---
layout: post
title: "Choosing a self-hosted MQTT broker"
date: 2025-01-03 18:40:00 +0200
comments: true
categories:
---

# [HiveMQ](https://hivemq.com)

:thumbsup: readily available official Docker images

:thumbsdown:
* community license is limited to 25 connected clients
* requires an extension for authentication and authorization
* community edition only has static, file-based authentication and authorization

# [Mosquitto](https://mosquitto.org/)


:thumbsup:
* no limitations on community edition
* offers dynamic authentication and authorization

:thumbsdown:
* authentication and authorization
* no built-in web dashboard (it's a separate package, [Cedalo Management Center](https://cedalo.com/mqtt-gui-mosquitto/))
* Cedalo MC official images no longer updated on Docker Hub

# [EMQX](https://emqx.com)

:thumbsup:
* Just Works :tm:
* official Docker images readily available
* built-in (Mnesia) database
* built-in web dashboard, including websocket client
* built-in dynamic authentication with multiple backends