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APIs · head to head

Mambu vs PubNub

Mambu logo

Mambu

APIs

Composable cloud core banking platform used by banks, lenders and fintechs in 65-plus countries

From
On request
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

  • Only PubNub has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mambu pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.; PubNub free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.
  • They diverge on capability: Mambu covers Composable engine architecture, PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mambu and PubNub actually diverge.

Attributes where Mambu and PubNub differ
AttributeMambuPubNub
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIweb, ios, android, api

Identical on both: 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 Mambu

  • Composable engine architecture
  • Deposits and lending core
  • Cloud-native SaaS delivery
  • Marketplace of connectors
  • Multi-country regulatory support
  • API-first orchestration

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.

Mambu

  • A digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratchnot PubNub
  • A lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products fasternot PubNub
  • An established bank doing incremental core modernisation rather than a full monolithic core replacementnot PubNub
  • A fintech in an emerging or regulated market needing pre-built compliance configuration across many jurisdictionsnot PubNub

PubNub

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mambu

  • Pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.
  • A core banking implementation is a multi-year, high-switching-cost commitment regardless of vendor, and Mambu is no exception; a wrong initial configuration choice is expensive to unwind.
  • Composability is a genuine strength but also means more integration and configuration decisions fall to the bank's own team or system integrator, versus a more opinionated, less flexible fixed-core alternative.
  • As cloud-hosted core banking infrastructure, a bank is trusting Mambu's own uptime and security posture for its most business-critical system, concentrating operational risk in one vendor relationship.
  • Newer entrants such as Thought Machine and 10x Banking compete directly on similar composable positioning, so Mambu's tenure advantage is real but narrowing as competitors mature.

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

Mambu

On request
  • Mambu$undefined/year
    • Subscription pricing, structured by modules and usage
    • Exact rates not published, custom quote required

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 Mambu if

  • You need composable engine architecture.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want deposits and lending core.
Mambu 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 Mambu or PubNub better?
Neither clearly leads. Mambu starts at On request and PubNub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mambu or PubNub?
PubNub has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Mambu and Free for PubNub.
Does Mambu or PubNub run on more platforms?
Mambu runs on Web, API. PubNub runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use PubNub for free?
Yes. PubNub has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mambu starts at On request.
What is Mambu best used for?
Mambu is most often used for a digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratch, a lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products faster, an established bank doing incremental core modernisation rather than a full monolithic core replacement, a fintech in an emerging or regulated market needing pre-built compliance configuration across many jurisdictions. Of those, a digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratch and a lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products faster are not what PubNub is typically brought in for.
What can Mambu do that PubNub cannot?
Mambu covers Composable engine architecture, Deposits and lending core, Cloud-native SaaS delivery, Marketplace of connectors. PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Presence tracking, Message persistence, Serverless Functions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mambu: Is Mambu on-premise or cloud?

Cloud-native SaaS delivery, not an on-premise installation.

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
Mambu: Does it publish pricing?

No, pricing is subscription-based, structured by modules and usage, but not published publicly.

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
Mambu: How many countries does it operate in?

It is used by banks, lenders and fintechs across more than 65 countries.

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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