Softwr

No-Code · head to head

Appsmith vs VerneMQ

Appsmith logo

Appsmith

No-Code

The open-source low-code framework

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit AppsmithFull review
VerneMQ logo

VerneMQ

Databases

Erlang MQTT broker whose source is Apache 2.0 but whose official binaries need a paid subscription

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit VerneMQFull review

The short version

  • VerneMQ is free; Appsmith starts at $15/user/mo.
  • Only Appsmith lists drag-and-drop builder; only VerneMQ lists Erlang/OTP clustering.
  • Where Appsmith falls short: the free cloud tier is capped at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repositories.
  • Where VerneMQ falls short: there is no data integration or rule engine layer, so routing messages into a database means writing and operating your own consumer service.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Appsmith and VerneMQ actually diverge.

Attributes where Appsmith and VerneMQ differ
AttributeAppsmithVerneMQ
Pricing modelSubscriptionQuote
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedLinux, Self-hosted, macOS
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: founded for VerneMQ.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Appsmith

  • Drag-and-drop builder
  • Database integration
  • REST API
  • Workflows
  • Authentication
  • Custom code
  • Git integration
  • 100+ integrations

Only in VerneMQ

  • Erlang/OTP clustering
  • MQTT 5.0 support
  • Plugin system
  • Backpressure handling
  • Bridge support
  • Metrics export
  • MQTT over WebSockets
  • Pluggable auth backends

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Appsmith

  • Building internal admin panels over existing databases and APIsnot VerneMQ
  • Self-hosting a low-code internal tool platformnot VerneMQ
  • Custom CRUD dashboards for operations teamsnot VerneMQ
  • Versioning applications through Gitnot VerneMQ

VerneMQ

  • An industrial operator that wants an MQTT broker with predictable memory behaviour and no data integration features it will not usenot Appsmith
  • A team building from source to stay strictly under Apache 2.0 terms with no vendor licence entanglementnot Appsmith
  • A deployment needing custom authentication logic implemented as a plugin in Lua or over a webhooknot Appsmith
  • An organisation that wants a broker maintained by a small European company rather than by a vendor that keeps changing licencesnot Appsmith

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Appsmith

  • The free cloud tier is capped at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repositories
  • Workflows, custom roles and audit logs all require the Business plan at $15 per user per month
  • SAML and OIDC single sign-on need Enterprise, which starts at $2,500 a month with a 100 user minimum
  • Embedding an app privately is Enterprise only; the lower tiers embed publicly
  • Managed hosting is an Enterprise add-on rather than an included option

VerneMQ

  • The official binaries and Docker images are not Apache 2.0 but sit under a EULA requiring a yearly commercial subscription, a distinction easy to miss and awkward to discover during a licence audit
  • Octavo Labs is a very small company, so support depth, response times and the bus factor on the codebase are materially thinner than at HiveMQ or EMQ
  • There is no data integration or rule engine layer, so routing messages into a database means writing and operating your own consumer service
  • Operating an Erlang cluster requires runtime knowledge that most teams do not have and will use for nothing else in their stack
  • There is no vendor-managed cloud offering, so every deployment is self-operated with the infrastructure and on-call cost that implies

Pricing, plan by plan

Appsmith

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users on cloud
    • 5 workspaces
    • 3 Git repos
  • Business$15/user/mo
    • Up to 99 users
    • Unlimited workspaces and Git repos
    • Workflows and reusable packages
  • Enterprise$2,500/mo
    • Minimum 100 users
    • Unlimited users above 100
    • SAML/OIDC SSO

VerneMQ

Free
  • Source buildFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed source from GitHub
    • Full clustering and plugin capability
    • You compile and package it yourself
  • Binary packages and Docker imagesOn request
    • Covered by the VerneMQ EULA, not Apache 2.0
    • Yearly usage subscription expected for commercial use
    • Official builds and Docker images
  • Commercial supportOn request
    • Evaluation, customisation and operations assistance
    • Custom development
    • Long-term maintenance agreements

Which should you pick?

Choose Appsmith if

  • You need drag-and-drop builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want database integration.
Appsmith review

Choose VerneMQ if

  • You need erlang/otp clustering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Self-hosted, macOS.
  • You also want mqtt 5.0 support.
VerneMQ review

Questions people ask

Is Appsmith or VerneMQ better?
Neither clearly leads. Appsmith starts at Free and VerneMQ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Appsmith or VerneMQ?
Appsmith starts at Free and VerneMQ at Free.
Does Appsmith or VerneMQ run on more platforms?
Appsmith runs on Web, Self-hosted. VerneMQ runs on Linux, Self-hosted, macOS.
Can I use Appsmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Appsmith best used for?
Appsmith is most often used for building internal admin panels over existing databases and apis, self-hosting a low-code internal tool platform, custom crud dashboards for operations teams, versioning applications through git. Of those, building internal admin panels over existing databases and apis and self-hosting a low-code internal tool platform are not what VerneMQ is typically brought in for.
What can Appsmith do that VerneMQ cannot?
Appsmith covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Workflows. VerneMQ covers Erlang/OTP clustering, MQTT 5.0 support, Plugin system, Backpressure handling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Appsmith: How much does Appsmith cost?

Appsmith offers a free plan for up to 5 users, a Business plan at $15 per user per month (up to 99 users), and an Enterprise plan starting at $2,500 per month for a minimum of 100 users with unlimited users available at that rate.

Source
VerneMQ: Is VerneMQ free?

The source is Apache 2.0 and free. The official binary packages and Docker images are covered by a separate EULA that expects a yearly fee for commercial use.

Appsmith: Does Appsmith have a free version?

Yes, Appsmith's Free plan provides access for up to 5 users with 5 workspaces, 3 Git repos, and community support at no cost. All plans offer unlimited apps.

Source
VerneMQ: Is the project still maintained?

Yes. Octavo Labs AG in Zurich continues to publish 2.x releases, most recently in 2026.

Appsmith: What does the Business plan include compared to Free?

The Business plan at $15 per user per month supports up to 99 users, provides unlimited workspaces and Git repos, includes workflows and reusable packages, premium integrations, custom roles, and access controls with email and chat support compared to the Free plan's community support only.

Source
VerneMQ: Does it have a managed cloud?

No. Every deployment is self-hosted, with commercial support available from Octavo Labs.

Appsmith: How are Appsmith users counted for billing purposes?

Appsmith counts any user who builds or edits applications as a standard user for billing. Developers and builders are treated the same as other users and all users count toward the per-user billing model without separate developer seat charges.

Source
VerneMQ: How does it compare to EMQX?

Narrower in features and without a rule engine, but with a simpler licence story for source builds after EMQX moved to BSL.

Share

Related pages

More on Appsmith

More on VerneMQ

Keep looking

Other head to heads