Webhook vs WebSocket vs SSE: How to Choose

Pick a webhook when one server needs to notify another that an event happened. Pick SSE when a server needs to stream one-way updates to a connected client such as a browser. Pick a WebSocket when a client and server need continuous two-way communication. The deciding factors are direction, whether a persistent connection is needed, and whether the consumer is a backend or a browser.

Webhooks vs SSE vs WebSockets at a glance

WebhooksSSEWebSockets
DirectionServer to serverServer to client (one-way)Two-way (full duplex)
ConnectionNone, per-event HTTPOne held HTTP connectionOne persistent connection
Best consumerA backend serviceA browserA browser or app needing interaction
Classic usePayment, order, CI eventsLive feeds, progress, notificationsChat, presence, collaboration, trading
Main infra concernDelivery reliability, retriesReconnect handlingManaging many open connections
Initiated byThe sourceThe client (then server streams)The client (then either can send)

Rule of thumb

Use a webhook for backend-to-backend events, SSE for a one-way live feed to a browser, and a WebSocket for an interactive two-way session. Many real systems use more than one: webhooks bring events into your backend, then SSE or WebSockets push the resulting updates to users.

How Hookdeck fits

Of the three, webhooks are the one where reliability is genuinely on you, because there is no open connection to recover a dropped event and the sender's retry behavior is out of your control. Hookdeck's Event Gateway is the managed layer for that side: it receives, verifies, queues, retries, and gives you searchable history for every inbound webhook, so the events feeding your real-time features are never silently lost. Start for free or try the CLI locally.

Webhook vs SSE Webhook vs Callback