Amazon Web Services (AWS) has officially announced the end of support for Amazon Chime, its cloud-based unified communications service.
The service, which provides video conferencing, voice calling, messaging, and business calling features, will be fully discontinued on February 20, 2026.
In preparation for this transition, AWS has outlined a phased approach, including an early cutoff date for new customer sign-ups and guidance for existing users on migrating to alternative platforms.
This decision reflects AWS’s ongoing strategy to refine its portfolio and focus on services with the highest customer demand while providing seamless alternatives for collaboration and communication.
Key Dates for Amazon Chime Discontinuation
AWS has established the following timeline to gradually phase out Amazon Chime:
📌 February 19, 2025 – No New Sign-Ups
- Amazon Chime will no longer accept new customers starting on this date.
- Organizations looking to onboard new teams for collaboration will need to consider alternative solutions immediately.
- Existing customers can continue using Amazon Chime without disruptions until the final decommissioning in 2026.
📌 February 20, 2026 – Full Service Termination
- All Amazon Chime functionalities will be permanently shut down.
- Customers with Team or Enterprise accounts who were using the service before the 2025 cutoff date will lose access to Amazon Chime’s:
- Meeting scheduling & hosting
- Messaging & chat
- Voice and video calling
- Business Calling features
- After this date, no data, settings, or configurations will be retained.
AWS has advised customers to plan their transition well in advance to avoid service disruptions.
What Happens to the Amazon Chime SDK?
While Amazon Chime’s core service will be discontinued, the Amazon Chime SDK will continue to be available for developers.
The Amazon Chime SDK is widely used by businesses to integrate real-time audio, video, messaging, and screen-sharing features into their own applications. AWS has reassured developers that there are no plans to retire the SDK, meaning existing integrations and custom applications built with the Chime SDK will continue to function.
This means companies leveraging Amazon Chime SDK for in-app communication tools do not need to migrate their SDK-based applications.
Alternatives to Amazon Chime
For customers currently relying on Amazon Chime, AWS has recommended several alternative platforms for team communication and collaboration.
1. AWS Wickr
AWS suggests Wickr, a secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging platform, as a possible alternative for organizations requiring secure team communication. Wickr is particularly well-suited for:
- Enterprise collaboration
- Government organizations
- Highly regulated industries that require strong security measures
2. Third-Party Solutions: Zoom, Webex, Slack, Microsoft Teams
AWS also encourages users to explore widely adopted collaboration platforms, such as:
- Zoom: Popular for video conferencing and virtual meetings
- Webex: A secure enterprise communication platform
- Slack: A messaging-first collaboration tool
- Microsoft Teams: A robust solution integrating chat, voice, and video calls
Organizations should evaluate these options based on their specific needs, including security, scalability, and integration capabilities.
Steps to Transition from Amazon Chime
For businesses and teams currently using Amazon Chime, AWS recommends taking the following steps to ensure a smooth transition before the final shutdown in 2026:
🔍 Step 1: Evaluate Communication Needs
- Identify which Amazon Chime features are essential for your business.
- Consider the size of your organization and required integrations.
📌 Step 2: Select an Alternative Platform
- Compare AWS Wickr, Zoom, Slack, Webex, and Microsoft Teams.
- Choose a service that aligns with your business needs (e.g., security, collaboration, call quality, API integrations).
🔄 Step 3: Plan for Migration
- Export and back up meeting history, chat messages, and call logs before the Chime shutdown.
- Train employees on the new platform to ensure a seamless transition.
🚀 Step 4: Implement and Test
- Deploy the chosen alternative gradually.
- Run test meetings to ensure compatibility and ease of use.
📢 Step 5: Finalize the Transition
- Before February 2026, ensure all users have switched to the new platform.
- Verify that critical workflows are fully functional on the new service.
Why is AWS Shutting Down Amazon Chime?
AWS has not provided detailed reasons for discontinuing Amazon Chime, but the decision aligns with broader industry trends in the cloud communication space. Some possible factors include:
Increased Competition: Major players like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack dominate the collaboration space.
Shifting Priorities: AWS may be shifting focus toward developer-friendly SDKs (Amazon Chime SDK) and secure communications (AWS Wickr).
Customer Demand: AWS typically invests in services with high adoption rates, and Amazon Chime may not have achieved widespread traction compared to competitors.
Regardless of the reason, AWS is offering a generous transition period (until 2026) to allow businesses to migrate without sudden disruptions.
With the official end of Amazon Chime support by 2026, organizations need to act early to transition to a new communication platform. While Amazon Chime SDK will remain available, the core Chime service will no longer function after the shutdown date.
Key Takeaways: ✔ No new Amazon Chime customers after February 19, 2025
✔ Full service shutdown on February 20, 2026
✔ Amazon Chime SDK will continue to be available
✔ AWS Wickr & third-party services (Zoom, Slack, Webex, Teams) are recommended alternatives
✔ Businesses should start transitioning to a new platform now
For detailed migration guidance, visit AWS’s official documentation.
