Software · head to head
Arduino Cloud vs Particle
Arduino Cloud
Software
Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications
- 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; Particle paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
- They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Particle covers Device OS.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Particle actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arduino Cloud | Particle |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard | Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps |
| Founded | 2005 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), 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
- Cloud Storage
- Real-Time Sync
- Security
- Arduino IDE
- Mobile app
- Integration services
- Arduino devices support
Only in Particle
- Device OS
- Cloud Platform
- Device Management
- OTA Updates
- WebHooks
- Integration marketplace
- 3rd party services
- Particle devices support
Both cover
- REST API
- Cloud support
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 Particle
- Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Particle
- Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Particle
- Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Particle
- Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Particle
Particle
- Connecting cellular and wifi IoT devices to a managed cloud platformnot Arduino Cloud
- Deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scalenot 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
Particle
- Paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
- The Basic block is $299 a month and the Plus block $599 a month
- The free tier allows 100 devices and 100,000 data operations a month
- Data operations are the billing unit, so chatty firmware costs more than the device count suggests
- No overage rates are published at any tier, so exceeding an allowance has no stated cost
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
Particle
Free- MakerFree
- 5 free devices
- Cloud access
- Basic features
- Production$100/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced analytics
- Enterprise 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 cloud storage.
Choose Particle if
- You need device os.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
- You also want cloud platform.
Questions people ask
- Is Arduino Cloud or Particle better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Particle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Particle?
- Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Particle at Free.
- Does Arduino Cloud or Particle run on more platforms?
- Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Particle runs on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
- 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 Particle is typically brought in for.
- What can Arduino Cloud do that Particle cannot?
- Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Particle covers Device OS, Cloud Platform, Device Management, OTA Updates. Both handle REST API, Cloud support.