LiveSync
LiveSync is a real-time database synchronization product built on top of Ably's enterprise-grade pub/sub messaging infrastructure.
Publisher review
LiveSync is a real-time database synchronization product built on top of Ably's enterprise-grade pub/sub messaging infrastructure. It is designed for developers who need to stream database changes—from PostgreSQL or MongoDB—directly to millions of client devices without polling or refreshing pages. LiveSync targets teams building live dashboards, collaborative tools, chat applications, and any app where stale data is unacceptable. By connecting a database to Ably's globally distributed network, LiveSync eliminates the need for custom WebSocket or change-data-capture pipelines, offering a drop-in solution that keeps frontend state in lockstep with backend rows.
LiveSync works by subscribing to database change events (inserts, updates, deletes) and publishing them through Ably's pub/sub channels in the exact order they occurred. This guarantees that every client receives changes in database order, so app state always matches the source of truth. The platform provides data-level abstractions for frontend state management, enabling optimistic updates for live collaboration features. Ably's infrastructure handles the heavy lifting: it delivers a 99.999% uptime SLA, supports automatic reconnection, and ensures guaranteed message ordering and delivery across its global network of data centers. LiveSync is database-agnostic, officially supporting PostgreSQL and MongoDB, and allows teams to bring their own database instance rather than forcing a proprietary store.
In the real-time infrastructure market, LiveSync competes directly with platforms like Pusher, PubNub, Firebase, and Confluent Cloud, as well as collaboration-focused alternatives such as Velt and Liveblocks. Unlike Velt, which offers 25+ pre-built collaboration features with frontend components that can be integrated in as few as 10 lines of code, LiveSync provides the raw streaming layer—teams must build their own UI components for chat, presence, or cursors. Compared to PubNub, LiveSync benefits from Ably's simpler usage-based pricing (charged per message, channel time, and connection minutes) versus PubNub's complex, hard-to-predict pricing model. Firebase offers a similar real-time database sync but locks users into Google's ecosystem; LiveSync works with any PostgreSQL or MongoDB instance, giving teams more freedom to choose their stack.
The honest trade-offs: LiveSync has no native voice or video features, so teams building video calls must integrate a third-party service like Agora or Daily. Its UI kit is limited compared to competitors like Velt or Liveblocks, meaning more frontend development effort for collaboration features like comments, presence indicators, or typing indicators. Moderation still requires third-party tools—LiveSync does not include built-in content filtering or abuse detection. Finally, while LiveSync excels at streaming database changes, it is less suited for industry-specific use cases (e.g., healthcare or finance) that require pre-built compliance tooling or domain-specific data models, which competitors like Solace or IBM MQ may offer out of the box.
How it works
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Database change streaming
Streams every insert, update, and delete from PostgreSQL or MongoDB to clients in real-time, preserving database order so app state always matches rows.
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Pub/sub infrastructure
Uses Ably's globally distributed pub/sub network to broadcast changes to millions of devices with guaranteed message ordering and delivery.
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Automatic reconnection
Resilient connectivity with automatic reconnection ensures clients stay in sync even after network interruptions, backed by a 99.999% uptime SLA.
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Frontend state abstractions
Provides data-level abstractions for frontend state management, enabling optimistic updates and live collaboration without manual WebSocket handling.
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Bring your own database
Supports connecting your own PostgreSQL or MongoDB instance, avoiding vendor lock-in and allowing teams to keep existing data infrastructure.
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Event-driven architecture
Automatically publishes change events to subscribed clients, eliminating the need for polling or manual refresh to see updated data.
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Global performance
Leverages Ably's distributed network of data centers worldwide to deliver low-latency updates, handling over 2 trillion API operations per month.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Guarantees message ordering and delivery in database change order, ensuring frontend state always matches the source of truth.
- Delivers a 99.999% uptime SLA backed by Ably's globally distributed network of data centers.
- Supports bringing your own PostgreSQL or MongoDB database, avoiding vendor lock-in and preserving existing data infrastructure.
- Provides built-in core chat features like presence, typing indicators, reactions, and message history on top of the streaming layer.
Trade-offs
- Lacks native voice or video features, requiring integration of a third-party service like Agora or Daily for real-time audio/video.
