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Smart Home · head to head

Hubitat Elevation vs MQTT

Hubitat Elevation logo

Hubitat Elevation

Smart Home

Local home automation hub for advanced users

From
$189.95/one-time
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: Hubitat Elevation limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms; MQTT mQTT is an open-source protocol standard with no commercial pricing; not a commercial product
  • They diverge on capability: Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hubitat Elevation and MQTT actually diverge.

Attributes where Hubitat Elevation and MQTT differ
AttributeHubitat ElevationMQTT
Starting price$189.95/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLocal hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android)Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing
Founded20161999

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 Hubitat Elevation

  • Local Processing
  • Rule Machine
  • Z-Wave Plus
  • Zigbee 3.0
  • Dashboard
  • Voice assistants
  • Custom apps
  • MQTT

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.

Hubitat Elevation

  • Advanced automationnot MQTT
  • Local controlnot MQTT
  • Complex rulesnot MQTT
  • Multi-protocol integrationnot MQTT

MQTT

  • IoT messagingnot Hubitat Elevation
  • Sensor datanot Hubitat Elevation
  • Real-time updatesnot Hubitat Elevation
  • Device telemetrynot Hubitat Elevation

Where each one falls short

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

Hubitat Elevation

  • Limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
  • Requires purchase of hub hardware; no free tier

MQTT

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Hubitat Elevation

$189.95/one-time
  • Hub Hardware$189.95/one-time
    • Z-Wave Plus 800 and Zigbee 3.0
    • Matter 1.5 support
    • Local automation engine
  • Cloud Backup (optional)$30/year
    • Cloud backup of automations
    • Automatic backups
  • Remote Admin (optional)$36/year
    • Remote access via cloud
    • Mobile app remote control

MQTT

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Hubitat Elevation if

  • You need local processing.
  • You work on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
  • You also want rule machine.
Hubitat Elevation 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 Hubitat Elevation or MQTT better?
Neither clearly leads. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time and MQTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hubitat Elevation or MQTT?
MQTT has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $189.95/one-time for Hubitat Elevation and Free for MQTT.
Does Hubitat Elevation or MQTT run on more platforms?
Hubitat Elevation runs on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android). 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. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time.
What is Hubitat Elevation best used for?
Hubitat Elevation is most often used for advanced automation, local control, complex rules, multi-protocol integration. Of those, advanced automation and local control are not what MQTT is typically brought in for.
What can Hubitat Elevation do that MQTT cannot?
Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Rule Machine, Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee 3.0. MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe, Lightweight, QoS Levels, Retained Messages.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat require a cloud connection or subscription?

No. All automations and device control run locally without cloud dependency. Hubitat does not require subscriptions for core features; optional cloud backup ($30/year) and remote admin ($36/year) are available.

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
Hubitat Elevation: How many devices can Hubitat control?

The Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 supports 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands through Zigbee, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit?

Yes. Hubitat integrates with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and also supports Apple HomeKit via direct integration for HomeKit devices.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: What is the difference between the C-7 and C-8 models?

The C-8 ($189.95) features Z-Wave Plus 800, Zigbee 3.0, and expanded memory for handling complex automation. The C-7 is an older model with fewer protocol options and lower performance.

Source
Hubitat Elevation: Can I access my hub remotely?

Yes. Local area network (LAN) access is always available. Remote access via the Hubitat mobile app and cloud services requires an optional subscription ($36/year for remote admin).

Source
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