Chirpstack vs Golioth: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Chirpstack and Golioth comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Golioth wins this matchup. Rhombus Systems is our overall IoT Platforms pick. Arduino Cloud is our free IoT Platforms pick. Pick Chirpstack if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Chirpstack
Open-source LoRaWAN Network Server for managing gateways, devices, and data integrations.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Golioth requires payment)
Golioth
IoT infrastructure as code for hardware teams, connecting devices and routing data with ease.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly reduces time and cost for building IoT cloud infrastructure (e.g., 6+ months saved)
| At a Glance | Chirpstack | Golioth |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free Free plan |
Category | IoT Platforms Developer Tools | IoT Platforms Infrastructure as Code |
Rating | n/a | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 66 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Connect bills every active device every month. Sleepy sensors still count if they stay connected. |
Choose Chirpstack or Golioth?
Choose Chirpstack if
- You want a fully free tool (Golioth requires payment)
- You want completely open-source, offering flexibility and community support
- You want comprehensive feature set for managing LoRaWAN networks
Choose Golioth if
- You want significantly reduces time and cost for building IoT cloud infrastructure (e.g., 6+ months saved)
- You want device, connectivity, and service agnostic, offering flexibility in hardware and RTOS choices
In-Depth Analysis
Chirpstack
Open-source LoRaWAN Network Server for managing gateways, devices, and data integrations.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely open-source, offering flexibility and community support
- Pro: Comprehensive feature set for managing LoRaWAN networks
- Pro: Supports all LoRaWAN device classes and versions
- Pro: Robust API and integration options with cloud providers and databases
- Pro: Multi-tenant architecture for managing multiple organizations
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- Con: Commercial support is available but not included by default
- Con: Relies on community support for non-commercial issues
Key features
Golioth
IoT infrastructure as code for hardware teams, connecting devices and routing data with ease.
Golioth has no seat SKU.
Watch out
Connect bills every active device every month. Sleepy sensors still count if they stay connected.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly reduces time and cost for building IoT cloud infrastructure (e.g., 6+ months saved).
- Pro: Device, connectivity, and service agnostic, offering flexibility in hardware and RTOS choices.
- Pro: Built-in security features from day one, including encryption and certificate authentication.
- Pro: Simplifies data routing and transformation with easy-to-configure pipelines.
- Pro: Enables hybrid AI for faster decisions at the edge and continuous model improvement.
Weaknesses
- Con: Additional usage beyond free tiers for OTA bandwidth, logs, and data streaming incurs extra costs.
- Con: Advanced features like custom retention for data storage, advanced permissions, audit logs, SSO, and private cloud are only available in higher-tier or custom plans.
- Con: Community support is the primary option for the free tier, with dedicated support only for paid plans.
Key features
Pricing: Chirpstack vs Golioth
| Plan | Chirpstack | Golioth |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | $0.25 / device / month Connect |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $0.0095 / MB Fleet Control OTA |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $0.0080 / MB Pipelines |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $0.001 / MB Logs / LightDB retain |
| Tier 5 | N/A | $0.005 / request Location |
| Tier 6 | N/A | $50 Free credits |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Chirpstack pricing and Golioth pricing.
Key Takeaways
Golioth
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Chirpstack
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Golioth wins this matchup. Rhombus Systems is our overall IoT Platforms pick. Arduino Cloud is our free IoT Platforms pick. That said, Chirpstack is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chirpstack or Golioth better in 2026?
Golioth wins this matchup. Rhombus Systems is our overall IoT Platforms pick. Arduino Cloud is our free IoT Platforms pick. Pick Chirpstack for IoT platforms workflows (main strength: completely open-source, offering flexibility and community support). Pick Golioth for IoT platforms workflows (main strength: significantly reduces time and cost for building IoT cloud infrastructure (e.g., 6+ months saved)).
What are Chirpstack and Golioth used for?
Chirpstack: Open-source LoRaWAN Network Server for managing gateways, devices, and data integrations. Golioth: IoT infrastructure as code for hardware teams, connecting devices and routing data with ease.
What does Chirpstack cost vs Golioth?
Chirpstack is free. Golioth's paid plans start at Free (Logs / LightDB retain).
What's the main difference between Chirpstack and Golioth?
Chirpstack's main strength: completely open-source, offering flexibility and community support. Golioth's main strength: significantly reduces time and cost for building IoT cloud infrastructure (e.g., 6+ months saved).