Is ThingsBoard still open source?

Not from version 4.4. On 29 September 2026 ThingsBoard merged its Community and Professional editions into one source-available product under the Business Source License 1.1. The code is still public on GitHub, but production use beyond the free limits needs a commercial license. Each version becomes Apache 2.0 four years after release, so 4.4 converts on 29 September 2030.

Can I keep using ThingsBoard for free?

Under the 4.4 license, commercial production use is free up to 100 devices on one server, with the ThingsBoard name and the "Powered by ThingsBoard" attribution visible and a free license key. Non-commercial use (education, non-profits) is free up to 1,000 devices on any number of servers. Existing Community Edition users can join the Community Grant Program, which keeps their current scale free plus a 10% device buffer; registration closes on 20 July 2027.

What happens if I stay on ThingsBoard CE 4.3?

ThingsBoard CE 4.3 LTS stays on Apache 2.0 and gets security updates until 20 July 2027. After that date it keeps working, but without security fixes, so plan the decision before then: upgrade to 4.4 under the new license, join the Community Grant Program, or move to another platform.

Which ThingsBoard alternative is open source?

In this list, OpenRemote (AGPL-3.0) and Thinger.io (MIT). OpenRemote is closer to ThingsBoard CE in scope, with multi-tenancy through realms and edge gateways; Thinger.io has the more permissive license. Cloud Studio IoT, Datacake, Akenza, Ubidots and TagoIO are proprietary managed platforms.

What is the best ThingsBoard alternative for integrators who need white label?

If you used ThingsBoard PE to give each client a branded portal, look at how each platform handles several clients under your brand. Cloud Studio IoT is built around that (instance, client and facility levels, with white label from €550/mo). Datacake includes one white label from its Light plan, TagoIO sells it as a $99/mo add-on, Akenza from its Expert plan and Ubidots as an add-on.

How hard is it to migrate away from ThingsBoard?

Devices are usually the easy part: if they publish over MQTT or HTTP, or arrive through a LoRaWAN network server, you point them at the new platform without touching the firmware. Dashboards, rule chains and alarm logic do not transfer between platforms and have to be rebuilt, so inventory them first and migrate a pilot group before the whole fleet.

Which alternative works best for LoRaWAN?

Datacake runs its own LoRaWAN network server, which is the shortest path for a new sensor project. Cloud Studio IoT, TagoIO and Thinger.io connect to external network servers (The Things Stack, LORIOT, ChirpStack and others), which suits fleets that already have one or several. Akenza bundles LoRaWAN with NB-IoT and LTE-M connectivity.

After the ThingsBoard 4.4 license change

ThingsBoard Alternatives in 2026: 7 Platforms Compared

On 29 September 2026 ThingsBoard moved to the Business Source License 1.1 from version 4.4. Commercial production use is free only up to 100 devices on one server, with the ThingsBoard branding visible; beyond that you need a commercial license. Version 4.3 LTS stays on Apache 2.0 with security updates until 20 July 2027. If you are weighing a move, the managed options are Cloud Studio IoT (multi-tenant white label for integrators, LoRaWAN and industrial protocols), Datacake, Akenza, Ubidots and TagoIO. If you need open source to self-host, look at OpenRemote (AGPL-3.0) or Thinger.io (MIT).

Published: 2026年10月1日Updated: 2026年10月1日

How we compared the alternatives

We scored each platform 1 to 5 on the same six criteria we use in our ranking of the best IoT platforms of 2026, from public documentation and pricing pages. We are biased: Cloud Studio IoT is one of the platforms, and it is scored with the same rubric as the rest. For teams leaving ThingsBoard, two questions matter before the scores: do you want someone else to run the servers, and do you need source code you can fork?

易用性与低代码

非开发者从设备到出图能多快?UI 工作流、拖拽式构建器、模板市场。

协议覆盖

MQTT、LoRaWAN、NB-IoT、Modbus、OPC UA、BACnet——原生多协议支持,无需付费插件。

多租户与白标

集成商能否服务 N 个客户并实现隔离、自定义品牌、按租户计费?对合作伙伴至关重要。

定价透明度

拥有清晰档位拆解的公开定价页 vs 把中小企业挡在门外的不透明企业询价。

生态与集成

活跃社区、第三方集成、合作伙伴网络、认证硬件清单。

安全与合规

TLS 1.3、RBAC、审计日志、GDPR/EED 数据驻留选项、SOC 2 路径。

7 ThingsBoard alternatives at a glance

Hosting model, license and score of each alternative. Click a name to jump to its review.

#	Platform	Best for	Hosting	Pricing	Score
1	Cloud Studio IoT	Integrators who used ThingsBoard PE for white-label client portals and don't want to run the servers	SaaS + self	From €100/mo (up to 50 devices) / White label from €550/mo	4.3
2	Datacake	LoRaWAN sensor projects that want dashboards in an afternoon	SaaS	5 devices free / Hobby €25/mo (25 devices) / Light €159/mo (50 devices)	4.0
3	Akenza	Mixed LoRaWAN and cellular fleets, especially in the DACH region	SaaS + self	Elemental $0 / Advanced $199/mo / Expert $599/mo, all + $1.50 per device	3.9
4	Ubidots	Teams that need client-facing dashboards quickly and don't mind a per-device price	SaaS	Professional $99/mo (50 devices, then $2 each) / Industrial and Enterprise on quote	3.8
5	TagoIO	Product teams that start small and expect to need a dedicated instance later	SaaS	Free (5 devices) / Starter $49/mo / Scale $199/mo / TagoDeploy $850/mo	3.8
6	Thinger.io	Small teams that want permissive open source and a modest budget	SaaS + self	Self-hosted server free (MIT) / Private cloud and support plans on their pricing page	3.4
7	OpenRemote	Teams leaving ThingsBoard CE that want to stay fully open source and self-host	Self-hosted	Free (AGPL-3.0) / Hosting and development services on quote	3.2

The alternatives, one by one

Pros and cons come from each vendor's documentation and pricing page, not from their marketing. Prices are the public ones on 1 October 2026.

