Building chat into a Next.js app can feel simple at first, until you realize what’s really involved: managing WebSockets, syncing messages across sessions, handling user presence, scaling to thousands of concurrent users, and keeping everything secure.
That’s weeks of engineering work, even before you design the UI.
This is where CometChat comes in. Our platform provides the real-time infrastructure you need while giving you the flexibility to integrate chat and calling into your Next.js application in the way that best suits your business.
With CometChat, you can:
Launch in minutes with Chat Builder.
Build flexible, brand-aligned experiences with the React UI Kit.
Go fully custom with the JavaScript SDK.
Option 1. Chat Builder: Fastest Way to Ship Next.js Chat
The Chat Builder is CometChat’s low-code integration option. It’s a visual configuration tool where you can toggle features, preview changes, and export clean React/Next.js components, all wired to CometChat’s backend.
Think of it as the fastest way to turn a concept into working chat.
Why use the Chat Builder
Rapid integration: Go from zero to working chat in under an hour.
Visual configuration: Toggle features like reactions, mentions, media uploads.
Live preview: See changes instantly as you build.
Clean code export: Generates modular Next.js/React components following best practices.
Built-in logic: Presence, typing, notifications, and messaging all prewired to CometChat.
Future-proof: The exported code isn’t a black box, extend it later with the UI Kit or SDK.
When to use the Chat Builder
Prototyping or MVPs: Showcase real chat to stakeholders without heavy dev work.
Evaluating chat providers: Compare CometChat quickly against alternatives.
Cross-team collaboration: Designers or PMs can configure chat UIs themselves and hand off code to developers.
Agile builds: Start with simple defaults, customize later as your product grows.
How it works
Open the Chat Builder in the CometChat Dashboard (sign up if you don’t have an account with us.
Configure features, layouts, and themes visually.
Preview your chat UI instantly.
Export clean Next.js chat components wired to CometChat’s backend.
Drop them into your app and go live.
See the Next.js Chat Builder integration guide
Helpful resources
Option 2: UI Kit: Prebuilt Components with Flexibility
The React UI Kit is for when you want more control, but still don’t want to reinvent the wheel. It gives you a full set of prebuilt chat components — conversation lists, message views, user lists, all wired to CometChat’s real-time engine.
You pick the components and layouts you need, style them to match your brand, and focus on your product logic while CometChat handles the chat logic.
Why use the UI kit
Ready out of the box: Conversations, messages, typing indicators, calls — everything users expect.
Multiple layouts: Split-panel chat, full-screen one-to-one/group chat, or tab-based navigation.
Themeable: Dark mode, light mode, brand colors, fonts, and spacing.
Performance built in: Virtualized lists, lazy loading, smooth rendering.
Secure: Supports Auth Tokens for production-ready authentication.
When to use the UI Kit
Branded experiences: Make chat feel like part of your product, not a bolt-on widget.
Layout flexibility: Use a split sidebar + messages for desktop, or a focused one-to-one view for mobile.
Scalable design: Start with stock layouts, then extend or swap components as your app grows.
How it works
Register on the CometChat Dashboard and grab your App ID, Region, and Auth Key.
Install the React UI Kit into your Next.js chat project (@cometchat/chat-uikit-react).
Initialize the UI Kit with your app credentials.
Authenticate users (via dashboard users, SDK, or API).
Choose your layout: split-panel, one-to-one, or tab-based.
Customize themes and extend components as needed.
Explore the integration guides for different UI layouts:
Option 3: JavaScript SDK — Full Customization for Next.js Chat
Use the JavaScript SDK, when you need maximum control and flexibility. The javascript sdk gives you direct access to CometChat’s APIs so you can build completely custom UIs from scratch, integrate chat deeply with your workflows, and optimize for performance or security as needed.
It’s perfect for teams who want to treat chat as a core product surface, with no limits on design or integration depth.
Why developers love it
No UI constraints: Build chat exactly as your design team imagined it.
Granular APIs: Direct control over messages, presence, groups, roles, calls, and events.
Next.js ready: Works with client-side rendering patterns and API routes for secure auth.
Enterprise-grade: Webhooks, server-side events, and compliance-ready features.
Lean bundles: Import only what you need, skip extra weight.
When to use the SDK
You’re building a chat-first product: Every detail of UI/UX matters.
You need deep integrations: CRM sync, AI moderation, custom encryption.
You’re optimizing for performance or security: Bundle size, reconnection strategies, auth token handling.
How it works in Next.js
Import client-side only: Use useEffect or next/dynamic to avoid SSR issues.
Initialize once: Centralize the SDK in a provider and expose hooks (e.g., useChat, useMessages).
Authenticate securely: Use Auth Tokens (via a Next.js API route), not Auth Keys, in production.
Mount where you need it: Global provider for persistent chat, or per-page for dedicated chat routes.
Customize freely: Build your own UI, wire up events, and integrate with other workflows.
Ready to add chat to your Next.js app?
Adding chat to your Next.js app doesn’t have to mean months of engineering work. With CometChat you can:
Launch instantly with Chat Builder.
Deliver branded experiences with the UI Kit.
Or go all-in with the JavaScript SDK for complete control.
Wherever you start, you’re building on a real-time engine that’s production-ready from day one.
Sign up for a free CometChat account and start building your Next.js chat app today.
Haris Kumar
Lead Content Strategist , CometChat