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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Blynk vs Hubitat Elevation

Blynk logo

Blynk

IoT & Smart Home

IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hubitat Elevation logo

Hubitat Elevation

IoT & Smart Home

Local home automation hub for advanced users

From
$189.95/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Blynk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention; Hubitat Elevation limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blynk and Hubitat Elevation actually diverge.

Attributes where Blynk and Hubitat Elevation differ
AttributeBlynkHubitat Elevation
Starting priceFree$189.95/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIOS, Android, Web, Any IoT deviceLocal hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android)
Founded20122016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

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 Blynk

  • Mobile App Builder
  • No-Code Interface
  • Real-Time Control
  • Cloud Storage
  • REST API
  • WebHooks
  • Mobile app
  • Cloud platform

Only in Hubitat Elevation

  • Local Processing
  • Rule Machine
  • Z-Wave Plus
  • Zigbee 3.0
  • Dashboard
  • Voice assistants
  • Custom apps
  • MQTT

What people use each for

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

Blynk

  • Connecting IoT hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile appnot Hubitat Elevation
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Hubitat Elevation
  • Automations triggered by device datanot Hubitat Elevation
  • White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Hubitat Elevation
  • Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Hubitat Elevation

Hubitat Elevation

  • Advanced automationnot Blynk
  • Local controlnot Blynk
  • Complex rulesnot Blynk
  • Multi-protocol integrationnot Blynk

Where each one falls short

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

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

Hubitat Elevation

  • Limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
  • Requires purchase of hub hardware; no free tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Blynk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 devices
    • Basic widgets
    • Cloud sync
  • Premium$5/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced widgets
    • Priority support

Hubitat Elevation

$189.95/one-time
  • Hub Hardware$189.95/one-time
    • Z-Wave Plus 800 and Zigbee 3.0
    • Matter 1.5 support
    • Local automation engine
  • Cloud Backup (optional)$30/year
    • Cloud backup of automations
    • Automatic backups
  • Remote Admin (optional)$36/year
    • Remote access via cloud
    • Mobile app remote control

Which should you pick?

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.
Blynk review

Choose Hubitat Elevation if

  • You need local processing.
  • You work on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
  • You also want rule machine.
Hubitat Elevation review

Questions people ask

Is Blynk or Hubitat Elevation better?
Neither clearly leads. Blynk starts at Free and Hubitat Elevation at $189.95/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blynk or Hubitat Elevation?
Blynk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blynk and $189.95/one-time for Hubitat Elevation.
Does Blynk or Hubitat Elevation run on more platforms?
Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device. Hubitat Elevation runs on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
Can I use Blynk for free?
Yes. Blynk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time.
What is Blynk best used for?
Blynk is most often used for connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app, over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices, automations triggered by device data, white-label device apps for a hardware product. Of those, connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app and over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices are not what Hubitat Elevation is typically brought in for.
What can Blynk do that Hubitat Elevation cannot?
Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, Cloud Storage. Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Rule Machine, Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee 3.0.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat require a cloud connection or subscription?

No. All automations and device control run locally without cloud dependency. Hubitat does not require subscriptions for core features; optional cloud backup ($30/year) and remote admin ($36/year) are available.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: How many devices can Hubitat control?

The Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 supports 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands through Zigbee, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit?

Yes. Hubitat integrates with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and also supports Apple HomeKit via direct integration for HomeKit devices.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: What is the difference between the C-7 and C-8 models?

The C-8 ($189.95) features Z-Wave Plus 800, Zigbee 3.0, and expanded memory for handling complex automation. The C-7 is an older model with fewer protocol options and lower performance.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: Can I access my hub remotely?

Yes. Local area network (LAN) access is always available. Remote access via the Hubitat mobile app and cloud services requires an optional subscription ($36/year for remote admin).

Source
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