Pusher is a hosted API platform for adding real-time features to web and mobile apps. Enables pub/sub messaging, presence channels, and push notifications with simple SDKs.

Available on: Web

Louis Corneloup Updated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluate Source pusher.com ↗

Ratings Across the Web

3.6 (17 reviews)

Pusher holds an aggregate rating of 3.6 out of 5 from 17 reviews across G2 and Trustpilot, last checked September 9, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Real-time messaging
Pub/sub channels
Presence channels
Push notifications
Functions (serverless)
Monitoring integrations
SDK for all platforms
Premium support (Business+)
Flexible pricing
Admin dashboard

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Sep 29, 2026

Pusher plans and prices, checked September 2026
Plan	Price	Details
Sandbox	$0	200,000 messages per day 100 concurrent connections Standard support +1 more Show less Functions available
Startup	$49 / month	1 million messages per day 500 concurrent connections Standard support +1 more Show less Functions available
Pro	$99 / month	4 million messages per day 2,000 concurrent connections Standard support +1 more Show less Monitoring integrations
Business	$299 / month	10 million messages per day 5,000 concurrent connections Premium support +1 more Show less Monitoring integrations
Premium	$499 / month	20 million messages per day 10,000 concurrent connections Premium support +1 more Show less Monitoring integrations

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Pusher worth the price?

Good value

Pusher's pricing is quite fair and generous, especially with a robust free 'Sandbox' tier offering 200,000 messages and 100 concurrent connections.

The 'Startup' tier at $49/month provides excellent value for growing applications. This pricing model is best for developers and businesses needing scalable real-time communication without breaking the bank.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Potential overage charges for exceeding message/connection limits

Full Pusher pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Pusher's pricing compares

At $49/mo, billing unit not specified, Pusher is mid-range of its 3 comparable direct competitors ($25 to $98/mo across the set).

Appwrite

$25

Ably

$29

Pusher

$49

PubNub

$98

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Sep 29, 2026.

Reviews

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3.6/5

Across 17 verified user reviews on G2, Trustpilot

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Best Pusher Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Ably Freemium

Realtime messaging infrastructure for chat, notifications, and live updates

4.8

Socket.io Free

Enable real-time, bidirectional, and event-based communication between web clients and servers.

4.6

PubNub Freemium

Build, manage, and optimize real-time interactive applications at scale.

4.3

Appwrite Freemium

Open-source backend for web, mobile, and Flutter. Self-host or cloud

4.4

See all API tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Pusher vs Ably Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Pusher vs Socket.io Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Pusher vs PubNub Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Pusher FAQ

How does Pusher facilitate real-time updates in web and mobile applications?

Pusher provides a hosted API platform that enables developers to integrate real-time features like pub/sub messaging, presence channels, and push notifications. It offers simple SDKs to streamline the addition of these functionalities to applications.

Which teams would benefit most from using Pusher?

Teams building web and mobile applications that require robust real-time messaging and notification capabilities would find Pusher most beneficial. Its ease of use and comprehensive SDKs support rapid development for interactive features.

How is Pusher priced?

Pusher is available on a free tier, allowing users to get started without initial cost. For applications requiring more extensive usage and advanced features, paid plans are offered.

What kind of real-time use case does Pusher support?

Pusher supports real-time use cases such as live chat, activity streams, and multi-user collaboration features within applications. It handles the underlying infrastructure for instant data exchange and notifications.

Can Pusher be compared to Ably in terms of functionality?

Pusher, like Ably, offers real-time messaging and notification APIs for web and mobile applications. Both provide pub/sub capabilities and aim to simplify the integration of real-time features for developers.

What are the main limitations to consider when scaling an application with Pusher?

When scaling an application, users should consider that Pusher can become expensive at high usage levels. There are also connection and message limits that might impact very large-scale deployments, and reliance on a single vendor could lead to lock-in.

Source: pusher.com

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