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Smart Home · head to head

Losant vs MQTT

Losant logo

Losant

Smart Home

Cloud-based IoT platform with visualization and workflow automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MQTT logo

MQTT

Smart Home

Lightweight messaging protocol for IoT devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Losant no public pricing available; customizable pricing model requires sales contact before cost clarity; MQTT mQTT is an open-source protocol standard with no commercial pricing; not a commercial product
  • They diverge on capability: Losant covers Device Connectivity, MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Losant and MQTT actually diverge.

Attributes where Losant and MQTT differ
AttributeLosantMQTT
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsCloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integrationAny platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing
Founded20141999

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

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 Losant

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

Only in MQTT

  • Publish-Subscribe
  • Lightweight
  • QoS Levels
  • Retained Messages
  • IoT platforms
  • Home automation
  • Cloud services
  • Edge devices

Both cover

  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

Losant

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

MQTT

  • IoT messagingnot Losant
  • Sensor datanot Losant
  • Real-time updatesnot Losant
  • Device telemetrynot Losant

Where each one falls short

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

MQTT

  • MQTT is an open-source protocol standard with no commercial pricing; not a commercial product

Pricing, plan by plan

Losant

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

MQTT

Free
  • Open ProtocolFree
    • Publish-subscribe
    • Lightweight
    • QoS levels

Which should you pick?

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

Choose MQTT if

  • You need publish-subscribe.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing.
  • You also want lightweight.
MQTT review

Questions people ask

Is Losant or MQTT better?
Neither clearly leads. Losant starts at Free and MQTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Losant or MQTT?
Losant starts at Free and MQTT at Free.
Does Losant or MQTT run on more platforms?
Losant runs on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration. MQTT runs on Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing.
Can I use Losant for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Losant best used for?
Losant is most often used for enterprise iot platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment options, industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needs, businesses seeking personalized pricing based on scale and specific use cases. Of those, enterprise iot platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment options and industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needs are not what MQTT is typically brought in for.
What can Losant do that MQTT cannot?
Losant covers Device Connectivity, Data Visualization, Workflow Engine, REST API. MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe, Lightweight, QoS Levels, Retained Messages. Both handle Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
MQTT: Does MQTT have a commercial license cost?

MQTT is an open-source communication protocol and standard. No pricing is published because MQTT itself is not a commercial product for sale.

Source
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
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
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