Why use Midway over TalkJS?

Three reasons. An iframe embed instead of an SDK integration. A native Memberstack identity bridge instead of writing your own user sync. Flat per-project pricing instead of per-MAU billing past 10K.

Why use TalkJS over Midway?

You're building a custom product (not embedding into a Memberstack site), you need native iOS and Android SDKs, you need full control over the chat UI's layout and styling, or you have compliance requirements Midway hasn't published posture on.

Can I migrate from TalkJS to Midway?

You can run both side by side. TalkJS keeps your existing data, Midway runs on a new project. We don't currently import TalkJS message history.

What does Midway do that TalkJS doesn't?

Midway signs members in with the Memberstack account they already have and drops into your site with one embed. TalkJS has a deeper feature set, including reactions, replies, read receipts and blocking, but you build and host the chat UI yourself.

vsTalkJS

Midway vs TalkJS for Memberstack and Webflow sites.

TalkJS is a strong, well-built chat API for engineers building chat into a product. Midway is a drop-in chat widget for membership sites already running on Memberstack. Different tools, different jobs.

Skip the SDK See the install

How the two compare at a glance. TalkJS is a chat API. Midway is a Memberstack chat embed.

TalkJS is priced for engineering teams shipping chat as part of a product. For a 1,500-member community, TalkJS Basic is $279/month plus engineering time. Midway Studio is $49.99/month, paste and ship.

Midway compared with TalkJS
		TalkJS
Best for	MidwayMembership sites running Memberstack	TalkJSEngineers shipping chat as part of a product
Install	MidwayOne script and one embed	TalkJSJS SDK plus identity sync plus theming work
Auth	MidwayNative Memberstack bridge	TalkJSYou wire identity yourself, or start from a Memberstack template
Voice notes	MidwayIncluded on the Studio plan	TalkJSVoice messages yes. No native voice or video calls.
Replies, reactions, typing, receipts	MidwayIncluded on every plan	TalkJSIncluded
Base price	Midway$0 / $19.99 / $49.99 monthly	TalkJS$279 / $569 / custom monthly (monthly billing)
MAU model	MidwayFlat monthly price per plan, no overage fees	TalkJS10K MAU on Basic, 25K on Growth, then $0.04 / $0.03 per MAU
Customisation	MidwayAccent and header on the Starter plan, logo and full theme on the Studio plan	TalkJSFull theme control in code
Where it lives	MidwayInside your site	TalkJSWherever you build it

Prices checked October 2026

TalkJS figures are monthly-billing prices from talkjs.com/pricing. Midway prices from the Midway pricing page.

Which one is right for you? When TalkJS fits, and when Midway does.

When TalkJS is the right call. Build chat as a product.

Engineers building a chat product. Marketplace messaging, in-app DMs, custom apps.
Multi-platform chat with mature native iOS and Android SDKs.
Bespoke identity systems where you're already wiring your own auth.
Compliance-driven enterprise. TalkJS publishes GDPR posture. Midway is built for indie communities, not regulated industries.

When Midway is the right call. Add chat to a Memberstack site, paste and ship.

You're on Memberstack and want member-to-member chat inside your site.
You don't want to stand up a backend or wire identity sync.
You want flat pricing, not per-MAU billing once you grow past 10K.
You want voice notes, replies, reactions and typing built in, not bolted on.

Build vs embed. What you'd build with TalkJS, and what you'd paste with Midway.

A reasonable TalkJS install

1
Install @talkjs/react (or the vanilla SDK).
2
Wire Memberstack identity into TalkJS user signatures.
3
Build a chat list, conversation pane, composer.
4
Build and style a theme to match your brand.
5
Deploy, monitor, and pay $279/mo plus per-MAU overage.

A Midway install. One script in your footer, one embed where the inbox goes.

1<script src="https://app.midwaychat.app/midway.js"
2  data-project-id="YOUR_PROJECT_ID" defer></script>

1<script
2  src="https://app.midwaychat.app/midway.js"
3  data-project-id="YOUR_PROJECT_ID"
4  defer></script>

Paste this once in your site's footer code. Your project ID is on the Embed tab of your dashboard.

Footer code

Members page

That's it. The rest is set in your dashboard: accent and header on the Starter plan, logo and full theme on the Studio plan, member access on every plan.

What adding TalkJS to a Memberstack site involves. And what the same job looks like with Midway.

TalkJS figures are monthly-billing prices from talkjs.com/pricing, checked October 2026.

1
Step 1. You install the TalkJS SDK and wire Memberstack identity into TalkJS user signatures, or start from a Memberstack template.
2
Step 2. You build the chat list, conversation pane and composer, then style a theme to match your brand.
3
Step 3. You deploy the chat and keep it monitored.
4
Step 4. You pay $279/month on TalkJS Basic, which includes 10K MAU. A 1,500-member community stays at $279/month plus engineering time.
5
Step 5. With Midway you paste one script and one embed. 1,500 members fit on the Studio plan at $49.99/month.
Start free

What people ask before switching from TalkJS.

Plan limits, privacy and setup steps are on the pricing page and in the setup guide.

Read the setup guide

Sort of. We compete for the same dollar in a specific niche: sites that run Memberstack and want member-to-member chat. For most other use cases (generic chat APIs, marketplaces, native mobile apps), TalkJS is the better tool.

Add member chat to your site today. Free for your first 50 monthly active members.

Upgrade when you need more members, file sharing or your own branding. Monthly billing, cancel in one click.

Start free Read the setup guide