---
title: Publish and Subscribe to Realtime Data on Vercel
description: Learn how to upload and store files with Vercel
url: /kb/guide/publish-and-subscribe-to-realtime-data-on-vercel
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/kb/guide/publish-and-subscribe-to-realtime-data-on-vercel"
published: 2025-11-03
last_updated: 2025-11-10
authors: Rich Haines
related:
  - /docs/concepts/functions/serverless-functions
install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin
---
<!-- docsgraph:related -->
## Related pages

> **For AI agents:** Follow these links to understand how this page connects to the rest of the Vercel ecosystem. For the full cross-link map (inbound, outbound, prerequisites, and semantic neighbors), see the .graph.md link below.

- [Backends](https://vercel.com/docs/frameworks/backend?from=related) — Vercel supports a wide range of the most popular backend frameworks, optimizing how your application builds and runs no
- [WebSockets](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/websockets?from=related) — Serve WebSocket connections in Vercel Functions for realtime features like chat, collaboration, and AI streaming.
- [Queues](https://vercel.com/docs/queues?from=related) — Durable event streaming for serverless. Publish messages to topics and process them reliably with managed consumer group
- [Rust](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/runtimes/rust?from=related) — Build fast, memory-safe serverless functions with Rust on Vercel.
- [Streaming](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/streaming-functions?from=related) — Learn how to stream responses from Vercel Functions.
- [Deploying Real-Time Apps with Pusher Channels and Vercel](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/deploying-pusher-channels-with-vercel?from=related) — How to get started building and deploying real-time apps with Channels on Vercel.
- [Using a Headless CMS with Vercel](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/using-a-headless-cms-with-vercel?from=related) — Learn best practices for using databases in a serverless environment with Vercel
- [Application Authentication on Vercel](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/application-authentication-on-vercel?from=related) — Learn best practices for application authentication Vercel
- [Can I deploy Discord bots to Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/can-i-deploy-discord-bots-to-vercel?from=related) — Learn about whether it's possible to deploy Discord Bots to Vercel.

Full cross-link map for this page: [/kb/guide/publish-and-subscribe-to-realtime-data-on-vercel.graph.md](/kb/guide/publish-and-subscribe-to-realtime-data-on-vercel.graph.md)
<!-- /docsgraph:related -->


Realtime communication allows events to be streamed directly to your application by maintaining a single connection. WebSockets enable online experiences like collaborative document editing, multiplayer games, and interactive chatrooms.

The two main approaches to apply this model to stateless serverless functions are:

- [Serverless Functions](https://vercel.com/docs/concepts/functions/serverless-functions) have maximum execution limits and should respond as quickly as possible. They should not subscribe to data events. Instead, we need a _client_ that **subscribes** to data events and a _serverless function_ that **publishes** new data. Consider using one of the providers below to implement this approach.
  
- Rather than pushing data, you can fetch realtime data on-demand. For example, the Vercel dashboard delivers realtime updates using [SWR](https://swr.vercel.app/).
  

## Providers

These providers can help you integrate realtime communication into your Vercel application using Serverless Functions.

- [Ably](https://ably.com/)
  
- [Convex](http://convex.dev/)
  
- [Liveblocks](https://liveblocks.io/)
  
- [Partykit](https://www.partykit.io/)
  
- [Pusher](https://vercel.com/guides/deploying-pusher-channels-with-vercel)
  
- [PubNub](https://www.pubnub.com/)
  
- [Firebase Realtime Database](https://firebase.google.com/docs/database)
  
- [TalkJS](https://talkjs.com/)
  
- [SendBird](https://sendbird.com/)
  
- [Supabase](https://supabase.com/realtime)