SSE vs WebSocket vs Firebase

Context

Realtime features look similar in a mockup but behave very differently in production. The right choice depends on message direction, delivery expectations, infrastructure ownership, and product tolerance for latency.

Decision Framework

Use SSE when the server mainly pushes updates to the browser. Use WebSocket when both sides need a long-lived conversation. Use Firebase when the team benefits more from managed synchronization than custom infrastructure.

Takeaway

Start with the simplest transport that matches the product behavior, then add operational complexity only when the user experience truly needs it.