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Firebase vs ably: What are the differences?
## Key Differences Between Firebase and Ably
1. **Real-time capabilities**: Firebase provides real-time database and messaging services allowing developers to build real-time applications with ease. On the other hand, Ably focuses solely on real-time data delivery, offering features such as reliable message ordering, guaranteed message delivery, and presence functionality.
2. **Scalability**: Firebase is known for its scalability, providing servers and infrastructure managed by Google to handle large volumes of data and traffic. Ably, on the other hand, offers a highly scalable pub/sub messaging platform that can handle millions of messages per second without any downtime.
3. **Flexibility and customization**: Firebase offers a wide range of features, including authentication, cloud functions, and storage, making it a robust all-in-one platform for app development. Ably, however, focuses on real-time messaging and data delivery, allowing developers more flexibility and customization in how they integrate real-time capabilities into their applications.
4. **Community and support**: Firebase has a large and active community, extensive documentation, and support resources provided by Google. Ably, while it has a smaller community, offers dedicated support to its customers, ensuring fast response times and assistance with implementation.
5. **Security**: Firebase offers robust security features, including authentication, database rules, and data encryption. Ably also prioritizes security, providing end-to-end encryption, token-based authentication, and detailed access control mechanisms to protect data and ensure secure communication.
6. **Integration capabilities**: Firebase integrates seamlessly with other Google services and products, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for developers. Ably, while not as heavily integrated with other platforms, offers webhooks, integrations with various programming languages, and easy integration with other third-party services to enhance its functionality.
In Summary, Firebase and Ably offer distinct advantages in real-time capabilities, scalability, flexibility, support, security, and integration options for developers building real-time applications.
We are starting to work on a web-based platform aiming to connect artists (clients) and professional freelancers (service providers). In-app, timeline-based, real-time communication between users (& storing it), file transfers, and push notifications are essential core features. We are considering using Node.js, ExpressJS, React, MongoDB stack with Socket.IO & Apollo, or maybe using Real-Time Database and functionalities of Firebase.
I would recommend looking hard into Firebase for this project, especially if you do not have dedicated full-stack or backend members on your team.
The real time database, as you mentioned, is a great option, but I would also look into Firestore. Similar to RTDB, it adds more functions and some cool methods as well. Also, another great thing about Firebase is you have easy access to storage and dead simple auth as well.
Node.js Express MongoDB Socket.IO and Apollo are great technologies as well, and may be the better option if you do not wish to cede as much control to third parties in your application.
Overall, I say if you wish to focus more time developing your React application instead of other parts of your stack, Firebase is a great way to do that.
Hello Noam 👋,
I suggest taking a look at Ably, it has all the realtime features you need and the platform is designed to guarantee critical functionality at scale.
Here is an in depth comparison between Ably and Firebase
Hey Noam,
I would recommend you to take a look into 8base. It has features you've requested, also relation database and GraphQL API which will help you to develop rapidly.
Thanks, Ilya
Pros of Ably
- WebSockets8
- Highly reliable7
- SSE6
- Massive scalability6
- Great technical support6
- Channel Presence5
- Free plan5
- Channel History5
- Message queueing5
- Global cloud network of data centers5
- WebHooks4
- MQTT4
- Consistently high performance4
- Third-party cloud integrations4
Pros of Firebase
- Realtime backend made easy371
- Fast and responsive270
- Easy setup242
- Real-time215
- JSON191
- Free134
- Backed by google128
- Angular adaptor83
- Reliable68
- Great customer support36
- Great documentation32
- Real-time synchronization25
- Mobile friendly21
- Rapid prototyping18
- Great security14
- Automatic scaling12
- Freakingly awesome11
- Chat8
- Angularfire is an amazing addition!8
- Super fast development8
- Built in user auth/oauth6
- Firebase hosting6
- Ios adaptor6
- Awesome next-gen backend6
- Speed of light4
- Very easy to use4
- Great3
- It's made development super fast3
- Brilliant for startups3
- Free hosting2
- Cloud functions2
- JS Offline and Sync suport2
- Low battery consumption2
- .net2
- The concurrent updates create a great experience2
- Push notification2
- I can quickly create static web apps with no backend2
- Great all-round functionality2
- Free authentication solution2
- Easy Reactjs integration1
- Google's support1
- Free SSL1
- CDN & cache out of the box1
- Easy to use1
- Large1
- Faster workflow1
- Serverless1
- Good Free Limits1
- Simple and easy1
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Cons of Ably
Cons of Firebase
- Can become expensive31
- No open source, you depend on external company16
- Scalability is not infinite15
- Not Flexible Enough9
- Cant filter queries7
- Very unstable server3
- No Relational Data3
- Too many errors2
- No offline sync2
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