Exploring the Best IoT Platforms: Top 10 Picks Reviewed and Compared

The Internet of Things is “revolutionizing industries rapidly” due to an influx of connected devices. By 2024, analysts “foresee a demand of up to 50 billion devices” and expect we will soon produce enormous amounts of information with the help of IoT platforms. As companies continue to implement strategies that include IoT solutions, it becomes essential for them to determine which IoT platform they will use. This article examines the ten best IoT platforms by comparing their characteristics, use cases and reviews.

What is an IoT Platform?

Top IoT platforms provide the basic architecture and services required to connect, manage and derive value from IoT devices. It allows device data visualization, setting commands and rules, integrating with other systems, and running analytics. Modern platforms offer edge and cloud computing abilities for processing data near devices or in centralized data centres.

Best IoT platforms have boosted innovation across manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and smart cities. Global investments in IoT platforms are expected to exceed $180 billion by 2024 as they become the backbone for autonomous systems, predictive maintenance, and digital transformation.

Features to Consider When Selecting an IoT Platform

With various options available, evaluating top IoT platforms based on your needs is vital. Here are the essential criteria:

• Device Management: Capabilities for securely provisioning, monitoring and configuring devices remotely.

• Connectivity: Support for popular protocols like MQTT, AMQP, and HTTP to connect diverse equipment. Global networks for geographically distributed assets.

• Data Insights: Tools for real-time analytics, visualizations, dashboards and generating actionable insights from streaming data.

• Edge Computing: Run modules directly on devices or local gateways to reduce latency and network loads.

• Integration: APIs and integration options with existing systems like MES, ERP, CRM and third-party applications.

• Security: Features like access controls, encryption, authentication, and device/user activity auditing are needed for solid protection.

• Pricing: Cost depends on your needs – pay per device/license or monthly/yearly subscriptions available.

• Support: Skill and product/technical team expertise to ensure smooth operations and address issues.

Best IoT Platforms Comparison Chart

Here’s a quick comparison of the best IoT platforms:

Platform	Device Management	Connectivity	Data Insights	Edge Computing
Telnyx IoT	Advanced provisioning	MQTT, HTTP2	Live dashboards & alerts	Linux module
Blynk IoT platform	Simple provisioning	MQTT	Live data & alerts	Arduino/Raspberry Pi modules
IoTConnect	Advanced management	AMQP, MQTT	Live dashboards	At edge gateways
Hologram	Advanced provisioning	LTE/5G	Analytics via webhooks	Android/iOS SDKs
Particle	Simple provisioning	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Visualizations	Particle microcontrollers
Exosite ExoSense IoT	Advanced management	MQTT	Live dashboards	ML Docker containers
ThingWorx Industrial IOT Platform	Template-based	MQTT	Live dashboards	Fog/edge functions
EMQX	Advanced management	MQTT	Real-time data processing	Arm/x86 binaries
akenza	Template-based	MQTT	Analytics in workbench	Gateway modules
Avigna Cube	Simple provisioning	MQTT	Live dashboards and advanced analytics	Site gateways

List of Top 10 IoT platforms

A detailed discussion on top IoT platforms is provided below:

Telnyx IoT

Telnyx provides reliable cellular connectivity and streamlined integration for IoT and M2M solutions. Their IoT platform delivers comprehensive device management for provisioning, monitoring and controlling GSM/LTE/5G devices at scale.

Users especially appreciate its advanced management console that supports templates, auto-updates, alerts and diagnostic tools for real-time visibility into distributed assets. The top IoT platform acts as an event broker between devices using MQTT and webhooks for bidirectional data transmission and quick application development.

Telnyx Edge enables running Python/C/JS scripts on devices to process data locally and optimize network usage. It is suited for applications like tracking fleets, monitoring infrastructure and supply chain logistics.

Advantages:

• Multi-region global coverage through 600+ cellular partners ensures reliable connectivity even in remote locations.

• An interactive console for managing connected devices, app configurations, and usage analytics provides complete visibility.

• Flexible pricing based on cellular data usage helps control costs effectively for any deployment scale.

Telnyx received high ratings on AppAdvice for its seamless onboarding experience and robust security features like AES encryption, 3-factor authentication, and access control lists. Being SIM-agnostic, it gives flexibility in cellular connectivity.

Blynk IoT Platform

Blynk facilitates fast prototyping of IoT applications due to its popularity. As such, it has a straightforward way of using the ESP8266, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi devices.

The easy-to-use cloud portal allows monitoring live data setting triggers for notifications and graphs based on sensor readings. Developers praise its quick setup process, which connects hard minutes using Blynk libraries.

Advanced features include APIs, webhooks for third-party integrations, custom rules and logic flows, hardware profiles and templates. Remote updates ensure devices run on the latest firmware versions. MQTT support extends connectivity to other systems and ecosystems.

Advantages:

• The low-code platform approach shortens development cycles through pre-built widgets, templates and visual editors.

• Broad hardware compatibility spanning 400+ board types aids in rapidly integrating devices and sensors.

