Best Tech Stack for Real-time App in 2026
Tech stack for applications requiring instant updates: live dashboards, collaborative tools, chat apps, and gaming.
Updated for 2026. Practical recommendations based on real projects.
Recommended Tech Stack for Real-time App
Our top picks for building a real-time app in 2026, with reasoning for each choice.
Frontend
Backend
Database
Hosting
Extras
Stack Architecture Overview
Alternative Tech Stacks
Depending on your team's expertise and specific requirements, these alternatives might be a better fit.
Elixir/Phoenix Stack
Best for: Massive concurrent connections with fault tolerance
Supabase Realtime
Best for: Database-driven real-time updates without custom server
Firebase Stack
Best for: Rapid prototyping with built-in real-time sync
Key Considerations
Important factors to keep in mind when building a real-time app.
- WebSocket connections have higher server memory requirements
- Horizontal scaling requires shared state (Redis)
- Conflict resolution is critical for collaborative editing
- Connection management needs graceful degradation
- Consider message ordering and delivery guarantees
When to Avoid This Stack
This stack might not be the best choice for the following scenarios.
- Static content sites
- Form-based CRUD applications
- Apps where eventual consistency is acceptable
Need Help Building Your Real-time App?
We build MVPs using these exact stacks. Get your real-time app launched in 2 weeks for $2,997 with our 90-day revenue guarantee.