What is Relay server?

Open-source, self-hosted WebSocket server fully compatible with Pusher protocol. Docker one-liner deploy, supports private/presence channels, dashboard.

How does Relay compare to Pusher pricing?

Pusher: $49/mo for 500 conns. Relay: Unlimited on $5 VPS. No per-message fees.

Can I migrate from Pusher to Relay easily?

Yes—one env var change. No SDK or code updates needed.

📦 Open Source Projects

Free Self-Hosted Pusher Killer Emerges in Go

Pusher's pricing wall crumbles. A new open-source Relay server matches its features for pennies, no code changes needed.

Open Source Beat Apr 15, 2026 3 min read

Relay dashboard showing live WebSocket connections and event logs

⚡ Key Takeaways

Relay matches Pusher protocol exactly—no migration refactor needed. 𝕏
Saves $588/year for 300-user startups vs Pusher's $49/mo tier. 𝕏
Single Go binary, Docker-ready; unlimited scale on cheap VPS. 𝕏
Echoes Socket.io disruption; predicts rapid OSS adoption. 𝕏

Written by

Alex Rivera

Open source correspondent covering project launches, governance battles, and community dynamics.

#Relay Go #WebSocket server #real-time alternative #self-hosted Pusher

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Originally reported by Dev.to

⚡ Key Takeaways

The 60-Second TL;DR

Alex Rivera

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