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Smart Home · head to head

Crestron vs MQTT

Crestron logo

Crestron

Smart Home

Enterprise-grade control and automation technology

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MQTT logo

MQTT

Smart Home

Lightweight messaging protocol for IoT devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MQTT has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Crestron no published pricing or pricing tiers; no specific product prices disclosed.; MQTT mQTT is an open-source protocol standard with no commercial pricing; not a commercial product
  • They diverge on capability: Crestron covers Enterprise Control, MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Crestron and MQTT actually diverge.

Attributes where Crestron and MQTT differ
AttributeCrestronMQTT
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsControl systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screensAny platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing
Founded19711999

Identical on both: 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 Crestron

  • Enterprise Control
  • Powerful Programming
  • Extensive Integration
  • Reliability
  • 5000+ devices
  • Custom protocols
  • Web/Mobile apps
  • Touch panels

Only in MQTT

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

What people use each for

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

Crestron

  • Conference room automationnot MQTT
  • Building managementnot MQTT
  • Campus-wide controlnot MQTT
  • Corporate AVnot MQTT

MQTT

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

Where each one falls short

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

Crestron

  • No published pricing or pricing tiers; no specific product prices disclosed.
  • The pricing page only announces a 10% global price increase effective March 1, 2022, without listing actual prices.

MQTT

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Crestron

On request
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Programming tools
    • Device control
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$10000/month
    • Large deployments
    • Custom solutions
    • Enterprise support

MQTT

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Crestron if

  • You need enterprise control.
  • You work on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens.
  • You also want powerful programming.
Crestron 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 Crestron or MQTT better?
Neither clearly leads. Crestron starts at On request and MQTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Crestron or MQTT?
MQTT has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Crestron and Free for MQTT.
Does Crestron or MQTT run on more platforms?
Crestron runs on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens. MQTT runs on Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing.
Can I use MQTT for free?
Yes. MQTT has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Crestron starts at On request.
What is Crestron best used for?
Crestron is most often used for conference room automation, building management, campus-wide control, corporate av. Of those, conference room automation and building management are not what MQTT is typically brought in for.
What can Crestron do that MQTT cannot?
Crestron covers Enterprise Control, Powerful Programming, Extensive Integration, Reliability. MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe, Lightweight, QoS Levels, Retained Messages.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Crestron: How much do Crestron products cost?

Crestron does not publish specific product pricing or pricing tiers on their website. Customers must contact Crestron directly for pricing information on AV control systems and related products.

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
Crestron: What was Crestron's most recent price change?

Crestron implemented a 10% global price increase effective March 1, 2022 on all products and services. Orders placed before March 1, 2022 that shipped by December 31, 2022 were honored at prior pricing. No retroactive increases applied to existing orders.

Source
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