iOS Chat SDK: Swift-Native Messaging Component for iOS Apps

Add in-app messaging to your iOS app with Ethora’s Swift-native chat SDK. Modular, secure, and built for performance — supports SwiftUI and UIKit, with 1:1 chat, group messaging, AI chatbots, and push notifications included.

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Swift · SwiftUI & UIKit Open-source (AGPL) 1,000 MAU free

Ethora iOS chat SDK running on iPhone screens

Swift-nativeSwiftUI & UIKit components

AI chatbots includedWith push notifications built in

Secure by default, at every layer.

End-to-end encryptionGDPR & HIPAASelf-hostable

Key Benefits of Ethora Chat SDK for iOS

Everything you need to ship a native-feeling chat experience on iOS — fast, secure, and reliable.

Swift-Native UI Components

Native UI

Build beautiful chat screens with native SwiftUI components. They integrate smoothly into any iOS interface and are easily themed and customized to feel native to your app.

Real-Time Messaging

Realtime

Give your users an engaging live chat for iOS. Power your app with lightning-fast messages, real-time status syncing, read receipts, and typing indicators.

End-to-End Encryption

Security

A smart choice for any app handling sensitive data. Our secure iOS chat SDK encrypts messages at rest and in transit, ensuring data privacy and compliance.

End-to-end encrypted, compliant iOS messaging

Scalable Infrastructure

Scale

Ethora grows with your app, scaling effortlessly as your user base expands. Whether you have 10 or 100,000 users, the SDK handles any userbase without performance loss.

Scalable chat infrastructure for growing apps

Offline Mode Support

Reliability

A reliable iOS chat SDK works even with poor connectivity. Ethora leverages local caching and sync so your app keeps working when the connection is spotty.

Offline message caching and synchronization on iOS

Build High-Performance Chat with Our iOS Chat SDK

Our iOS chat SDK is an open-source solution allowing fast integration while maintaining full customization. It provides a full-stack iOS chat framework that is:

Scalable

Built to handle a growing number of users without re-architecting.

Adaptable

Fits any app architecture, from a simple messenger to a complex product.

Native iOS tooling

Integrates with Xcode, Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit and Swift Package Manager.

Developer-friendly

Clear documentation and idiomatic Swift APIs get your team productive fast.

Supported Features of Our iOS SDK

Whether you’re building a simple messenger or an advanced chat interface, Ethora’s iOS messaging SDK has all the features you may need. Select any feature to see the details.

Add a layer of real-time interaction to your communication. See when another person is composing a message for a natural, conversational feel.

Track the conversation flow and always know when your message was seen — an integral feature of any modern messenger.

Enter a request and quickly find what you need — irreplaceable when you need to locate specific messages, important links, or media.

Make conversations more dynamic by sharing rich media directly within the chat interface — photos, videos, documents, and more.

Apple Push Notification service (APNs) keeps users updated about the latest messages and activity, driving engagement even when the app is closed.

Support both private messages and group conversations, with built-in flexibility for business chats and social apps.

Improve the communication flow with presence indicators — display online/offline status and last activity time for each user.

Let users react to specific messages or media with emoji for quick, expressive feedback.

Get started

Transform communication into a powerful tool with Ethora’s best chat SDK for iOS.

Add secure, real-time messaging to your iOS app today — no credit card required.

Free tier available Enterprise SLA No vendor lock-in

Quick Start: Add Chat to Your iOS App

Ethora’s iOS chat SDK installs via Swift Package Manager and requires iOS 15.0+ with Swift 5.9+. The full source code is open-source on GitHub.

Add the SDK via SPM
In Xcode, go to File → Add Package Dependencies and enter:
text
```
https://github.com/dappros/ethora-sdk-swift
```
Select the XMPPChatCore and XMPPChatUI modules when prompted.

Initialize the SDK

Import the modules and configure the connection to your Ethora backend — either cloud-hosted or self-hosted:

swift

import XMPPChatCore
import XMPPChatUI

// Initialize with your Ethora backend URL and credentials
let config = EthoraConfig(
    host: "your-server.ethora.com",
    appId: "your-app-id"
)
EthoraChat.initialize(config: config)

Present the chat screen

Use the pre-built UI components or build your own views on top of the core messaging layer:

swift

// SwiftUI — present the chat room list
struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        EthoraChatView()
    }
}

// UIKit — push the chat view controller
let chatVC = EthoraChatViewController()
navigationController?.pushViewController(chatVC, animated: true)

Test and launch

Run on a simulator or device, test with TestFlight for beta feedback, then publish to the App Store. Ethora handles the messaging infrastructure so you can focus on your app.

