Alternatives
Best The Things Network alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best The Things Network alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/the-things-network
5 direct alternatives to The Things Network and 3 more tools in the same category, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Quick answer
- K3s is the top alternative to The Things Network on our list, followed by Tago.io and Golioth.
- 4 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan, starting with K3s.
- Highest rated: Tago.io, 4.9 out of 5 from 60 ratings, Sep 2026.
- 8 alternatives
- 5 direct
- 4 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to The Things Network
K3s
#1 Top pickLightweight Kubernetes for edge and IoT
Pricing
Free
4.8 /5 on G2 · 157 ratings, Jul 2026
Our take
Best overall
Tago.io
#2Empower your business with a scalable IoT platform for rapid deployment and advanced analytics.
Starting price
From $49 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.9 /5 on G2 · 60 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Highest rated
Golioth
#3IoT infrastructure as code for hardware teams, connecting devices and routing data with ease.
Pricing
Not published
4.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 67 ratings, Nov 2026
The Things Network vs 8 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | n/a | |
| Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | 4.8 out of 5, from 157 ratings on G2 (157) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $49/mo | Free plan: No | 4.9 out of 5, from 60 ratings on G2 (60) | Direct alternative |
| Price: Not published | Free plan: No | 4.5 out of 5, from 67 ratings across G2 and Capterra (67) | Direct alternative |
 | Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | 4.6 out of 5, from 26 ratings across SourceForge and G2 (26) | Direct alternative |
 | Price: Free + paid | Free plan: Yes | n/a | Direct alternative |
 | Price: $12.42/mo | Free plan: No | 4.6 out of 5, from 610 ratings on G2 (610) | Same category as The Things Network |
 | Price: Contact sales | Free plan: No | 4.4 out of 5, from 808 ratings across G2, Capterra and SourceForge (808) | Same category as The Things Network |
 | Price: $1.67/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.5 out of 5, from 147 ratings on G2 (147) | Same category as The Things Network |
Why people consider alternatives to The Things Network
The Things Network provides a comprehensive platform for developing and deploying Internet of Things (IoT) solutions using LoRaWAN technology.
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- A feature or quota ceiling that a paid specialist covers and this free tool does not.
- Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- A specific feature gap you have hit in iot platforms.
The 5 direct alternatives below cover the same core job (IoT platforms) with different trade-offs. The 3 tools marked "Same category as The Things Network" fit the category but replace The Things Network less directly.
The Things Network by the numbers
| Metric | The Things Network | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 33% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 2 tools | 2 | #41 of 84 (joint) |
Listed as an alternative to: #41 on 2026-10-16 to #41 on 2026-11-11 (rank among 84 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All IoT Platforms data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.
Cite this: Toolradar, “The Things Network by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
IoT Platforms leaderboards from Toolradar data
Toolradar ranks IoT Platforms tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Nov 2026.
Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 17 tools with no stated price unit, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PortaOne Telecom Billing | $1/mo |
| 2 | 1NCE | $10/mo, billed monthly |
| 3 | Rhombus Systems | $12.42/mo, billed yearly |
| 4 | Kaa IoT Platform | $15/mo, billed monthly |
| 5 | Conserv | $24.58/mo, billed yearly |
A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 17 of 84 IoT Platforms tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. How we compute this. Cite this: Toolradar, “IoT Platforms leaderboards”, Nov 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. All IoT Platforms statistics.
8 alternatives to The Things Network
Direct alternatives come first, ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. Tools marked "Same category as The Things Network" follow, ranked the same way.
- 1
K3s
100% freeLightweight Kubernetes for edge and IoT
4.8 /5 on G2 · 157 ratings, Jul 2026
Free
- 2
Tago.io
PaidEmpower your business with a scalable IoT platform for rapid deployment and advanced analytics.
4.9 /5 on G2 · 60 ratings, Sep 2026
From $49/mo, billed monthly
- 3
Golioth
Free planIoT infrastructure as code for hardware teams, connecting devices and routing data with ease.
4.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 67 ratings, Nov 2026
Free plan available; paid prices not published
- 4
Node-RED
100% freeFlow-based programming for IoT
4.6 /5 across SourceForge and G2 · 26 ratings, Sep 2026
Free
- 5
Zerynth
Free planDevelop and manage IoT solutions with Python for embedded devices and cloud.
Free plan available; paid prices not published
- 6
Rhombus Systems
PaidCloud-managed physical security system with AI-powered insights and open integration capabilities.
4.6 /5 on G2 · 610 ratings, Sep 2026
From $12.42/mo, billed yearly
Same category as The Things Network
- 7
Telnyx
PaidGlobal communications platform
4.4 /5 across G2, Capterra and SourceForge · 808 ratings, Sep 2026
Price not published
Same category as The Things Network
- 8
Arduino Cloud
Free planBuild, control, and monitor your IoT projects with an all-in-one cloud platform.
4.5 /5 on G2 · 147 ratings, Oct 2026
From $1.67/member/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
Same category as The Things Network
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to The Things Network?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to The Things Network are K3s, Tago.io, Golioth. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to The Things Network?
The Things Network is already 100% free (no paid upgrade path). K3s is another fully free option listed here (Lightweight Kubernetes for edge and IoT). Freemium tools on this list have a free tier plus paid plans; they are not the same as 100% free.
Why do people look for The Things Network alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from The Things Network even though it is free: missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in iot platforms. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with a different feature set.
Spotted an outdated price or a wrong fact? Suggest a correction: we check it against the vendor's own page. Work for one of these vendors? Claim your listing to update it yourself.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for The Things Network versus each alternative.
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