Can I keep the Azure IoT SDKs?

Often, for MQTT messaging. X.509 devices can keep their certificates after endpoint, server-trust, and identity-mapping updates. Review SDK calls that rely on IoT Hub’s topics, twins, or direct methods.

Can I reuse certificates and SAS tokens?

Yes, with the right authentication setup. Reuse X.509 certificates with the same trusted CA. To keep SAS tokens, configure an HTTP authentication service that verifies each token’s signature and expiry.

What happens to device twins and direct methods?

EMQX provides MQTT messaging, rules, and integrations. Implement device state, commands, and provisioning in application services, or retain suitable Azure components. These behaviors need explicit migration planning.

Can I keep my Azure data pipeline?

Yes, where connectors or application consumers support your services. Map IoT Hub routes to EMQX rules and integrations, then test credentials, payloads, and delivery. Availability depends on deployment and plan.

How do EMQX and IoT Hub costs compare?

Compare current quotes for equivalent capacity, availability, traffic, and support. Include cloud fees or licenses, infrastructure, and operations. The sample calculator illustrates a historical model; it is not a current quote.

Switch from Azure IoT Hub to EMQX | Save Up to 60% on Costs

Trusted by industry leaders worldwide

Why switch

Why move from Azure IoT Hub to EMQX?

Unlock deployment freedom, MQTT scale, and predictable costs for your IoT infrastructure.

Save up to 60%

Reduce costs compared with Azure’s unit-based model. Get transparent, predictable pricing as you scale.

Build with MQTT 5

Use session expiry, shared subscriptions, and other MQTT 5 features beyond IoT Hub’s MQTT 3.1.1 interface.

Connect to your Azure services

Route MQTT data through SQL rules and built-in connectors to supported Azure services, databases, and streaming systems.

Choose where MQTT runs

Run managed EMQX Cloud on Azure or host EMQX Enterprise yourself, while keeping the Azure services you need.

The difference

Escape Azure IoT Hub’s unit-based costs

Run MQTT where you choose, with capacity matched to your workload, built-in integrations, and clear pricing.

Azure IoT Hub pain points	The EMQX Cloud advantage
Tier and unit-based scaling IoT Hub capacity follows the selected tier, size, and unit count, with daily message quotas and operation limits.	Capacity for your workload Choose EMQX capacity for client connections and message throughput, then resize as your workload changes.
Azure service dependencies Device twins, direct methods, and Azure message routes can tie application behavior to IoT Hub.	Bring your own cloud Run managed EMQX in your own AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud account with BYOC.
Daily message allowances Units include a daily message allowance. Payload size affects message metering, so plan capacity for peak traffic.	Clear deployment pricing Dedicated Flex bills instance capacity plus public outbound traffic beyond the included allowance.
Tier-dependent capabilities Device twins and direct methods require the Standard tier. Features and quotas vary by tier.	All-in-one MQTT platform Use MQTT 5, SQL rules, and native connectors to process and route data in one platform.

Migration plan

Move from Azure IoT Hub in three stages

Validate device behavior and Azure data flows before expanding the cutover.

01
Inventory your deployment
List device identities, SAS or X.509 credentials, topics, twins, direct methods, provisioning, and message routes.
02
Configure and test EMQX
Configure MQTT topics, authentication, and data integrations. Test clients and replacement device-service logic with a small group.
03
Move traffic in stages
Migrate devices in small groups. Monitor telemetry, commands, and reconnects, with a tested rollback plan.

Read the full migration guide

Cost calculator

Estimate your savings: interactive TCO calculator

Adjust device count and message rate to see how a simplified, historical model responds to your workload.

Your workload

Connected devices10,000

1,000100,000

Messages per device per minute30

10120

Illustrative monthly estimates

Azure IoT Hub$5,001

EMQX Cloud$3,898

Estimated monthly difference

$1,102

Difference (%)

22%

This historical model is not a current price quote or a total-cost estimate. It uses 730 hours per month and simplified billing formulas; it does not model payload size, region, all service features, network traffic, or operating costs. Positive differences indicate savings; negative values indicate higher modeled EMQX costs. Validate your workload against current pricing.

