EMQX

Self-Hosted

Open-source MQTT broker for IoT messaging

Overview

EMQX is a high-performance, scalable open-source MQTT broker tailored for IoT applications. It supports MQTT 3.1.1, 5.0, and CoAP, enabling real-time, reliable communication between connected devices and cloud platforms. Features include distributed clustering for millions of concurrent connections, a built-in rule engine for data routing/processing, and robust security (TLS/SSL, ACLs, OAuth2). Deployable via Docker, Kubernetes, or bare metal, it integrates with Prometheus/Grafana for monitoring, ideal for smart cities, industrial IoT, and connected devices.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  emqx:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: emqx
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

High scalability (millions of concurrent MQTT connections)
Supports MQTT 5.0 & 3.1.1 + CoAP protocols
Distributed clustering for high availability
Built-in rule engine for data processing
Robust security (TLS/SSL, ACLs, OAuth2 integration)

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is EMQX hard to install?

EMQX is easy to install—basic setup uses Docker (one command: docker run -d --name emqx -p1883:1883 emqx/emqx) or pre-built OS packages. Kubernetes charts simplify scalable deployments. Advanced clustering needs configuration, but documentation is comprehensive.

? Is it a good alternative to AWS IoT Core?

Yes—EMQX offers comparable MQTT capabilities with self-hosted flexibility, avoiding vendor lock-in. It’s cost-effective for large deployments and includes rule engines/clustering without AWS’s pay-per-use model, making it ideal for teams wanting data control.

? Is it completely free?

The Community Edition is 100% free (Apache 2.0 license) for unlimited use/modification. The Enterprise Edition (with premium support, LDAP, multi-tenancy) requires a paid subscription, but most IoT use cases work with the free version.

Top Alternatives

AWS IoT Core Search Google

Azure IoT Hub Search Google

Google Cloud IoT Core Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Internet of Things (IoT)

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Self-hosted for full data privacy control
⊕ No subscription fees for open-source edition
⊕ Efficient large-scale IoT deployment handling
⊕ Flexible deployment options (Docker, Kubernetes, bare metal)

Cons

⊖ Enterprise features require paid subscription
⊖ Advanced clustering setup needs technical expertise
⊖ Resource-intensive for extreme concurrent connections
⊖ Limited built-in analytics compared to SaaS alternatives