Firebase vs. Pusher | Which is better?

Every business needs a reliable hosting service to power its applications across multiple platforms and devices. The hosting quality has a significant impact on the website or application’s performance, functionality, and reliability.

However, Firebase and Pusher are two of the most popular hosting providers used by numerous businesses today. Primarily, both of these are real-time API and backend tools that can take the hassle out of your development processes. Simultaneously, both of these can offer distinct benefits and features to businesses.

Have a look at the following Firebase vs. Pusher details to know each of these service providers’ key features and benefits:

Introduction to Firebase 

Firebase is a BaaS platform that offers powerful real-time API and backend features. It provides multiple functionalities and tools to create applications for mobile and web. It uses NoSQL databases with a JSON document protocol to offer data storage services.

Its ease of use is making it a preferable choice for businesses and developers. It can cut down server management and API creation requirements. However, its customizable options make it more amazing. 

It offers image-based file storage solutions and allows developers to consume Google Cloud storage. It facilitates better connectivity with real-time databases than HTTP. 

Pricing plans of Firebase 

Spark 

The Free tier offers different sites, 10 GB hosting, custom domain, SSL, and more. Users can access features like Firebase ML, authentication, storage, real-time database, test lab, and cloud firestone. This plan contains multiple free offerings from Firebase.

Blaze 

This pricing plan is based on pay as you go structure. It offers additional features too, besides Spark plan features. Hosting services are available for $0.026 per GB with the same Storage rate. It removes Spark’s plan limitations. You can easily calculate the prices of your required services with the available calculator.

Key features of Firebase 

Real-time database 

It comes up with a NoSQL cloud database that can enable effortless data syncing and real-time storage. Users can also access it even when offline. It stores data in JSON format and can perform syn features across clients smoothly.

Cloud Firestore 

It refers to a NoSQL cloud database meant to store and sync data for server and client-side development. Users can experience server, mobile, and web development as well as real-time syncing across various applications. This feature integrates with the Google Cloud platform and Firebase.

Machine learning 

Users of Firebase can integrate machine learning via Firebase ML and ML kit to target real-world scenarios. Firebase ML is meant to power up iOS and Android applications and provides Google ML features.

Cloud functions 

These refer to serverless frameworks meant for backend code execution in response to firebase components and HTTPS requests. These functions secure user logic and integrate them in the Firebase platform.

Authentication 

A token-based authentication system to facilitate easier integrations with Twitter, Facebook and Google. 

Hosting 

Firebase is offering scalable and fast microservices, web, and mobile hosting solutions. Users can host different content categories to protect their assets and one-click rollback service.

Cloud storage 

Firebase is offering object storage solutions for developers. It’s is a cost-effective solution offering secure uploads and downloads. Users can store both user-generated data and media files.

Crashlytics

It is a real-time crash report allowing developers to assign priorities and track issues and address them fast. This feature is meant to resolve stability problems.

Analytics 

This is a crucial Firebase component that is available to integrate with other features. It will allow users to perform unlimited reporting to offer better user behavior understanding to ensure better decision making.

Advantages of Firebase 

• An effective platform with numerous features
• Supported by Google 
• Entire service bundle is available under a single provider

Introduction to Pusher 

Pusher is a reliable web hosting provider that helps developers in creating real-time applications via APIs. It works effectively for both mobile and web applications. When it is about a backend, pusher serves as a layer between your server and clients in real-time.

This is an effective solution for services like in-app chat clients, notifications, real-time data charts, dashboards, and location tracking tools. At the same time, its scalability level is pretty appealing for businesses and developers alike. It comes up with two significant products, including Beams and Channels. Channel is meant to offer real-time features for your applications while Beam facilitates push notifications creation.

Pricing plans of Pusher 

Here are pricing options being offered by pusher:

For Channels 

Have a look at pricing plans for real-time applications features:

Sandbox 

Pusher offers a free sandbox plan for real-time features. It provides max 100 connections, SSL protection, and unlimited channels.

Flexible Pricing 

These pricing options are starting from $49 monthly and available for up to $1199 monthly. These can let you get anywhere between 1 million to 90 million daily messages, and concurrent connections from 2000 to 30,000.

Enterprise 

These pricing plans are meant for business owners based on their particular requirements. These options come up with enhanced scalability, direct support, and API uptime assurance. Other features include devoted account managers, unlimited messages and connections, and end-to-end encryption.

For Beams 

Here is the pricing structure for push notifications delivery:

Sandbox

A free offer available to use for up to 2,000 active devices monthly. 

Pro 

Starting from $99 monthly and supports 15,000 devices monthly. 

Business 

Available to get at $399 monthly and offers coverage for 50,000 active users monthly. 

Key features of Pusher 

Push notifications 

Pusher Beams are meant to offer push notifications integration and addition in your apps. It is a Push API that allows developers valuable information delivery.

Real-time database 

Pusher channels are meant to offer a real-time database feature. You can use it to power up real-time chats, maps, dashboards, users list, scoreboard, and more.

Benefits of Pusher 

• Highly focused services 
• Easier to use and scale
• Enterprise support available 

Quick Comparison 

Conclusion

Know the differences between Firebase and Pusher explained above.

Pusher enables a useful real-time experience for users with two key features: push notifications and real-time API. While pricing starts from $49 monthly.

Firebase is a Baas supported by Google. It offers multiple compelling features to allow an end to end mobile and web development. The pricing plan is based on pay as you go option. You can choose any of these based on your preferences.

FAQs