IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Thread vs Blynk
Thread
IoT & Smart Home
IPv6-based mesh networking for smart home devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Blynk
IoT & Smart Home
IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Thread thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier; Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
- They diverge on capability: Thread covers IPv6 Mesh, Blynk covers Mobile App Builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Thread and Blynk actually diverge.
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 Thread
- IPv6 Mesh
- Self-Healing
- Secure
- Low Power
- HomeKit
- Matter
- Smart devices
- Smart home hubs
Only in Blynk
- Mobile App Builder
- No-Code Interface
- Real-Time Control
- Cloud Storage
- REST API
- WebHooks
- Mobile app
- Cloud platform
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Thread
- Low power IPv6 mesh networking for smart home and smart building devicesnot Blynk
- Interoperable device networking underneath Matternot Blynk
- Certifying wireless products for network interoperabilitynot Blynk
Blynk
- Connecting IoT hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile appnot Thread
- Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Thread
- Automations triggered by device datanot Thread
- White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Thread
- Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Thread
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Thread
- Thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier
- Certifying a product and using the Thread certification logo requires Thread Group membership
- Free access to the Thread Test Harness is restricted to higher membership levels; lower levels only get the option to purchase it
- Voting in work groups, chairing committees and a board seat are reserved for the paid upper membership levels
- The Implementer level is described as being for white-label or rebranded certified products only
- Academic membership is open only to organizations with fewer than 50 employees
Blynk
- The free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
- Data retention is tiered all the way up, reaching 12 months only on Enterprise
- Automations and webhooks are rationed, from 5 scenarios and 1 webhook on free to 100 or more on Production
- Over-the-air update campaigns are capped by tier, at 2 shipments on free and Starter
- Production plans run from $199 to $1,099 a month depending on device count
Pricing, plan by plan
Thread
Free- Open ProtocolFree
- IPv6 mesh
- Secure
- Self-healing
Blynk
Free- FreeFree
- 5 devices
- Basic widgets
- Cloud sync
- Premium$5/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced widgets
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Thread if
- You need ipv6 mesh.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs.
- You also want self-healing.
Choose Blynk if
- You need mobile app builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
- You also want no-code interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Thread or Blynk better?
- Neither clearly leads. Thread starts at Free and Blynk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Thread or Blynk?
- Thread starts at Free and Blynk at Free.
- Does Thread or Blynk run on more platforms?
- Thread runs on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs. Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
- Can I use Thread for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Thread best used for?
- Thread is most often used for low power ipv6 mesh networking for smart home and smart building devices, interoperable device networking underneath matter, certifying wireless products for network interoperability. Of those, low power ipv6 mesh networking for smart home and smart building devices and interoperable device networking underneath matter are not what Blynk is typically brought in for.
- What can Thread do that Blynk cannot?
- Thread covers IPv6 Mesh, Self-Healing, Secure, Low Power. Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, Cloud Storage.