The Things Network Pricing 2026
Plans, hidden costs, and cheaper alternatives compared
Is The Things Network worth the price?
The Things Network offers a highly generous Free tier, making it an excellent starting point for anyone exploring LoRaWAN.
Given the open-source nature and community-driven model, the 'Free' price point is exceptionally fair and provides significant value. It's best for individuals, hobbyists, and small businesses looking to experiment and build IoT solutions without initial financial commitment.
Pricing Plans
Free
Free
- Open tools
- Global, open network
- Low cost
- Maximum security
- Ready to scale
- Powered by The Things Stack
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Scaling beyond free tier requires custom solutions
No direct support included in free tier
Hardware costs for devices and gateways
Potential data egress charges from cloud providers
Which Plan Do You Need?
IoT hobbyists and makers
Startups prototyping LoRaWAN
Developers learning IoT
How The Things Network Compares to Competitors
Compared to commercial LoRaWAN network operators like Senet or Actility, The Things Network's Free tier stands out by offering a fully functional network without any direct cost. While commercial providers typically charge per device or message (e.g., Senet's developer plans often start around $10-25/month for limited devices), The Things Network provides a global, open alternative for free, making it uniquely accessible for initial development and small-scale deployments.
The Things Network Pricing FAQ
How much does The Things Network cost?
The Things Network is free to use. No subscription or one-time fee is required for the core product.
Does The Things Network have a free plan?
Yes. The Things Network offers a free plan called "Free". It includes: Open tools, Global, open network, Low cost.
Is there a cheaper alternative to The Things Network?
Yes. Popular alternatives to The Things Network include K3s, Node-RED, Golioth, Tago.io. Free alternatives include K3s, Node-RED, Golioth. Compare them side-by-side on Toolradar.
Cheaper alternatives to The Things Network
4 of 5 direct competitors below offer a free plan. Per-seat pricing varies up to 60% across this set.
