Centrifugo is an open-source real-time messaging server that delivers pub/sub events over WebSocket, SSE, HTTP streaming, WebTransport, and gRPC. Teams integrate it with any backend to power chats, live comments, multiplayer sync, and AI streaming with horizontal scaling via Redis, PostgreSQL, or NATS.
Open-source Centrifugo is free to self-host; Centrifugo PRO uses flat company-wide licensing quoted by sales rather than published monthly USD tiers.
API access
Documentation describes server HTTP and GRPC APIs for publish, presence, history, and proxy events.
Is Centrifugo right for you?
A good fit for
Backend engineers building realtime features who want a dedicated messaging layer decoupled from app business logic.
Before you choose
PRO features require a commercial license with flat pricing based on company size, not per-connection metering.
Realtime messaging server
Centrifugo advertises scalable websocket messaging and state sync with official SDKs, broker-backed clustering, and optional PRO observability and push features.
What it can do
Features & capabilities
Unknown is different from unavailable. Each fact carries its own evidence.
Capability
Value
Evidence
Checked
Transports
Intro docs list WebSocket, HTTP-streaming, SSE, WebTransport, and GRPC client transports.
Facts sourced
2026-10-04
Scaling
Homepage notes horizontal scaling through Redis, PostgreSQL, and NATS brokers.
Facts sourced
2026-10-04
PRO licensing
PRO page states flat company-wide licensing without per-connection or per-message fees.
Facts sourced
2026-10-04
Understand the total cost
Centrifugo pricing & plans
Free
Free
Open-source Centrifugo is free to self-host; Centrifugo PRO uses flat company-wide licensing quoted by sales rather than published monthly USD tiers.
Access
Open-source Centrifugo is free to self-host; Centrifugo PRO uses flat company-wide licensing quoted by sales rather than published monthly USD tiers.
Centrifugo PRO FAQ states pricing is flat based on company size and never on connections, nodes, or message volume.
Can I try Centrifugo PRO before buying?
PRO FAQ explains unlicensed PRO runs in sandbox mode capped at 20 concurrent connections, 2 nodes, and 5 API requests per second for evaluation.
What is Centrifugo used for?
Centrifugo is an open-source real-time messaging server that delivers pub/sub events over WebSocket, SSE, HTTP streaming, WebTransport, and gRPC. Teams integrate it with any backend to power chats, live comments, multiplayer sync, and AI streaming with horizontal scaling via Redis, PostgreSQL, or NATS.
Does Centrifugo have a free plan?
Open-source Centrifugo is free to self-host; Centrifugo PRO uses flat company-wide licensing quoted by sales rather than published monthly USD tiers.. This record lists ongoing free access; check the plan limits before starting.
How much does Centrifugo cost?
No paid monthly price is listed; this record treats the product as free to start. See the plan cards for entitlements, billing commitments and seat minimums.
Can I use Centrifugo through an API?
Documentation describes server HTTP and GRPC APIs for publish, presence, history, and proxy events.. API access and subscription access may have different terms; consult the linked sources.
What should I check before choosing it?
PRO features require a commercial license with flat pricing based on company size, not per-connection metering.
Price history
No retained pricing changes yet. A current price alone does not establish a historical trend.