How You Should Choose a Real Time Chat Solution for Your App

Updated: November 3, 2020
by TJ Salvatore

It's becoming increasingly common to use chat technology in a wide range of apps. This isn't limited to a single industry; many types of apps are using some sort of real-time chat solution or SDK.

If this is something that you're interested in, but you don't know how to choose the right solution for your app, you'll want to keep this advice in mind. Follow these tips, and selecting a solution for your app should be a simple process. 

How You Should Choose a Real Time Chat Solution for Your App

Be Aware of the Benefits the Right Chat SDK Can Provide

Before you can choose an appropriate chat SDK, you'll want to think carefully about the benefits the right SDK would be able to offer you. How will you benefit from the chat tool you use? How will it enhance your app? If you're able to answer these kinds of questions, you'll find it easier to find suitable options.

It can be challenging to pick one from various chat SDKs, if you don't know what you should be looking for. You should think carefully about how you want to utilize a real-time chat tool. You should focus on finding a solution that will deliver everything you're looking for and more. 

Find a Solution That's Within Your Budget

Solution Within Your Budget

When you're investing money in an app, you'll want to make sure that you don't go beyond your budget. You should think carefully about what you're comfortable investing in a chat solution. Once you have that figured out, you'll want to focus on options that will be affordable for you. If you don't have a specific budget in mind, now is the right time for you to come up with one.

You'll find that there are options available at many price points, which means you should be able to find something that works for you without making a significant investment. You shouldn't just look for the best solution available. Instead, you should think about what you want to spend and then search for an option in that price range. Focus on finding a cost-effective solution that will do everything you need it to do. 

Pay Attention to the Features That Different Chat Tools Offer

Not all chat solutions provide the same features. That's why you'll want to look at any options that you're considering carefully. Don't make assumptions about what will or won't be offered. Instead, take the time to learn more about your choices and the different features that you'll be able to try out. When you're evaluating an app, you'll want to look closely at all of the features that it includes.

You may find that certain features will significantly enhance your app. If this is the case, you're going to want to search for a solution with those features. No matter what sort of solution you ultimately choose, you should make sure that you're satisfied with the features that it offers. Being aware of these features also means you'll be able to use them.

Look for Cross-Platform Support

You may not want your app to be limited to a single platform. If you intend to release your app on Android, iOS, and a variety of other platforms, then you're going to want to choose a chat SDK that has cross-platform support. Thankfully, many of the solutions that are available to you will offer this.

If you don't want to be restricted, you'll want to make sure that you won't be. You should focus on finding a solution that provides the kind of cross-platform support you want. As long as you're able to find that, you'll be able to release your app on every platform that you're interested in. 

Make Sure You Have Support for Different Types of Content

Different Types of Content

Likely, many people who will use your chat SDK won't want to be limited to text alone. They may want to use emojis, send images, or even audio files. That's why you'll want to make sure that various types of content will be supported on your chat solution.

Having support for different content types can be helpful even if you're using a chat solution for text support. For example, someone who needs help with a problem might want to send a photo to describe the issue more accurately. Having support for a range of content can make a chat solution a lot more valuable. 

Read Reviews and Ask for Recommendations

It's smart to learn more about all of the options that are available to you. That's why you'll want to read reviews for the chat solutions that you're interested in. You may also want to join online communities so that you can request recommendations.

If you find out that many people have had positive experiences with a particular chat solution, you'll know that it's a tool that you might want to use. Even a single review can tell you a great deal. The more reviews you look at, the more you'll be able to learn. 

Compare Your Top Choices

Once you've found a few different options that could be suitable for you, you'll want to look at those options under the microscope. Focus on comparing and contrasting your top choices so that you can find the solution that's truly best for your needs. A comparison can help you to find a solution that really delivers what you want.

What's the cheapest option available to you? What option offers the most features? What are the pros and cons of different solutions? If you consider things in this way, you'll be able to make a smart choice about what you want to do next. 

Don't know how to choose a real-time chat solution for your app? As long as you know what you should be looking for, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to find something that will work for you. Keep this advice in mind, and you'll be able to pick out something that will work well with your app.

About the Author

A freelancer. A nomad. An LGBTQ and animal rights activist. Love meeting new people, exploring new styles of living, new technologies and gadgets, new ways of making money.

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