GWS

At a glance

• Editor score
  3.4 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Go developers needing low-level WebSocket server controls
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Deployment model
  Library
• Facts checked
  28 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Event-driven server and client APIs cover WebSocket lifecycle events.
  • Offers streaming reads, asynchronous writes, and segmented large-file writes.
  • Supports broadcast, permessage-deflate, proxy dialing, TCP, KCP, and Unix sockets.

• Where it doesn't

  • Go is the only client SDK listed, limiting language options.
  • Pub/sub is not built in; the example relies on a separate event_emitter package.
  • It is a library, so teams must build and operate their own service.

Our verdict on GWS

GWS is an open-source WebSocket server and client library written in Go, aimed at developers building WebSocket services who want control over connection handling and I/O. Its event-driven APIs expose connection, message, ping, pong, and close events, while reads can use ReadLoop, ReadMessage, or streaming NextReader modes. That makes it a fit for Go teams building services such as connection hubs, reverse proxies, chat systems, games, streaming, or push systems. It is a library rather than a hosted service, and its published client SDK support is Go.

The standout is the range of server-side controls in one library. It supports broadcast with reusable compressed frames, permessage-deflate with context takeover options, customizable proxy dialing with SOCKS5 examples, and segmented writes for large files. Concurrent and asynchronous non-blocking writes give developers additional ways to manage output. Transport options include TCP, KCP, and Unix domain sockets. These are useful building blocks for systems that need to tune connection and message handling, but they also leave architecture and operational choices with the implementing team.

GWS is free and open source, with self-hosted deployment and community support. Its scope is narrower than a broader WebSocket platform: the pub/sub example uses the separate event_emitter package, rather than establishing built-in pub/sub, and the listed integrations are event_emitter and kcp-go. Teams looking for a Go library with granular lifecycle, read, write, compression, proxy, and transport controls should consider it. Teams seeking built-in pub/sub or a managed service should look elsewhere.

GWS pricing

GWS fact sheet

GWS integrations

GWS lists 2 integrations on its own site.

• event_emitter
• kcp-go

Alternatives to GWS

• SSocket.IOAn open-source library for real-time apps, with transport fallback and reconnection built in.9.3
• APAbly Pub/SubFeature-rich managed pub/sub, with a free tier and paid plans from $29/month.8.8
• AWAzure Web PubSubA managed Azure service for real-time apps that need WebSockets, pub-sub, and scale.8.7

See all GWS alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 9 Oct 2026 · How we research and update