Centrifugo vs Supabase Realtime: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Centrifugo and Supabase Realtime comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Centrifugo is our overall pick for developer tools workflows. Pick Supabase Realtime if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Centrifugo
Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • Self-hosted, language-agnostic real-time messaging server.
- • Handles persistent connections over various transports (WebSocket, SSE, etc.).
Supabase Realtime
Sync client state globally over WebSockets to build modern real-time web and mobile applications.
Best for you if:
- • Synchronize client state globally using WebSockets for real-time applications.
- • Listen to database changes (inserts, updates, deletes) in real-time.
| At a Glance |  Centrifugo |  Supabase Realtime |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Contact us/moCentrifugo PRO | $10/month/moBasic |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Centrifugo or Supabase Realtime?
Choose Centrifugo if
Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
- High performance and scalability, proven to handle millions of connections.
- Easy integration with existing application architectures.
- Battle-tested and mature software used by many companies.
- You want a fully free tool (Supabase Realtime requires payment)
Choose Supabase Realtime if
Sync client state globally over WebSockets to build modern real-time web and mobile applications.
- Simplifies real-time application development by abstracting backend complexity.
- Leverages existing Postgres knowledge and skills.
- Offers a fully integrated suite of tools within the Supabase ecosystem.
| Feature | Centrifugo | Supabase Realtime |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 89 reviews | ★4.7/5 33 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsAPI Tools | Developer ToolsData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Centrifugo
Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.
Strengths
- +High performance and scalability, proven to handle millions of connections.
- +Easy integration with existing application architectures.
- +Battle-tested and mature software used by many companies.
- +Supports a wide range of real-time use cases.
- +Offers a PRO version with advanced enterprise features.
Weaknesses
- -Self-hosted nature requires deployment and maintenance effort.
- -Advanced features are locked behind the PRO version.
Key features
Supabase Realtime
Sync client state globally over WebSockets to build modern real-time web and mobile applications.
Strengths
- +Simplifies real-time application development by abstracting backend complexity.
- +Leverages existing Postgres knowledge and skills.
- +Offers a fully integrated suite of tools within the Supabase ecosystem.
- +Scalable and dependable for growing applications.
- +Easy to set up and use with convenient APIs.
Weaknesses
- -Specific limitations on the number of concurrent connections or messages per second are not detailed, making it difficult to assess scalability for very high-traffic applications without further investigation.
- -The documentation does not explicitly mention advanced features like message queuing, message persistence beyond active subscriptions, or guaranteed message delivery, which might be crucial for certain enterprise-grade real-time applications.
- -Details on security features beyond basic access control (e.g., end-to-end encryption for broadcast messages, advanced authentication mechanisms for channels) are not highlighted, which could be a concern for highly sensitive data.
Key features
Pricing: Centrifugo vs Supabase Realtime
| Plan | Centrifugo | Supabase Realtime |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Contact us Centrifugo PRO | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $10/month Basic |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $25/month Pro |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Centrifugo pricing and Supabase Realtime pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Centrifugo is free. Supabase Realtime is freemium.
Go with: Centrifugo
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Centrifugo
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Centrifugo
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Centrifugo is free. Supabase Realtime is freemium. Go with Centrifugo if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are developer tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Centrifugo
- Larger review base (89 reviews)
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Supabase Realtime
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5
The Bottom Line
Centrifugo is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Centrifugo or Supabase Realtime better?
Centrifugo is rated in our evaluation. Centrifugo is free and Supabase Realtime is freemium.
What are Centrifugo and Supabase Realtime used for?
Centrifugo: Scalable real-time messaging server for interactive applications, designed for high performance and easy integration.. Supabase Realtime: Sync client state globally over WebSockets to build modern real-time web and mobile applications..
What does Centrifugo cost vs Supabase Realtime?
Centrifugo is completely free. Supabase Realtime is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.