• Wide-ranging connectivity options simplify scalability, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Cellular and GPS.

• A powerful rule engine allows conditional processing of data and triggering actions through sophisticated logic.

Multiple control apps for Android/iOS enable convenient access from mobiles. Blynk is commonly used for home automation, environmental monitoring, agricultural IoT, wearables and industrial process control where rapid prototyping is required. This best IoT platform received high ratings for developer friendliness on various websites and forums.

IoTConnect

IoTConnect is an industrial-grade Top IoT platform focused on M2M/real-time communications for mission-critical use cases. Their zero-touch provisioning process and out-of-the-box connectivity drivers simplify onboarding across industries.

The cloud-based infrastructure visualizes real-time data from global assets on interactive dashboards, GIS maps and 3D models. Comprehensive auditing captures device activity history for compliance. Pre-built applications offer templates ranging from asset tracking to conditional maintenance.

IoTConnect supports AMQP and MQTT protocols for resilient messaging over LTE/5G/satellite networks. Edge microservices process data at network gateways near field operations. Their Flow automation tool creates workflows and rules without code for tasks like geofencing and conditional updates.

Advantages:

• Dedicated SIM profiles for different use cases ensure optimal data plans and device battery efficiency.

• A comprehensive portal enables remote device management functions like provisioning, monitoring and diagnostics.

• Leverages private LTE/5G networks for industrial environments requiring ultra-reliable low-latency connectivity.

• Partner integration with over 600 mobile networks worldwide extends its reach to 170+ countries.

This best IoT platform was recognized for technical excellence by IoT Breakthrough awards. Reviews highlighted ease of deployment at scale for large fleets and reliability even in remote areas owing to multi-protocol connectivity. Its open architecture integrates with major ERP/SCADA systems.

Hologram

The Hologram is ideal for cellular connectivity on embedded devices across 190+ countries. It provides global SIM cards that securely activate devices using APIs and SMS for remote provisioning.

The networking platform offers reliable data transfer and location services over 4G/LTE cellular networks. It supports common module types with pre-certified hardware and comprehensive SDKs for Android/iOS and embedded C/C++ applications.

Hologram Cloud process’s geo-location and usage data to offer insights. Events can be monitored, and webhooks can be configured to trigger logic flows. Reviews appreciated its simple pricing based on cellular data usage without additional compute/storage costs and 24/7 support.

Advantages:

• Virtual SIM technology enables devices to connect anywhere on Hologram’s global footprint, extended via roaming partners.

• Integrated edge computing capabilities allow data analysis close to the source, saving bandwidth and latency costs.

• Advanced APIs, SDKs, and public sandboxes simplify the development of connected solutions.

• Competitively priced pay-as-you-go plans make it affordable for varied IoT deployment scales.

Use cases range from telematics and IoT asset monitoring to industrial wireless sensors. IoT Breakthrough recognized the platform for exceptional innovation in cellular connectivity and management of international devices at scale. Its plug-and-play setup earned trust for mission-critical IOT applications.

Particle

Particle, a top IoT platform, allows wireless connectivity of hardware devices with mobile apps and web services using standard Wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LoRa. It supports IDE development across popular microcontrollers like Argon and Boron, Arduino, ESP8266, and others.

Particle devices are provisioned directly from the dashboard, a portal to monitor live telemetry and geofencing zones, troubleshoot firmware issues, and view activity history. Sophisticated users can build modular applications with Webhooks, customized rules, and logic flows using the event engine and easy-to-learn JavaScript library.

Advantages:

• An all-in-one solution comprising connected hardware, robust connectivity and powerful cloud services.

• A wide selection of development boards and modules helps rapid prototyping and minimizing upfront costs.

• Straightforward rule-based programming model “If this, then that” simplifies logic and flows.

• Visual application and device management tools require minimal coding skills for IoT deployment.

Particle recently allowed adding Ethernet/cellular modules to its devices for flexibility. Users commended its vibrant developer community forum, which quickly has helpful guides and code snippets for integrating Particle in various IoT scenarios. The platform excels at rapidly prototyping IoT edge devices.

Exosite ExoSense IoT Platform

Exosite provides device management and analytics for industrial IoT use cases with reliability and security at scale. The ExoSense IoT platform uses open standards to connect diverse machinery and sensors using common protocols securely.

Key components include Exometer for zero-touch provisioning of thousands of devices and Exoscale analytics suite to deliver real-time dashboards and AI/ML-powered insights from streaming data. Exopulse actions framework triggers workflows, and Exopipes moves data between Exoscale and other business systems.

 

Advantages:

• Industrial-hardened connectivity via private LTE/5G networks for highly reliable low-lay data exchange.

• ExoSense edge software stack allows local analytics and rule-driven actions at the edge for ultra-responsiveness.

• Robust data management capabilities for streaming, storing and analyzing vast volumes of industrial sensor data.

• Runtime application environment facilitates rapid development and deployment of industrial apps and insights.

