Mainflux vs ThingsBoard: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Mainflux and ThingsBoard side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
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:
Mainflux
Open-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions.
Best for you if:
- • You want eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
Best for you if:
- • You want open-source with a community edition available
| At a Glance | Mainflux | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $500/mo, billed monthly Managed Cloud Edition plan | Free plan |
Category | IoT Platforms DevOps | IoT Platforms Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | n/a | 4.1/5 G2 4.1 · SourceForge 4.0 6 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Support tiers are 'From' prices, implying potential higher costs. | n/a |
Choose Mainflux or ThingsBoard?
Choose Mainflux if
- You want eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model
- You want provides robust security features for IoT deployments
Choose ThingsBoard if
- You want open-source with a community edition available
- You want highly scalable and fault-tolerant due to microservices architecture
In-Depth Analysis
Mainflux
Open-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions.
Mainflux offers a generous Free tier for its open-source IoT platform, making it accessible for developers and small projects.
Watch out
Support tiers are 'From' prices, implying potential higher costs.
Strengths
- Pro: Eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model
- Pro: Provides robust security features for IoT deployments
- Pro: Highly performant and scalable due to modern architecture
- Pro: Flexible deployment options (on-prem, hybrid, cloud)
- Pro: Comprehensive consulting services available for complex IoT projects
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires technical expertise for self-hosted deployments
- Con: Managed Cloud Edition and advanced support plans can be costly
- Con: Reliance on community support for the free tier
Key features
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
The Community Edition offers a generous free option for basic needs.
Strengths
- Pro: Open-source with a community edition available.
- Pro: Highly scalable and fault-tolerant due to microservices architecture.
- Pro: Supports a wide range of industry-standard IoT protocols.
- Pro: Flexible deployment options (cloud, on-premises, self-managed, managed).
- Pro: Comprehensive features for device management, data processing, and visualization.
Weaknesses
- Con: Advanced features like white-labeling and enhanced RBAC are only available in paid editions.
- Con: Self-managed deployments require technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
- Con: Pricing for Professional Edition and Cloud is not explicitly listed on the public pages.
Key features
Plans and prices: Mainflux vs ThingsBoard
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mainflux |
| mainflux.com/pricing read Oct 26, 2026 |
| ThingsBoard |
| thingsboard.io read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Mainflux pricing and ThingsBoard pricing.
Key Takeaways
Mainflux
- Choose if you want open-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions
ThingsBoard
- Choose if you want open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only ThingsBoard has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 6 reviews); Mainflux has none we can show.
- Mainflux starts at $500/mo, billed monthly; ThingsBoard has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Mainflux and ThingsBoard compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only ThingsBoard has a published user rating (4.1/5 from 6 reviews); Mainflux has none we can show. Mainflux starts at $500/mo, billed monthly; ThingsBoard has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Mainflux and ThingsBoard used for?
Mainflux: Open-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions. ThingsBoard: Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
What does Mainflux cost vs ThingsBoard?
Mainflux's cheapest paid plan is Managed Cloud Edition at $500/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. ThingsBoard has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.
What's the main difference between Mainflux and ThingsBoard?
Mainflux's main strength: eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model. ThingsBoard's main strength: open-source with a community edition available.