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APIs · head to head

Apidog vs PubNub

Apidog logo

Apidog

APIs

All-in-one platform for API design, documentation, testing, and mocking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PubNub logo

PubNub

APIs

Realtime communication platform for chat, IoT, and live data apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apidog free plan is capped at 4 users, limiting larger teams from using it at no cost.; PubNub free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.
  • They diverge on capability: Apidog covers API design and documentation, PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apidog and PubNub actually diverge.

Attributes where Apidog and PubNub differ
AttributeApidogPubNub
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linuxweb, ios, android, api

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apidog

  • API design and documentation
  • Mock servers
  • Automated testing
  • Team collaboration
  • Scheduled imports
  • Branded documentation

Only in PubNub

  • Pub/sub messaging
  • Presence tracking
  • Message persistence
  • Serverless Functions
  • File sharing
  • Encryption and access controls

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apidog

  • Designing and documenting APIs in a shared team workspacenot PubNub
  • Mocking API responses for frontend development before backend is readynot PubNub
  • Running automated API test suitesnot PubNub
  • Replacing separate Postman, Swagger, and mock-server tools with one platformnot PubNub

PubNub

  • Building realtime chat applicationsnot Apidog
  • Streaming live IoT sensor datanot Apidog
  • Adding presence indicators to collaborative appsnot Apidog
  • Running edge logic with serverless Functions on realtime eventsnot Apidog

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apidog

  • Free plan is capped at 4 users, limiting larger teams from using it at no cost.
  • Faster scheduled imports and unlimited projects require the Professional tier or higher.
  • Smaller community and plugin ecosystem compared to long-established tools like Postman.
  • Advanced enterprise security controls require the top-tier Enterprise plan.

PubNub

  • Free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.
  • MAU-based pricing means costs scale directly with user growth, which can be less predictable than flat message-based pricing.
  • Pro-tier custom pricing above 50,000 MAU requires contacting sales rather than self-serve checkout.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apidog

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 4 users
    • Core design, mock, and testing features
  • Basic$9/month
    • Per-seat pricing billed annually
    • Expanded team collaboration
  • Professional$18/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Team-level shared variables
    • Faster scheduled imports
  • Enterprise$27/month
    • Advanced admin and security controls
    • Priority support

PubNub

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 200 MAU or 1M transactions
    • 1GB data storage (7 days)
    • 5 test Serverless Functions
  • Starter$98/month
    • 1,000 MAU included
    • User management
    • Insights
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Custom MAU packages
    • Volume discounts
    • Enterprise-scale configurations

Which should you pick?

Choose Apidog if

  • You need api design and documentation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want mock servers.
Apidog review

Choose PubNub if

  • You need pub/sub messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android, api.
  • You also want presence tracking.
PubNub review

Questions people ask

Is Apidog or PubNub better?
Neither clearly leads. Apidog starts at Free and PubNub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apidog or PubNub?
Apidog starts at Free and PubNub at Free.
Does Apidog or PubNub run on more platforms?
Apidog runs on web, windows, mac, linux. PubNub runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use Apidog for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apidog best used for?
Apidog is most often used for designing and documenting apis in a shared team workspace, mocking api responses for frontend development before backend is ready, running automated api test suites, replacing separate postman, swagger, and mock-server tools with one platform. Of those, designing and documenting apis in a shared team workspace and mocking api responses for frontend development before backend is ready are not what PubNub is typically brought in for.
What can Apidog do that PubNub cannot?
Apidog covers API design and documentation, Mock servers, Automated testing, Team collaboration. PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Presence tracking, Message persistence, Serverless Functions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apidog: What does Apidog cost?

Apidog offers a free plan for up to 4 users, with paid per-seat plans at roughly $9/month for Basic, $18/month for Professional, and $27/month for Enterprise when billed annually.

Source
PubNub: What does PubNub cost?

PubNub offers a free plan for up to 200 MAU or 1 million transactions, a Starter plan at $98/month for 1,000 MAU, and custom Pro pricing for larger volumes, e.g. around $550/month for 10,000 MAU.

Source
Apidog: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The free plan supports up to 4 users with access to core design, documentation, mocking, and testing features.

Source
PubNub: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the free plan supports up to 200 monthly active users or 1 million transactions, includes 1GB of data storage retained for 7 days, and requires no credit card.

Source
Apidog: Can I try paid plans before subscribing?

Paid plans include a 14-day free trial, giving teams full access to premium features before committing to a subscription.

Source
PubNub: How is usage metered?

PubNub bills primarily by Monthly Active Users, defined as a unique user who connects at least once in a billing cycle; messages are bundled into MAU pricing with no separate per-message fees, and overage is billed proportionally.

Source
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