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Head-to-head · Message Broker Software

RabbitMQ vs HiveMQ MQTT Broker

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score RabbitMQ #1 in Message Broker Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 1 features Visit RabbitMQ
HiveMQ MQTT Broker #13 in Message Broker Software 8.0/10 Free plan · 15-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 1 features Visit HiveMQ

RabbitMQ leads on 0 checks, HiveMQ MQTT Broker on 1, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRabbitMQ · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly HiveMQ MQTT Broker

RabbitMQ scores higher on our rubric for message broker software: 9.4 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #13.

HiveMQ MQTT Broker leads on maximum message size: 256 MB versus 16 MB.

RabbitMQ is the better fit for general-purpose open-source messaging. HiveMQ MQTT Broker is the better fit for managed MQTT at scale.

  • RabbitMQ fits best

    General-purpose open-source messaging

  • HiveMQ MQTT Broker fits best

    Managed MQTT at scale

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Side by side

Feature RabbitMQ 9.4/10 Visit ↗ HiveMQ MQTT Broker 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.0
Ranking #1 in Message Broker Software #13 in Message Broker Software
Best for General-purpose open-source messaging Managed MQTT at scale
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $299/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 15 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, Linux
Support Community, Docs, Email · 24/7 Community, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features RabbitMQ 1/1 · HiveMQ MQTT Broker 1/1
Dead-letter queues ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Delivery guarantees Configurable Configurable
Ordering guarantees Per_queue Not checked yet
Maximum message size 16 MB 256 MB (best)
Supported protocols AMQP 0-9-1, AMQP 1.0, MQTT, STOMP, RabbitMQ Streams, HTTP, WebSocket MQTT 3.1, MQTT 3.1.1, MQTT 5, TCP, TLS, WebSocket
Our review
Pros
  • Supports queues, exchanges, routing, acknowledgements, and dead-lettering
  • Offers quorum queues, federation, shovels, and RabbitMQ Streams
  • Supports AMQP, MQTT, STOMP, HTTP, WebSocket, and multiple deployments
  • Supports MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5 with QoS 0, 1, and 2
  • Offers clustering, persistent sessions, queuing, and WebSocket connectivity
  • Connects with Kafka, databases, data lakes, and observability platforms
Cons
  • Commercial Tanzu RabbitMQ support and enterprise features are separate
  • The documented default message-size limit is 16 MB
  • Ordering guarantees apply per queue
  • Lab and Launch limit deployments to one broker
  • Serverless uses a shared MQTT broker
  • Run and Launch paid plans start at $499 and $299 monthly
Our verdict

RabbitMQ is an open-source messaging and streaming broker for distributed applications, microservices, real-time data systems, and IoT workloads. It is suited to teams that need general-purpose message queues, exchanges, routing,…

Read the review →

HiveMQ MQTT Broker is an enterprise messaging broker for connecting devices, applications, and enterprise systems through MQTT. It is aimed at industrial IoT, connected products, automotive, logistics, and other workloads that require…

Read the review →
  1. RabbitMQMessage Broker Software 9.4Free plan
  2. HiveMQ MQTT BrokerMessage Broker Software 8.0Free plan · 15-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • RabbitMQ — where it wins

    • Supports queues, exchanges, routing, acknowledgements, and dead-lettering
    • Offers quorum queues, federation, shovels, and RabbitMQ Streams
    • Supports AMQP, MQTT, STOMP, HTTP, WebSocket, and multiple deployments

    Where it doesn't

    • Commercial Tanzu RabbitMQ support and enterprise features are separate
    • The documented default message-size limit is 16 MB
    • Ordering guarantees apply per queue

  • HiveMQ MQTT Broker — where it wins

    • Supports MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5 with QoS 0, 1, and 2
    • Offers clustering, persistent sessions, queuing, and WebSocket connectivity
    • Connects with Kafka, databases, data lakes, and observability platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • Lab and Launch limit deployments to one broker
    • Serverless uses a shared MQTT broker
    • Run and Launch paid plans start at $499 and $299 monthly
  • RabbitMQ9.4/10 · Free plan

    A broad, open-source broker for queues, routing, streaming, and hybrid deployments.

    Visit RabbitMQFull verdict →
  • HiveMQ MQTT Broker8.0/10 · Free plan · 15-day trial

    A flexible MQTT broker for teams managing connected devices and high-volume messaging.

    Visit HiveMQFull verdict →

RabbitMQ vs HiveMQ MQTT Broker: questions

Which is better for message broker software, RabbitMQ or HiveMQ MQTT Broker?

RabbitMQ scores higher on our rubric for message broker software: 9.4 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #13.

How do RabbitMQ and HiveMQ MQTT Broker compare?

Of the 3 checks we put side by side, RabbitMQ leads on none, HiveMQ MQTT Broker on 1, and 2 are level. Maximum message size: 256 MB on HiveMQ MQTT Broker vs 16 MB.

Do RabbitMQ and HiveMQ MQTT Broker have a free plan?

RabbitMQ: Yes. HiveMQ MQTT Broker: Yes.

More comparisons

All message broker software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update