Abacus vs The Mercure protocol
If you need a Development API that's easy to integrate, go with Abacus.
Abacus
Free and simple counting service. You can use it to track page hits and specific events
The Mercure protocol
[Mercure](https://mercure.rocks) is a protocol allowing to push data updates to web browsers and other HTTP clients in a convenient, fast, reliable and battery-efficient way.
Abacus
- No authentication required
- HTTPS supported
- CORS enabled for frontend use
The Mercure protocol
- Simple API key authentication
- HTTPS supported
| Feature | Abacus | The Mercure protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None | apiKey |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
| CORS | Yes | Unknown |
When to use which?
Abacus is the better choice for quick prototypes and hackathons since it requires no authentication. Abacus works directly from the browser with CORS enabled, making it better for frontend-only apps.