Centrifuge
Centrifuge: An open-source Go library for self-hosted pub/sub, with multiple transports and recovery. Ranked #11 of 55 in WebSocket Tools by our editors (7.6/10); pricing: Open source; best for teams building self-hosted real-time applications.
At a glance
- Editor score7.6 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forTeams building self-hosted real-time applications
- Paid fromNone
- Deployment modelLibrary
- Facts checked28 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports WebSockets, HTTP streaming, and Server-Sent Events
- Offers channel history, presence, and recovery after brief disconnects
- Scales across server nodes with Redis and provides Prometheus instrumentation
Where it doesn't
- Requires teams to run and operate their own deployment
- Designed as a Go library, not a hosted WebSocket service
- The library has no v1 release, and its API may change
Our verdict on Centrifuge
Centrifuge is an open-source Go library for adding real-time messaging to applications. It suits teams building interactive products such as chat, live comments, multiplayer games, telemetry, or collaborative tools, especially when they want to self-host. It provides channel-based publish/subscribe, bidirectional WebSocket messaging in JSON or Protobuf, and client SDKs for browser and server environments as well as mobile platforms. This is a library to incorporate into an application, not a hosted service; the separate Centrifugo server product is distinct.
Its transport and messaging features give teams options beyond a single WebSocket connection. HTTP streaming and Server-Sent Events are also supported, alongside gRPC, unidirectional WebSocket, and experimental WebSocket over HTTP/2. Channels can be subscribed to from clients or the server, and presence information plus join/leave events support application features that depend on who is connected. Channel message history and recovery after brief disconnects can help maintain continuity. Redis PUB/SUB and Redis clustering options distribute messaging across server nodes, while Prometheus instrumentation supports metrics collection.
Centrifuge is a fit for teams prepared to integrate and operate a Go library in their own deployment. Authentication can use HTTP middleware or token-based methods, and official client SDKs cover JavaScript, Go, Dart/Flutter, Swift/iOS, Java/Android, and Python asyncio. The tradeoff is operational responsibility: it is self-hosted and has no hosted-service plan or pricing tier described here. The repository notes that the library has no v1 release and its API may change, so teams that need a stable released API or a managed WebSocket service should consider alternatives. Documentation and community are the stated support channels.
Centrifuge pricing
Centrifuge fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Deployment model | Library |
| Free concurrent connections | Not verified |
| Pub/sub messaging | Yes |
| Self-hosting available | Yes |
| Client SDKs | JavaScript (browser, Node.js, React Native); Go; Dart/Flutter; Swift/iOS; Java/Android; Python (asyncio) |
| Protocol support | WebSocket; HTTP streaming; Server-Sent Events (SSE); gRPC; unidirectional WebSocket; WebSocket over HTTP/2 (experimental) |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Redis, Prometheus |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 28 Sep 2026 |
Centrifuge integrations
Centrifuge lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Redis
- Prometheus
Alternatives to Centrifuge
- Socket.IOAn open-source library for real-time apps, with transport fallback and reconnection built in.9.3
- Ably Pub/SubFeature-rich managed pub/sub, with a free tier and paid plans from $29/month.8.8
- Azure Web PubSubA managed Azure service for real-time apps that need WebSockets, pub-sub, and scale.8.7
See all Centrifuge alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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