99.99%+ uptime
Use Cases for a React Native Chat SDK
Ethora’s React Native chat component runs in production mobile apps across industries.
Healthcare
HIPAA-compliant patient messaging, telehealth chat, and care-team coordination (see the workers’ comp insurance case study above).
Explore healthcareFinancial services
Secure advisor-client messaging with audit trails and compliance-ready records.
Explore financeMarketplaces
Buyer-seller chat, order updates, and dispute resolution in commerce apps.
Explore marketplacesEducation
Student-teacher messaging, classroom chat, and study-group collaboration.
Explore educationOn-demand services
Driver-rider chat, delivery updates, and customer support in field-service apps.
Explore on-demandArchitecture and Technology
Ethora’s React Native chat SDK connects to a robust backend built on battle-tested open-source technologies. The full source is on GitHub under the AGPL license.
Chat protocol
XMPP via ejabberd — the same protocol behind WhatsApp’s messaging. Real-time delivery with presence, typing indicators, and read receipts over persistent connections.
Backend
Node.js API server for authentication, sessions, file storage (MinIO/S3), push dispatch (APNs + FCM), and app configuration.
Frontend
React Native component library with TypeScript support — compatible with Expo managed workflow, bare React Native, and Expo dev client, using native modules for optimal performance.
AI layer
Optional AI chatbots supporting OpenAI GPT-4, Meta Llama, Mistral, and custom models via a RAG pipeline — intelligent assistants living inside your mobile chat.
Database
MongoDB for message persistence, user profiles, chat room metadata, and app-level configuration.
File storage
MinIO (S3-compatible) for images, documents, and media attachments with automatic thumbnail generation.
Feature Availability & Customization
Chat / Messaging
Real-time communication in 1-on-1 or group chats — typing indicators, read receipts, emojis, media sharing, and more.
Social Sign-On
Simple user onboarding via Google, Apple, Facebook, and other providers.
Push Notifications
Instant cross-platform alerts — APNs on iOS, FCM on Android — for new messages and in-app activity.
Theming and Styling
Match chats with your branding quickly and easily through configuration and theming settings.
AI Capabilities
Enhanced user experience with personalized replies, chatbots, and smart content moderation.
Explore Related Solutions
Ethora offers native SDKs for every platform, plus backend and AI capabilities.
Native iOS SDK
Swift-native messaging for the best iOS performance.
Read moreNative Android SDK
Kotlin & Java library for Android apps.
Read moreReact Chat SDK
Open-source chat component for web apps.
Read moreSelf-hosted chat server
Deploy on AWS, Azure, GCP or on-premises with full data control.
Read moreSelf-hosted LLM AI agent
Add AI chatbots to your app with full data privacy.
Read moreAI chat widget
Embed an AI assistant on any website or portal.
Read moreSee pricing plans to get started.
FAQ
How can I customize the chat interface and components?
Ethora provides flexible configuration options and theming settings. You can adjust colours, fonts, layouts, and functionality to match your brand and user needs. Additionally, you can extend or replace components using the available APIs or SDKs for deeper customization.
What features does Ethora Chat SDK offer out of the box?
Out of the box, Ethora's React Native SDK includes: 1:1 and group messaging, push notifications (iOS APNs + Android FCM), file and image sharing, typing indicators, read receipts, emoji reactions, message history with offline sync, user authentication with role-based permissions, AI chatbot integration, user presence indicators, and pre-built UI components (chat window, message list, input field, channel selector). All features are available on every plan, including the free tier.
Is Ethora Chat SDK suitable for building a live chat support system?
Absolutely. Ethora was built for different use cases, including live chat support systems. Its React Native live chat components enable instant messaging and notifications, and support for multiple channels or departments. Also our AI capabilities allow you to create a more efficient and personalized user experience.
What pricing options are available for Ethora Chat SDK?
Ethora offers three plans: Free (1,000 MAU, all chat and AI features, community support), Small Business at $149/month (5,000 MAU, tech support, 99.9% SLA, custom domain), and Enterprise (unlimited MAU, 24/7 phone support, self-hosted/on-premises deployment, end-to-end encryption, HIPAA and SOC2 compliance). All chat features are included on every plan — you only pay for scale and enterprise requirements. No credit card is required for the free tier.
Get started
Start Building with Ethora
Ship your cross-platform chat experience today — free to get started.
Free tier available
Enterprise SLA
No vendor lock-in
