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Head-to-head · MQTT Broker Software

AWS IoT Core vs Eclipse Amlen

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score AWS IoT Core #1 in MQTT Broker Software 9.4/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit AWS IoT Core
Eclipse Amlen #4 in MQTT Broker Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Eclipse Amlen

AWS IoT Core leads on 0 checks, Eclipse Amlen on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAWS IoT Core · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly Eclipse Amlen
  • Most featuresAWS IoT Core · 1 of 2

AWS IoT Core scores higher on our rubric for mqtt broker software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Eclipse Amlen offers free plan; AWS IoT Core doesn't.

AWS IoT Core is the better fit for AWS-centric managed IoT deployments. Eclipse Amlen is the better fit for teams needing MQTT alongside JMS messaging.

  • AWS IoT Core fits best

    AWS-centric managed IoT deployments

  • Eclipse Amlen fits best

    Teams needing MQTT alongside JMS messaging

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Side by side

Feature AWS IoT Core 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Eclipse Amlen 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in MQTT Broker Software #4 in MQTT Broker Software
Best for AWS-centric managed IoT deployments Teams needing MQTT alongside JMS messaging
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Not checked yet Free plan
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, Linux
Integrations 5 integrations 3 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AWS IoT Core 1/2 · Eclipse Amlen 0/2
Retained messages ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Clustering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model Managed Not checked yet
MQTT versions 3.1.1, 5.0 Not checked yet
Connection limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Authentication methods X.509 client certificates, AWS Signature Version 4, custom authorizers Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports MQTT 3.1.1 and MQTT 5, including retained messages and persistent sessions
  • Routes filtered or transformed IoT messages to AWS services
  • Offers X.509, SigV4, and custom-authorizer authentication
  • Supports MQTT versions 3 through 5 over TCP/IP and WebSockets
  • Offers at-most-once, at-least-once, and exactly-once delivery
  • Includes JMS support, custom protocol plug-ins, and REST administration
Cons
  • Usage-based pricing varies by component and region
  • Designed for managed cloud deployment rather than self-hosting
  • Integrations center on AWS services
  • Requires teams to deploy and operate the broker themselves
  • Its scope extends beyond MQTT into JMS and point-to-point messaging
  • Support is centered on community resources and documentation
Our verdict

AWS IoT Core is a managed cloud service for connecting internet-connected devices to AWS and supporting device-to-cloud and cloud-to-device communication. It suits teams building connected-device fleets across industrial, consumer, and…

Read the review →

Eclipse Amlen is an open-source message broker for IoT, mobile, and web workloads. It suits teams that want to host their own messaging service and need MQTT alongside other messaging approaches. MQTT versions 3 through 5 run over TCP/IP…

Read the review →
  1. AWS IoT CoreMQTT Broker Software 9.4Paid
  2. Eclipse AmlenMQTT Broker Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • AWS IoT Core — where it wins

    • Supports MQTT 3.1.1 and MQTT 5, including retained messages and persistent sessions
    • Routes filtered or transformed IoT messages to AWS services
    • Offers X.509, SigV4, and custom-authorizer authentication

    Where it doesn't

    • Usage-based pricing varies by component and region
    • Designed for managed cloud deployment rather than self-hosting
    • Integrations center on AWS services

  • Eclipse Amlen — where it wins

    • Supports MQTT versions 3 through 5 over TCP/IP and WebSockets
    • Offers at-most-once, at-least-once, and exactly-once delivery
    • Includes JMS support, custom protocol plug-ins, and REST administration

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires teams to deploy and operate the broker themselves
    • Its scope extends beyond MQTT into JMS and point-to-point messaging
    • Support is centered on community resources and documentation

More comparisons

All MQTT broker software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update