Apache IoTDB vs OpenRemote
Apache IoTDB
iotdb.apache.orgOpenRemote
openremote.ioSide by side
| Figure | Apache IoTDB | OpenRemote |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · IoT Analytics Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.6 (#6) |
| APIs | Documented interfaces include Java, Python, C, C++, C#, Go, Node.js, Rust, JDBC, MQTT and REST APIs. | Assets and attributes are exposed through a unified REST API and WebSockets. |
| Company profile | LinkedIn lists Apache IoTDB as a nonprofit software-development organization founded in 2017, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with 51–200 employees. | LinkedIn describes OpenRemote as a privately held Eindhoven IT-services company founded in 2015 with 11–50 employees. |
| Deployment | The project describes cloud installation, a desktop terminal tool, and a data synchronization tool connecting cloud and on-premise machines. | OpenRemote describes itself as container-first and provides a Docker Compose setup for deploying the manager, database, identity service, and map server. |
| Licence | The source repository is distributed under the permissive Apache License 2.0. | The core repository is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, with third-party components under their own licences. |
| Self-hosting | Users can clone the repository, build with Maven and obtain a distribution ZIP, including an Edge artifact that combines ConfigNode and DataNode in one JVM. | Docker images support amd64 and arm64; the quick start uses Docker Compose and exposes the Manager at a local HTTPS address. |
| Support | The project points users to QQ, WeChat, and Slack community channels and a developer mailing list for questions and help. | The maker offers consultancy, development, hosting, and Service Level Agreement support, while the free Community option includes community support. |
| What it does | Apache IoTDB is an IoT-native time-series database for collecting, storing, managing and analyzing industrial time-series data. | OpenRemote is a 100% open-source IoT platform for manufacturers and integrators that connects devices and data sources, runs automation, and visualizes operational data. |
Plans
OpenRemote
- Support VoucherPriced on request
- Managed ServicePriced on request
- Professional CommunityFree
In their own words
Apache IoTDB
Apache IoTDB is an open-source industrial IoT time-series database for collecting, storing, managing, and analyzing device data across edge and cloud deployments. The project describes high-speed writes for millions of networked devices alongside fast reads. Query features include aligning time across devices and sensors, time-series computation, and aggregation by time dimensions. Ingestion options include IoTDB-SQL, JDBC, Java, C++, Python, and Go native APIs, REST, MQTT, CSV, and TsFile. Named analysis ecosystem examples include Hadoop, Spark, Flink, and Grafana. Deployment options include cloud installation, a desktop terminal tool, and synchronization between cloud and on-premise machines. The REST service is disabled by default and uses Basic Authentication except for the health check endpoint. Data and cluster permissions can be managed through users, roles, and privileges. The homepage states disk storage can cost less than $0.23 per GB. The project lists energy, aerospace, transportation, steel, and other IoT scenarios. Its JDBC documentation cautions that insert operations may not provide high-performance writing and recommends the Java Native API for Java applications.
OpenRemote
OpenRemote is an open-source IoT platform for bringing different protocols and data sources into one management system. Users define asset types and the attributes they want to track, then create automations with When-Then rules, a visual Flow Editor, or Groovy scripting. Its dashboard builder supports live monitoring, historical trend analysis, and alerts when attributes pass thresholds. Built-in protocol agents include HTTP, SNMP, ModBus, MQTT, Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, Serial, TCP, UDP, KNX, Velbus, and openWeather. Assets and attributes are accessible through a unified REST API and WebSockets. Keycloak provides OAuth2/OpenID Connect and role-based access control; Realms logically isolate users and data. Through Hawkbit integration, the platform supports edge-device firmware updates and security patch rollouts. OpenRemote is designed for professional integrators, including manufacturers, system integrators, and governments. It uses a container-first approach and offers Docker Compose deployment for its manager, database, identity service, and map server. The code is licensed under AGPLv3, with commercial licenses available for organizations seeking an exemption from the stated source-sharing obligation. Community support is included with the free option.