Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

join.me VS Ably

Compare join.me VS Ably and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

join.me logo join.me

Instant screen sharing. Instant Aha!

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.
  • join.me Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26
  • 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.

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

join.me features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Join.me has an intuitive user interface that allows users to quickly set up and join meetings without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Screen Sharing
    The platform offers robust screen sharing capabilities, making it easy for presenters to share their screen with participants in real-time.
  • No Downloads Required
    Users can join a meeting directly through their web browser without needing to download any software, enhancing its accessibility.
  • Mobile Accessibility
    Join.me supports mobile devices, allowing users to participate in meetings on-the-go through their smartphones or tablets.
  • Customizable URLs
    The service allows for personalized meeting URLs, making it easier for participants to remember and join meetings.

Possible disadvantages of join.me

  • Limited Free Plan
    The free version of Join.me has limited features, especially in comparison to competitors, which may not be sufficient for more extensive business needs.
  • Video Quality
    Some users have reported that the video quality is not as high as other competing platforms, which can affect the overall meeting experience.
  • Security Concerns
    Join.me has faced criticism over its security and privacy measures, which might be a significant concern for businesses handling sensitive information.
  • Advanced Features Require Subscription
    Many of the advanced features like recording, scheduling, and management tools are locked behind a paywall, requiring a subscription.
  • Integration Limitations
    Compared to some other platforms, Join.me offers fewer integrations with other business tools and applications, which might limit its functionality for some users.

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.

Analysis of join.me

Overall verdict

  • While join.me was once an excellent option for quick and easy virtual meetings, it's important to note that the platform has undergone changes over the years. As of October 2020, the features of join.me were integrated into the GoTo portfolio, which may have affected its availability and functionality. Prospective users should consider current alternatives within and beyond the GoTo suite that may offer similar simplicity and features.

Why this product is good

  • Join.me was a popular screen sharing and online meeting platform known for its simplicity and ease of use. It allowed users to easily host and join meetings, share screens, and collaborate in real-time without requiring extensive software installation. Its simple interface and ability to support a variety of devices made it a convenient choice for users who needed straightforward and spontaneous meetings.

Recommended for

    Join.me was particularly recommended for small businesses, freelancers, or individuals needing a user-friendly platform for impromptu meetings and screen sharing without complicated setup processes. It's best suited for scenarios where ease of use and accessibility are prioritized over advanced features.

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

join.me videos

Join.me Review | Next Best Conference Calling Software | Pearl Lemon Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - Using Join.me (Free)
  • Tutorial - Join.Me - Free ScreenSharing Service Tutorial

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to join.me and Ably)
Communication
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Group Chat & Notifications
Realtime Backend / API
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using join.me and Ably. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

join.me Reviews

Sick of TeamViewer? Try these 7 Free alternative to TeamViewer
Join me is a remote desktop software that enables users to customize their online meeting and screen sharing experiences by claiming a personalized URL. Moreover, the users can also customise the meeting background and get their own personal link for notifications. Join Me also has Whiteboarding features that allow real-time discussions and interactions.
7 Zoom Alterยญnaยญtives for Video Conยญferยญencยญing and Remote Meetings
Join.me is an interactive teleconferencing solution that allows the user to communicate with collaborators across different platforms.
13 Best Teamviewer Alternatives You Must Try
Why do you need to opt for Join.me? If youโ€™re operating a business or even for individual purposes you want to collaborate remotely with individuals, JoinMe is an amazing remote management tool that you can use. A quick, easy and much better way to connect and socialize with individuals remotely is what Join.me is all about.
Source: twitgoo.com
Alternatives to TeamViewer
The company LogMeIn has another TeamViewer alternative, the web tool Join.me to add to the mix. This alternative makes organizing and implementing online meetings childโ€™s play. For this purpose, the service offers access to an admin area where you can easily schedule and hold meetings. All past meetings are automatically archived so that you can keep tabs on what invited...
Source: www.ionos.com

Ably Reviews

We have no reviews of Ably yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ably should be more popular than join.me. 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.

join.me mentions (15)

  • Is getting a .website domain a good idea for my business?
    Agreed. A good example of a good use is join.me. This makes sense but even so, do you know how many times I've had people type join.me.com even after I say its just join.me? A lot. Source: about 3 years ago
  • finding a screen recorder / screen share program that gives 5 minute warming that video will end
    I'm doing a little investigative work... While I was giving a personal training using my screen sharing program join.me, the participant had a voice come over his computer. The computer generated voice said 'this video will end in 5 minutes'. Also there was a beeping sound every second just before this voice. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Anyone got extra users on their accouts?
    Why don't you have him share his screen with you? You can use something simple like teams in office or join.me so you can see his screen on your screen. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Tell me you're in inside sales without telling me you're in inside sales.
    Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh9h4KZpnJU this one? Or the join.me song? Source: over 4 years ago
  • Some Useful Websites that you should must use
    ๐Ÿ“Ž33. join.me: Share your screen with anyone over the web. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

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 / 10 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 / 12 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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing join.me and Ably, you can also consider the following products

Zoom - Equip your team with tools designed to collaborate, connect, and engage with teammates and customers, no matter where youโ€™re located, all in one platform.

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

GoToMeeting - GoToMeeting is a web conferencing service offering a range of services which are available on Mac, PC, iOS and Android devices.

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

TeamViewer - TeamViewer lets you establish a connection to any PC or server within just a few seconds.

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.