Side by side
Lightstreamer vs SocketCluster
Both stand on websocket tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5
Lightstreamer offers real-time delivery controls, a range of integration options, and both on-premises and cloud deployment. The free non-production license has a required production license and uptime limit; other pricing requires contacting sales.
Visit Lightstreamer Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3
SocketCluster combines real-time messaging, authentication, access controls and scaling in a self-hosted server environment. Its listed clients, deployment options and per-queue ordering guarantee are useful details to weigh against the operational requirements of hosting it.
Visit SocketClusterThe facts
| Lightstreamer | SocketCluster | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | lightstreamer.com | socketcluster.io |
| On websocket tools | #5 of 55 | #9 of 55 |
Lightstreamer: what it does well
- Supports multiple messaging patterns and fine-grained subscriptions.
- StreamSense selects WebSockets or HTTP per client.
- Ready-made connectors include Kafka, MQTT, and JMS.
- Supports on-premises and cloud deployment.
- Monitoring includes Prometheus and Grafana integrations.
What to know first
- Free non-production license requires a Production License.
- Free license requires restart after at most 210 minutes.
- License pricing is available by contacting sales.
SocketCluster: what it does well
- Scales across processes and machines.
- Channels can support millions of unique channels.
- Socket streams preserve message order.
- Offers middleware controls for connections and packets.
- MIT-licensed and free to use.
What to know first
- Self-hosted deployment requires operating the server.
- Getting-started guide lists Node.js v10 as a requirement.
- Docker CLI and kubectl are optional deployment dependencies.
Alternatives to Lightstreamer Alternatives to SocketCluster The whole list