Software Alternatives & Startups

EMQX VS CloudLinux

Compare EMQX VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

EMQX

EMQX is an open source MQTT 5.0 broker for mission-critical IoT scenarios, massively scalable and highly available clustering, running anywhere from edge to cloud.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source Freemium Free trial
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

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0 reviews
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Open source
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Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

EMQX
CloudLinux
Website emqx.io cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source Freemium Free trial
Open source
Company Startup from China · 50 - 99 employees · 2013 —
Listed in

About EMQX and CloudLinux

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

EMQX
CloudLinux

EMQX is the world's most scalable and reliable MQTT Broker designed by EMQ. It supports 100M concurrent IoT device connections per cluster while maintaining extremely high throughput and sub-millisecond latency. EMQX boasts more than 20,000 global users from over 50 countries, connecting more...

Read more about EMQX

No description of CloudLinux yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

EMQX 6 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • High Performance
    EMQX is known for its high throughput and low latency, making it suitable for large-scale IoT and real-time messaging applications.
  • Scalability
    It supports horizontal scalability, allowing users to add more nodes to the cluster as needed without significant performance degradation.
  • Protocol Support
    EMQX supports multiple protocols including MQTT, MQTT-SN, CoAP, LwM2M, and WebSocket, offering flexibility for various use cases.
  • Enterprise Features
    It comes with advanced features such as rule engine, data integration, and server monitoring which are essential for enterprise environments.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, EMQX provides transparency, community support, and the ability to custom-tailor solutions based on specific needs.
  • Security
    Provides robust security features including SSL/TLS encryption, ACL, authentication, and ID verification ensuring secure communication.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    Setting up and managing an EMQX cluster can be complex and might require a significant amount of expertise and time.
  • Resource Intensive
    While it's performant, EMQX can be resource-intensive, especially under high loads, which could be a strain on less powerful hardware.
  • Cost
    While the open-source version is free, advanced enterprise features and customer support come at a higher cost that may not be feasible for small businesses.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the variety of features and configurations available.
  • Dependency on Erlang
    EMQX is built on Erlang/OTP, which means that any issues or limitations within Erlang can directly affect the performance and stability of EMQX.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

EMQX
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • EMQX is considered a robust and reliable platform for MQTT messaging, particularly for IoT and real-time data streaming applications. Its performance, scalability, and feature set make it a strong contender in the MQTT broker market.

Why this product is good

  • EMQX is highly regarded for its ability to handle a high number of concurrent connections, making it a suitable choice for IoT applications. With a distributed architecture, EMQX offers several features such as MQTT over WebSocket, MQTT-SN, and integration with major cloud services. It supports extensive plugins and extensions, offers high availability and scalability, and provides a user-friendly management console.

Recommended for

  • IoT developers looking for a scalable and reliable MQTT broker
  • Businesses requiring high concurrency and low-latency message handling
  • Teams looking to integrate their IoT solutions with cloud platforms
  • Users seeking a broker with strong community support and ecosystem

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

EMQX 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

EMQX Cloud in 90 seconds

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
EMQX
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
IoT
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Alternatives to EMQX and CloudLinux

When comparing EMQX and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.