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APIs · head to head

PubNub vs Sensedia

PubNub logo

PubNub

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sensedia logo

Sensedia

APIs

Full lifecycle API management and integration platform

From
$1000/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only PubNub has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PubNub free plan storage history is limited to 7 days, which is short for apps needing longer message retention.; Sensedia specific pricing is not disclosed; enterprise custom pricing model requires direct contact with Sensedia.
  • They diverge on capability: PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Sensedia covers API Gateway.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PubNub and Sensedia actually diverge.

Attributes where PubNub and Sensedia differ
AttributePubNubSensedia
Starting priceFree$1000/monthly
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, ios, android, apiCloud, On-premise, Hybrid
FoundedUnknown2007

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 PubNub

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

Only in Sensedia

  • API Gateway
  • Integration Platform
  • Real-time Analytics
  • SAP
  • Salesforce
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

PubNub

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

Sensedia

  • API Developmentnot PubNub
  • API Gatewaynot PubNub
  • API Testingnot PubNub
  • API Documentationnot PubNub
  • Microservicesnot PubNub

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Sensedia

  • Specific pricing is not disclosed; enterprise custom pricing model requires direct contact with Sensedia.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Sensedia

$1000/monthly
  • Starter$1000/monthly
    • API Gateway
    • Basic monitoring
    • Standard support
  • Professional$3000/monthly
    • Advanced analytics
    • Integration flows
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Open banking modules
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Sensedia if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
  • You also want integration platform.
Sensedia review

Questions people ask

Is PubNub or Sensedia better?
Neither clearly leads. PubNub starts at Free and Sensedia at $1000/monthly, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PubNub or Sensedia?
PubNub has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for PubNub and $1000/monthly for Sensedia.
Does PubNub or Sensedia run on more platforms?
PubNub runs on web, ios, android, api. Sensedia runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
Can I use PubNub for free?
Yes. PubNub has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sensedia starts at $1000/monthly.
What is PubNub best used for?
PubNub is most often used for building realtime chat applications, streaming live iot sensor data, adding presence indicators to collaborative apps, running edge logic with serverless functions on realtime events. Of those, building realtime chat applications and streaming live iot sensor data are not what Sensedia is typically brought in for.
What can PubNub do that Sensedia cannot?
PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Presence tracking, Message persistence, Serverless Functions. Sensedia covers API Gateway, Integration Platform, Real-time Analytics, SAP.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Sensedia: How much does Sensedia cost?

Sensedia does not publish pricing on their website. The company offers custom pricing and supports 3 levels of support tailored to different business needs and complexity. Customers must contact Sensedia directly or schedule a demo to receive pricing.

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
Sensedia: Does Sensedia offer a free trial?

Sensedia offers a free trial for API Management. Interested customers can request a trial through the Contact us or free trial links on their website.

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
Sensedia: What support levels does Sensedia provide?

Sensedia offers 3 levels of support tailored to business needs and complexity. Specific features and pricing for each support tier are available by contacting Sensedia directly.

Source
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