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Head-to-head · WebSocket Tools

Fastly Fanout vs AnyCable

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Fastly Fanout #4 in WebSocket Tools 8.6/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Fastly
AnyCable #8 in WebSocket Tools 7.9/10 Free plan · paid from $149/mo · 60-day trial Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit AnyCable

Fastly Fanout leads on 0 checks, AnyCable on 2, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreFastly Fanout · 8.6/10
  • Free planonly AnyCable
  • Most featuresAnyCable · 2 of 2

Fastly Fanout scores higher on our rubric for websocket tools: 8.6 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.

AnyCable offers free plan; Fastly Fanout doesn't. AnyCable offers self-hosting available; Fastly Fanout doesn't.

Fastly Fanout is the better fit for enterprises building real-time streaming applications. AnyCable is the better fit for rails teams needing recovery and deployment continuity.

  • Fastly Fanout fits best

    Enterprises building real-time streaming applications

  • AnyCable fits best

    Rails teams needing recovery and deployment continuity

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Fastly Fanout 8.6/10 Visit ↗ AnyCable 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 7.9
Ranking #4 in WebSocket Tools #8 in WebSocket Tools
Best for Enterprises building real-time streaming applications Rails teams needing recovery and deployment continuity
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published $149/mo
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Free trial length 30 days 60 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Fastly Fanout 1/2 · AnyCable 2/2
Pub/sub messaging ✓ ✓
Self-hosting available — ✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment model Managed Not published
Free concurrent connections Not published 2000
Client SDKs Rust, JavaScript, Go JavaScript: web, Node.js, React Native; Ruby/Rails libraries
Protocol support WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, HTTP long polling, MQTT Action Cable; Server-Sent Events (SSE); Pusher; Pro: Apollo GraphQL, long polling, OCPP
Our review
Pros
  • Manages persistent WebSocket connections at the edge
  • Supports pub/sub, SSE, long polling, and MQTT architectures
  • Translates client streams to HTTP backends, including serverless backends
  • Recovers missed messages after brief disconnects and preserves delivery order
  • Maintains connections during application deploys
  • Offers managed service and self-hosted editions
Cons
  • Requires a paid Fastly account with a Compute service for the trial
  • Pricing is handled through Fastly sales
  • Fanout is a managed cloud service, not a self-hosted deployment
  • Self-hosted Pro starts at $149 per month
  • Managed free access is limited to one instance and about 2,000 connections, with no SLA
  • Presence tracking is included, but its value may be uncertain for some teams
Our verdict

Fastly Fanout is a managed edge publish/subscribe service for applications that need to keep client connections open and deliver live updates. It is aimed at teams building chat, live feeds, notifications, and IoT messaging, particularly…

Read the review →

AnyCable is a real-time server for adding WebSocket-based features to applications using Rails, Laravel, Node.js, Python, or other backends. It suits development teams that need live updates, pub/sub, and message handling while retaining a…

Read the review →
  1. Fastly FanoutWebSocket Tools 8.6Pricing on request · 30-day trial
  2. AnyCableWebSocket Tools 7.9Free plan · paid from $149/mo · 60-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Fastly Fanout — where it wins

    • Manages persistent WebSocket connections at the edge
    • Supports pub/sub, SSE, long polling, and MQTT architectures
    • Translates client streams to HTTP backends, including serverless backends

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a paid Fastly account with a Compute service for the trial
    • Pricing is handled through Fastly sales
    • Fanout is a managed cloud service, not a self-hosted deployment

  • AnyCable — where it wins

    • Recovers missed messages after brief disconnects and preserves delivery order
    • Maintains connections during application deploys
    • Offers managed service and self-hosted editions

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted Pro starts at $149 per month
    • Managed free access is limited to one instance and about 2,000 connections, with no SLA
    • Presence tracking is included, but its value may be uncertain for some teams
  • Fastly Fanout8.6/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

    A managed edge service for persistent connections and live message delivery.

    Visit FastlyFull verdict →
  • AnyCable7.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $149/mo · 60-day trial

    A WebSocket server for teams that need reconnect recovery and flexible deployment.

    Visit AnyCableFull verdict →

More comparisons

All WebSocket tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on WebSocket tools

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update