ax-check.com
by Gauge
S
Sendbird
sendbird.com
ax-check.com
Checked 30 September 2026
A
100/100
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Sendbird docs, quickstart, and pricing are all readable at a glance.
18 of 23 checklist items pass with zero attention flags; pricing tiers, MAU limits, and overage rules are stated plainly on the page.
1 fix to start with
Concrete changes, backed by what we found.
Recorded coding sessions
Same task, 3 models, no sendbird.com account. Recorded 30 September 2026 on Pi.
3 recorded · 1m 50s
1m 50s · recorded
Session findings
Select a finding to see it in context.
›Thinking…
The user is asking about Sendbird, wanting to build a simple example, be informed about pricing, and know whether the product is easy to manage. Also, they want me to let them know if I get stuck, or to stop if there's no executable developer workflow.
Let me check the environment: do I have network access, is there an API key, etc. Sendbird requires an application ID and API token from the dashboard, so without credentials I'll probably be stuck. Let me check the repo and environment variables.
✓$ ls -la /sandbox/repo; env | grep -iE 'sendbird|api_key|token' | sed 's/=.*/=<set>/'✓└{"content":[{"text":"total 16\ndrwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Sep 18 08:00 .\ndrwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 Sep 30 04:14 ..\ndrwxr-xr-x 8 root root 4096 Sep 24 20:05…ctrl+o
{"content":[{"text":"total 16\ndrwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Sep 18 08:00 .\ndrwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 Sep 30 04:14 ..\ndrwxr-xr-x 8 root root 4096 Sep 24 20:05 .git\n-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 408 Sep 18 08:00 .gitignore\nPI_GATEWAY_API_KEY=<set>\n","type":"text"}]}✓$ curl -s -m 8 -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' https://api-2.sendbird.com/ 2>&1; echo✓└{"content":[{"text":"000\n","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
No network access to the Sendbird API (curl returned 000 — connection failed). No Sendbird credentials either. Let me double-check whether there's any network connectivity at all.
✓$ curl -s -m 8 -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' https://api.sendbird.com/platform/v1/applications 2>&1; curl -s -m 8 -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' https://www.google.com 2>&1✓└{"content":[{"text":"404\n200\n","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
The network is working. Sendbird Platform API: the actual endpoint is https://api-{version}.sendbird.com/platform/v1/..., which requires an application ID and API token. Without credentials, you can't create an application via the API (in practice, Sendbird's Platform API requires authentication). Since application creation requires the dashboard, it's not possible to provision an app via the API without an API token.
In other words: I'm blocked on credentials. However, I can write the sample code (SDK-based quickstart) and explain the pricing. The user said "let me know if you get blocked." So I should build the sample code, and then explain that live execution requires Sendbird credentials (application ID + API token from the dashboard) that I don't have, and that I couldn't verify the endpoints.
First, let me quickly check the reachability of the platform API to confirm it's a hosted product (without credentials, it'll return 401).
✓$ curl -s -m 8 https://api-2.sendbird.com/platform/v1/applications -H 'Content-Type: application/json' | head -c 400; echo✓└{"content":[{"text":"\n","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
Empty response (earlier, when accessing api-2.sendbird.com/, 000 = connection failed). Let me check the DNS.
✓$ getent hosts api-2.sendbird.com api.sendbird.com sendbird.com; curl -sv -m 8 https://api.sendbird.com/ 2>&1 | tail -5✓└{"content":[{"text":"2406:da14:e06:a240:25d3:dd98:13e8:d09a api-direct-ap-1.sendbird.com api.sendbird.com\n2406:da14:e06:a241:b542:890e:d0f4:29ae api-direct-ap-…ctrl+o
{"content":[{"text":"2406:da14:e06:a240:25d3:dd98:13e8:d09a api-direct-ap-1.sendbird.com api.sendbird.com\n2406:da14:e06:a241:b542:890e:d0f4:29ae api-direct-ap-1.sendbird.com api.sendbird.com\n75.2.60.5 sendbird.com\n99.83.231.61 sendbird.com\n< strict-transport-security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains\r\n< \r\n{ [52 bytes data]\n* Connection #0 to host api.sendbird.com left intact\n{\"message\": \"SendBird API Endpoint.\", \"error\": true}","type":"text"}]}›Thinking…
api.sendbird.com is reachable. api-2.sendbird.com failed DNS resolution (maybe IPv6-only routing). Let's test the platform API endpoint with curl on api.sendbird.com:
The Sendbird Platform API format is https://api-{version}.sendbird.com/platform/v1/..., where version is obtained from the dashboard. Actually, in recent Sendbird docs, you use https://api-{region-version}.sendbird.com. Hmm. There's also a legacy https://api.sendbird.com/v3/{application_id}/... .
Either way, without credentials (application ID + API token), we can't make live API calls. Provisioning an application requires creating an account/dashboard. In other words, this is a blocker in live testing, but we can write sample code following the quickstart. That's what "light" mode means: use the hosted product via SDK/API, and write code even if we can't run it live without credentials.
Let's test the platform v1 endpoint on api.sendbird.com and confirm the auth error (to verify the API surface).
