WebSocket vs MQTT

HTTP's chatty cousin meets the iot whisperer. Here's our take.

WebSocket

Nice Pick

HTTP's chatty cousin. Real-time without the constant handshakes.

Pros

• Full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps
• Persistent connection eliminates HTTP overhead per message
• Widely supported in modern browsers and servers

Cons

• Requires explicit connection management and error handling
• Can be tricky with firewalls and proxies that block non-HTTP traffic

MQTT

The IoT whisperer. Lightweight enough for your smart toaster, reliable enough for your industrial sensors.

Pros

• Minimal overhead makes it perfect for low-bandwidth or constrained devices
• Publish-subscribe model scales well for large numbers of connected devices
• Quality of Service levels ensure message delivery even on unreliable networks

Cons

• Lacks built-in security features, requiring additional layers for production use
• Can be overkill for simple applications due to its complexity in setup

The Verdict

Use WebSocket if: You want full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps and can live with requires explicit connection management and error handling.

Use MQTT if: You prioritize minimal overhead makes it perfect for low-bandwidth or constrained devices over what WebSocket offers.

The Bottom Line

WebSocket wins

HTTP's chatty cousin. Real-time without the constant handshakes.