# Three steps to realtime events.

Create an account, publish your first event to a channel, then lock down access so only the right clients can subscribe.

[Start for Free](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Frealtime)

[Contact sales](/demo?product=realtime&source_page=%2Frealtime-api%2Fgetting-started)

## Set up with your agent

[Read the agent setup guide](/docs/ai/set-up-your-agent)

Copy this prompt into your coding agent:

```text
Bird connects customer communications, data and automation. Help me build with Bird using my coding agent.
1. Read https://bird.com/docs/ai/set-up-your-agent.md and follow its setup workflow for this client. Use an existing connected Bird MCP server or signed-in CLI when available.
2. Read the product guide for the task I want to complete and inspect my existing integration. Identify the workspace, available operations and required setup.
3. Help me complete a first example for the product and destination I choose. Follow the operation through to its actual result, explain any uncertainty, and help me choose the next step.

Use this Bird page as the starting context: https://bird.com/realtime-api/getting-started
Read its Markdown alternative and linked guides. Keep the first example relevant to this page and the customer outcome I choose. Preserve the supplied campaign context when following Bird signup or sales links.
```

[Read customer stories](/customers)

[Explore Enterprise](/enterprise)

- [Airwallex](/customers/airwallex)
- [Glovo](/customers/glovo)
- [Zillow](/customers/zillow)
- Uber
- [Binance](/customers/binance)
- Adobe
- Meta
- PayPal
- Pinterest
- Square
- [Al Jazeera](/customers/aljazeera)
- [Aramex](/customers/aramex)
- [Bazaar Technologies](/customers/bazaar)
- [ComparaOnline](/customers/compara)
- [Emma](/customers/emma)

## From sign-up to live events in an afternoon.

Follow these three steps and you'll have realtime pub/sub running with authorized connections.

- **01** Sign up for Bird. Create your account and get an API key. The free tier includes enough volume to build and test your integration before you commit.
- **02** Send your first event. Publish a message to a channel from your server. Open a browser tab subscribed to the same channel and watch it arrive in real time. [Read the quickstart →](/docs/get-started/send-your-first-realtime-event)
- **03** Secure your channels. Add authorization so only authenticated users can subscribe. Your server signs tokens; Bird validates them before letting clients connect. [Authorizing channels guide →](/docs/guides/realtime/authorizing-channels)

## Sub-100ms event delivery at any scale.

Pub/sub channels, presence, and webhooks on infrastructure built to handle millions of concurrent connections. Sign up and send your first event in under five minutes.

[Explore the Realtime platform](/realtime-api)



## Related resources

- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=realtime)