Softwr

Smart Home · head to head

Shelly vs ThingWorx

Shelly logo

Shelly

Smart Home

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ThingWorx logo

ThingWorx

Smart Home

Enterprise IoT platform by PTC for industrial and smart solutions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shelly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup; ThingWorx thingWorx is now part of Velotic, a separate industrial software company spun out from PTC
  • They diverge on capability: Shelly covers Local Control, ThingWorx covers Rapid App Development.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shelly and ThingWorx actually diverge.

Attributes where Shelly and ThingWorx differ
AttributeShellyThingWorx
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local networkCloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing
Founded20161985

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 Shelly

  • Local Control
  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Home Assistant
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Only in ThingWorx

  • Rapid App Development
  • Real-Time Analytics
  • Device Connectivity
  • Scalable
  • Industrial protocols
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Third-party systems

What people use each for

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

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot ThingWorx
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot ThingWorx
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot ThingWorx

ThingWorx

  • Connecting industrial equipment and machines to an IIoT platformnot Shelly
  • Building operator dashboards and digital work instructions for manufacturingnot Shelly
  • Remote monitoring and service of connected productsnot Shelly

Where each one falls short

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

Shelly

  • Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

ThingWorx

  • ThingWorx is now part of Velotic, a separate industrial software company spun out from PTC
  • No pricing is published; the product page routes to Contact Us with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
  • The platform is sold as an industrial IIoT suite to enterprises rather than being self-serve

Pricing, plan by plan

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

ThingWorx

On request
  • Professional$5000/month
    • App development
    • Analytics
    • Connectivity
  • Enterprise$25000/month
    • Advanced features
    • 24/7 support
    • Custom solutions

Which should you pick?

Choose Shelly if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want open api.
Shelly review

Choose ThingWorx if

  • You need rapid app development.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing.
  • You also want real-time analytics.
ThingWorx review

Questions people ask

Is Shelly or ThingWorx better?
Neither clearly leads. Shelly starts at Free and ThingWorx at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shelly or ThingWorx?
Shelly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shelly and On request for ThingWorx.
Does Shelly or ThingWorx run on more platforms?
Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network. ThingWorx runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing.
Can I use Shelly for free?
Yes. Shelly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ThingWorx starts at On request.
What is Shelly best used for?
Shelly is most often used for smart home automation and control, energy monitoring and management, wifi/bluetooth/matter device integration. Of those, smart home automation and control and energy monitoring and management are not what ThingWorx is typically brought in for.
What can Shelly do that ThingWorx cannot?
Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. ThingWorx covers Rapid App Development, Real-Time Analytics, Device Connectivity, Scalable.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shelly: Does Shelly offer a free tier or paid premium service?

Shelly offers a free service with an option to upgrade. The site mentions Go Premium in the Shelly app, which provides more automation and control capabilities. A Shelly Cloud Premium Voucher is available for purchase.

Source
Shelly: What is the difference between free Shelly and Shelly Cloud Premium?

The free version provides basic functionality, while Premium unlocks more automation options and additional control features. Specific pricing for Premium is not disclosed on the homepage.

Source
Shelly: Can I purchase Shelly Cloud Premium directly?

Yes. Shelly Cloud Premium Vouchers are available for purchase through the Shelly shop. Pricing details are available on the product shop page.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Shelly

More on ThingWorx

Keep looking

Other head to heads