Pubnub

Real-time messaging infrastructure — add live chat, presence, and push notifications to apps with ultra-low-latency APIs and SDKs.

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pubnub.com

Verified API available Works with n8n Free tier ~28k monthly visits

Quick facts
What is it	Real-time messaging infrastructure — add live chat, presence, and push notifications to apps with ultra-low-latency APIs and SDKs.
Pricing	Freemium — from $98/mo
Free tier	Yes
Platform	Web Application
API	Yes
Works with	n8n
Best for	building live chat features in apps, adding real-time updates for delivery tracking
Domain registered	2010

Data updated Aug. 1, 2026

What does Pubnub do?

Pubnub is a real-time messaging platform that lets developers add live chat, presence indicators, push notifications, and data synchronization to apps. It provides ultra-low-latency APIs and SDKs that scale from a prototype to millions of concurrent users. The platform handles the heavy lifting of managing WebSocket connections, message delivery, and network reliability, so teams can focus on building interactive experiences rather than infrastructure.

Pubnub runs on a globally distributed edge network that claims under 30ms latency and 99.999% uptime. It offers several packaged products: In-App Messaging combines publish/subscribe with message persistence and file sharing; Presence tracks user activity in real time; Mobile Push Notifications work through APNS and FCM; and Illuminate gives live analytics and no-code decisioning. An AI Chat Moderation add-on automatically filters toxic or unsafe messages. Pubnub also provides an MCP Server that lets AI agents interact with the environment, and an App Context system for syncing data across devices.

Developers and product teams building apps that need real-time features — like live sports chats, in-game updates, delivery driver tracking, or collaborative tools — are the primary audience. Industries including gaming, digital health, eCommerce, fintech, and logistics use Pubnub to power interactions. Customers like DocuSign, Scopely, and Yelp rely on it for features that keep users engaged and informed.

App Framework / SDK Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS/PaaS)Product Analytics

#api#chat#in-app messaging#messaging#presence#pub-sub#push notifications#real-time

Key features

What makes it stand out

In-app messaging with persistence, file sharing, and third-party integrations

Real-time user presence monitoring and activity tracking

Push notifications via APNS and FCM for mobile engagement

AI chat moderation that blocks toxic messages in real time

Live analytics and no-code decisioning with PubNub Illuminate

Who is Pubnub for?

Who benefits most from this tool

building live chat features in apps

adding real-time updates for delivery tracking

sending push notifications for user engagement

Pricing

Free tier available — start without a credit card

Free Plan

Free

200 MAU
1GB (7 days) Data Storage
1M Monthly Transactions
1GB data storage (7 days)
Up to 1M transactions monthly

Starter Plan

$98.0/month

1,000 MAU
Includes add-on Bizops Workspace for user and channel management
Up to 6 months data storage
Insights into your users, channels and messages

Pro Plan

Custom

Custom MAU
Unlimited data storage
Advanced analytics & monitoring
99.999% uptime SLA
Custom integrations

Trust & presence

Search presence Top 10k site

Domain Domain registered 2010

Gallery

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