specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Sendbird
providerId: sendbird
created: '2026-05-04'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-04, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-05'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Chat
  - Messaging
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
description: FOCUS-aligned FinOps shape for Sendbird — MAU-tiered subscription with included message
  allowances and add-on products. The dominant cost driver is the MAU tier purchased; secondary drivers
  are peak concurrent connections (capped at 5% of MAU on Starter/Pro), Business Messaging volume, and
  Enterprise add-ons. Annual billing carries a discount over monthly.
sources:
  - https://sendbird.com/pricing/chat
  - https://sendbird.com/docs/chat/platform-api/v3/error-codes/rate-limits
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: Sendbird, Inc.
serviceCategory: Communications PaaS
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Tiered Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Purchase
    - Usage
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Sendbird
  ServiceCategory: Communications PaaS
  ProviderName: Sendbird
  PublisherName: Sendbird, Inc.
  InvoiceIssuerName: Sendbird, Inc.
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: mau
    description: Monthly Active Users — primary tier-pricing meter
    unit: mau
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - application
      - plan
  - name: peak_connections
    description: Peak concurrent WebSocket connections in the billing period (capped at 5% of MAU on
      Starter/Pro)
    unit: connection
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - application
  - name: business_messages
    description: In-app Business Messaging messages sent (30K included on Starter/Pro)
    unit: message
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - application
      - channel
  - name: subscription_fee
    description: Recurring monthly plan fee (Starter, Pro at MAU tier; Enterprise custom)
    unit: month
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - plan
      - billing_term
  - name: addon_fees
    description: Enterprise add-on products (e.g., dedicated server, advanced moderation)
    unit: addon
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - addon
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Use the Sendbird Dashboard's MAU and peak-connection charts plus the Platform API's
      usage endpoints to track tier headroom in real time. Watch for stricter-endpoint throttling (5/sec
      cap) as a leading indicator of write-heavy workloads.
  - name: Allocation
    description: A Sendbird application is the natural allocation unit — split apps per product or environment
      so MAU and message volume map cleanly to teams. Enterprise add-ons are line-item allocated to the
      requesting product.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Stay just under the next MAU tier (5K/10K/25K) to avoid step-function price jumps; prefer
      annual billing for ~12% savings over monthly. Batch user updates and channel creation to respect
      the 5/sec stricter-endpoint cap.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Product engineering owns MAU growth and Platform API hygiene; finance owns the annual
      vs monthly billing decision and Enterprise renewal negotiation.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com