Pusher Channels alternatives
Killing $49+/mo (~$588/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
the answer easy migration
Soketi · Free ⭐ 5.6K stars Drop-in Pusher-protocol-compatible WebSocket server.
you stop paying $49+/mo → keep ~$588/yr
head-to-head
| Pusher Channels | Soketi | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $49+/mo | Free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | AGPL-3.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | easy effort |
free & open source (2)
Free
Language-agnostic realtime messaging server at massive scale.
trade-offs: Different protocol than Pusher
github →faq
What is the best free alternative to Pusher Channels?
Soketi is the top free option — Drop-in Pusher-protocol-compatible WebSocket server.
How much can I save by switching from Pusher Channels?
Pusher Channels costs $49+/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $588/year per seat.
Can Pusher Channels be self-hosted?
Yes — Soketi and Centrifugo can be self-hosted for free.