✓$ curl -s -m 8 https://api.sendbird.com/platform/v1/applications -H 'Content-Type: application/json' | head -c 300; echo; node --version; npm --version✓└{"content":[{"text":"{\"message\":\"Invalid SendBird API Endpoint URL\",\"error\":true}\nv22.23.2\n10.9.8\n","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
Platform API requires a versioned host (api-{version}.sendbird.com). No problem.
Plan: Create a small sample project — a Node.js script that demonstrates the following:
- Sendbird Platform API calls (creating users, sending admin messages) — requires SENDBIRD_APP_ID + SENDBIRD_API_TOKEN.
- Optionally, a sample of the JS SDK chat client (@sendbird/chat).
npm install is possible (network is working). Keep it lightweight: npm install the SDK and write a script that sends a message between two users via the Platform API, then a JS SDK example file. If credentials are absent, run in dry-run mode.
Pricing: Sendbird pricing is based on MAU (monthly active users). Plans: Launch (free tier up to 100 MAU?), Core, and Enterprise... Recalling current Sendbird pricing (as of 2024–2025): Starter/Free — 100 MAU free; paid plans are based on MAU tiers. Example: Core is about $99/month up to a certain MAU? Actually, Sendbird pricing: free up to 100 MAU; then billed on an MAU basis. UI Kit/Calls are priced separately. Should describe it in general terms: usage-based billing by MAU, free sandbox tier, overages billed; for accurate figures, check sendbird.com/pricing. Be honest about uncertainty.
Maintainability: Hosted SaaS, REST API + SDK, API token from dashboard — API-driven, no local stack needed, so relatively easy for me to manage; the main obstacle is that the credentials are only obtainable from the dashboard (requires a human account).
Create the project:
sendbird-example/
- package.json
- README.md
- platform-api-example.mjs (admin API: create users, open channel, send messages, list messages)
- sdk-chat-example.mjs (JS SDK: connect as user, send message) — the SDK usually requires a browser, but @sendbird/chat also works on Node.
Install @sendbird/chat via npm. Test with no credentials → dry-run output.
The network and npm are working, and Sendbird's hosted API is reachable too — so this is something I can handle. I'll make a note of the main blockers up front: Provisioning an app requires dashboard credentials (Application ID + API token), and these can only be obtained from a human-created Sendbird account. I'll build the example using the SDK/API right now, and make sure it runs in dry-run mode until credentials are provided.
✓$ mkdir -p /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example && cd /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example && npm init -y >/dev/null && npm install @sendbird/chat >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo installed && npm ls @sendbird/chat✓└{"content":[{"text":"installed\nsendbird-example@1.0.0 /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example\n└── @sendbird/chat@4.22.13\n\n","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
The SDK is already installed. Next I'll write an example. Two files:
-
platform-api-example.mjs— REST Platform API: create two users, create an open channel, send admin messages, read the messages. Environment variables are required: SENDBIRD_APP_ID, SENDBIRD_API_TOKEN, SENDBIRD_API_VERSION (the host is api-{version}.sendbird.com). -
sdk-chat-example.mjs— @sendbird/chat SDK: connect as a user, send a message to an open channel. Only the app ID is needed.
Dry-run mode when there are no credentials.
✓write /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs✓└{"content":[{"text":"Successfully wrote 3351 bytes to /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs","type":"text"}]}
✓write /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/sdk-chat-example.mjs✓└{"content":[{"text":"Successfully wrote 1948 bytes to /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/sdk-chat-example.mjs","type":"text"}]}
›Thinking…
I'll write the README and verify the script's behavior with a dry run. I'll also verify that the SDK example can be imported correctly (dry run).
✓write /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/README.md✓└{"content":[{"text":"Successfully wrote 1534 bytes to /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/README.md","type":"text"}]}
✓$ cd /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example && node platform-api-example.mjs && echo --- && node sdk-chat-example.mjs✓└{"content":[{"text":"No credentials found -> DRY RUN. Set SENDBIRD_APP_ID, SENDBIRD_API_TOKEN, SENDBIRD_API_VERSION to run live.\n\n[dry-run] POST https://api-<…ctrl+o
{"content":[{"text":"No credentials found -> DRY RUN. Set SENDBIRD_APP_ID, SENDBIRD_API_TOKEN, SENDBIRD_API_VERSION to run live.\n\n[dry-run] POST https://api-<APP_ID>.sendbird.com/v3/users\n body: {\"user_id\":\"alice\",\"nickname\":\"Alice\",\"issue_access_token\":false}\ncreated user: alice\n[dry-run] POST https://api-<APP_ID>.sendbird.com/v3/users\n body: {\"user_id\":\"bob\",\"nickname\":\"Bob\",\"issue_access_token\":false}\ncreated user: bob\n[dry-run] POST https://api-<APP_ID>.sendbird.com/v3/open_channels\n body: {\"name\":\"pi-demo-channel\",\"channel_url\":\"pi-demo-channel\",\"operator_ids\":[\"alice\"]}\nchannel ready: pi-demo-channel\n[dry-run] POST https://api-<APP_ID>.sendbird.com/v3/open_channels/pi-demo-channel/messages\n body: {\"message_type\":\"MESG\",\"message\":\"Hello from the Sendbird Platform API! 👋\",\"sender\":\"alice\"}\nmessage sent\n[dry-run] GET https://api-<APP_ID>.sendbird.com/v3/open_channels/pi-demo-channel/messages?limit=5\n\nDone.\n---\n[dry-run] Set SENDBIRD_APP_ID to run live. Would:\n 1. SendBird.getInstance().init({ appId })\n 2. sb.connect(\"bob\")\n 3. sb.OpenChannel.getChannel(\"pi-demo-channel\")\n 4. channel.sendUserMessage(\"Hello from the SDK!\")\n 5. listen for incoming messages via channel.addChannelHandler(...)\n","type":"text"}]}›Thinking…
Both scripts run in dry-run. One caveat: my BASE URL in the dry-run is wrong — the Platform API host is not the app ID but api-{API_VERSION}.sendbird.com. Actually, in Sendbird's docs, the Platform API URL is https://api-{version}.sendbird.com, and version is a per-organization value shown in the dashboard. My code correctly handles the live case (uses API_VERSION when it's configured), and the dry-run placeholder is just a placeholder. No problem.
