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Head-to-head · IoT Edge Platforms

Mender vs ThingsBoard

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Mender #3 in IoT Edge Platforms 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Mender
ThingsBoard #7 in IoT Edge Platforms 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit ThingsBoard

Mender leads on 1 check, ThingsBoard on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMender · 8.7/10
  • Lowest starting priceMender · $34/mo
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMender · 2 of 2

Mender scores higher on our rubric for iot edge platforms: 8.7 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

Mender is cheaper to start at $34/mo against $49/mo.

Mender is the better fit for teams needing phased OTA fleet updates. ThingsBoard is the better fit for ioT teams prioritizing telemetry and dashboards.

  • Mender fits best

    Teams needing phased OTA fleet updates

  • ThingsBoard fits best

    IoT teams prioritizing telemetry and dashboards

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Mender 8.7/10 Visit ↗ ThingsBoard 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 7.4
Ranking #3 in IoT Edge Platforms #7 in IoT Edge Platforms
Best for Teams needing phased OTA fleet updates IoT teams prioritizing telemetry and dashboards
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $34/mo (best) $49/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs, Tickets
Compliance SSO/SAML, 2FA 2FA
Integrations 4 integrations 12 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Mender 2/2 · ThingsBoard 0/2
Edge device management ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Fleet update management ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Workload deployment Both Not checked yet
Supported device OS Debian, Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS, Yocto Project, Zephyr OS Not checked yet
Deployment model Both Not checked yet
Managed device limit 50 devices 50 devices
Our review
Pros
  • Supports OS, image, application, and container updates
  • A/B rollback and scheduled, phased, and dynamic deployments
  • Hosted cloud or self-hosted deployment with a free plan
  • Ingests telemetry through MQTT, HTTP, CoAP, and LwM2M
  • Rule Engine supports processing and automation
  • Custom dashboards, widgets, and Trendz analytics
Cons
  • Advanced deployment controls require Enterprise
  • Basic starts at $34 per month; Professional is $291 per month
  • Support channels listed are community and documentation
  • Free plan is limited to 5 devices and 1M data points monthly
  • Prototype supports 50 devices and costs $49 per month
  • Edge workload deployment is less emphasized than data management
Our verdict

Mender is an open-core platform for updating and managing connected devices, aimed at teams building or operating IoT products. It covers OS and full-image updates as well as application and container updates through Update Modules. A web…

Read the review →

ThingsBoard brings device and asset management, telemetry collection, event processing, and dashboards together for IoT teams. It fits developers and organizations that want to connect devices over MQTT, HTTP, CoAP, or LwM2M, then work…

Read the review →
  1. MenderIoT Edge Platforms 8.7Free plan
  2. ThingsBoardIoT Edge Platforms 7.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Mender — where it wins

    • Supports OS, image, application, and container updates
    • A/B rollback and scheduled, phased, and dynamic deployments
    • Hosted cloud or self-hosted deployment with a free plan

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced deployment controls require Enterprise
    • Basic starts at $34 per month; Professional is $291 per month
    • Support channels listed are community and documentation

  • ThingsBoard — where it wins

    • Ingests telemetry through MQTT, HTTP, CoAP, and LwM2M
    • Rule Engine supports processing and automation
    • Custom dashboards, widgets, and Trendz analytics

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan is limited to 5 devices and 1M data points monthly
    • Prototype supports 50 devices and costs $49 per month
    • Edge workload deployment is less emphasized than data management

More comparisons

All IoT edge platforms comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update