Pusher vs Firebase | What are the differences?

This article will compare Pusher and Firebase, their features, advantages and disadvantages, and pricing structure.

All businesses require reliable hosting services to power up their applications across different devices and platforms. The quality of hosting has a significant impact on the performance, reliability, and functionality of websites and applications. 

Pusher and Firebase are two of the most prominent hosting services being used by many businesses today. Primarily, they are real-time backend /API tools that take the pain out of development. Both tools have distinct sets of features and advantages. 

The Pusher vs. Firebase question is open for debate, but you can read on which one is best for your needs. Take a look at the features and benefits of these two services. 

What is Pusher?

Pusher is a hosted service that enables developers to create real-time apps through APIs. It works for both mobile and web applications. As a backend, Pusher functions as a layer between your clients (mobile, browser, IoT devices) and your server in real-time.

Pusher is useful for providing services such as notifications, in-application chat clients, real-time location tracking tools, and real-time data charts, and dashboards. The level of scalability it offers for users appeals to developers and business owners. 

Pusher offers two main products, known as Channels and Beams. Channels let users develop real-time features for applications. Beam is an offering that facilitates the creation of push notifications.

Pusher Pricing 

Channels Pricing – Here the pricing for the Real Time features:

• Sandbox – Pusher also offers a free Sandbox plan for Channels. It comes with 100 maximum connections, unlimited channels, and SSL protection. 

• Flexible pricing – The Flexible pricing plans for Pusher Channels start at $49 per month and go up to $1199 per month. You can get anywhere between 1 million to 90 million messages per day, and get concurrent connections ranging from 2000 to 30000. 

• Enterprise –  Business owners can opt for the custom Enterprise plans of Pusher Channels based on their specific requirements. These plans offer extensive scalability, assurance of API uptime, and direct support. Some other offerings include a dedicated account manager, end to end encryption, unlimited connections, and unlimited messages. 

Beam Pricing – Here the pricing for Push-Notifications:

• Sandbox – Free tier available for up to 2,000 monthly active devices.

• Pro – Available for $99/mo and covers 15,000 monthly active devices.

• Business – Available for $399 and covers 50,000 monthly active devices.

Pusher Features 

The platform is super focused and offers two features:

Real-time Database

Pusher offers a real-time database feature through Pusher Channels. It can be used for powering up real-time maps, charts, dashboards, scoreboards, user lists, and more.

Push Notifications

Pusher Beams enable the addition and integration of push notifications functionality in applications. It is a push API for developers who intend to allow the delivery of valuable information.

Pusher Advantages 

• Easy of use
• Focus (two services only)
• Enterprise support

What is Firebase?

Firebase is a Backend as a Service (BaaS) platform with powerful real-time backend and API features. It provides various tools and features to develop applications for web and mobile applications. It works with a NoSQL database utilizing a JSON document protocol for data storage. 

The remarkable ease-of-use makes it a top choice for many developers and business owners. Firebase cuts down the requirement for API creation and server management. Customization options are also available for Firebase. 

Firebase offers image-based file storage and lets developers utilize Google Cloud Storage. The platform offers a real-time database for facilitating better connectivity than HTTP. 

Firebase Pricing

• Spark Plan – The Firebase Spark Plan is a free plan offering 10 GB of hosting, multiple sites, SSL, custom domain, and more. Users can access features such as authentications, Firebase ML, Cloud Firestone, real-time database, storage, and Test Lab. The Spark Plan comes with several free offerings from Firebase. 

• Blaze Plan – The Firebase Blaze Plan is a pay-as-you-go model that offers all the Spark Plan features, along with some additional ones. Users can avail hosting at a rate of $0.026/GB, along with the same rate for per GB storage. The Firebase Blaze Plan removes the limitations of the Spark Plan. Users can calculate Blaze Plan prices with the Firebase website’s Blaze Plan calculator. 

Firebase Features

Cloud Firestore

Cloud Firestore refers to a NoSQL cloud database that helps store and sync data for client-side and server-side development. Users can experience mobile, web, and server development and real-time data syncing across all applications. Cloud Firestone can be integrated with Firebase and the Google Cloud Platform. 

Real-time Database

The real-time database is a NoSQL cloud database that enables effortless real-time storage and syncing of data. It can be accessed when an application is offline. Real-time database stores data in the JSON format and performs synchronization across clients. 

Machine Learning

Firebase users can gain access to machine learning with the ML Kit and Firebase ML, and effectively target real-world scenarios. Firebase ML is a mobile SDK that powers up Android or iOS applications and offers Google ML features. 

Machine Learning

Firebase users can gain access to machine learning with the ML Kit and Firebase ML, and effectively target real-world scenarios. Firebase ML is a mobile SDK that powers up Android or iOS applications that also offers Google ML features. 

Cloud Functions

Firebase Cloud Functions refers to a serverless framework that enables users to execute backend code in response to HTTPS requests and Firebase components. The Functions integrate the Firebase platform and secure the logic of users. 

Authentication

Firebase Authentication is a comprehensive token-based authorization system that facilitates easy integration with popular platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google. 

Hosting

Firebase offers fast and scalable hosting for Microservices, web applications, and various other types of content. It enables users to host multiple categories of content, perform one-click rollbacks, and protect their assets with SSL. 

Cloud Storage

Firebase Cloud Storage is a robust object storage service for application developers. It’s a cost-effective service that adds Google-level security for file uploads and downloads. Users can store media files and user-generated content in it.

Crashlytics

Firebase Crashlytics is a real-time crash reporter that lets developers track issues, assign priorities to them, and address them efficiently. Crashlytics helps you prevent stability problems with applications.

Analytics

Google Analytics is one of the most important components for Firebase users and can be integrated with many of its features. Analytics lets users perform unlimited reporting for several SDK-defined Firebase events. Developers can gain a better understanding of user behavior and make better decisions. 

Firebase Advantages

• Comprehensive platform with multiple features
• Backed by Google
• All services bundled under a single provider

Pusher vs Firebase | Comparison

Conclusion

This article explained the differences between Pusher and Firebase.

Pusher enables real-time experiences for mobile and web applications. It has two features that are the real-time API and Push-Notifications. A free tier is available, and pricing starts at $49/month. The advantages are ease of use, focus on real-time, and enterprise support.

Firebase is a backend as a service backend by Google. It has a comprehensive set of features and allows mobile/web end-to-end development. A free tier is available, and the paid plan works on a “pay as you go” model. The advantages are that it is a one-stop-shop for app development and backed by Google.

To learn more about push-notifications, please read the article What are push-notifications.

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