Get a workload-based cost review

Capabilities

Scale, integrate, and manage with EMQX

Run MQTT at scale with SQL processing, built-in data integrations, and centralized operations.

Dedicated deployments

Choose dedicated EMQX Cloud resources or self-managed Enterprise for your infrastructure and workload.

Dedicated Cloud guide

MQTT messaging

Use MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0 for telemetry and commands, with configurable delivery and sessions.

MQTT guide

Distributed MQTT clusters

Scale connections and throughput across clustered nodes. Test peak traffic, reconnects, and recovery before production.

Clustering guide Performance testing guide

SQL rules and data integrations

Filter, transform, and route MQTT data to supported streaming systems, databases, and cloud services.

Data integration guide

Centralized operations

Inspect clients, monitor traffic, and troubleshoot authentication or routing through the Dashboard, APIs, logs, and metrics.

Observability guide

Cloud and edge connectivity

Connect edge systems to your MQTT platform. Use EMQX Neuron for industrial protocol collection.

Neuron MQTT guide

Comparison

Azure IoT Hub and EMQX, side by side

Compare the messaging model and service dependencies alongside capacity and cost.

Azure IoT Hub and EMQX, side by side
Consideration	Azure IoT Hub	EMQX Cloud
Pricing model	Unit-based (DSU) Tiers, metered per message block.	Simple & Transparent (PAYG or flat-rate Dedicated).
Cost predictability	Low Cost depends on DSU usage and message overage.	High Fixed-rate plans offer budget certainty.
Vendor lock-in	High Deeply integrated with proprietary Azure services.	None Open standards and source-available core.
Multi-cloud support	Azure only.	Multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), Hybrid, On-premise.
Scalability (max connections)	Tied to DSU limit (e.g., 6k msg/sec per DSU).	Millions of concurrent connections per cluster.
Latency	Variable, dependent on DSU utilization and tier.	Guaranteed Sub-millisecond latency (Erlang core).
Integration engine	Message Routing (Requires other Azure services).	Built-in SQL Rule Engine (Free, 50+ integrations).
Support	Docs and paid support; Community dependent.	24/7 expert team; vibrant community for open-source.

Azure IoT Hub

Comparison

Pricing model: Unit-based (DSU) Tiers, metered per message block.
Cost predictability: Low
Cost depends on DSU usage and message overage.
Vendor lock-in: High
Deeply integrated with proprietary Azure services.
Multi-cloud support: Azure only.
Scalability (max connections): Tied to DSU limit (e.g., 6k msg/sec per DSU).
Latency: Variable, dependent on DSU utilization and tier.
Integration engine: Message Routing (Requires other Azure services).
Support: Docs and paid support; Community dependent.

EMQX Cloud

Comparison

Pricing model: Simple & Transparent (PAYG or flat-rate Dedicated).
Cost predictability: High
Fixed-rate plans offer budget certainty.
Vendor lock-in: None
Open standards and source-available core.
Multi-cloud support: Multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), Hybrid, On-premise.
Scalability (max connections): Millions of concurrent connections per cluster.
Latency: Guaranteed Sub-millisecond latency (Erlang core).
Integration engine: Built-in SQL Rule Engine (Free, 50+ integrations).
Support: 24/7 expert team; vibrant community for open-source.

Customer story

Trusted by the World's Leading Innovators

Join 1,500+ customers, including 80+ Fortune 500 companies, who rely on EMQX.

SAIC Volkswagen

In its published case study, SAIC Volkswagen reported hundreds of thousands of vehicles connected after the IoV platform’s 2020 launch. EMQX also decoupled vehicle systems from applications, helping the team focus on new services.

Read the case study