Best Chat API · pricing · Updated June 2026
PubNub pricing (2026)
PubNub starts at $0/mo (Free), across 3 plans. Best for real-time data streaming. Every figure links to PubNub's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Entry price: $0/mo (Free)
- Free tier: Yes
- Compliance: HIPAA Yes · SOC 2 Yes · GDPR —
- Best for: real-time data streaming; multiplayer games; IoT chat; collaborative apps
PubNub plans & pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — | flat | 200 MAU or 1M transactions/month (whichever is hit first); 1 GB storage (7 days retention); no credit card required. | pubnub.com |
| Starter | $98 | — | flat | 1,000 MAU included; up to 6 months message storage; BizOps Workspace add-on included; overage billed proportionally by usage per MAU. | pubnub.com |
| Pro | Quote-only | — | custom | Custom MAU packages (10,000+); unlimited storage; 99.999% uptime SLA; advanced analytics; volume discounts. Page shows illustrative examples (~$190/mo at 1K MAU up to ~$1,130/mo at 25K MAU) but final pricing is quote-based. | pubnub.com |
Last verified 2026-06-15. Pricing fetched from pubnub.com/pricing (Free $0, Starter $98, Pro custom — confirmed). Compliance fetched from pubnub.com/trust/compliance: SOC2 Type II, SOC3, ISO27001, HIPAA (PHI protection) confirmed; GDPR NOT explicitly stated (page cites EU-US Data Privacy Framework) so gdpr=null. BAA not stated publicly; null.
Capabilities
Integrations: React, React Native, iOS, Android, JavaScript, Python, Unity, Unreal Engine, Go.
Key features: Transaction-based pricing (not per-message fees); SOC2 Type II + SOC3 + ISO27001; BizOps Workspace (presence, analytics); Broad SDK coverage (20+ languages/platforms).
Plan limits: Free: 200 MAU or 1M transactions/month; Starter: 1,000 MAU; Overage billed as proportional MAU units, not per-message.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PubNub cost?
PubNub starts at $0/mo (Free); it has 3 published plans. Verified 2026-06-15.
What are cheaper alternatives to PubNub?
Cheaper chat api than PubNub (entry $0/mo) include Ably at $29/mo, Pusher Channels at $49/mo. Verified 2026-06-15.
Does PubNub support HIPAA?
PubNub HIPAA support: Yes. SOC 2: Yes. GDPR: —.
Does PubNub have a free plan?
PubNub free tier: Yes.
PubNub vs alternatives
Cheaper chat api alternatives
- Pusher Channels from $49/mo
- Ably from $29/mo