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العربية Kilo vs ThingsBoard: which IoT platform fits your deployment?
ThingsBoard is one of the strongest open-source IoT platforms: an Apache 2.0 core you can self-host with unlimited devices, 600+ dashboard widgets, and a mature rule-chain engine. Here is where the two platforms genuinely differ, verified against ThingsBoard’s live public pages.
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Kilo vs ThingsBoard at a glance
| Capability | Kilo | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source core (self-host free) | — | ✓ Apache 2.0, unlimited devices |
| Managed cloud with zero infrastructure to run | ✓ Free for 5 devices | ✓ Cloud, $0 = 5 devices / 5 assets |
| Built-in LoRaWAN network server | Via external LNS integrations (paid editions) | |
| Built-in mioty network server | — | |
| AI assistant that acts, with confirmation gates | — | |
| Visual automation | Rules + step-through debugging & rollback | Rule chains (Filter/Transform/Action nodes) |
| Dashboard widget catalog | Configurable widget set + 3D building twin | 600+ widgets |
| Protocol breadth (device APIs) | LoRaWAN, mioty, MQTT, vehicle trackers | MQTT, CoAP, HTTP, LwM2M, SNMP |
| Edge computing product | — | ✓ ThingsBoard Edge (add-on) |
| White-labeling | — | ✓ Professional Edition |
| 3D digital building twin (editor, DXF import) | ✓ 60+ object catalog | — |
| Apple-approved Critical Alerts escalation app | — | |
| Inline payload normalization (no-code field mapping) | Transformation rule nodes | |
| Entry paid plan | €25/mo (25 devices) | $10/mo self-managed PE (10 devices); Cloud from $49/mo |
ThingsBoard column verified against public ThingsBoard pages on 2026-07-02. Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Choose ThingsBoard if…
- You want a genuinely open-source platform: the Community Edition is Apache 2.0 with unlimited devices and assets, free to self-host and even to build a SaaS on.
- You need the widest protocol surface — MQTT, CoAP, HTTP, LwM2M (including OTA), and SNMP are all first-class device APIs.
- You want edge processing close to the machines: ThingsBoard Edge synchronizes rule chains and dashboards to on-site hardware.
- You have the team to operate it — self-hosting rewards you with perpetual-license options and full control.
Choose Kilo if…
- You want LoRaWAN and mioty without running a network server: both are built into the platform, while ThingsBoard connects LoRaWAN through external servers such as ChirpStack or The Things Stack — and those integrations require its paid editions.
- You want an AI assistant that executes — onboarding devices, writing and deploying rules, configuring alarm escalations — with a confirmation gate before every consequential change.
- You debug automations before they run: Kilo’s rules add step-through debugging on test payloads, versioning, and one-click rollback.
- Alerting has to reach a human: multi-step escalation chains and an Apple-approved Critical Alerts app that breaks through silenced phones.
Evaluating a move — run both in parallel
Keep ThingsBoard running and pilot the same devices on a free Kilo workspace. LoRaWAN gateways that speak LoRa Basics Station or the Semtech UDP packet forwarder re-point at Kilo’s built-in network server, MQTT devices publish to a second broker, and payload mappings are rebuilt with inline normalization. Book a call and we’ll scope it against your rule chains first.
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Kilo vs ThingsBoard FAQ
Is ThingsBoard free?
The Community Edition is genuinely free: open source under Apache 2.0 with unlimited devices — but you host and operate it yourself, and platform integrations (including LoRaWAN network servers), white-labeling, and other advanced features are reserved for the paid Professional Edition and Cloud. ThingsBoard Cloud has a $0 tier with 5 devices and 5 assets; paid starts at $10/month (self-managed) or $49/month (Cloud).
Is Kilo a good ThingsBoard alternative?
For teams that want ThingsBoard’s depth without operating servers, yes: Kilo is a managed platform with LoRaWAN and mioty network servers built in, an AI assistant that acts with confirmation, rule debugging with rollback, and a free 5-device tier. If your priority is an open-source core you fully control, ThingsBoard remains the stronger choice — that is its genuine advantage.
Does ThingsBoard include a LoRaWAN network server?
No — per its own documentation, ThingsBoard connects to external LoRaWAN network servers (ChirpStack, The Things Stack, Loriot, ThingPark) through its integrations feature, which is available in the paid Professional Edition and Cloud only. Kilo ships a built-in LoRaWAN and mioty network server on every plan, including the free tier.
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More comparisons and alternatives
All of the platform, none of the ops
Start free with 5 devices — network server, rules, alarms, and AI included. Or book a call and we’ll compare notes on your current ThingsBoard setup.