API Management · head to head
KeystoneJS vs Pusher
KeystoneJS
API Management
Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Pusher
API Management
Realtime messaging API for building live features into apps
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: KeystoneJS database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite; Pusher the free Sandbox plan is capped at 100 concurrent connections, which is quickly outgrown by production apps.
- They diverge on capability: KeystoneJS covers REST API, Pusher covers Pub/sub channels.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which KeystoneJS and Pusher actually diverge.
| Attribute | KeystoneJS | Pusher |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | Node.js, Self-hosted | web, ios, android, api |
| Founded | 2016 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).
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 KeystoneJS
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- Admin interface
- Node.js
- Next.js
- React
- Databases
- Node.js support
Only in Pusher
- Pub/sub channels
- Presence channels
- Client libraries
- Webhooks
- 24/7 monitoring
- Priority support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
KeystoneJS
- Building a headless CMS with a GraphQL API from a TypeScript schemanot Pusher
- Generating a configurable Admin UI for editorsnot Pusher
- Adding structured rich text content with the document fieldnot Pusher
Pusher
- Adding live chat to a web or mobile appnot KeystoneJS
- Showing realtime presence of online usersnot KeystoneJS
- Pushing live notifications or dashboard updatesnot KeystoneJS
- Building collaborative features without managing WebSocket serversnot KeystoneJS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
KeystoneJS
- Database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite
- Keystone 5 is a separate legacy product documented on a different site and is not covered by the Keystone 6 docs
- Upgrading requires following a dedicated Migrate to 8.0.0 guide, so major versions are not drop-in
- Free support is a community Slack; enterprise-grade consulting and support is a separate paid engagement with Thinkmill and no published price
Pusher
- The free Sandbox plan is capped at 100 concurrent connections, which is quickly outgrown by production apps.
- Pricing jumps sharply between tiers (e.g. $49 to $99 to $299), leaving few options for teams with moderate but growing usage.
- Priority support with faster response times costs an additional $3,000/month on top of plan pricing.
Pricing, plan by plan
KeystoneJS
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full KeystoneJS
- Community support
Pusher
Free- SandboxFree
- 200k messages/day
- 100 concurrent connections
- Standard support
- Startup$49/month
- 1M messages/day
- 500 concurrent connections
- Pro$99/month
- 4M messages/day
- 2,000 concurrent connections
- Business$299/month
- 10M messages/day
- 5,000 concurrent connections
- Premium support
Which should you pick?
Choose KeystoneJS if
- You need rest api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Node.js, Self-hosted.
- You also want graphql api.
Choose Pusher if
- You need pub/sub channels.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, ios, android, api.
- You also want presence channels.
Questions people ask
- Is KeystoneJS or Pusher better?
- Neither clearly leads. KeystoneJS starts at Free and Pusher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, KeystoneJS or Pusher?
- KeystoneJS starts at Free and Pusher at Free.
- Does KeystoneJS or Pusher run on more platforms?
- KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Pusher runs on web, ios, android, api.
- Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is KeystoneJS best used for?
- KeystoneJS is most often used for building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema, generating a configurable admin ui for editors, adding structured rich text content with the document field. Of those, building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema and generating a configurable admin ui for editors are not what Pusher is typically brought in for.
- What can KeystoneJS do that Pusher cannot?
- KeystoneJS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Admin interface, Node.js. Pusher covers Pub/sub channels, Presence channels, Client libraries, Webhooks.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Pusher: What does Pusher cost?
Pusher Channels offers a free Sandbox plan (200k messages/day, 100 connections) and paid plans starting at $49/month for Startup, scaling up through Pro, Business, and several higher tiers up to $1,199/month, plus custom Enterprise pricing.
SourcePusher: Can I change or cancel my plan?
Yes, customers can log into the dashboard and adjust their plan at any time, including upgrading, downgrading, or cancelling.
SourcePusher: How is usage metered?
Usage is measured by concurrent connections and messages per day; a message counts both the publish and each delivery, so publishing one message to 50 subscribers counts as 51 messages.
SourceRelated pages
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