Softwr

IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Tasmota vs Arduino Cloud

T

Tasmota

IoT & Smart Home

Open-source firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 based devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

IoT & Smart Home

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Tasmota tasmota only runs on Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C3 chipsets, so devices built on other silicon cannot use it; Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • They diverge on capability: Tasmota covers Local Control, Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Tasmota and Arduino Cloud differ
AttributeTasmotaArduino Cloud
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devicesArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard
Founded20172005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & 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 Tasmota

  • Local Control
  • MQTT Support
  • Web Interface
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant
  • Domoticz
  • OpenHAB
  • Node-RED

Only in Arduino Cloud

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

What people use each for

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

Tasmota

  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based smart plugs and switchesnot Arduino Cloud
  • Controlling smart home devices locally over MQTT or HTTPnot Arduino Cloud
  • Integrating off the shelf Wi-Fi devices with Home Assistant without a cloud accountnot Arduino Cloud

Arduino Cloud

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

Where each one falls short

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

Tasmota

  • Tasmota only runs on Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C3 chipsets, so devices built on other silicon cannot use it
  • Initial installation requires opening the device, bridging GPIO0 to ground during boot and using a 3.3V serial programmer; a 5V programmer damages the chip
  • The ESP chip needs at least 150mA at 3.3V, so an underpowered supply causes flashing and stability failures
  • The Wi-Fi setup access point stays active for only 3 minutes, after which the device must be power cycled to try again
  • The Power Cycle Recovery feature can reset a device to firmware defaults where mains power fluctuates, and the docs advise disabling it in that case

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Tasmota

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • MQTT
    • Web UI

Arduino Cloud

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Tasmota if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devices.
  • You also want mqtt support.
Tasmota review

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

Questions people ask

Is Tasmota or Arduino Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Tasmota starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tasmota or Arduino Cloud?
Tasmota starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free.
Does Tasmota or Arduino Cloud run on more platforms?
Tasmota runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devices. Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
Can I use Tasmota for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Tasmota best used for?
Tasmota is most often used for replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based smart plugs and switches, controlling smart home devices locally over mqtt or http, integrating off the shelf wi-fi devices with home assistant without a cloud account. Of those, replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based smart plugs and switches and controlling smart home devices locally over mqtt or http are not what Arduino Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Tasmota do that Arduino Cloud cannot?
Tasmota covers Local Control, MQTT Support, Web Interface, OTA Updates. Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Tasmota

More on Arduino Cloud

Keep looking

Other head to heads