Alternatives
Best ThingsBoard alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best ThingsBoard alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/thingsboard
3 direct alternatives to ThingsBoard and 5 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
- Node-RED is the top alternative to ThingsBoard on our list, followed by EMQX and Mainflux.
- 4 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan, starting with Node-RED.
- Highest rated: EMnify, 4.9 out of 5 from 92 ratings, Mar 2026.
- 8 alternatives
- 3 direct
- 4 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to ThingsBoard
Node-RED
#1 Top pickFlow-based programming for IoT
Pricing
Free
4.6 /5 across SourceForge and G2 · 26 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best overall
EMQX
#2Massive IoT connections & real-time data streaming
Starting price
From $234 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.6 /5 on G2 · 23 ratings, Mar 2026
Mainflux
#3Open-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions.
Starting price
From $500 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
ThingsBoard vs 8 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: Free + paid | Free plan: Yes | 4.1 out of 5, from 6 ratings across G2 and SourceForge (6) | |
| Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | 4.6 out of 5, from 26 ratings across SourceForge and G2 (26) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $234/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.6 out of 5, from 23 ratings on G2 (23) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $500/mo | 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 ThingsBoard |
 | Price: Not published | Free plan: No | 4.4 out of 5, from 808 ratings across G2, Capterra and SourceForge (808) | Same category as ThingsBoard |
 | Price: $1.67/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.5 out of 5, from 147 ratings on G2 (147) | Same category as ThingsBoard |
 | Price: Not published | Free plan: No | 4.9 out of 5, from 92 ratings on G2 (92) | Same category as ThingsBoard |
 | Price: $1/mo | Free plan: No | 4.5 out of 5, from 111 ratings across G2, SourceForge and Capterra (111) | Same category as ThingsBoard |
Why people consider alternatives to ThingsBoard
ThingsBoard is an open-source Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed for comprehensive management of IoT solutions. It facilitates device connectivity using industry-standard protocols like MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP, and supports both cloud…
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- Pricing at scale as usage or premium tiers add up.
- 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 3 direct alternatives below cover the same core job (IoT platforms) with different trade-offs. The 5 tools marked "Same category as ThingsBoard" fit the category but replace ThingsBoard less directly.
ThingsBoard by the numbers
Toolradar data: It is listed as an alternative to 15 other tools on Toolradar, ranking #5 of 84 in IoT Platforms. As of Nov 2026.
- #5 most-listed alternative in IoT Platforms, out of 84 tools in IoT Platforms. Source: Toolradar data, Nov 2026.
- #14 most-listed alternative in Data Visualization, out of 143 tools in Data Visualization. Source: Toolradar data, Nov 2026.
| Metric | ThingsBoard | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 36% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 15 tools | 3 | #5 of 84 |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 65 visits | 38 | #2 of 9 tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Visitors most often compare ThingsBoard with Node-RED and EMQX (last 30 days, Nov 2026).
Listed as an alternative to: #5 on 2026-10-16 to #5 on 2026-11-02 (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. Visit counts include visits from every source.
Cite this: Toolradar, “ThingsBoard 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 ThingsBoard
Direct alternatives come first, ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. Tools marked "Same category as ThingsBoard" follow, ranked the same way.
- 1
Node-RED
100% free Higher rated by usersFlow-based programming for IoT
4.6 /5 across SourceForge and G2 · 26 ratings, Sep 2026
Free
- 2
EMQX
Free plan Higher rated by usersMassive IoT connections & real-time data streaming
4.6 /5 on G2 · 23 ratings, Mar 2026
From $234/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 3
Mainflux
Free planOpen-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions.
From $500/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 4
Rhombus Systems
Paid Higher rated by usersCloud-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 ThingsBoard
- 5
Telnyx
Pay per use Higher rated by usersGlobal communications platform
4.4 /5 across G2, Capterra and SourceForge · 808 ratings, Sep 2026
Price not published
Same category as ThingsBoard
- 6
Arduino Cloud
Free plan Higher rated by usersBuild, 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 ThingsBoard
- 7
EMnify
Paid Higher rated by usersIntegrate, manage, and scale global IoT connectivity with full control and security.
4.9 /5 on G2 · 92 ratings, Mar 2026
Price not published
Same category as ThingsBoard
- 8
PortaOne Telecom Billing
Paid Higher rated by usersLeading UCaaS and billing platform for telecom service providers and MVNOs.
4.5 /5 across G2, SourceForge and Capterra · 111 ratings, Sep 2026
From $1/mo
Same category as ThingsBoard
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to ThingsBoard?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to ThingsBoard are Node-RED, EMQX, Mainflux. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to ThingsBoard?
Yes. Node-RED is 100% free (no paid upgrade path) (Flow-based programming for IoT). Freemium tools on this list offer a free tier with paid upgrades; they are not the same as fully free.
Why do people look for ThingsBoard alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from ThingsBoard: pricing that scales aggressively, 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 different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for ThingsBoard versus each alternative.
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