Centrifugo

Self-Hosted

Open-source real-time messaging server for scalable applications

Overview

Centrifugo is a high-performance real-time messaging server enabling bidirectional communication between backend services and clients. It supports WebSocket, SockJS, HTTP streaming, and WebTransport for reliable connectivity. Easy to integrate with any backend (Go, Python, JS, etc.) via REST or GRPC API. Deployable via Docker, prebuilt binaries, or cloud platforms. Ideal for chat apps, live updates, collaborative tools, and IoT dashboards.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  centrifugo:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: centrifugo
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Real-time bidirectional messaging
Multi-transport connectivity (WebSocket, SockJS)
Easy backend integration via API

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Centrifugo hard to install?

Centrifugo is easy to install via Docker, prebuilt binaries, or package managers. It has minimal dependencies and clear setup documentation, making it accessible for both developers and sysadmins.

? Is Centrifugo a good alternative to Pusher?

Yes—Centrifugo offers similar real-time messaging capabilities but is self-hosted, giving full control over data privacy and no recurring costs. It supports Pusher-compatible client libraries for seamless migration.

? Is Centrifugo completely free?

Centrifugo is open-source under the MIT license, so it’s 100% free to use, modify, and self-host without any restrictions or hidden fees.

Top Alternatives

Pusher Search Google

Ably Search Google

Firebase Realtime Database Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Communication - Custom Communication Systems

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused self-hosting
⊕ No recurring subscription fees

Cons

⊖ Requires backend integration
⊖ Technical setup for clustering