Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Azure IoT Edge VS Azure IoT Hub

Compare Azure IoT Edge VS Azure IoT Hub and see what are their differences

Azure IoT Edge logo Azure IoT Edge

Connect cloud intelligence to your edge devices with Azure IoT Edge, a comprehensive service that deploys artificial intelligence and custom logic to all IoT devices.

Azure IoT Hub logo Azure IoT Hub

Manage billions of IoT devices with Azure IoT Hub, a cloud platform that lets you easily connect, monitor, provision, and configure IoT devices.
  • Azure IoT Edge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-11
  • Azure IoT Hub Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-25

Azure IoT Edge features and specs

  • Cloud Intelligence on Edge
    Azure IoT Edge allows you to bring cloud intelligence locally by running AI, analytics, and machine learning models on edge devices, enabling real-time decision-making and reduced latency.
  • Offline Capabilities
    IoT Edge can operate independently without continuous cloud connectivity, ensuring that operations continue in remote or intermittent connectivity environments.
  • Scalability
    It supports the seamless deployment and scaling of workloads across multiple devices, allowing businesses to expand their IoT infrastructure without substantial overhead.
  • Security
    Azure IoT Edge offers enterprise-grade security, providing features like device authentication and data encryption, enhancing the protection of edge devices and data.
  • Integration with Azure Services
    The platform integrates well with other Azure services, enabling users to leverage a wide range of tools for analytics, monitoring, and management in a cohesive ecosystem.

Possible disadvantages of Azure IoT Edge

  • Complexity
    Setting up and managing IoT Edge solutions can be complex and may require specialized knowledge and expertise, potentially leading to higher development and maintenance costs.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running certain workloads on edge devices can be resource-intensive, potentially requiring more powerful hardware and increasing the cost.
  • Dependency on Azure Ecosystem
    While beneficial in integration, relying heavily on the Azure ecosystem might limit flexibility or increase dependency on Microsoft's platform.
  • Initial Costs
    There may be significant initial costs involved in setting up and deploying IoT Edge infrastructure, which might be a barrier for small or budget-constrained organizations.
  • Updates and Management
    Managing updates and ensuring all edge devices are consistently synchronized and up to date can be challenging, especially in large deployments.

Azure IoT Hub features and specs

  • Scalability
    Azure IoT Hub can handle millions of simultaneously connected devices, making it highly scalable for large IoT deployments.
  • Integration with Microsoft Azure
    It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure Blob Storage, providing a comprehensive solution for IoT applications.
  • Security Features
    Azure IoT Hub offers robust security features, including device authentication, per-device identity, and secure data transfer, ensuring a high level of security for IoT solutions.
  • Bi-Directional Communication
    Supports bi-directional communication between devices and the cloud, allowing for immediate feedback and control.
  • Device Management
    Provides extensive device management capabilities, such as provisioning, configuration, and firmware updates, which simplifies managing a large number of devices.
  • Real-Time Data Ingestion
    Allows for real-time data ingestion and processing, which is critical for time-sensitive IoT applications.

Possible disadvantages of Azure IoT Hub

  • Complexity
    The extensive set of features and customizations can make the initial setup and onboarding process complex and time-consuming.
  • Cost
    Can be costly for small-scale deployments, especially if you are leveraging multiple Azure services in conjunction with IoT Hub.
  • Learning Curve
    Requires a steep learning curve for developers who are not already familiar with Microsoft Azure and its ecosystem.
  • Dependence on Other Azure Services
    While integration with other Azure services is a pro, it can also be a con as it may necessitate additional services and expenses.
  • Geographical Limitations
    Some services and features may not be available in all geographical regions, which could limit functionality based on location.
  • Latency
    While generally low, latency could be an issue depending on the geographical distance between the IoT devices and the Azure data centers.

Azure IoT Edge videos

Azure IoT Edge: architecture, demo on Raspberry Pi, pricing

Azure IoT Hub videos

Azure Friday | Azure IoT Hub

More videos:

  • Review - How Does Azure IoT Hub Work?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Azure IoT Edge and Azure IoT Hub)
IoT Platform
21 21%
79% 79
Data Dashboard
22 22%
78% 78
IoT
27 27%
73% 73
Analytics
14 14%
86% 86

User comments

Share your experience with using Azure IoT Edge and Azure IoT Hub. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Azure IoT Hub might be a bit more popular than Azure IoT Edge. We know about 3 links to it since March 2021 and only 3 links to Azure IoT Edge. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Azure IoT Edge mentions (3)

  • Top Programming Languages for AI Development in 2025
    Connectivity to edge devices and cloud platforms. - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • How to get the EK and Registration ID from a TPM 2.0 module on Raspian
    I am currently working on an IoT Project for my Bachelor's thesis. The goal is to gather data from an existing machine and send it to an Azure cloud via AMQP. To do this I have set up an IoT Hub and will be using the Azure IoT Edge runntime to connect and send the Data. For initial development, I have authenticated my devices to the cloud using symmetric keys generated by the IoT hub. Now I want to switch to... Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to securely handle Data on Raspberry Pi-based device
    I get my data from an existing machine via Modbus RTU. For the cloud infrastructure, we are working with Microsoft Azure. I am using a Revolution Pi Flat as my edge device (basically an industrial-grade Pi) and plan to use the Azure IoT Edge runtime for added safety and easy deployments of containers from the cloud. There is just one problem. How do I handle data safely while it is on my device so a potential... Source: over 3 years ago

Azure IoT Hub mentions (3)

  • Looking for Microsoft Azure based alternative to Adafruit IO Feeds
    Sure MS has a product. It's more expensive and harder to use, though...Azure IOT hub - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/iot-hub. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Getting Started With Azure IoT Hub
    Azure IoT Hub is a managed cloud service which provides bi-directional communication between the cloud and IoT devices. It is a platform as a service for building IoT solutions. Being an azure offering, it has security and scalability built-in as well as making it easy to integrate with other Azure services. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • How to get the EK and Registration ID from a TPM 2.0 module on Raspian
    I am currently working on an IoT Project for my Bachelor's thesis. The goal is to gather data from an existing machine and send it to an Azure cloud via AMQP. To do this I have set up an IoT Hub and will be using the Azure IoT Edge runntime to connect and send the Data. For initial development, I have authenticated my devices to the cloud using symmetric keys generated by the IoT hub. Now I want to switch to... Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Azure IoT Edge and Azure IoT Hub, you can also consider the following products

AWS IoT 1-Click - AWS IoT 1-Click is a service that makes it easy for simple devices to trigger AWS Lambda functions that execute a specific action.

ThingSpeak - Open source data platform for the Internet of Things. ThingSpeak Features

SAP Edge Services - Learn how key features of SAP Edge Services can help you connect your edge data with the business world and simplify common Internet of Things (IoT) data processing patterns.

AWS IoT - Easily and securely connect devices to the cloud.

Evrythng - Evrythng IoT smart products platform connects consumer products to the Web and manages real-time data in the cloud to drive applications.

Particle.io - Particle is an IoT platform enabling businesses to build, connect and manage their connected solutions.