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Networking · head to head

HiveMQ vs Losant

HiveMQ logo

HiveMQ

Networking

Enterprise MQTT broker for industrial IoT with a published self-managed price list

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Losant logo

Losant

Smart Home

Cloud-based IoT platform with visualization and workflow automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: HiveMQ the Community Edition lacks clustering, persistence extensions, the control centre and all enterprise bridges, so a prototype built on it does not become production by buying support.; Losant no public pricing available; customizable pricing model requires sales contact before cost clarity
  • They diverge on capability: HiveMQ covers MQTT 5 and 3.1.1, Losant covers Device Connectivity.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HiveMQ and Losant actually diverge.

Attributes where HiveMQ and Losant differ
AttributeHiveMQLosant
Pricing modelPer month by connections and throughputsubscription
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, WebCloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration
CategoryNetworkingSmart Home
FoundedUnknown2014

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 HiveMQ

  • MQTT 5 and 3.1.1
  • Native clustering
  • Data Hub
  • Extension framework
  • Enterprise bridges
  • Control centre

Only in Losant

  • Device Connectivity
  • Data Visualization
  • Workflow Engine
  • REST API
  • Mobile app
  • Dashboard builder
  • Alert system
  • Data export

What people use each for

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

HiveMQ

  • A connected vehicle fleet where devices drop off the network for hours and sessions must survivenot Losant
  • An industrial plant bridging MQTT telemetry into Kafka without writing and operating the bridgenot Losant
  • A utility that needs message-level schema validation so one faulty firmware release cannot corrupt the data lakenot Losant
  • An IoT project that needs a self-managed broker price for a budget submission without entering a sales processnot Losant

Losant

  • Enterprise IoT platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment optionsnot HiveMQ
  • Industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needsnot HiveMQ
  • Businesses seeking personalized pricing based on scale and specific use casesnot HiveMQ

Where each one falls short

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

HiveMQ

  • The Community Edition lacks clustering, persistence extensions, the control centre and all enterprise bridges, so a prototype built on it does not become production by buying support.
  • The entry commercial tiers cap at ten thousand connections, and device fleets grow, so the step to Enterprise capacity pricing arrives sooner than most projects plan for.
  • It is a JVM application, so memory tuning and garbage collection behaviour become the operator’s problem at high connection counts, unlike the C-based brokers in this space.
  • Extensions are written in Java against HiveMQ’s SPI, which means custom authentication logic is locked to the platform and cannot move to another broker.
  • For simple use cases it is substantially heavier and more expensive than Mosquitto or EMQX, and small deployments frequently pay enterprise prices for clustering they never use.

Losant

  • No public pricing available; customizable pricing model requires sales contact before cost clarity
  • Customers must fill out survey form before sales team provides any pricing details
  • Unable to estimate budget or compare costs against competitors without direct engagement

Pricing, plan by plan

HiveMQ

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence
    • MQTT 3.1.1 and 5 support
    • Single broker, no clustering
  • Launch$299/month
    • Ten thousand connections
    • Five hundred messages per second
    • Single broker deployment
  • Run$499/month
    • Ten thousand connections
    • One thousand messages per second
    • Single broker deployment
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Priced by connections and throughput
    • Multi-broker and multi-site deployments
    • Distributed data intelligence

Losant

Free
  • SandboxFree
    • Limited devices
    • Basic features
    • Community support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Premium support

Which should you pick?

Choose HiveMQ if

  • You need mqtt 5 and 3.1.1.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web.
  • You also want native clustering.
HiveMQ review

Choose Losant if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration.
  • You also want data visualization.
Losant review

Questions people ask

Is HiveMQ or Losant better?
Neither clearly leads. HiveMQ starts at Free and Losant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HiveMQ or Losant?
HiveMQ starts at Free and Losant at Free.
Does HiveMQ or Losant run on more platforms?
HiveMQ runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Web. Losant runs on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration.
Can I use HiveMQ for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is HiveMQ best used for?
HiveMQ is most often used for a connected vehicle fleet where devices drop off the network for hours and sessions must survive, an industrial plant bridging mqtt telemetry into kafka without writing and operating the bridge, a utility that needs message-level schema validation so one faulty firmware release cannot corrupt the data lake, an iot project that needs a self-managed broker price for a budget submission without entering a sales process. Of those, a connected vehicle fleet where devices drop off the network for hours and sessions must survive and an industrial plant bridging mqtt telemetry into kafka without writing and operating the bridge are not what Losant is typically brought in for.
What can HiveMQ do that Losant cannot?
HiveMQ covers MQTT 5 and 3.1.1, Native clustering, Data Hub, Extension framework. Losant covers Device Connectivity, Data Visualization, Workflow Engine, REST API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HiveMQ: Is HiveMQ free?

The Community Edition is Apache 2.0 and free, but it has no clustering and none of the enterprise extensions.

Losant: How does Losant's pricing work?

Losant's pricing is entirely customizable based on business needs. After filling out the inquiry form, a Losant sales team member contacts you with personalized pricing and details tailored to your requirements.

Source
HiveMQ: What does the commercial version cost?

Self-managed Launch is 299 US dollars a month for ten thousand connections; Run is 499 with higher throughput.

Losant: Do you need to contact Losant sales to get a price quote?

Yes, Losant requires prospective customers to submit a form and wait for direct contact from the sales team to discuss pricing. Standard pricing rates are not publicly published.

Source
HiveMQ: Does it support MQTT 5?

Yes, both MQTT 5 and 3.1.1, including shared subscriptions and session expiry intervals.

Losant: What factors determine Losant's custom pricing?

While specific pricing factors aren't disclosed on the public site, customizable pricing typically depends on features, device count, API usage, and deployment requirements. Contact Losant sales to understand how these factors apply to your use case.

Source
HiveMQ: Can it bridge into Kafka?

Yes, via a commercial enterprise extension, not in the Community Edition.

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