AnyCable
Self-HostedOpen-source Action Cable alternative for scalable WebSocket communication
Overview
AnyCable is a drop-in replacement for Ruby on Rails' Action Cable, enabling real-time bidirectional WebSocket communication with a scalable architecture. It decouples RPC servers (Go/Ruby) from WebSocket servers (Nginx, AnyCable-Go) to support horizontal scaling of features like chat, live updates, or collaborative tools. It integrates with Redis for pub/sub, offers Docker/Kubernetes support for easy deployment, and maintains full Action Cable API compatibility to minimize code changes.
Key Features
- Drop-in Action Cable compatibility (no code changes for most Rails apps)
- Scalable architecture for high-concurrency WebSocket connections
- Docker/Kubernetes-ready for containerized deployment
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is AnyCable hard to install?
AnyCable requires configuring an RPC server (e.g., AnyCable-Go) and a WebSocket server (like Nginx). However, it provides pre-built Docker images and Helm charts for Kubernetes, simplifying deployment for users familiar with containerization and Rails.
? Is it a good alternative to Action Cable?
Yes—AnyCable is a direct replacement with identical API support, but it decouples WebSocket handling from Rails servers, enabling horizontal scaling for thousands of concurrent connections (ideal for chat or live dashboards).
? Is it completely free?
The core AnyCable software is open-source under the MIT License, so it’s 100% free to self-host. AnyCable Cloud (a managed service) has paid plans, but self-hosting has no costs.
Top Alternatives
Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted, no third-party SaaS dependency)
- ⊕ Free open-source core (MIT License)
- ⊕ Better scalability than Action Cable for high-traffic apps
Cons
- ⊖ Requires setup of additional components (RPC + WebSocket servers)
- ⊖ Primarily optimized for Ruby on Rails ecosystems
- ⊖ Steeper learning curve for non-Rails developers