Software · head to head
Arduino Cloud vs Zigbee Alliance
Arduino Cloud
Software
Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Zigbee Alliance
Software
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- 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; Zigbee Alliance the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
- They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Zigbee Alliance actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arduino Cloud | Zigbee Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | open-source |
| Platforms | Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms |
| Founded | 2005 | 2002 |
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
- Cloud Storage
- Real-Time Sync
- Security
- Arduino IDE
- Mobile app
- REST API
- Integration services
Only in Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Zigbee Alliance
- Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Zigbee Alliance
- Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Zigbee Alliance
- Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Zigbee Alliance
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Arduino Cloud
- Sensor networksnot Arduino Cloud
- Home automationnot Arduino Cloud
- Industrial monitoringnot 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
Zigbee Alliance
- The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
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
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
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 Zigbee Alliance if
- You need low power.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- You also want mesh networking.
Questions people ask
- Is Arduino Cloud or Zigbee Alliance better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Zigbee Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Zigbee Alliance?
- Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Zigbee Alliance at Free.
- Does Arduino Cloud or Zigbee Alliance run on more platforms?
- Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- 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 Zigbee Alliance is typically brought in for.
- What can Arduino Cloud do that Zigbee Alliance cannot?
- Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable.