Groove HQ vs Sendbird
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Groove HQ | Sendbird |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $20/seat/mo | From $399/mo |
| Best For | Small businesses needing simple email-based customer support | Developers building custom in-app messaging experiences |
| Standout Feature | Collision detection to prevent duplicate responses | Comprehensive SDK with voice, video, and messaging |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
Groove HQ and Sendbird represent two distinct approaches to customer communication. Groove HQ positions itself as a simple, email-focused help desk solution, while Sendbird specializes in real-time messaging and chat APIs for developers building custom communication experiences.
The fundamental difference lies in their target audiences: Groove HQ serves support teams seeking straightforward ticketing, while Sendbird empowers developers to embed messaging capabilities directly into applications.
Feature Comparison
Groove HQ excels in email management with features like collision detection, shared inboxes, and knowledge base integration. Its strength lies in transforming email chaos into organized workflows.
Sendbird dominates in real-time messaging with WebRTC voice/video calls, message threading, file sharing, and extensive customization options. It's built for developers who need granular control over messaging experiences.
The platforms serve different use cases: Groove HQ for traditional support tickets, Sendbird for in-app messaging, community chat, and customer engagement platforms.
Pricing Comparison
Groove HQ starts at $16/agent/month with straightforward per-seat pricing that includes core features. Enterprise plans add advanced reporting and integrations.
Sendbird uses usage-based pricing starting at $399/month for up to 1,000 monthly active users, with costs scaling based on message volume and concurrent connections. Developer-friendly free tier available for testing.
Total cost depends heavily on use case: Groove HQ is predictable for support teams, while Sendbird costs vary with user engagement levels.
Groove HQ
Pros
- ✓ Simple, clean interface
- ✓ Good for small teams
- ✓ Affordable entry-level pricing
Cons
- ✗ Limited advanced features
- ✗ No modern messaging integrations
- ✗ Basic automation capabilities
Sendbird
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive SDK suite
- ✓ Excellent developer documentation
- ✓ Scalable infrastructure
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for small businesses
- ✗ Complex pricing structure
- ✗ Limited social media integrations
Verdict
Choose Groove HQ if you need a traditional help desk with email-centric workflows and minimal setup complexity. Choose Sendbird if you're building custom messaging experiences or need advanced real-time communication APIs.
Choose Groove HQ if: You need email-based customer support, want quick deployment, and prefer predictable per-agent pricing for traditional help desk operations.
Choose Sendbird if: You're building custom messaging features, need real-time communication APIs, or want to embed chat functionality into your application.
For teams seeking a middle ground with comprehensive customer communication at a flat rate, consider Converge at $49/month for up to 15 agents and channels.
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