Ably Alternatives

Ably is described as '’s APIs provide developers with the infrastructure to power realtime functionality at any scale. Instead of building and operating infrastructure, engineers can focus on shipping the features and functionality that matter to their customers' and is a web app development tool in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Ably, not only websites but also apps for a variety of platforms, including Self-Hosted, Mac, Windows and Linux apps. The best Ably alternative is Firebase, which is free. Other great sites and apps similar to Ably are Supabase, Socket.io, Etebase and InstantDB.

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Ably alternatives are mainly Backend as a Services but may also be Web App Development Tools or Cloud Storage Services.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Ably.
Ably iconAbly
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Ably’s APIs provide developers with the infrastructure to power realtime functionality at any scale. Instead of building and operating infrastructure, engineers can focus on shipping the features and functionality that...

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Ably alternatives page was last updated Apr 4, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Firebase icon

    Firebase

     74 likes
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    Firebase, provided by Google, is a backend service and application development platform. It uses AI, cloud infrastructure, and cross-platform SDKs for efficient app development. Firebase offers tools and infrastructure for app creation and business growth.

    119 Firebase alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    Firebase screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Scalable

    Features

    1.  Self Destructing Messages
    2.  Backend
    3.  Web-Database
    4.  NoSQL database
    5.  REST API
    6.  Messages in cloud

    Firebase VS Ably

     

    • Firebase is the most popular Web-based alternative to Ably.

    • Firebase is the most popular free alternative to Ably.

    • Firebase is Freemium and ProprietaryAbly is also Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Supabase icon

    Supabase

     27 likes
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    The open source Firebase alternative. Supabase adds realtime and restful APIs to Postgres without a single line of code.

    107 Supabase alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Supabase screenshot 1

    Supabase Features

    1.  OAUTH
    2.  REST API
    3.  Server Authentication
    4.  Web-Database
    5.  Real-time traffic

    Supabase VS Ably

     

    • Supabase is the most popular Open Source alternative to Ably.

    • Supabase is Freemium and Open SourceAbly is Freemium and Proprietary
  4. Socket.io icon

    Socket.io

     16 likes
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    Socket.IO aims to make real-time apps possible in every browser and mobile device, blurring the differences between the different transport mechanisms.

    27 Socket.io alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • JavaScript
    • C++
    • Java
    • Node.JS
    Admin UI

    Socket.io Features

    1.  C++
    2.  Broadcasting messages

    Socket.io VS Ably

     

    • Socket.io is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ably.

    • Socket.io is Free and Open SourceAbly is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Etebase icon

    Etebase

     10 likes
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    Etebase makes it easy to build end-to-end encrypted applications by taking care of the encryption and its related challenges.

    92 Etebase alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Etebase Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Backend

    Etebase VS Ably

     

    • Etebase is the most popular SaaS & Self-Hosted alternative to Ably.

    • Etebase is Free and Open SourceAbly is Freemium and Proprietary
  6. InstantDB icon

    InstantDB

     2 likes
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    Instant is for building real-time and offline-enabled applications. We make it easy to build collaborative products like Notion or Figma.

    52 InstantDB alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Client-side

    InstantDB VS Ably

     
  7. Scaledrone icon

    Scaledrone

     12 likes
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    Scaledrone is a realtime messaging service and platform. Send live updates, create chatrooms and collaborative tools.

    5 Scaledrone alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    Front page

    Properties

    1.  Scalable

    Features

    1.  Push Notifications
    2.  Platform as a service
    3.  Backend
    4.  Websocket streams
    5.  Real-time pushing

    Scaledrone VS Ably

     

    • Scaledrone is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Ably.

    • Scaledrone is Freemium and ProprietaryAbly is also Freemium and Proprietary
  9. deepstream.io icon

    deepstream.io

     9 likes
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    deepstream.io is a clusterable realtime server that handles persistent tcp and websocket connections. It offers data-sync, pub/sub and request/response. It's available for Linux, Mac and Windows and comes with clients in JS, Java and many others.

    20 deepstream.io alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    deepstream.io Features

    1.  Server-side

    deepstream.io VS Ably

     
  10. Pubnub icon

    Pubnub

     16 likes
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    Disc works in your device.

    72 Pubnub alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Pubnub screenshot 1

    Pubnub Features

    1. Google Calendar icon  Sync with Google Calendar
    2.  In-Game Overlay
    3.  Real-time pushing
    4.  Discovery engine
    5.  Backend
    6.  Data streaming

    Pubnub VS Ably

     
  11. Pusher icon

    Pusher

     8 likes
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    Pusher is a hosted API for quickly, easily and securely adding scalable realtime functionality to web and mobile apps.

    42 Pusher alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Pusher screenshot 1

    Pusher Features

    1.  Websocket streams

    Pusher VS Ably

     

    • Pusher is the most popular commercial alternative to Ably.

    • Pusher is Paid and ProprietaryAbly is Freemium and Proprietary
  12. Lightstreamer icon

    Lightstreamer

     14 likes
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    Lightstreamer is a server for delivering real-time messages to browser-based and mobile applications, using WebSockets and HTTP. Features include dynamic throttling, bandwidth and frequency control, delta delivery, and total control over security and the quality of service.

    5 Lightstreamer alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Blackberry 10

    Lightstreamer Features

    1.  Sockets
    2.  Java based

    Lightstreamer VS Ably

     
  13. Hotsock icon

    Hotsock

     1 like
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    Hotsock is a fully-private service that powers real-time functionality in your web and mobile apps, installed serverlessly in your own AWS account.

    6 Hotsock alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Amazon Web Services

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Websocket streams

    Hotsock VS Ably

     
  14. Unbody icon

    Unbody

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    Unbody is an AI-native development stack, unifying AI and product development into one seamless toolchain. It empowers developers to build scalable AI-native products without dependencies or fragmented workflows.

    51 Unbody alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker

    Unbody Features

    1.  AI-Powered

    Unbody VS Ably

     
12 of 14 Ably alternatives