Mosquitto vs EMQ: What are the differences?

EMQ and Mosquitto are open-source MQTT brokers used for building scalable and reliable Internet of Things (IoT) messaging systems. Let's explore the key differences between EMQ and Mosquitto:

1. Scalability and Performance: EMQ is designed with scalability in mind and is known for its high performance. It utilizes a distributed architecture and supports clustering, allowing it to handle large-scale deployments with millions of connected devices. EMQ can horizontally scale by adding more nodes to the cluster, ensuring high throughput and low latency. Mosquitto, on the other hand, is a lightweight MQTT broker suitable for smaller deployments with moderate message loads. It may not provide the same level of scalability and performance as EMQ in highly demanding scenarios.

2. Ease of Use and Configuration: Mosquitto is praised for its user-friendly nature and simplicity. Its configuration is straightforward, making it easy to set up and manage. On the other hand, EMQ is more powerful and scalable, but its advanced features and configuration options may require a higher learning curve and expertise for setup and maintenance. EMQ offers extensive configuration capabilities for precise control over broker behavior.

3. Feature Set: EMQ provides a comprehensive set of features and protocols beyond MQTT. It supports MQTT-SN (MQTT for Sensor Networks), MQTT over WebSocket, CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol), and other protocols. EMQ also offers features like message persistence, message routing, and message filtering based on topic patterns. Mosquitto, on the other hand, focuses primarily on providing a reliable MQTT broker. It supports the MQTT protocol, including QoS levels, retain messages, and last will and testament.

4. Security: Both EMQ and Mosquitto offer various security features for MQTT communication. They support TLS encryption for secure communication over the network, allowing clients to authenticate and encrypt their MQTT connections. EMQ also provides access control lists (ACLs), which allow fine-grained control over client permissions. Mosquitto also supports access control through its ACL feature, but it may not offer the same level of flexibility and granularity as EMQ.

5. Community and Support: Mosquitto has a large and active community of users and contributors. It is widely adopted and has been in development for many years. EMQ also has an active community, although it may be smaller compared to Mosquitto.

In summary, EMQ is known for its scalability, high performance, and advanced features, making it suitable for large-scale deployments. Mosquitto, on the other hand, is lightweight, easy to use, and suitable for smaller deployments with moderate message loads.