• A comprehensive set of connectors for easy data integration into existing control systems, ERPs and other Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

This best IoT platform runs Docker containers at the network edge for local computation when fast responses are crucial. Users appreciate how its microservices architecture optimizes existing infrastructure while enabling continuous innovation. Exosite has proven capability in sectors such as utilities, manufacturing and oil & gas, where reliability and standards-compliance are mandatory.

PTC ThingWorx Industrial IOT Platform

ThingWorx is one of the most robust and feature-rich IIOT platforms for connecting industrial equipment and remote assets. The intuitive portals provide role-based dashboards to monitor operational performance using real-time visualizations and KPIs.

The platform facilitates remote troubleshooting of issues through conditional alerts. ThingWorx offers 150+ out-of-box connectors and drivers to interface with machines from various vendors. Its digital twin framework virtually models physical entities and their dependencies and characteristics.

Advantages:

• Pre-built applications, tools, and adapters speed development and integration with various industrial data sources.

• Advanced analytics studio aided by asset, user and context intelligence generates prescriptive and predictive insights.

• Role-based dashboards and mobile apps deliver actionable insights to front-line domain experts.

• Flexible deployment models ranging from on-prem to private/public hybrid cloud support varying security and scalability needs.

• ThingWorx Live helps industrial experiences digitally represented as ‘digital twins’ running complex simulations.

ThingWorx is a go-to solution for industrial giants developing intelligent, connected products and digitizing manufacturing processes using its versatile functionality.

EMQX

EMQX is a popular open-source MQTT broker suitable for scalable, high-performance IoT projects. It allows connecting over 50,000 devices simultaneously and processes millions of MQTT messages per second.

The platform integrates message routing, persistence, federation, authentication and authorization in one robust package. Real-time data insight is available via a powerful MQTT protocol. Edge deployments are also supported through Docker images and portable binaries for ARM and x86 architectures.

Advantages:

• Distributed architecture and clustering support high volumes of concurrent MQTT connections, which is ideal for large deployments.

• The comprehensive dashboard allows unified management of devices, topics, and message flows from a single pane.

• Fine-grained access control based on usernames, topics and ACLs ensures stringent security and privacy.

• Robust SDKs and integrations simplify the development of MQTT-based solutions faster across ecosystems.

• Various flexible pricing and licensing options, including fully open-source, make it very affordable.

EMQX Dashboard allows remote monitoring of broker status and connected clients. Extensive documentation and a helpful community make it easy to set up, administer and integrate EMQX MQTT broker for IoT applications ranging from industrial monitoring to intelligent cities.

akenza

Akenza is a top IoT platform that provides cloud-based storage, processing, and analytics for mission-critical industrial IoT use cases. Its IoT platform allows visualization of asset data, configuration management, and remote access features through a unified interface.

Pre-built connectors enable rapid data integration from industrial equipment, robots, sensors, HMIs and SCADA systems. Templated rules process data streams and trigger workflow automations at the edge for the lowest latency response.

Advantages:

• The integrated software stack, which comprises data collection, storage, processing, and visualization, addresses complete IIoT needs.

• Purpose-built advanced analytics models for predictive maintenance, quality control, and more are available through the ‘Nexsight’ module.

• It supports multiple protocols, including HTTP/S, MQTT, REST, and OPC-UA, enabling the integration of heterogeneous devices and systems.

• Flexible licensing and subscription-based pricing models cater to varied IIoT budgets and scale requirements.

Developers appreciate the Logic Workbench studio, which allows visually building event-driven logic without coding. Its deployable edge modules, diverse protocol support, high availability and security make Akenza suitable for manufacturing, renewable energy and critical infrastructure management projects.

Avigna Cube from Avigna AI Pvt.Ltd

Avigna Cube is an award-winning IoT platform that offers comprehensive solutions for managing connected devices and extracting valuable insights from IoT data. The platform provides robust capabilities for provisioning and monitoring devices remotely.

Built-in analytics apps help users derive actionable intelligence from streaming data. Real-time dashboards deliver customized visualizations and reports to end-users. Edge computing functionality also allows some processing of data locally/at the edge to optimize network usage.

Advantages:

• Advanced provisions and manages thousands of devices through a single control panel.

• Multi-protocol support facilitates interconnectivity in hybrid IoT landscapes.

• Real-time dashboards and apps uncover insightful patterns from IoT information.

Reviews of Avigna Cube have highlighted its powerful and yet flexible feature-set. The platform has seen successful deployments across sectors including HVAC, Energy, manufacturing, utilities and smart cities. Avigna Cube has also won accolades for its performance and reliability.

How to choose the best IoT platform?

With the wide-ranging capabilities of top IoT platforms, selecting the right fit requires understanding your specific connectivity needs, data insights required, integration scope, security concerns and budget. Consulting experts help shortlist options matching your project vision and evaluate pilots to verify real-world performance. Proper due diligence on scalability, ongoing support and innovation roadmap ensures a future-ready choice.

Contact our team of IoT strategists for requirement gathering of your IoT projects.  Build your IoT Innovation on our Award-winning IoT Platform Avigna Cube. Follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter.