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APIs · head to head

PubNub vs Weavr

PubNub logo

PubNub

APIs

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weavr logo

Weavr

APIs

Packaged embedded finance for B2B SaaS, with an in-house EU e-money licence

From
On request
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.; Weavr products are packaged rather than open, so a flow Weavr does not support is not something you can build around, and you discover the limits after integrating.
  • They diverge on capability: PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Weavr covers Plug-and-play products.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PubNub and Weavr actually diverge.

Attributes where PubNub and Weavr differ
AttributePubNubWeavr
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, ios, android, apiWeb, REST 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 PubNub

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

Only in Weavr

  • Plug-and-play products
  • Regulated cover
  • Card issuing
  • Multi-currency accounts
  • Identity and onboarding
  • Data insights

What people use each for

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

PubNub

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

Weavr

  • A project management SaaS adding expense cards without hiring a compliance officernot PubNub
  • A marketplace paying out sellers from accounts held inside its own productnot PubNub
  • A procurement platform issuing virtual cards against approved purchase ordersnot PubNub
  • A European SaaS vendor wanting a regulated entity to sit behind its financial featuresnot 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.

Weavr

  • Products are packaged rather than open, so a flow Weavr does not support is not something you can build around, and you discover the limits after integrating.
  • Programme economics depend on interchange, and SaaS vendors routinely overestimate how much card volume their customers will actually route through the embedded product.
  • It is a small company with limited headcount supporting a regulated dependency, which is a real concentration risk for a feature your customers rely on.
  • Monthly minimums on card programmes mean a slow-adopting customer base leaves you paying for volume you never reach.
  • European interchange caps hold programme revenue well below what US embedded finance case studies suggest, so imported business cases do not transfer.

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

Weavr

On request
  • Weavr embedded finance$undefined/year
    • Platform subscription plus per-account and per-card fees
    • Interchange share negotiated as part of the commercial terms
    • Monthly minimums apply to card programmes

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 Weavr if

  • You need plug-and-play products.
  • You work on Web, REST API.
  • You also want regulated cover.
Weavr review

Questions people ask

Is PubNub or Weavr better?
Neither clearly leads. PubNub starts at Free and Weavr at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PubNub or Weavr?
PubNub has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for PubNub and On request for Weavr.
Does PubNub or Weavr run on more platforms?
PubNub runs on web, ios, android, api. Weavr runs on Web, REST API.
Can I use PubNub for free?
Yes. PubNub has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Weavr starts at On request.
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 Weavr is typically brought in for.
What can PubNub do that Weavr cannot?
PubNub covers Pub/sub messaging, Presence tracking, Message persistence, Serverless Functions. Weavr covers Plug-and-play products, Regulated cover, Card issuing, Multi-currency accounts.

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
Weavr: Do I need my own financial licence?

No. Weavr holds an e-money licence, including a Maltese authorisation for the EU, and acts as the regulated entity for the embedded product.

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
Weavr: How is it different from a banking-as-a-service API?

It sells finished product shapes with compliance built in rather than raw banking primitives, which trades flexibility for a much shorter route to launch.

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
Weavr: How does Weavr make money?

Platform fees plus per-account and per-card charges, with a negotiated share of card interchange.

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