InfluxDB vs ThingSpeak
InfluxDB
influxdata.comThingSpeak
thingspeak.mathworks.comSide by side
| Figure | InfluxDB | ThingSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.01/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · IoT Analytics Software | 8.5 (#8) | 7.3 (#17) |
| Integrations | InfluxDB connects to data sources through 400+ pre-built Telegraf plugins and has official client libraries including Python, JavaScript, Go, Java, and C#. | Listed integrations include LoRaWAN, The Things Network, Senet, Libelium, Beckhoff, and Particle devices. |
| Purpose | InfluxDB 3 is a time series database and platform built for high-frequency, timestamped data. | ThingSpeak is a cloud IoT analytics platform for aggregating, visualizing, and analyzing live data streams. |
| Support | InfluxDB 3 Core is community supported, while Enterprise and Cloud Dedicated include a technical support SLA. | The Academic license includes standard MathWorks support, while its free option includes community support. |
Plans
InfluxDB
- Cloud Serverless - Data InFree
- Cloud Serverless - Query Count$0.01 a month
- Cloud Serverless - StorageFree
- Cloud Serverless - Data Out$0.09 a month
- Cloud ServerlessFree
- InfluxDB 3 CoreFree
- Amazon Timestream for InfluxDBPrice not published
- Cloud DedicatedPriced on request
- Cloud Serverless usage-basedPrice not published
- InfluxDB 3 EnterprisePriced on request
ThingSpeak
- FreeFree
- AcademicPrice not published
- HomePrice not published
- StandardPrice not published
- StudentPrice not published
In their own words
InfluxDB
InfluxDB 3 is a time series database and platform for high-frequency data recorded with timestamps. It supports native SQL and InfluxQL queries, plus a built-in Python processing engine. Data can enter through line protocol, an HTTP API, client libraries, Telegraf or the influxdb3 CLI. More than 400 pre-built Telegraf plugins and official libraries for Python, JavaScript, Go, Java and C# connect it to data sources. InfluxDB stores data as compressed Parquet files in object storage with S3 API compatibility. Deployment choices include open-source single-node Core, self-managed Enterprise, managed Cloud Serverless and Cloud Dedicated, and Amazon Timestream for InfluxDB. InfluxData describes uses in industrial operations, observability and AI applications needing real-time data. Core is intended for development, prototyping and edge deployments, but lacks high availability and enterprise security. Cloud Serverless has a free option with service quotas and no high availability, plus $250 free credit. Core has community support; Enterprise and Cloud Dedicated include a technical support SLA.
ThingSpeak
ThingSpeak is a cloud IoT analytics platform for collecting, visualizing and analyzing live data streams. Devices can send data through REST or MQTT APIs, and listed libraries support Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, Particle and Raspberry Pi. Each channel stores up to eight fields, with data private by default and an option to make channels public. Users can run scheduled MATLAB code hosted by ThingSpeak without a separate MATLAB license. React and TimeControl apps support responses to channel conditions and scheduled computations. The platform supports near-real-time stream processing, custom dashboards and machine learning tools. MathWorks describes its uses as IoT prototyping, proof-of-concept systems and hosted production for small- to medium-sized systems. The Free plan is free for non-commercial use, with four channels, three million messages per year and a 15-second update interval. MATLAB code execution is limited to 20 seconds for free users; TimeControl cannot schedule MATLAB Analysis more often than every five minutes, and channel visualizations update after ten minutes. Platforms listed are API and web.