Mainflux
UnclaimedOpen-source IoT platform for secure, performant, and scalable connected solutions.
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Reviews onG2
1 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free plan available, paid tiers above
Biggest pro
Eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model
Biggest con
Requires technical expertise for self-hosted deployments
TL;DR - Mainflux
- Open-source IoT platform for device management, data aggregation, and application enablement.
- Microservice-based architecture with Kubernetes and Docker for scalability and performance.
- Offers an IoT Edge Gateway (MFX-1) and consulting services for end-to-end IoT solutions.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
What is Mainflux?
Mainflux is an open-source IoT platform providing comprehensive capabilities for developing IoT solutions, connected applications, and smart products. It is designed as a set of microservices containerized with Docker and orchestrated using Kubernetes, offering essential software infrastructure and middleware functions. The platform supports device management, data aggregation, connectivity, message routing, event management, core analytics, and application enablement.
Mainflux is built for extensibility and seamless integration, supporting multiple IoT protocols and intuitive APIs for integration with existing enterprise systems, databases, analytics software, and cloud platforms. It is protocol and device agnostic, utilizing a PUB/SUB multiprotocol messaging bridge. The platform is suitable for developers, enterprises, and organizations looking to build and deploy robust, scalable, and secure IoT solutions, from multi-datacenter environments down to edge devices like Raspberry Pi. Mainflux Labs also offers consulting services and an IoT Edge Gateway (MFX-1) to complement the platform.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing issues with open-source model
- Provides robust security features for IoT deployments
- Highly performant and scalable due to modern architecture
- Flexible deployment options (on-prem, hybrid, cloud)
- Comprehensive consulting services available for complex IoT projects
Cons
- Requires technical expertise for self-hosted deployments
- Managed Cloud Edition and advanced support plans can be costly
- Reliance on community support for the free tier
Ratings Across the Web
4.5(1 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Preview
Key Features
Open source and patent-free (Apache 2.0 license)Robust security with customizable API keys, JWT tokens, mTLS, and NGINX reverse proxyHigh performance with Golang and microservice architectureEasily extendable without core-platform modificationsSeamless integration with enterprise systems via open APIsMulti-protocol support (HTTP, MQTT, WebSocket, CoAP) and device agnosticScalable and fault-tolerant microservice architectureDeployable from multi-datacenter to Raspberry Pi-class devices
Pricing Plans
Free
Free
- Open Source IoT Platform (Apache v2.0)
- Host on any compatible platform running Linux or Docker
Managed Cloud Edition
From $500 /mo
- Deploy, host & manage Mainflux on a dedicated Private Cloud
- DevOps guidelines
- Multi-AZ
- Autoscaling
- Cloudwatch
- Snapshots
- On-demand sandboxes
Community
Free
- Support channel Github & Gitter
- Rely on community support
- No Service-level Agreement
- Github Issues
Starter
From $2,000 /mo
- Support channel Slack
- Mainflux features only support coverage
- Service-level Agreement: Working hours 2 days
Business
From $5,000 /mo
- Support channel Slack & webconf
- Mainflux features support coverage
- Support for developers & ops
- Service-level Agreement: Working hours 4 hours
Custom
Contact us
- Support channel Slack & webconf
- Mainflux features support coverage
- Support for developers
- New features
- Service-level Agreement: 24/7 custom SLA
How Mainflux's pricing compares
At $500/mo, Mainflux is the most premium of its 2 direct competitors.
Entry paid plan, monthly.
Reviews
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Mainflux FAQ
How does Mainflux ensure security for IoT deployments, especially at the edge?
Mainflux implements robust security measures including a deployment-ready Authentication and Authorization Server, customizable API keys, scoped JWT tokens, and mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication with X.509 certificates. Additionally, NGINX reverse proxy is used for load-balancing and TLS/DTLS connection termination, providing comprehensive security from edge to cloud.
What specific IoT protocols does Mainflux support for device connectivity?
Mainflux offers multi-protocol support through its PUB/SUB multiprotocol messaging bridge, powered by the NATS broker. It supports common IoT protocols such as HTTP, MQTT, WebSocket, and CoAP, ensuring broad compatibility with various devices and applications.
Can Mainflux be deployed on resource-constrained edge devices like a Raspberry Pi?
Yes, Mainflux is designed for flexible deployment across a wide range of environments. Its microservice architecture and efficient core technologies allow it to be deployed from multi-datacenter environments down to Raspberry Pi-class devices, ensuring a minimal resource footprint and low operating expenses.
What is the MFX-1 IoT Edge Gateway and how does it integrate with the Mainflux platform?
The MFX-1 IoT Edge Gateway is an optimized hardware solution, based on the Mainflux open-source IoT platform, designed for B2B market demands. It runs the complete Mainflux IoT Platform functionality at the edge, offering remote device management and unified cloud-edge computing. It integrates seamlessly with a centralized Mainflux instance, creating a comprehensive, turnkey IoT solution compliant with the Linux Foundation’s EdgeX Foundry framework.
What kind of consulting services does Mainflux Labs provide beyond platform deployment?
Mainflux Labs offers extensive consulting services covering all technology layers of IoT. This includes professional services for product design, architecture, Proof-of-Concept (PoC) development, project integration, piloting, and auditing. They also provide technical support, training, and workshops, leveraging expertise in hardware, embedded software, web application development, IT operations, data science, and distributed systems.
How does Mainflux's microservice architecture contribute to its scalability and extensibility?
Mainflux's microservice-based architecture, containerized with Docker and orchestrated using Kubernetes, ensures high performance, scalability, and fault tolerance. This modular design allows for easy extensibility, enabling new features and vertical applications to be added without requiring modifications or reconfigurations to the core platform, thus supporting rapid development and adaptation.
Source: mainflux.com