websocket-client review
A configurable, open-source Python client library for WebSocket connections.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
websocket-client is an open-source Python library for connecting to WebSocket servers and sending and receiving data. It suits developers who need to build a client connection in Python, from direct connect, send, receive, and close operations to longer-lived connections managed through WebSocketApp callbacks. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and implements the hybi-13 WebSocket protocol.
Its connection controls are the main draw for applications that need to adapt to different endpoints or network environments. Developers can set custom HTTP headers, cookies, origin, host, and subprotocols, as well as socket timeouts and TLS options. HTTP and SOCKS proxies are supported, with optional authentication. The library also handles WebSocket ping and pong control frames. For inspection or interactive use, it includes a command-line tool with tracing and raw-output options. Reconnection is available through an asynchronous dispatcher and a non-zero reconnect delay, so this is a client-side behavior rather than a managed connection service.
The project is free and open source, with documentation and community support. Its scope is intentionally client-focused: it is a library to run in your own application, not a hosted service, and it does not provide managed pub/sub. One specific protocol limitation is that permessage-deflate compression is unsupported. Choose websocket-client when Python code needs configurable WebSocket connections and control over client behavior; look elsewhere if you need a hosted platform, managed pub/sub, or that compression extension.
websocket-client pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Offers both low-level operations and a callback-driven WebSocketApp interface
- Configures headers, cookies, TLS, timeouts, and HTTP or SOCKS proxies
- Includes ping/pong handling, tracing, and reconnect behavior
- Where it doesn't
- Client library, not a hosted WebSocket service
- Does not support permessage-deflate compression
- Focused on Python client connections, not managed pub/sub
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