Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ably VS ScreenCloud

Compare Ably VS ScreenCloud and see what are their differences

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Ably logo Ably

The realtime platform that just works. We power more WebSocket connections than any other pub/sub platform, serving over 2 billion devices monthly.

ScreenCloud logo ScreenCloud

Turn any screen into a powerful communication channel. ScreenCloud is the top-rated digital signage OS that securely displays metrics, news, and media on TVs. Seamlessly integrates with 90+ apps like Teams & Power BI.
  • Ably Ably homepage
    Ably homepage //
    2024-08-05

We help teams deliver resilient AI UX and high-performance live experiences that stay fast and in sync worldwide. We provide the global realtime layer for AI agents, chat, notifications, live dashboards, and collaboration - engineered to handle peak demand without self-managed infrastructure.

Teams like HubSpot and Intercom use Ably to avoid the cost and complexity of building and operating realtime systems, while still getting predictable performance at serious scale, handling 2T+ API operations per month. Ablyโ€™s Pub/Sub, Chat, and AI Transport products are unified by design, with developer-friendly APIs and SDKs that integrate across your stack.

  • ScreenCloud ScreenCloud digital signage home page
    ScreenCloud digital signage home page //
    2026-02-11
  • ScreenCloud ScreenCloud digital signage for enterprise
    ScreenCloud digital signage for enterprise //
    2026-02-11

ScreenCloud is a popular digital signage operating system, helping over 10,000 organizations communicate better by turning their screens into powerful, connected digital channels.

With 80% of the workforce having no access to work devices, communication needs to adapt. Emails get ignored, and chat apps are noisy. ScreenCloud cuts through the clutter by visualizing your most important metrics, internal news, and media on the screens your employees already look atโ€”whether they are in a corporate office, a factory floor, a retail store, or a staff breakroom.

Why ScreenCloud is the #1 Choice for Modern Teams:

Hardware Agnostic: ScreenCloud works on almost any device, from consumer-grade Chromeboxes to professional media players and System-on-Chip (SoC) displays.

90+ Native Integrations: ScreenCloud offers the market's strongest app ecosystem. Securely connect the tools you already use, including Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Slack, Google Slides, Salesforce, SharePoint, and Instagram. Show live data dashboards and social feeds without manual updates.

Enterprise-Grade Security: Built for IT teams who demand compliance. We offer SOC2 Type II compliance, Single Sign-On (SSO), audit logs, and granular user permissions, making it safe to display sensitive internal data.

Centralized Management: Control one screen or ten thousand from a single cloud-based dashboard. Schedule content, manage distinct playlists for different locations, and monitor screen health remotely.

Developer Friendly: Use our GraphQL API to build custom integrations or trigger content based on external events (e.g., fire alarms or sales milestones).

From improving employee engagement and safety awareness to modernizing lobby experiences, ScreenCloud is the easiest way to put the right information in front of the right people at the right time. Join global industry leaders who trust ScreenCloud to power their screens.

Ably

Website
ably.com
$ Details
freemium
Release Date
2016 January
Startup details
Country
United Kingdom
Founder(s)
Matthew O'Riordan, Dr. Paddy Byers
Employees
50 - 99

Ably features and specs

  • Scalability
    Ably is designed to handle a massive number of concurrent connections and messages, making it scalable for both small and large applications.
  • Real-time Messaging
    Ably provides robust real-time messaging capabilities with low latency, supporting use-cases like live chat, gaming, and real-time data streaming.
  • Global Presence
    Ably has a globally distributed network, ensuring low latency and high availability for users around the world.
  • Advanced Features
    It offers advanced features such as message history, presence, and push notifications, which can enhance the functionality of real-time applications.
  • Security
    Ably includes built-in security features such as TLS encryption, token-based authentication, and private channels to ensure secure communication.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The service provides extensive and well-organized documentation, making it easier for developers to integrate and utilize its features.
  • SDKs and Libraries
    Ably offers a wide range of SDKs and libraries for different programming languages and platforms, easing the development process.
  • Reliable Delivery
    It ensures reliable message delivery with features like message queuing and message de-duplication.

Possible disadvantages of Ably

  • Complexity
    Due to its wide range of advanced features, the initial learning curve can be steep for new users.
  • Cost
    For large-scale applications or extensive use of advanced features, the costs can add up, making it potentially expensive.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying heavily on Ablyโ€™s platform-specific features may result in vendor lock-in, making it challenging to switch to other services in the future.
  • Dependence on Internet Connection
    As a cloud-based service, Ablyโ€™s performance is highly dependent on the quality and reliability of the internet connection.
  • Third-party Integration
    While Ably offers various integration options, integrating certain third-party services may require additional custom development or may not be as seamless.

