Mosquitto vs VerneMQ: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Mosquitto and VerneMQ are both open source MQTT brokers that are widely used for pub/sub messaging in IoT applications. While they share some similarities in terms of their core functionalities, there are several key differences between them that make each suitable for different use cases.

1. Scalability and Performance: Mosquitto is designed as a lightweight MQTT broker, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. It is suitable for small to medium-scale deployments and performs well in those scenarios. On the other hand, VerneMQ is built for high scalability and performance, with a distributed architecture that allows it to handle large-scale MQTT deployments with millions of connected devices.

2. Clustering and High Availability: VerneMQ provides built-in clustering capabilities, allowing multiple VerneMQ instances to form a cluster and share the load. It supports automatic data replication and failover mechanisms to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. Mosquitto, on the other hand, does not have built-in clustering support and needs to be configured with external tools for achieving high availability.

3. Management and Monitoring: VerneMQ offers a graphical web-based administration and monitoring console, providing an intuitive user interface for managing and monitoring MQTT deployments. Mosquitto, on the other hand, lacks a built-in management and monitoring interface, requiring users to rely on external tools for this purpose.

4. Authentication and Authorization: While both Mosquitto and VerneMQ support authentication and authorization mechanisms, VerneMQ offers more advanced and flexible options. VerneMQ supports multiple authentication backends (such as username/password, JWT, and client certificates) and fine-grained access control lists (ACLs) that allow for complex rule-based authorization. Mosquitto, on the other hand, has more limited options and a simpler ACL system.

5. Extensibility and Plugins: VerneMQ provides a plugin system that allows developers to extend and customize its functionality. It supports the development of custom plugins in various programming languages, enabling the integration of additional features and protocols. Mosquitto, on the other hand, lacks a plugin system and does not provide a built-in mechanism for extending its functionality.

6. Community and Support: Both Mosquitto and VerneMQ have active communities and provide support through forums, mailing lists, and other channels. However, Mosquitto has a larger and more well-established community due to its longer history and wider adoption.

In summary, Mosquitto and VerneMQ have some overlapping features but differ significantly in terms of scalability, clustering, management, authentication, extensibility, and community support. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of the MQTT deployment, with Mosquitto being suitable for smaller deployments with simplicity in mind, and VerneMQ being better suited for larger-scale deployments with advanced features and high availability requirements.