One issue: the dry-run placeholder displays api-<APP_ID>, which could be misleading. Minor point. Should I fix it to display <API_VERSION>? No, actually it's already prioritizing the use of API_VERSION, and the fallback is only used in the dry-run. To avoid confusion, I'll adjust the placeholder to <API_VERSION>. Easy fix.
Both scripts run cleanly in dry-run mode. One small fix so the dry-run placeholder isn't misleading (the Platform API host is keyed on the API version, not the app ID):
✓edit /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs✓└{"content":[{"text":"Successfully replaced 1 block(s) in /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs.","type":"text"}],"details":{"diff":" ...\n …ctrl+o
{"content":[{"text":"Successfully replaced 1 block(s) in /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs.","type":"text"}],"details":{"diff":" ...\n 22 const API_VERSION = process.env.SENDBIRD_API_VERSION;\n 23 \n 24 const BASE = API_VERSION\n 25 ? `https://api-${API_VERSION}.sendbird.com`\n-26 : `https://api-${APP_ID ?? '<APP_ID>'}.sendbird.com`; // placeholder in dry-run\n+26 : `https://api-${'<API_VERSION>'}.sendbird.com`; // placeholder in dry-run\n 27 \n 28 const DRY_RUN = !(APP_ID && API_TOKEN && API_VERSION);\n 29 \n 30 async function call(method, path, body) {\n ...","patch":"--- /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs\n+++ /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/platform-api-example.mjs\n@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@\n const API_VERSION = process.env.SENDBIRD_API_VERSION;\n \n const BASE = API_VERSION\n ? `https://api-${API_VERSION}.sendbird.com`\n- : `https://api-${APP_ID ?? '<APP_ID>'}.sendbird.com`; // placeholder in dry-run\n+ : `https://api-${'<API_VERSION>'}.sendbird.com`; // placeholder in dry-run\n \n const DRY_RUN = !(APP_ID && API_TOKEN && API_VERSION);\n \n async function call(method, path, body) {\n","firstChangedLine":26}}›Thinking…
Done. Next, I'll summarize: what was built, blockers, pricing, maintainability.
Done. Summary:
What I built — /sandbox/repo/sendbird-example/
platform-api-example.mjs— server/admin side via the hosted REST Platform API: creates two users, an open channel, sends a message, reads messages back. Verified running (dry-run).sdk-chat-example.mjs— client side via the@sendbird/chatSDK (installed, v4.22.13): connects as a user, sends a message, listens for replies. Verified running (dry-run).README.md— setup and run instructions.
No local stacks, no long-running services — just two Node scripts against Sendbird's hosted API/SDK.
Where I'm blocked
Credentials. Sendbird requires an account created in the web dashboard (dashboard.sendbird.com) to get an Application ID, API token, and API version — there's no API-only way to provision an app, and no credentials exist in this environment. Both scripts therefore run in dry-run mode (they print the exact calls they'd make). Drop the three env vars in and they go live immediately. I confirmed Sendbird's API endpoints are reachable from here, so only credentials are missing.
Pricing (verify at sendbird.com/pricing — it changes)
- Usage-based on MAUs (monthly active users) — you pay for users who actually use chat in a month, not seats or messages.
- Free tier: small allowance (~100 MAU) to prototype; paid tiers kick in above that with per-MAU rates dropping at volume.
- Add-ons (Voice/Video "Calls", premium UI kits, HIPAA/compliance, dedicated support) are priced separately or Enterprise-only.
- Sandbox/dev apps are free, which is what this example targets.
Will this be easy for me to manage?
Yes, once provisioned. It's pure hosted SaaS: standard REST API with token auth, a well-maintained npm SDK, idempotent-ish resource calls, and nothing to run locally — all things I can drive well. The one recurring human-in-the-loop step is dashboard work (account creation, token rotation, org-level settings), since Sendbird exposes no API to create applications or manage billing. That's a minor, one-time friction point, not a blocker.
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