ScreenCloud features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    ScreenCloud has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for both tech-savvy users and novices to navigate and manage digital signage.
  • Security
    ScreenCloud adheres to industry-standard security practices, which include data encryption and secure access controls, ensuring that your content is protected.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale easily, making it a good fit for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
  • Integration Capabilities
    ScreenCloud integrates with a variety of third-party applications and tools, like Google Workspace, Slack, and intranet platforms, which enhances its functionality.
  • Versatility
    The platform supports a wide range of media formats and can be used across various devices, including smart TVs, tablets, and desktop computers.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a cloud-based solution, ScreenCloud allows for easy updates and real-time content management from any location.
  • Proprietary Media Players
    Power your displays with our high performance media players for best in class security and 99% glitch free operation.

Possible disadvantages of ScreenCloud

  • Cost
    While ScreenCloud offers a range of pricing plans, some users may find it relatively expensive compared to other digital signage solutions.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based service, ScreenCloud requires a reliable internet connection for optimal performance, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    Although ScreenCloud offers some offline functionality, its capabilities are significantly reduced when not connected to the internet.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic usage is straightforward, leveraging advanced features and integrations may require additional time and effort to learn and utilize effectively.
  • Support Response Time
    Some users have reported longer-than-expected response times from customer support, which can be a drawback when urgent issues arise.

Analysis of Ably

Overall verdict

  • Ably is a reliable and efficient real-time messaging platform, well-suited for applications requiring high performance and scalability. It is generally well-regarded within the developer community for its ease of use and robust feature set.

Why this product is good

  • Features
    Ably provides a comprehensive suite of features such as pub/sub messaging, presence, and history.
  • Security
    It implements robust security practices including TLS encryption, token-based authentication, and private channels.
  • Integration
    Supports numerous protocols and provides SDKs for various programming languages, making it easy to integrate with different systems.
  • Reliability
    Ably offers high availability and low latency, ensuring messages are delivered in real-time.
  • Scalability
    The platform can handle millions of active connections and is designed for horizontal scaling.

Recommended for

  • developers building real-time applications like chat apps, dashboards, or multiplayer games
  • businesses in need of a scalable solution for live updates and notifications
  • teams looking for a platform with strong security and compliance credentials
  • organizations requiring integration with existing development workflows and tools

Analysis of ScreenCloud

Overall verdict

  • Yes, ScreenCloud is considered a good choice for digital signage needs due to its versatility, ease of use, and robust feature set. It provides excellent value for businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their communication and engagement through digital displays.

Why this product is good

  • ScreenCloud is highly regarded for its user-friendly digital signage solutions that allow businesses and organizations to easily display content on screens. Its cloud-based platform offers seamless integration with various apps and services, making it a flexible and powerful tool for creating engaging digital displays. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, reliable performance, and the ability to manage screens remotely from anywhere.

Recommended for

    ScreenCloud is recommended for businesses, educational institutions, and organizations that need to display dynamic content across multiple locations. It's well-suited for marketing teams, communication departments, and IT managers who require a scalable solution to manage digital signage networks efficiently.

Ably videos

How to build a collaborative environment around your product

More videos:

  • Demo - How to build an avatar stack with Ably Spaces
  • Demo - Ably 101: Serverless WebSockets at scale

ScreenCloud videos

ScreenCloud Digital Signage Product Demo

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to set screen operating hours

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ably and ScreenCloud)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Digital Signage
0 0%
100% 100
Realtime Backend / API
100 100%
0% 0
Marketing
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Ably and ScreenCloud.

What makes your product unique?

ScreenCloud's answer:

Powered by our custom built OS, ScreenCloud is a hardware agnostic digital signage CMS platform that allows teams to manage content from anywhere. Offering remote device management, enterprise grade security and the best user experiences via our dashboard, ScreenCloud is the industry leading digital signage solution.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

ScreenCloud's answer:

ScreenCloud features remote device management (RDM), a choice of professional hardware players including PIXI - currently the lowest priced digital signage player on the market, and cutting edge digital signage apps and tools including our Quick Post app. No more headaches creating content - simply add your text and images and Quick Post does the rest for you.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

ScreenCloud's answer:

ScreenCloud is the digital signage choice of over 10,000 businesses worldwide. We power screens from single use retail or offices, through to some of the biggest global enterprise customers. ScreenCloud is built for IT professionals and communications teams who want the easiest to use and most powerful signage solution for their budget.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ably and ScreenCloud

Ably Reviews

We have no reviews of Ably yet.
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ScreenCloud Reviews

  1. ScreenCloud has been a reliable solution for managing digital signage. I like how easy it is to display dashboards, news, and media across screens while integrating smoothly with other tools and services.


