The Tinode Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tinode in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Tinode
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source instant messaging server you host or rent
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Tinode’s own pages.
Made by Tinode LLC · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Tinode’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tinode’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 9 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging platform with a Go server, web, Android and iOS clients and a documented API. A company can install it on its own servers or have Tinode run it as a cloud service, and developers can attach bots and plugins.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Tinode, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Self-hosting means installing and running a server yourself.
- 1
Best for a chat server you host for your own app
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with web and phone clients.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.50 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $1.50 per user / month (Cloud).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic self-hosted edition is free for small teams: no more than 500 push notifications a day, roughly 350 messages a day.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Open-source clients and server
The server is written in Go and can run as a cluster; the site says client software is under the Apache 2.0 license.
- 6
Self-hosting tools
TnAdmin gives a graphical console for looking up and suspending users, a push gateway handles mobile notifications and a Grafana dashboard is available for monitoring.
- 7
Extensible backend
Authentication schemes, database backends, file upload, push and credential validation are pluggable adapters, and bots can connect over gRPC.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 9 of 75
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Tinode you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Tinode at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $1.50 per user / month (Cloud)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Tinode LLC
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a chat server you host for your own app
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with web and phone clients. The free Basic edition is yours to host, with a small-team cap of about 500 push notifications a day. Notifications for the stock apps will not reach your server, and the site footer reads 2023.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Cloud is $1.50 a user a month, which would count as cheap, but it is arranged through a contact form. The free edition needs your own server. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic is free to self-host, but capped at about 500 push notifications a day. You run the server. |
| Features | C | Chat server, web and mobile clients, an extensible backend and chatbots over gRPC. Branding and the admin tool are paid. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating on record. Self-hosting means installing and running a server yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android clients, with gRPC for bots. No desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Tinode is for
- Fits if you want to own your chat server and its data
- Works for developers adding chat to their own app
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you do not want to run a server, as the free edition is self-hosted
- Tight if you grow, since free self-hosting stops near 500 push notifications a day
- Watch out: the stock apps' notifications will not reach your server without your own builds or the push gateway
- Watch out: Cloud is arranged through a contact form, and the site footer reads 2023
- Pricey if you want the admin tool and branded apps, which start at $50 a month
Good to know
Good for
- Teams with engineers who want to run their own chat server
- Developers adding messaging or bots to their own product
- Small groups using the free self-hosted edition
Worth knowing
- Self-hosted mobile apps need either your own builds or the push gateway, because the stock apps' notifications will not reach your server otherwise.
- Free self-hosting is for small teams; above roughly 500 push notifications a day a paid plan applies.
- Support contracts exclude third-party integrations, remote administration and support for end users.
- The site's footer reads 2023, and the Cloud plan is arranged through a contact form.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.50
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Tinode has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.50 per user / month (Cloud).
Basic
$0
You install and run the server yourself. Includes the push gateway, production monitoring and community support.
Cloud
$1.50
per user / month
Tinode runs it for you with 5 GB of file storage per user, custom-branded clients and gRPC access for chatbots. Arranged through the contact form.
Professional
$50
per month, one self-hosted installation ($500 billed yearly)
Self-hosted. Adds the TnAdmin tool, auto-configured and custom-branded mobile apps and dedicated support. $25 a month per extra cluster node.
Enterprise
$1,500
per year for a standalone installation
Everything in Professional plus assisted installation and email support; $2,500 a year for a 3-node cluster.
The free plan
Basic self-hosted edition is free for small teams: no more than 500 push notifications a day, roughly 350 messages a day.
Read from tinode.co on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Annual billing for Professional
The self-hosting page lists $50 a month for a standalone installation, or $500 when billed annually.
Stated on tinode.co
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Open-source instant messaging server you host or rent. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API, team chat.
Chat server, web and mobile clients, an extensible backend and chatbots over gRPC.
- Open-source clients and server
- The server is written in Go and can run as a cluster; the site says client software is under the Apache 2.0 license.
- Self-hosting tools
- TnAdmin gives a graphical console for looking up and suspending users, a push gateway handles mobile notifications and a Grafana dashboard is available for monitoring.
- Extensible backend
- Authentication schemes, database backends, file upload, push and credential validation are pluggable adapters, and bots can connect over gRPC.
- Mobile and web clients
- Android and iOS apps are listed in the stores, and a web client runs at web.tinode.co.
- Branded apps
- Paid plans can show your own name and logo in the mobile apps and configure the server connection automatically.
- Support contracts
- Named-contact email support with prioritized bug fixes is sold per installation, with an hourly rate for out-of-scope requests.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Tinode is made by Tinode LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
9/75
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Tinode's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 9 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 19.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 47 of 75) and worst on ease of use (D, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $1.50 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.90 for the category: 1 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 9 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tinode’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 47 of 75
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 75
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75
- DEase of useAbove 1 of 75
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 9 of 75
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Tinode is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Tinode you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 47 of the 75 other team communication apps grade higher. It costs $18 a year. Tinode is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- An API that other software can build on.
What this rests on. Tinode’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Matrix, Mattermost, Zulip, Rocket.Chat and OpenIM
The 5 tools Tinode is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Matrix
Free
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls.
- Only Matrix lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Matrix is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Mattermost
Free plan
Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards.
- Only Mattermost lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Mattermost also covers kanban boards, workflow automation and AI agents.
- 2.8GPA
Zulip
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic.
- Only Zulip lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Zulip also covers file sharing.
- 2.4GPA
Rocket.Chat
Free plan
Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams.
- Only Rocket.Chat lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Rocket.Chat is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Rocket.Chat also covers file sharing.
- 2.2GPA
OpenIM
Free plan
Open-source chat, voice and video infrastructure for apps.
- OpenIM also covers video calls.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Tinode free?
Tinode has a free plan. Basic self-hosted edition is free for small teams: no more than 500 push notifications a day, roughly 350 messages a day.
How much does Tinode cost?
Tinode lists 4 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Tinode work on?
Tinode is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Tinode offer any discounts?
Tinode publicly lists the following: Annual billing for Professional.
Does Tinode have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tinode is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Tinode have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tinode is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Tinode open source?
Yes. Tinode is open source, according to its own site.
Does Tinode have an API?
Yes. Tinode offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes Tinode?
Tinode is made by Tinode LLC.
What are the alternatives to Tinode?
The closest alternatives to Tinode in our directory are Matrix, Mattermost, Zulip, Rocket.Chat and OpenIM.
How does Tinode compare with other team communication apps?
Tinode's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 9 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 19.
Is Tinode good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tinode B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.50 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.90 for the category: 1 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Tinode?
To replace Tinode you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tinode’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tinode's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Tinode LLC. Prices change, so check tinode.co before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Tinode, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tinode
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Tinode: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tinode
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tinode/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Tinode, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 76 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Tinode’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Tinode is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Tinode LLC. Prices and plans change: check tinode.co before you buy.