Cloud Studio IoT

Managed, multi-tenant IoT platform with white label for integrators who sell IoT to their own clients, strong on LoRaWAN fleets and industrial protocols.

4.3

/ 5

最适合

Integrators who used ThingsBoard PE for white-label client portals and don't want to run the servers

定价

From €100/mo (up to 50 devices) / White label from €550/mo

优点

Multi-tenant and white label without a separate edition
LoRaWAN through The Things Stack, LORIOT, ThingPark X, ChirpStack, Helium and others, with 250+ devices documented with decoders
Modbus and OPC UA through an edge software gateway that forwards over MQTT
Alerts by email, SMS, WhatsApp, voice call and push

缺点

Not open source: no code to fork
Smaller community than ThingsBoard
Dashboards and rules have to be rebuilt; there is no ThingsBoard importer

详细对比访问网站

Datacake

European low-code platform with the simplest UX in this list and its own LoRaWAN network server; thinner on industrial protocols.

4.0

/ 5

最适合

LoRaWAN sensor projects that want dashboards in an afternoon

定价

5 devices free / Hobby €25/mo (25 devices) / Light €159/mo (50 devices)

优点

First 5 devices free, no credit card
Integrated LoRaWAN network server and hundreds of ready-made device decoders
Unlimited workspaces and one white label from the Light plan

缺点

Cloud only, no on-premise option
OPC UA and industrial protocols go through Node-RED
Branded mobile app costs €300/mo plus €2,000 setup

详细对比访问网站

Akenza

Swiss platform with solid device management and connectivity bundled in (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, LTE-M), priced per device on top of a monthly plan.

3.9

/ 5

最适合

Mixed LoRaWAN and cellular fleets, especially in the DACH region

定价

Elemental $0 / Advanced $199/mo / Expert $599/mo, all + $1.50 per device

优点

Device lifecycle management is well thought out
ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant
Private Cloud on your own servers, on request

缺点

$1.50 per device on top of every plan
White label only on Expert ($599/mo) or Private Cloud
OPC UA not documented

详细对比访问网站

Ubidots

Dashboard-first platform with the fastest path from sensor to chart; organizations and end users for client portals, white label as an add-on.

3.8

/ 5

最适合

Teams that need client-facing dashboards quickly and don't mind a per-device price

定价

Professional $99/mo (50 devices, then $2 each) / Industrial and Enterprise on quote

优点

Very fast from first data to a usable dashboard
Organizations and end-user management on every plan
200+ device and gateway integrations

缺点

No permanent free plan, only a 30-day trial
White label is a paid add-on
Cloud only; private cloud negotiated on Enterprise

详细对比访问网站

TagoIO

Low-code platform with a free tier, LoRaWAN network server integrations and dedicated instances (TagoDeploy) for larger fleets.

3.8

/ 5

最适合

Product teams that start small and expect to need a dedicated instance later

定价

Free (5 devices) / Starter $49/mo / Scale $199/mo / TagoDeploy $850/mo

优点

Free plan with 5 devices and 5 dashboards
LoRaWAN integrations (Actility, Everynet, TTN and more) and a public device catalog
Dedicated instances in 12+ regions with TagoDeploy

缺点

White label and custom domain are a $99/mo add-on
Plans cap data inputs and outputs (Starter: 1M in, 3M out)
Branded mobile app: $99/mo plus $2,000 one-time

详细对比访问网站

Thinger.io

Spanish platform whose server is MIT-licensed: self-host it for free, or pay for their private cloud and support.

3.4

/ 5

最适合

Small teams that want permissive open source and a modest budget

定价

Self-hosted server free (MIT) / Private cloud and support plans on their pricing page

优点

MIT license: the most permissive in this list
Runs in the cloud, on-premise with Docker or on a Raspberry Pi
Native TTN, ChirpStack and LORIOT integrations

缺点

Small company, slower roadmap
Multi-tenant features are limited
Smaller integration ecosystem

详细对比访问网站

OpenRemote

Fully open-source platform (AGPL-3.0) with multi-tenancy through realms, edge gateways and Docker images; you run it, or hire them to.

3.2

/ 5

最适合

Teams leaving ThingsBoard CE that want to stay fully open source and self-host

定价

Free (AGPL-3.0) / Hosting and development services on quote

优点

AGPL-3.0, free to self-host with no device limit
Multi-tenancy (realms), users and roles built in
Docker images for amd64 and arm64, plus edge gateway

缺点

You carry the DevOps work, as with ThingsBoard CE
AGPL obligations if you modify it and offer it as a service
Smaller community (about 1,900 GitHub stars)

访问网站

ThingsBoard alternatives: FAQ

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Cloud Studio IoT vs ThingsBoard