websockets vs tornado
Python WebSocket library and web framework compared
websockets provides focused WebSocket client and server APIs for Python, while tornado combines web endpoints with asynchronous networking. Both support WebSocket applications, but websockets centers on the protocol and tornado offers a broader web framework and networking toolkit.
websockets: Build WebSocket Servers and Clients in Python
websockets is a Python library for WebSocket servers and clients, built on asyncio with additional threading, Trio, and Sans-I/O implementations. It focuses on protocol correctness, straightforward message handling, robustness, and performance.
tornado: Build Python Web Apps and Async Network Services
Tornado is a Python web framework and asynchronous networking library for services that need to handle long-lived connections. It suits teams building WebSocket or long-polling applications, but its recent development is concentrated among a small number of contributors.
| websockets | tornado | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Python | Python |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache-2.0 |
| Stars | 5.7k | 22.2k |
| Forks | 621 | 5.6k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 |
Key differences
- websockets focuses on WebSocket connections and message exchange, while tornado also provides request handlers and URL routes for web endpoints.
- websockets offers asyncio, synchronous threading, and a Sans-I/O layer; tornado uses non-blocking I/O and supports asyncio-compatible application startup.
- websockets includes support for WebSocket compression extensions and a C extension for expensive operations; tornado highlights long polling and handling many open connections.
- websockets is licensed under BSD-3-Clause, while tornado is licensed under Apache-2.0.
- The supplied project data lists 5.7k stars and 618 forks for websockets, compared with 22.2k stars and 5.6k forks for tornado.
Choose websockets if you…
- need a focused Python library for WebSocket clients or servers.
- want to choose between asyncio, synchronous threading, and Sans-I/O integration.
- need WebSocket support without adopting a general-purpose web framework.
Choose tornado if you…
- need web endpoints and asynchronous networking in one Python project.
- want to build services around long polling or many long-lived connections.
- need request handlers and URL routes alongside WebSocket functionality.
Compare the numbers side by side, or add more projects
This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.