Aedes

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.5 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Developers embedding MQTT in Node.js applications
• Paid from
  Free
• Deployment model
  Self_hosted
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports MQTT 3.1 and 3.1.1 over TCP, TLS, and WebSockets
  • Includes persistence, offline buffering, clustering, and high availability
  • Pluggable components with MongoDB, Redis, LevelDB, and NeDB integrations

• Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosted deployment and operational responsibility
  • Focused on MQTT messaging rather than a broad protocol portfolio
  • Configuration is needed for delivery guarantees and high availability

Our verdict on Aedes

Aedes is an open-source MQTT broker implemented as a Node.js module. It is intended for developers building embedded, self-hosted MQTT messaging systems and IoT backends. The broker can run on stream servers, inside a Node.js application, or through server and Docker configurations. Its protocol coverage includes MQTT 3.1, MQTT 3.1.1, TCP, TLS, WebSocket, and Bridge Protocol support, giving teams several ways to connect clients and route messages.

The main strength is its combination of broker features and Node.js extensibility. Aedes provides message persistence, offline message buffering, authentication and authorization hooks, clustering, high availability, MQTT bridging, and a programmatic API. Its persistence, emitter, and middleware components are pluggable, while MongoDB, Redis, LevelDB, and NeDB are listed as storage integrations. This makes it suitable for teams that want to shape broker behavior within an application rather than adopt a fixed, separately operated service.

Aedes follows an open-source, self-hosted model, so teams choose and manage their deployment configuration. Delivery guarantees are configurable, and clustering and high availability are available when the surrounding architecture is designed to support them. That flexibility will appeal to Node.js developers who need embedded MQTT capabilities, custom hooks, and selectable persistence options. Teams looking for a managed broker experience or a broader messaging platform should consider alternatives with those operating models or wider protocol coverage.

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Aedes pricing

Aedes fact sheet

Aedes integrations

Aedes lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• MongoDB
• Redis
• LevelDB
• NeDB

Alternatives to Aedes

• RabbitMQA broad, open-source broker for queues, routing, streaming, and hybrid deployments.9.4
• Solace PubSub+ Event BrokerA broad hybrid event broker for teams connecting applications, services and devices.9.2
• Google Cloud Pub/SubA managed cloud pub/sub service with strong delivery controls and usage-based pricing.9.1

See all Aedes alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Aedes is listed in our Message Broker Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update