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Mendix vs Solace PubSub+

Mendix logo

Mendix

No-Code

Siemens-owned low-code platform priced by app count, with cloud infrastructure billed separately

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit MendixFull review
Solace PubSub+ logo

Solace PubSub+

Databases

Multi-protocol event broker sold as software, cloud service or a hardware appliance

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Solace PubSub+Full review

The short version

  • Both are free.
  • Only Mendix lists visual app and process modelling; only Solace PubSub+ lists dynamic message routing.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mendix and Solace PubSub+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Mendix and Solace PubSub+ differ
AttributeMendixSolace PubSub+
Pricing modelPer application tier (One App vs Unlimited Apps), cloud infrastructure billed separatelyQuote
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Self-hosted, Web, Hardware appliance
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

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 Mendix

  • Visual app and process modelling
  • Free tier
  • Multi-cloud deployment
  • AI-assisted development
  • Native mobile builder
  • Marketplace connectors

Only in Solace PubSub+

  • Multi-protocol broker
  • Dynamic message routing
  • Hardware appliance
  • Event Portal
  • Guaranteed delivery
  • Mission Control
  • Topic hierarchies and wildcards
  • Kafka and MQ bridging

What people use each for

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

Mendix

  • A Siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystemnot Solace PubSub+
  • A company building exactly one production app that wants the lower One App tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not neednot Solace PubSub+
  • An enterprise standardising on Mendix across many departments where the Unlimited Apps tier amortises wellnot Solace PubSub+
  • A team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tiernot Solace PubSub+

Solace PubSub+

  • A bank building an event mesh across regions where a Java JMS application and an MQTT mobile client must share the same topic spacenot Mendix
  • An exchange or trading platform with a latency budget that needs the hardware appliance rather than a software brokernot Mendix
  • An airline distributing operational events to ground systems, aircraft and partner APIs over different protocolsnot Mendix
  • A manufacturer bridging factory MQTT telemetry into an enterprise Kafka estate without writing translation servicesnot Mendix

Where each one falls short

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

Mendix

  • The platform fee explicitly excludes compute and infrastructure costs, so the real all-in bill is the subscription plus a separate, less predictable cloud hosting charge
  • The jump from a free or One App tier to Unlimited Apps is a large discrete price step (roughly 918 to 2,295 euros a month at published starting rates), not a gradual scale-up, which punishes a team that grows from one app to two
  • Being a Siemens business unit means Mendix roadmap priorities can be shaped by Siemens' broader industrial software strategy rather than purely by low-code market demand
  • Deployment flexibility across Mendix Cloud, Azure, Kubernetes and SAP BTP is a strength on paper but means the actual infrastructure cost and complexity vary significantly by choice, complicating like-for-like vendor comparisons
  • Premium-tier features and enterprise governance capabilities are quote-only, so a buyer cannot fully compare Mendix's top tier against OutSystems or Appian without entering a sales process

Solace PubSub+

  • No pricing is published at any tier, so evaluation requires a sales engagement before you can even judge whether it is in budget, and broker tier sizing determines cost in ways buyers frequently get wrong
  • The free Standard edition has hard capacity and support limits, which makes it useful for development but means any real deployment triggers a commercial negotiation
  • The proprietary SMF protocol gives the best performance and feature coverage, so teams that lean on it acquire real switching costs even though open protocols are supported
  • Operating a self-managed high availability broker pair with disaster recovery is a specialist task, and Solace expertise is scarce in the hiring market compared with Kafka skills
  • Event Portal and Mission Control are licensed as part of platform packages, so the governance tooling that makes an event mesh manageable is not simply included with the broker

Pricing, plan by plan

Mendix

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited users on one deployment environment
    • No commitment or credit card required
    • Suitable for evaluation and small-scale use
  • Standard, One AppOn request
    • Licenses a single application in production
    • Cloud deployment and standard support options
    • Compute and infrastructure costs billed separately
  • Standard, Unlimited AppsOn request
    • Licenses unlimited applications under one subscription
    • Per-user cost declines as user volume grows
    • Discounted external (B2B/B2C) user rates available
  • PremiumOn request
    • Custom quote
    • Enterprise-grade governance and 24/7 support
    • Advanced deployment and compliance options

Solace PubSub+

Free
  • Software Event Broker StandardFree
    • Free for production within capacity limits
    • Single node, capped connections and queues
    • No vendor support
  • Solace CloudOn request
    • Managed brokers in tiers from ENT-250 to ENT-100K
    • Foundation, Accelerate and Scale platform packages
    • Fixed subscription or annual consumption drawdown
  • Software Enterprise self-managedOn request
    • Deploy in your own Kubernetes, VMs or data centre
    • High availability and disaster recovery
    • Support with SLA
  • Hardware applianceOn request
    • Purpose-built appliance with FPGA message offload
    • Deterministic low latency
    • Sold with support contract

Which should you pick?

Choose Mendix if

  • You need visual app and process modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want free tier.
Mendix review

Choose Solace PubSub+ if

  • You need multi-protocol broker.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Hardware appliance.
  • You also want dynamic message routing.
Solace PubSub+ review

Questions people ask

Is Mendix or Solace PubSub+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Mendix starts at Free and Solace PubSub+ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mendix or Solace PubSub+?
Mendix starts at Free and Solace PubSub+ at Free.
Does Mendix or Solace PubSub+ run on more platforms?
Mendix runs on Web, iOS, Android. Solace PubSub+ runs on Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Hardware appliance.
Can I use Mendix for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Mendix best used for?
Mendix is most often used for a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem, a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need, an enterprise standardising on mendix across many departments where the unlimited apps tier amortises well, a team wanting to evaluate low-code at zero cost before committing to a paid production tier. Of those, a siemens industrial software customer extending into application development on a platform already inside its vendor ecosystem and a company building exactly one production app that wants the lower one app tier rather than paying for unlimited apps it does not need are not what Solace PubSub+ is typically brought in for.
What can Mendix do that Solace PubSub+ cannot?
Mendix covers Visual app and process modelling, Free tier, Multi-cloud deployment, AI-assisted development. Solace PubSub+ covers Multi-protocol broker, Dynamic message routing, Hardware appliance, Event Portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mendix: What is the difference between One App and Unlimited Apps?

One App licenses a single application in production; Unlimited Apps covers any number of apps under one subscription, at a materially higher starting price.

Solace PubSub+: Is there a free version of Solace?

Yes, the Standard edition of the software event broker is free for production within capacity limits, with no vendor support.

Mendix: Does the licence include hosting?

No. Mendix states explicitly that compute and infrastructure resources are billed separately from the platform licence, regardless of deployment target.

Solace PubSub+: Does Solace publish prices?

No. Cloud, software and appliance are all quoted, based on broker tier from ENT-250 to ENT-100K and licensing model.

Mendix: Who owns Mendix?

Siemens, which acquired Mendix in 2018 and runs it as part of its industrial software portfolio.

Solace PubSub+: Why buy an appliance in 2026?

Deterministic low latency with message processing offloaded to hardware, which matters in capital markets and little elsewhere.

Solace PubSub+: Can it replace Kafka?

Not for log retention and stream reprocessing. It is stronger at multi-protocol routing and guaranteed delivery, and the two are often bridged.

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