Appwrite vs Centrifugo: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Appwrite and Centrifugo side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Appwrite
Open-source backend for web, mobile, and Flutter. Self-host or cloud
Best for you if:
- • You want open source
Centrifugo
Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Appwrite requires payment)
| At a Glance | Appwrite | Centrifugo |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $25/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Developer Tools Cloud & Infrastructure | Developer Tools API Tools |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.0 5 reviews | 4.5/5 SourceForge 4.3 · G2 4.8 114 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees for exceeding Pro limits | Integration costs for specific APIs not included. |
Choose Appwrite or Centrifugo?
Choose Appwrite if
- You want open source
- You want self-hostable
Choose Centrifugo if
- You want a fully free tool (Appwrite requires payment)
- You want high performance and scalability, proven to handle millions of connections
- You want easy integration with existing application architectures
In-Depth Analysis
Appwrite
Open-source backend for web, mobile, and Flutter. Self-host or cloud
Appwrite's pricing is quite generous, especially the Free tier which offers substantial limits for hobbyists and small projects.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding Pro limits
Strengths
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Multi-platform SDKs
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Less mature
Key features
Centrifugo
Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
Centrifugo's pricing model is somewhat opaque for its premium offering.
Watch out
Integration costs for specific APIs not included.
Strengths
- Pro: High performance and scalability, proven to handle millions of connections.
- Pro: Easy integration with existing application architectures.
- Pro: Battle-tested and mature software used by many companies.
- Pro: Supports a wide range of real-time use cases.
- Pro: Offers a PRO version with advanced enterprise features.
Weaknesses
- Con: Self-hosted nature requires deployment and maintenance effort.
- Con: Advanced features are locked behind the PRO version.
Key features
Plans and prices: Appwrite vs Centrifugo
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Appwrite |
| appwrite.io/pricingread Oct 5, 2026 |
| Centrifugo |
| centrifugal.devread Oct 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Appwrite pricing and Centrifugo pricing.
Key Takeaways
Appwrite
- Choose if you want open-source backend for web, mobile, and Flutter. Self-host or cloud
Centrifugo
- Choose if you want scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 5 reviews for Appwrite, 4.5/5 from 114 reviews for Centrifugo; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Appwrite starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Centrifugo has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Appwrite and Centrifugo compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 5 reviews for Appwrite, 4.5/5 from 114 reviews for Centrifugo; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Appwrite starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Centrifugo has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Appwrite and Centrifugo used for?
Appwrite: Open-source backend for web, mobile, and Flutter. Self-host or cloud. Centrifugo: Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
What does Appwrite cost vs Centrifugo?
Appwrite's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $25/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Centrifugo is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Appwrite and Centrifugo?
Appwrite's main strength: open source. Centrifugo's main strength: high performance and scalability, proven to handle millions of connections.