SwiftUI and UIKit: Both Fully Supported

The Ethora iOS SDK is written natively in Swift and organized into two modules that work with both SwiftUI and UIKit projects. Whether you build declarative SwiftUI views or embed components in an existing UIKit app, the SDK integrates without friction — requiring iOS 15.0+, macOS 12.0+, and Swift 5.9+.

SwiftUI developers

Native view components that integrate with the SwiftUI lifecycle and state management. Drop in EthoraChatView and customize colours, fonts, and layout to match your brand.

UIKit developers

Use the same components via UIHostingController, or push the pre-built EthoraChatViewController straight into your navigation stack.

Modular architecture

XMPPChatCore handles XMPP connections, transport, and API integration; XMPPChatUI ships ready-made screens. Use them together, or build entirely custom UI on the core.

iOS Chat SDK Feature Matrix

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 (APNs)	Included	Included	Included
Media & file sharing	Included	Included	Included
Message reactions	Included	Included	Included
User presence & status	Included	Included	Included
Message search	Included	Included	Included
SwiftUI & UIKit components	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

Included Included Not available

How Ethora Compares to Other iOS Chat SDKs

Ethora

Open-source · self-hostable

StreamCloud only

SendbirdCloud only

CometChatCloud only

iOS SDK language

Swift (native)

Swift

Swift / ObjC

Swift

SwiftUI support

Yes (native)

Yes

UIKit-first

Open source SDK

Yes (AGPL)

Yes (partial)

Self-hosted option

Yes

AI chatbots built-in

Yes (RAG, LLM)

Free tier

1,000 MAU

100 MAU (trial)

1,000 MAU

50 users

Paid plans from

$99/mo

$499/mo

$399/mo

$149/mo

HIPAA compliance

Yes

Enterprise only

Managed hosting

Yes (Ethora TechOps)

Cloud only

Where Ethora wins

7 of 9 categories

2 / 9

1 / 9

The bottom line

Stream and Sendbird are established players with large developer communities, but their entry pricing is 4–5x higher and neither offers self-hosted deployment or built-in AI features. Ethora is the strongest choice for iOS developers who need data ownership, compliance support, or AI-powered messaging — at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to self-host for regulated industries like healthcare and finance.

Use Cases for an iOS Chat SDK

From regulated industries to consumer apps, Ethora adapts to how your users communicate.

Healthcare

HIPAA-compliant patient-provider messaging, appointment coordination, and AI triage assistants in iOS health apps.

Explore healthcare

Finance & insurance

Secure advisor-client communication, transaction alerts, and document sharing within wealth management and banking apps.

Explore finance

Education

Student-teacher messaging, study group chats, and AI tutoring assistants in e-learning platforms.

Explore education

Gaming

Real-time team chat, lobby messaging, and community features in mobile games.

Explore gaming

Marketplaces

Buyer-seller communication, order updates, and support chat in commerce apps.

Explore marketplaces

Enterprise

Internal team messaging with SSO integration, role-based access, and self-hosted deployment for full data control.

Explore enterprise

Telehealth

Live chat between patients and care teams, with encrypted media sharing and EHR integration.

Explore telehealth

Architecture and Technology

Ethora’s iOS SDK connects to a proven backend stack designed for enterprise-grade messaging. The source code is available at github.com/dappros/ethora-sdk-swift — requires iOS 15.0+, macOS 12.0+, and Swift 5.9+.

Chat protocol

XMPP (ejabberd) for real-time messaging over WebSocket transport — reliable delivery and presence management.

API layer

Node.js / TypeScript REST API for users, rooms, authentication, file uploads, and push registration.

Database

MongoDB for message history and user data, Redis for caching and session management.

File storage

MinIO (S3-compatible) for media attachments, documents, and profile images.

Push notifications

Native Apple Push Notification service (APNs) integration via Ethora’s push service, with rich notifications.

AI layer

Optional RAG chatbots, self-hosted LLM agents, and MCP server for intelligent assistants.

Feature Availability & Customization

Chat / Messaging

Real-time communication in 1-on-1 or group chats — typing indicators, read receipts, emojis, media sharing, and more.

Available Customizable

Social Sign-On

Simple user onboarding via Sign in with Apple, Google, and other providers.

Available Customizable

Push Notifications

Instant APNs notifications about new messages, mentions, or other in-app activity.

