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CRN’s 2024 Internet of Things 50 named these ten companies in its software category: AWS, Eigen Innovations, Infogrid, Litmus Automation, Microsoft, Onymos, Pepper, PTC, Radix IoT and Voxel. They were not ranked in a standardized head-to-head test; CRN called them noteworthy vendors in a channel-oriented IoT landscape. Their work ranges from smart buildings and factory data to application development and workplace safety.
This is a historical guide to CRN’s 2024 selections, not a current product recommendation. Descriptions below reflect what CRN reported at the time and do not establish that product names, features, leadership, ownership or availability remain unchanged.
What the 2024 IoT software list covers
CRN’s software selections address different layers and uses of the Internet of Things (IoT). Some provide cloud services or tools for building applications; others connect industrial equipment, analyze machine-vision data, manage buildings, monitor infrastructure or identify workplace risks. The companies therefore are not interchangeable alternatives.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteCRN positioned its Internet of Things 50 as a channel-focused view of vendors across IoT. Its broader landscape also includes hardware, networking and connectivity, security, and industrial solutions. The label “coolest” is CRN’s editorial judgment, not a formal ranking or independently demonstrated assessment.
#1 Best Overall
- Dual-Core Performance Up to 240 MHz: Run sensor processing, wireless communication, automation logic and connected-device tasks on a 32-bit dual-core ESP32 platform designed for responsive embedded and IoT projects
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2: Connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks or use Bluetooth Classic and BLE for wireless sensors, smart devices, remote controls, home automation and other connected projects
- Flexible Power-Saving Modes: ESP32 power-management features support dynamic clock scaling and low-power operating modes, helping developers reduce energy use in compatible sensing, monitoring and connected-device applications, suitable for battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- USB-C Programming with CP2102: Connect through USB-C for power, sketch uploads and serial monitoring, while GPIO, UART, SPI and I2C interfaces support sensors, displays, motor drivers and other modules (USB-C cable not included)
- Over-the-Air Update Support: Configure OTA functionality through a compatible ESP-32 software framework to update deployed firmware over Wi-Fi without reconnecting the board by USB for every revision
The 10 companies CRN selected for IoT software
1. Amazon Web Services (AWS): Cloud services and IoT applications
CRN described AWS as enabling businesses to develop and manage IoT applications. In its 2024 account, it pointed to the then-recent Amazon Bedrock generative AI service and AWS IoT TwinMaker as a possible combination for answering complex questions about manufacturing environments. That example describes a potential use, not a reported performance result.
2. Eigen Innovations: Machine vision for manufacturing
CRN described Canada-based Eigen Innovations’ OneView machine-vision platform as a way for manufacturers to reduce production defects. It also reported a partnership with Ampacet LIAD to integrate Spectro 4.0 color monitoring and management into OneView.
3. Infogrid: Smart-building facilities management
CRN characterized Infogrid as an AI-powered smart-building platform for facilities management, with stated goals of creating healthy, sustainable and profitable spaces. The article reported that Infogrid was expanding after raising $90 million in equity and an additional $30 million in debt facilities the prior year. Those are historical figures reported in the 2024 coverage, not a statement of the company’s current financing or financial position.
Rank #2
- Certified & Future-Ready: Espressif-certified ESP32-WROOM-32E ensures full hardware compatibility and lifetime firmware support. Upgraded 8MB Flash handles IoT data and OTA updates.
- Dual-Core Speed: 240MHz dual-core processor runs Wi-Fi/BLE and sensors 2x faster. 38 GPIO pins (10 RTC) support SPI/I2C/UART for LCDs, motors, and industrial sensors.
- Plug & Play Dev: USB-C driver pre-installed: upload code instantly on Windows/Mac/Linux. Works with Arduino IDE, MicroPython, and Espressif IDF.
- All-Environment Ready: Run Wi-Fi smart switches (Home Assistant) and BLE tracking on one board. Industrial-grade stability (-40°C~85°C) for outdoor/automated systems.
- Advantages: The ESP32 development board offers high performance, low power consumption, and rich wireless connectivity, making it suitable for developers of all levels, especially beginners.
4. Litmus Automation: Industrial data and digital twins
CRN described Litmus Automation as offering a centralized industrial-data platform and expanded digital-twin capabilities, including predictive maintenance. It also mentioned a self-service portal intended to help customers evaluate and deploy the platform.
5. Microsoft: Azure IoT services
CRN described Azure IoT as a set of cloud services for IoT applications. It singled out Azure IoT Operations, which the 2024 article presented as a recently added service for digitizing physical operations and analyzing asset data. Product naming and availability can change, so that period-specific description should not be taken as current service guidance.
