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Azure IoT Edge VS Balena.io

Compare Azure IoT Edge VS Balena.io and see what are their differences

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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.

Balena.io logo Balena.io

Balena is a container-based platform to develop, deploy, and manage code running on remote devices - quickly, safely, and at scale.
  • Azure IoT Edge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-11
  • Balena.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18

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.

Balena.io features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Balena.io provides a user-friendly interface and tools that simplify the deployment and management of IoT applications across multiple devices.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to easily scale IoT applications, whether you're dealing with a small number of devices or a larger fleet.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Balena supports various device types and operating systems, providing flexibility in choosing hardware and software according to project needs.
  • Robust Community and Documentation
    Balena has a strong community presence and comprehensive documentation, which can be extremely beneficial for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Over-the-Air Updates
    Balena enables seamless over-the-air updates, making it easier to deploy updates and new features to devices in the field.

Possible disadvantages of Balena.io

  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic features are easy to use, some advanced capabilities may require a steeper learning curve to fully understand and implement.
  • Cost
    For larger deployments and the use of advanced features, Balena can become relatively expensive compared to other solutions.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    Balena heavily relies on internet connectivity for device management and updates, which might be a limitation in areas with poor network coverage.
  • Limited Offline Support
    While Balena offers some offline functionality, it is primarily designed for cloud-connected operations, which could be a drawback for certain use cases.

Azure IoT Edge videos

+ Add

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

Balena.io videos

+ Add

Balena releases first fully functional 64 bit OS for the Raspberry Pi 4

More videos:

  • Review - balenaSound: a DIY multi-room sound system
  • Review - Balena Productions: Tons of Personnelity

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Azure IoT Edge and Balena.io)

Azure IoT Edge

Balena.io

IoT Platform
32 32%
IoT Platform
68% 68
Data Dashboard
100 100%
Data Dashboard
0% 0
IoT Management
0 0%
IoT Management
100% 100
Analytics
100 100%
Analytics
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Azure IoT Edge and Balena.io. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Balena.io should be more popular than Azure IoT Edge. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. 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 / 5 months 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: almost 4 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: almost 4 years ago

Balena.io mentions (11)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Azure IoT Edge and Balena.io, 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.

Mender.io - Mender is a secure and robust end-to-end over-the-air (OTA) software update manager for IoT devices. Mender makes it easy to deploy updates to a large number of devices by providing efficiency and risk tolerant OTA deployments.

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

Torizon - Easy-to-Use Industrial Linux Platform

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.

jFrog - Host, manage and proxy artifacts using the best Docker Registry, Maven Repository, Gradle repository, NuGet repository, Ruby repository, Debian repository npm repository, Yum repository.

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