specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: CometChat
providerId: cometchat
created: '2026-06-20'
modified: '2026-06-20'
reconciled: true
tags:
- Chat
- Messaging
- Voice
- Video
- SDK
- Realtime
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of CometChat spend. CometChat bills a tier-based subscription
  anchored to a Monthly Active Users (MAU) allotment, with overage charged per
  additional MAU ($0.10) and per additional concurrent WebSocket connection
  ($1) above the included percentage of MAU. Messages, storage, and files are
  unlimited and not separately metered. Enterprise removes overage charges.
notes: >-
  MAU is the dominant cost driver; concurrent connections are the secondary
  driver. Verify current per-MAU and per-connection overage rates and tier
  allotments against the CometChat pricing page during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://www.cometchat.com/pricing
- https://www.cometchat.com/docs
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: CometChat
serviceCategory: Communication and Messaging
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: CometChat
  ServiceCategory: Communication and Messaging
  ProviderName: CometChat
  PublisherName: CometChat
  InvoiceIssuerName: CometChat
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Subscription-Based
meters:
- name: monthly_active_users
  description: Distinct users active in a billing month; base allotment per tier with $0.10 per-MAU overage.
  unit: users
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - app
- name: mau_overage
  description: MAU above the tier allotment, billed at $0.10 per user on paid tiers.
  unit: users
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - app
- name: concurrent_connections
  description: Peak simultaneous WebSocket connections; included as a percentage of MAU per tier.
  unit: connections
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - app
- name: connection_overage
  description: Concurrent connections above the included allotment, billed at $1 each except on Enterprise.
  unit: connections
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - app
- name: subscription_base
  description: Fixed monthly base fee for the selected tier and MAU bracket.
  unit: months
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - tier
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track MAU and peak concurrent connections per app in the CometChat dashboard against the tier allotment.
- name: Allocation
  description: Use separate apps (App IDs) per product or environment to attribute MAU and connection cost to teams.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size the MAU tier to actual active users, manage WebSocket connections manually to avoid idle sockets, and consider Enterprise to eliminate overage when usage is high and spiky.
- name: Accountability
  description: Review monthly MAU and connection overage against the budget; reconcile annual vs. monthly billing for committed-use savings.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com