Software · head to head
Blynk vs Thread
Blynk
Software
IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention; Thread thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier
- They diverge on capability: Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, Thread covers IPv6 Mesh.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blynk and Thread actually diverge.
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 Blynk
- Mobile App Builder
- No-Code Interface
- Real-Time Control
- Cloud Storage
- REST API
- WebHooks
- Mobile app
- Cloud platform
Only in Thread
- IPv6 Mesh
- Self-Healing
- Secure
- Low Power
- HomeKit
- Matter
- Smart devices
- Smart home hubs
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 Thread
- Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Thread
- Automations triggered by device datanot Thread
- White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Thread
- Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Thread
Thread
- Low power IPv6 mesh networking for smart home and smart building devicesnot Blynk
- Interoperable device networking underneath Matternot Blynk
- Certifying wireless products for network interoperabilitynot 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
Thread
- Thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier
- Certifying a product and using the Thread certification logo requires Thread Group membership
- Free access to the Thread Test Harness is restricted to higher membership levels; lower levels only get the option to purchase it
- Voting in work groups, chairing committees and a board seat are reserved for the paid upper membership levels
- The Implementer level is described as being for white-label or rebranded certified products only
- Academic membership is open only to organizations with fewer than 50 employees
Pricing, plan by plan
Blynk
Free- FreeFree
- 5 devices
- Basic widgets
- Cloud sync
- Premium$5/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced widgets
- Priority support
Thread
Free- Open ProtocolFree
- IPv6 mesh
- Secure
- Self-healing
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.
Choose Thread if
- You need ipv6 mesh.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs.
- You also want self-healing.
Questions people ask
- Is Blynk or Thread better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blynk starts at Free and Thread at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blynk or Thread?
- Blynk starts at Free and Thread at Free.
- Does Blynk or Thread run on more platforms?
- Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device. Thread runs on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs.
- Can I use Blynk for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Thread is typically brought in for.
- What can Blynk do that Thread cannot?
- Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, Cloud Storage. Thread covers IPv6 Mesh, Self-Healing, Secure, Low Power.