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Automation Integration · head to head

Grouparoo vs VerneMQ

Grouparoo logo

Grouparoo

Automation Integration

The open-source data sync platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VerneMQ logo

VerneMQ

Databases

Erlang MQTT broker whose source is Apache 2.0 but whose official binaries need a paid subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Grouparoo enterprise Cloud tier pricing not disclosed; requires contacting sales; VerneMQ the official binaries and Docker images are not Apache 2.0 but sit under a EULA requiring a yearly commercial subscription, a distinction easy to miss and awkward to discover during a licence audit.
  • They diverge on capability: Grouparoo covers Data syncing, VerneMQ covers Erlang/OTP clustering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grouparoo and VerneMQ actually diverge.

Attributes where Grouparoo and VerneMQ differ
AttributeGrouparooVerneMQ
Pricing modelusage-basedquote
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedLinux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes
CategoryAutomation IntegrationDatabases
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Grouparoo

  • Data syncing
  • Audience building
  • Real-time activation
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Scheduling
  • 100+ integrations

Only in VerneMQ

  • Erlang/OTP clustering
  • MQTT 5.0 support
  • Plugin system
  • Backpressure handling
  • Bridge support
  • Metrics export
  • MQTT over WebSockets
  • Pluggable auth backends

What people use each for

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

Grouparoo

  • Customer data synchronization across platformsnot VerneMQ
  • CDP (Customer Data Platform) integration and data activationnot VerneMQ

VerneMQ

  • An industrial operator that wants an MQTT broker with predictable memory behaviour and no data integration features it will not usenot Grouparoo
  • A team building from source to stay strictly under Apache 2.0 terms with no vendor licence entanglementnot Grouparoo
  • A deployment needing custom authentication logic implemented as a plugin in Lua or over a webhooknot Grouparoo
  • An organisation that wants a broker maintained by a small European company rather than by a vendor that keeps changing licencesnot Grouparoo

Where each one falls short

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

Grouparoo

  • Enterprise Cloud tier pricing not disclosed; requires contacting sales
  • Charges based on synced records, not unique destinations or integration count

VerneMQ

  • The official binaries and Docker images are not Apache 2.0 but sit under a EULA requiring a yearly commercial subscription, a distinction easy to miss and awkward to discover during a licence audit.
  • Octavo Labs is a very small company, so support depth, response times and the bus factor on the codebase are materially thinner than at HiveMQ or EMQ.
  • There is no data integration or rule engine layer, so routing messages into a database means writing and operating your own consumer service.
  • Operating an Erlang cluster requires runtime knowledge that most teams do not have and will use for nothing else in their stack.
  • There is no vendor-managed cloud offering, so every deployment is self-operated with the infrastructure and on-call cost that implies.

Pricing, plan by plan

Grouparoo

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Open-source, self-hosted
    • Optional enterprise UI add-on: $100/month
  • Standard Cloud$150/month
    • 100K records synced/month
    • Usage-based model with tiered pricing
  • Standard Cloud$300/month
    • 300K records synced/month
  • Standard Cloud$600/month
    • 1,000,000 records synced/month

VerneMQ

Free
  • Source buildFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed source from GitHub
    • Full clustering and plugin capability
    • You compile and package it yourself
  • Binary packages and Docker images$undefined/year
    • Covered by the VerneMQ EULA, not Apache 2.0
    • Yearly usage subscription expected for commercial use
    • Official builds and Docker images
  • Commercial support$undefined/year
    • Evaluation, customisation and operations assistance
    • Custom development
    • Long-term maintenance agreements

Which should you pick?

Choose Grouparoo if

  • You need data syncing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want audience building.
Grouparoo review

Choose VerneMQ if

  • You need erlang/otp clustering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes.
  • You also want mqtt 5.0 support.
VerneMQ review

Questions people ask

Is Grouparoo or VerneMQ better?
Neither clearly leads. Grouparoo starts at Free and VerneMQ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grouparoo or VerneMQ?
Grouparoo starts at Free and VerneMQ at Free.
Does Grouparoo or VerneMQ run on more platforms?
Grouparoo runs on Web, Self-hosted. VerneMQ runs on Linux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes.
Can I use Grouparoo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Grouparoo best used for?
Grouparoo is most often used for customer data synchronization across platforms, cdp (customer data platform) integration and data activation. Of those, customer data synchronization across platforms and cdp (customer data platform) integration and data activation are not what VerneMQ is typically brought in for.
What can Grouparoo do that VerneMQ cannot?
Grouparoo covers Data syncing, Audience building, Real-time activation, Data transformation. VerneMQ covers Erlang/OTP clustering, MQTT 5.0 support, Plugin system, Backpressure handling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grouparoo: Does Grouparoo have a free version?

Yes. Grouparoo Community Edition is free and open-source with self-hosted deployment. An optional enterprise UI add-on is available at $100/month.

Source
VerneMQ: Is VerneMQ free?

The source is Apache 2.0 and free. The official binary packages and Docker images are covered by a separate EULA that expects a yearly fee for commercial use.

Grouparoo: How much does Grouparoo Standard Cloud cost?

Grouparoo Standard Cloud uses usage-based pricing: $150/month for 100K records synced, $300/month for 300K records, and $600/month for 1 million records synced monthly.

Source
VerneMQ: Is the project still maintained?

Yes. Octavo Labs AG in Zurich continues to publish 2.x releases, most recently in 2026.

Grouparoo: What does 'synced records' mean in Grouparoo pricing?

Each Record sent to a Destination counts as one synced Record in Grouparoo's usage calculation, regardless of how many destinations that record is sent to. Users can monitor usage through their dashboard.

Source
VerneMQ: Does it have a managed cloud?

No. Every deployment is self-hosted, with commercial support available from Octavo Labs.

Grouparoo: Can I use multiple integrations with Grouparoo?

Yes. All Grouparoo tiers include unlimited integrations. You can connect as many Sources and Destinations as needed without additional fees.

Source
VerneMQ: How does it compare to EMQX?

Narrower in features and without a rule engine, but with a simpler licence story for source builds after EMQX moved to BSL.

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