Softwr

Databases · head to head

EMQX vs Webpack

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
Webpack logo

Webpack

Developer Tools

Bundle your assets, scripts, images, and styles

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit WebpackFull review

The short version

  • Webpack is a static module bundler for modern JavaScript applications.
  • Webpack is free; EMQX starts at $234/mo.
  • Where Webpack falls short: complex configuration can be challenging for beginners compared to zero-config alternatives.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EMQX and Webpack actually diverge.

Attributes where EMQX and Webpack differ
AttributeEMQXWebpack
PlatformsLinux, Self-hosted, Web, macOSAPI, Web
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

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

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Webpack, founded for EMQX.

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 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

Only in Webpack

Nothing recorded that EMQX does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

EMQX

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

Webpack

  • Bundling modular JavaScript with automatic dependency resolutionnot EMQX
  • Processing multiple asset types into optimized production filesnot EMQX
  • Splitting code into vendor and application bundles for browser cachingnot EMQX

Where each one falls short

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

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

Webpack

  • Complex configuration can be challenging for beginners compared to zero-config alternatives
  • Build times slower than Go-based bundlers like esbuild, especially for large codebases
  • Configuration fragmentation across many plugins increases maintenance burden

Pricing, plan by 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

Webpack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Webpack review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Webpack if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API, Web.
Webpack review

Questions people ask

Is EMQX or Webpack better?
Neither clearly leads. EMQX starts at Free and Webpack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EMQX or Webpack?
EMQX starts at Free and Webpack at Free.
Does EMQX or Webpack run on more platforms?
EMQX runs on Linux, Self-hosted, Web, macOS. Webpack runs on API, Web.
Can I use EMQX for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is EMQX best used for?
EMQX is most often used for a connected vehicle platform needing millions of persistent mqtt sessions with quic for handover across mobile networks, an industrial operator routing sensor telemetry straight into timescaledb or kafka without writing a consumer service, an iot product team that has outgrown a single mosquitto instance and needs clustering and shared subscriptions, a smart building deployment mixing mqtt, coap and lwm2m devices on one broker. Of those, a connected vehicle platform needing millions of persistent mqtt sessions with quic for handover across mobile networks and an industrial operator routing sensor telemetry straight into timescaledb or kafka without writing a consumer service are not what Webpack is typically brought in for.
What can EMQX do that Webpack cannot?
EMQX covers Erlang clustering, MQTT 5.0 and QUIC, Rule engine, Data integration sinks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Webpack: Is Webpack free?

Yes. Webpack is completely free and open source. It is maintained by the OpenJS Foundation and funded through sponsorships and donations.

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.

Webpack: What can Webpack bundle?

Webpack can bundle JavaScript modules along with static assets including PNG, CSS, JPG, SASS, HBS files, and more, creating single or multiple chunks for browser usage.

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.

Webpack: Does Webpack require configuration?

Webpack supports both zero-config and custom configuration approaches. For simple projects, no configuration is needed, but complex builds benefit from webpack.config.js customization.

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.

Webpack: What is the 2026 roadmap for Webpack?

Webpack's 2026 roadmap includes native CSS module support, universal target compilation for multiple environments, lazy barrel optimization, and advancement toward version 6.

Source
Webpack: How does Webpack handle code splitting?

Webpack can create multiple chunks from a single entry point that are asynchronously loaded at runtime, reducing initial page load time by deferring non-critical code.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on EMQX

More on Webpack

Keep looking

Other head to heads