Software · head to head
Arduino Cloud vs Blynk
Arduino Cloud
Software
Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Blynk
Software
IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
- They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Blynk covers Mobile App Builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Blynk actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arduino Cloud | Blynk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Platforms | Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard | IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device |
| Founded | 2005 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Arduino Cloud
- Device Connectivity
- Real-Time Sync
- Security
- Arduino IDE
- Integration services
- Arduino devices support
- Cloud support
- Mobile app support
Only in Blynk
- Mobile App Builder
- No-Code Interface
- Real-Time Control
- WebHooks
- Cloud platform
- IOS support
- Android support
- Web support
Both cover
- Cloud Storage
- Mobile app
- REST API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Arduino Cloud
- Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Blynk
- Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Blynk
- Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Blynk
- Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Blynk
- Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Blynk
Blynk
- Connecting IoT hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile appnot Arduino Cloud
- Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Arduino Cloud
- Automations triggered by device datanot Arduino Cloud
- White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Arduino Cloud
- Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Arduino Cloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Arduino Cloud
- The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
- Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
- The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
- Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
- Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise
Blynk
- The free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
- Data retention is tiered all the way up, reaching 12 months only on Enterprise
- Automations and webhooks are rationed, from 5 scenarios and 1 webhook on free to 100 or more on Production
- Over-the-air update campaigns are capped by tier, at 2 shipments on free and Starter
- Production plans run from $199 to $1,099 a month depending on device count
Pricing, plan by plan
Arduino Cloud
Free- MakerFree
- 2 devices
- Basic features
- Cloud access
- Maker Plus$7/month
- Up to 10 devices
- Advanced features
- Better storage
Blynk
Free- FreeFree
- 5 devices
- Basic widgets
- Cloud sync
- Premium$5/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced widgets
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Arduino Cloud if
- You need device connectivity.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
- You also want real-time sync.
Choose Blynk if
- You need mobile app builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
- You also want no-code interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Arduino Cloud or Blynk better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Blynk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Blynk?
- Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Blynk at Free.
- Does Arduino Cloud or Blynk run on more platforms?
- Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
- Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
- Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what Blynk is typically brought in for.
- What can Arduino Cloud do that Blynk cannot?
- Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Real-Time Sync, Security, Arduino IDE. Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, WebHooks. Both handle Cloud Storage, Mobile app, REST API.