6. Onymos: Features for building applications
CRN described Onymos as a features-as-a-service platform offering components such as a communications layer, utility functions, a login system and a geodata service. IoT software development was one use case. CRN also reported the company’s positioning around direct connections to customers’ clouds and source-code licensing; those are claims and positioning attributed to the company as presented in the article, not an independent comparison.
Rank #3
7. Pepper: Connected-device product development
CRN described Pepper’s cloud-based platform-as-a-service as a way to accelerate turnkey IoT products across devices and protocols. Its reported capabilities included firmware and application development, custom services and device connectivity.
8. PTC: Factory connectivity and industrial applications
CRN identified Kepware and ThingWorx as part of PTC’s industrial IoT portfolio. It described Kepware as providing factory connectivity and real-time equipment data, while ThingWorx focused on performance improvement, augmented-reality experiences and repair-time measures.
9. Radix IoT: Infrastructure monitoring
CRN described Radix IoT’s Mango as a cloud-native infrastructure operating system, with use cases in data centers, distributed workspaces and telecommunications. The article said a recent update reduced bandwidth use, improved performance and added event suppression or persistence on restarts. These are reported update details, not independently measured results.
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
10. Voxel: Workplace-safety analytics
CRN described Voxel’s workplace-safety platform as flagging possible facility risks, including missing hard hats and unsafe lifting. The article also reported that the San Francisco company received a $12 million strategic investment toward the end of 2023; that is a historical funding report, not a current financing update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to interpret the market figures CRN cited
CRN’s software-category article cited a Stratview forecast that the IoT software market would grow at a 24.7 percent compound annual growth rate from $346.6 billion in 2022 to $1.6 trillion by 2029. It presented a forecast, not a measured 2029 outcome or a current market-size figure. The article did not establish when Stratview published the original 2022 base estimate.
Recommended Free Tools
CRN’s broader 2024 overview separately cited IDC’s forecast of 10.4 percent compound annual growth in worldwide IoT spending from 2023 to 2027, with spending expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2026. This is also a forecast reported at the time, not a verified current figure. The two estimates concern different measures—IoT software market growth and worldwide IoT spending—so they should not be treated as competing estimates of the same market.
Best Value
- D1 Mini NodeMCU Type-C ESP32 WLAN WiFi Bluetooth IoT Development Board 5V Compatible for Arduino
- Designed with ultra-low power technology, it offers the full range of performance and features of the ESP32 chip. The pin arrangement provides compatibility with the modules developed for the D1 Mini ESP8266 while also offering fast WLAN, enhanced GPIO, Bluetooth functionality, and with its higher performance, a wider range of applications.
- 100% compatible with Arudino IDE, Lua and Micropython, it shows robustness, versatility, and reliability in a wide variety of applications and power scenarios.
- All I/O pins have interrupt, PWM, I2C and one-wire capability, except the pin DO.
- Designed with ultra-low power technology, it offers the full range of performance and features of the ESP32 chip. The pin arrangement provides compatibility with the modules developed for the D1 Mini ESP8266 while also offering fast WLAN, enhanced GPIO, Bluetooth functionality, and with its higher performance, a wider range of applications.
In the software article, CRN attributed this statement to Stratview’s report: “The software solutions market is expected to be the largest in the IoT industry due to the automation of key processes in industries such as critical infrastructure and manufacturing.” The excerpt did not identify an individual speaker.
What to compare if you are evaluating IoT software
The CRN list is a way to find vendors associated with different IoT use cases, not a buyer’s shortlist or a head-to-head evaluation. Before comparing platforms, define the operational problem and verify current capabilities directly with the vendor.
Quick Recap
- Use case: Decide whether the need is building operations, manufacturing quality, industrial connectivity, application development, infrastructure monitoring or workplace safety.
- Devices and protocols: Check whether the platform supports the equipment and communication protocols already in use, and what integration work is required. The CRN descriptions do not provide a comparable device-coverage matrix.
- Deployment and architecture: Establish whether processing and management must run in a cloud environment, at the edge or across both. The entries do not provide a consistent account of deployment options for every vendor.
- Operational functions: Separate data collection and visualization from functions such as predictive maintenance, alerting, analytics or application development; a vendor’s presence on this list does not show that it covers every function.
- Evidence and current status: Confirm current product names, availability, integrations, support and performance claims with the vendor. The 2024 descriptions and reported funding or partnership news do not establish present-day status.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