Available Customizable

Theming and Styling

Match chats with your branding quickly and easily through SwiftUI configuration objects.

Available Customizable

AI Capabilities

Enhanced user experience with personalized replies, chatbots, and smart content moderation.

Available Customizable

Explore Related Solutions

Building for multiple platforms? Ethora offers SDKs for every stack.

Android Chat SDK

Kotlin & Java messaging library for Android apps.

React Native Chat SDK

Cross-platform mobile chat with a single codebase.

React Chat SDK

Open-source chat component for web apps.

Self-hosted chat server

Deploy on AWS, Azure, GCP or on-premises for enterprise-grade control.

Self-hosted LLM AI agent

Add AI chatbots to your iOS app with full data privacy.

See pricing plans to get started.

FAQ

Is Ethora SDK compatible with both Swift and Objective-C?

The Ethora iOS SDK is written natively in Swift and uses Swift Package Manager for distribution. Swift is the primary language, with the SDK organized into XMPPChatCore and XMPPChatUI modules. Objective-C projects can use the SDK through Swift interoperability — import the Swift modules into your Objective-C codebase via bridging headers. All UI components are built in SwiftUI and can be embedded in UIKit apps using UIHostingController.

Can I use Ethora for both group and one-on-one chats?

Yes, Ethora’s SDK supports both group and one-on-one chats. You can also add typing indicators, read receipts, emojis, media sharing, and other features to both. Everything depends on your needs and vision.

Does the SDK support push notifications on iOS?

Our SDK integrates with Apple Push Notification service (APNs) and supports real-time alerts for new messages, mentions, and other in-app activity.

How customizable is the UI?

The XMPPChatUI module provides ready-made SwiftUI views for room lists, message bubbles, input bars, and media pickers. You can customize colours, fonts, spacing, and layout through configuration objects. For deeper customization, you can use the XMPPChatCore module directly and build entirely custom views on top of the messaging layer, giving you full control over every pixel.

Is offline messaging supported?

Ethora iOS SDK supports offline messaging by caching and local messaging. This enables users to compose and read messages even without an internet connection. When the connection is restored the SDK automatically syncs all updates in the chat history.

Is Ethora iOS SDK GDPR and HIPAA compliant?

Ethora is compliant with both GDPR and HIPAA. We designed it to align with regulatory requirements and be suitable for different industries including those where privacy is paramount (e.g., healthcare, finance). Our solution supports security features like end-to-end encryption and secure user authentication.

Can I host Ethora on my own servers?

Yes. Ethora offers self-hosted deployment on AWS, Azure, GCP, or your own on-premises infrastructure. Your iOS 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.

Get started

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Start building your iOS chat experience today — free to get started.

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Free tier available Enterprise SLA No vendor lock-in

iOS Chat SDK: Swift-Native Messaging Component for iOS Apps

Key Benefits of Ethora Chat SDK for iOS

Swift-Native UI Components

Real-Time Messaging

End-to-End Encryption

Scalable Infrastructure

Offline Mode Support

Build High-Performance Chat with Our iOS Chat SDK

Scalable

Adaptable

Native iOS tooling

Developer-friendly

Supported Features of Our iOS SDK

Transform communication into a powerful tool with Ethora’s best chat SDK for iOS.

Quick Start: Add Chat to Your iOS App

Add the SDK via SPM

Initialize the SDK

Present the chat screen

Test and launch

SwiftUI and UIKit: Both Fully Supported

SwiftUI developers

UIKit developers

Modular architecture

iOS Chat SDK Feature Matrix

How Ethora Compares to Other iOS Chat SDKs

Use Cases for an iOS Chat SDK

Healthcare

Finance & insurance

Education

Gaming

Marketplaces

Enterprise

Telehealth

Architecture and Technology

Chat protocol

API layer

Database

File storage

Push notifications

AI layer

Feature Availability & Customization

Chat / Messaging

Social Sign-On

Push Notifications

Theming and Styling

AI Capabilities

Explore Related Solutions

Android Chat SDK

React Native Chat SDK

React Chat SDK

Self-hosted chat server

Self-hosted LLM AI agent

FAQ

Is Ethora SDK compatible with both Swift and Objective-C?

Can I use Ethora for both group and one-on-one chats?

Does the SDK support push notifications on iOS?

How customizable is the UI?

Is offline messaging supported?

Is Ethora iOS SDK GDPR and HIPAA compliant?

Can I host Ethora on my own servers?

Sign Up on Ethora

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