EdgeX Foundry vs ThingsBoard
EdgeX Foundry
edgexfoundry.org
ThingsBoard
thingsboard.ioSide by side
| Figure | EdgeX Foundry | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $39/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 25 |
| Spec score · IoT Edge Platforms | 7.3 (#4) | 8.8 (#1) |
| Device connectivity | Device services connect sensors and devices, translate their data into a common EdgeX structure, and can translate commands back to device protocols. | The platform supports MQTT, Modbus, LoRaWAN, HTTP, OCPP, OPC-UA, CoAP, Sigfox, BACnet and S7 connectivity. |
| Intended users | The project describes user, developer, device service developer, and application service developer paths for getting started. | The maker describes the platform as covering IoT projects from initial device connectivity through visualization, server-side processing, and scaling. |
| Protocols | The documentation lists device services for protocols including MQTT, Modbus, BACnet, REST, ONVIF, OPC UA, BLE, and SNMP. | Native connectivity includes MQTT, CoAP, HTTP, LwM2M, and SNMP, with an IoT Gateway for protocols including Modbus, BACnet, CAN bus, BLE, and OPC-UA. |
| Security | EdgeX security documentation covers a secret store, API gateway, microservice authentication, and secure MessageBus. | Security options include two-factor authentication, OAuth 2.0/SSO, JWT tokens, API keys, and HTTPS/TLS configuration. |
| Support | The site directs visitors to speak to an expert and points users to EdgeX products and services from LF Edge member companies. | Paid subscriptions provide access to the ThingsBoard Support Portal, and Startup and Business plans include priority support. |
| What it does | EdgeX Foundry is a vendor-neutral, open-source edge platform for interoperability between IoT devices and applications. | ThingsBoard is an IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing and visualization. |
Plans
ThingsBoard
- FreeFree
- Prototype$49 a month
- Pilot$149 a month
- Startup$399 a month
- Business$749 a month
- Free (On-premises)Free
- Free (ThingsBoard Cloud)Free
- Free (ThingsBoard Cloud)Free
- Prototype (ThingsBoard Cloud)$39 a month
- Prototype (ThingsBoard Cloud)$49 a month
In their own words
EdgeX Foundry
EdgeX Foundry is a free, open-source edge platform that connects IoT devices with applications across vendors. Device services translate sensor and device data into a shared EdgeX structure and can translate commands back into device protocols. The platform can run local rules and application services on edge data before sending it to cloud or other external systems. Its modular microservices architecture includes documented device services for MQTT, Modbus, BACnet, REST, ONVIF, OPC UA, BLE, and SNMP. Developers can make connectors with the Device Service SDK and data-processing pipelines with the Application Functions SDK. Security documentation covers a secret store, API gateway, microservice authentication, and secure MessageBus. The project offers a Docker quick start and instructions for building and running EdgeX natively on an operating system. EdgeX 4.0 is identified as an LTS release, but may not be backward compatible with the previous 3.x series. It uses PostgreSQL by default; Redis is no longer delivered with EdgeX, though users may choose Redis or Valkey. The project outlines user, developer, device service developer, and application service developer paths.
ThingsBoard
ThingsBoard is an IoT platform for managing devices and collecting, processing, and visualizing their data. Its real-time IoT and SCADA dashboards include more than 300 built-in widgets and support custom widgets. Native connectivity covers MQTT, CoAP, HTTP, LwM2M, and SNMP; an IoT Gateway adds protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, CAN bus, BLE, and OPC-UA. Rule Engine nodes support data processing and platform customization, while integrations connect external services and gateways including AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud Pub/Sub, LoRaWAN servers, MQTT brokers, and OPC-UA servers. Deployment options include cloud, dedicated Private Cloud, and on-premises installations, including fully offline self-managed setups. Security choices include two-factor authentication, OAuth 2.0/SSO, JWT tokens, API keys, and HTTPS/TLS configuration. ThingsBoard Cloud is hosted on infrastructure stated to comply with SOC II and ISO 27001, with North America and EU data regions. Cloud plans have device and data-point limits. Listed cloud plans include free and paid options, with Prototype at $39 a month.