- Offers a limited UI kit compared to competitors like Velt or Liveblocks, meaning more frontend development effort for collaboration components.
- Still requires third-party services for moderation, such as content filtering or abuse detection, which are not built in.
- Has less industry-specific tooling compared to some competitors, making it less suitable for regulated sectors like healthcare or finance without custom development.
Pricing context
Usage-based pricing starting at $29 per month, charged for messages, channel time, and connection minutes; free trial available.
Getting started with LiveSync
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Sign up for LiveSync
Go to the Ably website and create an account. Choose the free trial or a paid plan starting at $29 per month. After registration, you will receive an API key for authentication.
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Connect your database
In the Ably dashboard, navigate to the LiveSync section. Provide the connection details for your PostgreSQL or MongoDB instance, including host, port, database name, and credentials. Test the connection to ensure it works.
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Configure change streaming
Select the tables or collections you want to sync. Define which operations (insert, update, delete) to stream. Set up the pub/sub channels that will carry the changes to your clients.
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Integrate with your frontend
Install the Ably client library in your application. Subscribe to the channels you configured. Use the provided abstractions to update your frontend state automatically when database changes arrive.
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Deploy and monitor
Run your application in production. Use the Ably dashboard to monitor message throughput, connection counts, and latency. Set up alerts for any anomalies to ensure continuous synchronization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LiveSync and how does it work?
LiveSync is a real-time database synchronization product built on Ably's pub/sub infrastructure. It streams changes from PostgreSQL or MongoDB to millions of client devices in database order, eliminating polling or custom WebSocket pipelines.
What databases does LiveSync support?
LiveSync officially supports PostgreSQL and MongoDB. It allows you to bring your own database instance, avoiding vendor lock-in and letting you keep your existing data infrastructure while streaming changes in real time.
How much does LiveSync cost?
LiveSync uses usage-based pricing starting at $29 per month. You are charged for messages, channel time, and connection minutes. A free trial is available to test the service before committing.
How does LiveSync compare to Firebase?
Firebase offers similar real-time database sync but locks users into Google's ecosystem. LiveSync works with any PostgreSQL or MongoDB instance, giving teams more freedom to choose their stack without proprietary constraints.
What are the main limitations of LiveSync?
LiveSync lacks native voice or video features, has a limited UI kit compared to competitors like Velt or Liveblocks, and requires third-party services for moderation. It is less suited for regulated industries without custom development.
Does LiveSync guarantee message ordering?
Yes, LiveSync guarantees message ordering and delivery in database change order. Every client receives inserts, updates, and deletes exactly as they occurred, ensuring frontend state always matches the source of truth.
Alternatives
- DeepFaceLab ↗
- Reface ↗
- Avatarify ↗
How LiveSync compares
Direct head-to-head against 3 competitors. Picked by 7wData.
LiveSync
- Pricing
- Usage-based pricing starting at $29 per month, charged for messages, channel time, and connection minutes; free trial available.
- Target
- LiveSync is a real-time database synchronization product built on top of Ably's enterprise-grade pub/sub messaging infrastructure.
- Strength
- Guarantees message ordering and delivery in database change order, ensuring frontend state always matches the source of truth.
- Watch for
- Lacks native voice or video features, requiring integration of a third-party service like Agora or Daily for real-time audio/video.
DeepFaceLab
- Pricing
- Free, open-source; requires high-end GPU hardware.
- Target
- Advanced users and researchers for deepfake creation.
- Deployment
- Self-hosted desktop app
- Strength
- Highest quality face swaps with extensive training controls.
- Watch for
- Steep learning curve; no real-time streaming support.
Reface
- Pricing
- Free with watermark; Pro at $3.99/week or $9.99/month.
- Target
- Casual users for fun face swap videos and GIFs.
- Deployment
- Mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Strength
- Simple tap-to-swap UX for social media sharing.
- Watch for
- Limited to pre-recorded videos; no live streaming.
Avatarify
- Pricing
- Free tier with watermark; Pro at $9.99/month.
- Target
- Streamers and video call users for real-time avatars.
- Deployment
- Desktop app (Windows, macOS)
- Strength
- Real-time face animation for Zoom and OBS.
- Watch for
- Acquired by Snap; future development uncertain.
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