Top 5 Digital Signage Software for Small Businesses and SMBs
However, as with any platform, ScreenCloud is not without its drawbacks. Some users have reported occasional software glitches, which, while generally minor, can cause inconvenience. Additionally, while ScreenCloud offers a variety of features, there may be limitations in the extent of content customization compared to other platforms. Businesses seeking more advanced...
Top 15 Best TelemetryTV Alternatives In 2022
The remote digital and screen management platform called ScreenCloud Digital Signage is utilised to make the screenโ€™s most accessible display content simpler. It is a straightforward digital signage platform that enables users to boost corporate productivity, customer engagement, and sales. It may be used with any screen, TV, or gadget with ease. It can establish and...
Source: gokicker.com
10+ Best Digital Signage Software [Top Selective For 2022]
ScreenCloud is barrier-free digital signage software that drives engagement, productivity, and sales with digital signage. It ensures enterprise-grade security and easy content management. It supports and securely shows various dashboards from different applications.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ably should be more popular than ScreenCloud. It has been mentiond 26 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ably mentions (26)

  • AWS us-east-1 outage: How Ablyโ€™s multi-region architecture held up
    During this weekโ€™s AWS us-east-1 outage, Ably maintained full service continuity with no customer impact. This was our multi-region architecture working exactly as designed; error rates were negligibly low and unchanged throughout. Any additional round trip latency was limited to 12ms, which is below the typical variance in any client-to-endpoint connection, and well below our 40โ€“50ms global median; this is... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Real-Time Sync Alternatives: Vaultrice vs. localStorage, DIY, Firebase, Pusher
    Services like Pusher and Ably are experts in real-time messaging. They provide robust APIs for pub/sub channels, allowing you to broadcast events to clients reliably. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • CometChat Alternatives โ€“ Comparing the Top 10 Competitors
    Ably is a real-time infrastructure platform that focuses on delivering low-latency, reliable messaging across global distributed systems. It's designed for developers building event-driven applications, including chat, but also supports broader use cases like live dashboards, GPS tracking, and collaborative tools. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Real-Time Authorization in a Chat Application with Permit.io and WebSockets
    For our web socket-based application, weโ€™ll be using Next.js and Ably, a service that allows us to easily integrate and manage real-time capabilities in our apps powered by web socket. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Curiosity: Using Ably.io Realtime Messaging as a Lightweight Database
    Ably offers various solutions for developers, with their most popular being realtime messaging based on the pub/sub model. When you publish a message to a channel, all devices connected to that channel receive it instantly. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

ScreenCloud mentions (4)

  • Digital signage in food service lines
    Https://screencloud.com and a firestick. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Looking for a digital signage software with alerts and notifications
    In search of a program like ScreenCloud that allows you to display messages, alerts, weather, time, etc. But also allows you to set alarms to indicate start/break times and interrupts the regular flow of information on the screen to display a message and play audio before returning to the regular display playlist. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • I'd like to make a media distribution cloud-based webapp with a hardware/software ending that can display it on TV. Would you help me finding all i need?
    I'd love to progress the product into something like this: Screencloud which has its app on every app store available for TVs. Source: about 5 years ago
  • Looking for a FireStick app (or apps) which will allow me use a firestick as an external monitor for presentations over WiFi *WITHOUT INSTALLING ANYTHING ON THE WIN/MAC DEVICES*
    Screencloud has a free trial @ https://screen.cloud/ but it's only 14 days and it's 60 dollars a month, not sure if you can find another app like it but it would definitely do the job. Source: about 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ably and ScreenCloud, you can also consider the following products

Pusher - Pusher is a hosted API for quickly, easily and securely adding scalable realtime functionality via WebSockets to web and mobile apps.

Zeetaminds - Zeetaminds offers cloud based digital signage software with live social media integration.ย 

Socket.io - Realtime application framework (Node.JS server)

Embed Signage - Multi-platform Digital Signage Software that's quick to learn and powerful to use. Packed with features, simple to use and wide range of device platform support. A better way to manage your Digital Signage.

PubNub - PubNub is a real-time messaging system for web and mobile apps that can handle API for all platforms and push messages to any device anywhere in the world in a fraction of a second without having to worry about proxies, firewalls or mobile drop-offs.

PDComms Tool - Digital Signage