Quick answer
Pusher - Pusher wins for realtime app messaging, while Webpushr wins for no-CC web push campaigns and simpler scaling by subscriber count.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems even though both sit in realtime and messaging. Pusher is a hosted realtime API for app events, pub/sub, chat, location tracking, and push notifications, with the free tier capped by 200,000 messages per day and 100 concurrent connections. It is the better fit when your product needs live state changes inside an app. Webpushr is a browser push platform with a free plan capped at 10,000 subscribers but unusually broad feature parity, including analytics, segments, integrations, API access, unlimited websites, and no credit card required. It is more of a marketing and audience engagement tool than an app transport. If you need interactive in-app realtime, Pusher is the cleaner choice. If you need web push with generous free tooling and a low-friction start, Webpushr is stronger.
Pusher vs Webpushr free tier, side by side
| PusherFTV 52 | WebpushrFTV 64 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free capDifferent limiting unit: Pusher is message-based, Webpushr is audience-based. | 200,000 messages/day | 10,000 subscribers |
| Concurrent connectionsRelevant to Pusher Channels, not listed for Webpushr. | 100 | Not stated |
| WebsitesWebpushr includes unlimited websites on the free plan. | Not stated | Unlimited |
| Team membersWebpushr lists unlimited team members on the free plan. | Not stated | Unlimited |
| API accessWebpushr includes unlimited API access on the free plan. | Not stated | Unlimited |
| Monitoring / analyticsPusher does not include monitoring integrations on the free plan. | No monitoring integrations | Real-time delivery, opt-in funnel, and in-browser messaging analytics plus website uptime monitoring |
| Credit card required | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Pusher uses flat monthly pricing on the first paid tier shown, with cost driven by message volume and connection limits. Webpushr also uses flat monthly tiers, but the jump is based on subscriber bands. For typical small-team usage, Pusher’s paid entry point is $49/month for 1,000,000 messages/day and 500 connections. Webpushr starts cheaper at $29/month for up to 50K subscribers, then moves to $49 for 100K and $99 for 150K. Because both are flat-priced, the main divergence is what you are scaling: realtime traffic for Pusher versus audience size for Webpushr.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Pusher | Webpushr |
|---|---|---|
| 10K users/subscribers | $49/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 50K audience / subscriber basePusher’s paid plan is message-based, so this is not a like-for-like meter. | $49/mo | $29/mo |
| 100K subscribersWebpushr’s STARTUP tier covers up to 100K subscribers. | $49/mo | $49/mo |
| 150K subscribersWebpushr’s GROWTH tier covers up to 150K subscribers; Enterprise is custom beyond that. | $49/mo | $99/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Pusher when…
- You are building live in-app updates, chat, pub/sub, or presence features.
- You need a realtime backend primitive with message and connection limits, not a subscriber-based marketing tool.
- You want to ship functions alongside channels in the same free plan.
- Your app traffic is measured in messages and concurrent connections, not newsletter-style subscribers.
Pick Webpushr when…
- You want browser push notifications for a website or content product.
- You need a free plan with no credit card required.
- You care about segments, custom attributes, delivery analytics, and website uptime monitoring on the free tier.
- You expect to grow by subscriber count and want flat paid plans that clearly step from 50K to 100K to 150K subscribers.
Bottom line
For the most common builder choosing a free tier, Pusher is the better pick if you are building live app behavior and need realtime messaging primitives. Webpushr is the better pick if your goal is web push notifications and audience engagement, especially if you want no credit card and full feature access from day one. The deciding factor is not which free tier is bigger overall, but whether your product scales on messages and connections or on subscribers and campaign tooling.
Read the full listings: Pusher and Webpushr. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.