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Smart Home · head to head

Arduino Cloud vs Nest

Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

Smart Home

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nest logo

Nest

Smart Home

Google's smart home hardware and software ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Arduino Cloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; Nest pricing not published in support documentation; individual product prices vary significantly
  • They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Nest covers Learning Thermostat.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Nest actually diverge.

Attributes where Arduino Cloud and Nest differ
AttributeArduino CloudNest
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboardHardware, Mobile, Web
Founded20052010

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 Arduino Cloud

  • Device Connectivity
  • Cloud Storage
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Security
  • Arduino IDE
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Integration services

Only in Nest

  • Learning Thermostat
  • HD Cameras
  • Smart Alerts
  • Energy Savings
  • Google Home
  • Google Assistant
  • Third-party apps
  • Works with Nest

What people use each for

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

Arduino Cloud

  • Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Nest
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Nest
  • Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Nest
  • Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Nest
  • Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Nest

Nest

  • Households already invested in Google Home ecosystem seeking integrated smart thermostat, camera, and door locknot Arduino Cloud
  • Users wanting unified control of temperature, security, and entertainment across multiple devicesnot Arduino Cloud
  • Organisations deploying Google-based smart building solutions with Nest hardwarenot Arduino Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

Arduino Cloud

  • The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
  • The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
  • Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
  • Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise

Nest

  • Pricing not published in support documentation; individual product prices vary significantly
  • All Nest products require Google Home ecosystem integration for full functionality
  • Smart home devices operate only within the Google Nest ecosystem; limited third-party interoperability
  • Support and product documentation dispersed across Google support rather than centralised Nest site

Pricing, plan by plan

Arduino Cloud

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 2 devices
    • Basic features
    • Cloud access
  • Maker Plus$7/month
    • Up to 10 devices
    • Advanced features
    • Better storage

Nest

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Arduino Cloud if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Arduino Cloud review

Choose Nest if

  • You need learning thermostat.
  • You work on Hardware, Mobile, Web.
  • You also want hd cameras.
Nest review

Questions people ask

Is Arduino Cloud or Nest better?
Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Nest at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Nest?
Arduino Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Arduino Cloud and On request for Nest.
Does Arduino Cloud or Nest run on more platforms?
Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Nest runs on Hardware, Mobile, Web.
Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
Yes. Arduino Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nest starts at On request.
What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what Nest is typically brought in for.
What can Arduino Cloud do that Nest cannot?
Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Nest covers Learning Thermostat, HD Cameras, Smart Alerts, Energy Savings.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nest: Where can I find Google Nest pricing?

Google Nest pricing is available on the Google Store website (store.google.com), but the main category page requires first selecting your region and language. Specific product prices appear on individual product pages after region selection.

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