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Developer Tools · head to head

Deep Code vs EMQX

Deep Code logo

Deep Code

Developer Tools

Desktop AI coding assistant that runs on DeepSeek models

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Deep CodeFull review
EMQX logo

EMQX

Databases

Erlang MQTT broker for large IoT fleets, relicensed to BSL with production free use limited to one node

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit EMQXFull review

The short version

  • Free plans on both; paid from $5/mo and $234/mo.
  • Only Deep Code lists DeepSeek-backed agent; only EMQX lists erlang clustering.
  • Where Deep Code falls short: the Pro tier caps included usage at 100 Pro Credits per day rather than offering an unmetered plan.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deep Code and EMQX actually diverge.

Attributes where Deep Code and EMQX differ
AttributeDeep CodeEMQX
Pricing modelFreemiumPer month by connection and session volume
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxLinux, Self-hosted, Web, macOS
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

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 Deep Code

  • DeepSeek-backed agent
  • Session management
  • File explorer
  • Snippets panel
  • Voice input
  • Bring your own key

Only in EMQX

  • Erlang clustering
  • MQTT 5.0 and QUIC
  • Rule engine
  • Data integration sinks
  • Session persistence
  • Multi protocol gateways
  • Authentication and authorisation
  • Dashboard and REST API

What people use each for

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

Deep Code

  • AI-assisted coding on a budgetnot EMQX
  • Debugging and bug fixingnot EMQX
  • Refactoring existing codenot EMQX
  • Reusing prompt templates across projectsnot EMQX
  • Using an existing DeepSeek API key without proxy setupnot EMQX

EMQX

  • A connected vehicle platform needing millions of persistent MQTT sessions with QUIC for handover across mobile networksnot Deep Code
  • An industrial operator routing sensor telemetry straight into TimescaleDB or Kafka without writing a consumer servicenot Deep Code
  • An IoT product team that has outgrown a single Mosquitto instance and needs clustering and shared subscriptionsnot Deep Code
  • A smart building deployment mixing MQTT, CoAP and LwM2M devices on one brokernot Deep Code

Where each one falls short

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

Deep Code

  • Model choice is narrow. Bring your own key covers DeepSeek-V4-Pro and Flash plus the GLM and Mimo coding plans, and no frontier model from OpenAI, Anthropic or Google
  • The Pro tier caps included usage at 100 Pro Credits per day rather than offering an unmetered plan
  • Bring your own key is a paid feature, so the free tier cannot be pointed at your own DeepSeek account
  • Desktop only, with no editor extension, web version or team seat management as of September 2026
  • A small, young vendor with no independent review coverage yet, so there is nothing outside the vendor's own site to corroborate the cost claim

EMQX

  • The move to Business Source Licence 1.1 at version 5.9 in May 2025 limits free production use to a single node, so the clustering that justifies choosing EMQX now requires a paid subscription from the second node onward
  • The relicensing arrived in a minor release, which caught users who had pinned to 5.x expecting Apache 2.0 terms and forced legal review of existing deployments
  • Running an Erlang/OTP cluster well requires operational knowledge most teams do not have, and diagnosing distribution, mnesia or memory issues means learning a runtime you use for nothing else
  • Enterprise pricing is quoted rather than published for the self-managed edition, so the cost of the clustered configuration you actually need is invisible until you talk to sales
  • The Serverless tier caps at around a thousand connections and shares infrastructure, which makes it a prototyping tier rather than a genuine small production option

Pricing, plan by plan

Deep Code

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Session management
    • File explorer and snippets panel
    • Voice input
  • Pro$5/mo
    • All Free features
    • 100 daily Pro Credits
    • BYOK across DeepSeek-V4-Pro, DeepSeek-V4-Flash, GLM Coding Plan and Mimo Coding Plan

EMQX

Free
  • Open Source single nodeFree
    • BSL 1.1 licence since version 5.9
    • Free production use of one node only
    • All former enterprise features visible
  • ServerlessFree
    • Free monthly quota then pay as you go
    • Up to 1,000 connections
    • 8 by 5 support
  • Dedicated Flex$234/mo
    • Single tenant cluster
    • Traffic allowance included
    • 24/7 support
  • Enterprise self-managedOn request
    • Deploy on premises, at the edge or in any cloud
    • Clustering licensed
    • 256 MB maximum message size

Which should you pick?

Choose Deep Code if

  • You need deepseek-backed agent.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want session management.
Deep Code review

Choose EMQX if

  • You need erlang clustering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Self-hosted, Web, macOS.
  • You also want mqtt 5.0 and quic.
EMQX review

Questions people ask

Is Deep Code or EMQX better?
Neither clearly leads. Deep Code starts at Free and EMQX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deep Code or EMQX?
Deep Code starts at Free and EMQX at Free.
Does Deep Code or EMQX run on more platforms?
Deep Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. EMQX runs on Linux, Self-hosted, Web, macOS.
Can I use Deep Code for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Deep Code best used for?
Deep Code is most often used for ai-assisted coding on a budget, debugging and bug fixing, refactoring existing code, reusing prompt templates across projects. Of those, ai-assisted coding on a budget and debugging and bug fixing are not what EMQX is typically brought in for.
What can Deep Code do that EMQX cannot?
Deep Code covers DeepSeek-backed agent, Session management, File explorer, Snippets panel. EMQX covers Erlang clustering, MQTT 5.0 and QUIC, Rule engine, Data integration sinks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deep Code: Which models does Deep Code run on?

DeepSeek V4 family models, with the vendor's headline built around DeepSeek V4.1. The free tier's included credits run on DeepSeek-V4-Flash. Paid users bringing their own key can also use DeepSeek-V4-Pro, the GLM Coding Plan and the Mimo Coding Plan.

Source
EMQX: Is EMQX still open source?

Not in the OSI sense since version 5.9. It is source-available under Business Source Licence 1.1, reverting to Apache 2.0 four years after each release.

Deep Code: What does Deep Code cost?

There are two tiers. Free is $0 per month and includes session management, the file explorer, snippets, voice input and weekly free credits on DeepSeek-V4-Flash. Pro is $5 per month and adds 100 daily Pro Credits plus bring-your-own-key support for multiple models.

Source
EMQX: Can I run a free cluster?

No. The additional use grant permits free production use of one node; clustering requires a commercial licence.

Deep Code: Do I need my own API key to use it?

No. The free tier includes weekly credits and needs no credit card, so the app works without a key. Bring your own key is available on the $5 per month Pro tier and covers DeepSeek-V4-Pro, DeepSeek-V4-Flash, the GLM Coding Plan and the Mimo Coding Plan.

Source
EMQX: What changed for existing users?

Community and enterprise editions merged, so all features are now visible, but the licence terms tightened in the same minor release.

Deep Code: Which operating systems does it run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux. It is a desktop application rather than an editor extension, so it runs alongside whatever editor you already use.

Source
EMQX: Which version is still Apache 2.0?

Releases before 5.9 remain under Apache 2.0, and each BSL release converts to Apache 2.0 four years after publication.

Deep Code: Is the 95 percent cheaper claim independently verified?

No. It is the vendor's own figure, based on DeepSeek token pricing against frontier model pricing. Actual savings depend on which model you compare against and how much of your usage falls inside the included credits.

Source
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