Channels are really just a protocol, but that protocol is implemented in Elixir (Phoenix) and so isn't available elsewhere. I think that the important question

Channels are really just a protocol, but that protocol is implemented in Elixir (Phoenix) and so isn't available elsewhere. I think that the important question is "why does this protocol exist?" Most likely, you'll end up solving similar problems as to why Channels exist in the first place. So from a protocol perspective, it's nice that some problems are solved for you.