VerneMQ
VerneMQ is an open-source MQTT publish/subscribe broker for self-hosted messaging systems.
What VerneMQ is
VerneMQ is an open-source MQTT publish/subscribe broker for self-hosted messaging systems. It supports MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0, with quality-of-service levels 0, 1, and 2, plus MQTT over WebSocket, HTTP, and PROXY v2. The broker is intended for mobile messaging, IoT field devices, and smart infrastructure. Its masterless clustering design is built to keep operating through node or network failures. Authentication and authorization can use files or integrations with PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB, while TLS provides encrypted connections. Interfaces include bridges, WebSockets, Graphite, Prometheus, Lua scripting, webhooks, and an HTTP Administration API. Monitoring includes a $SYS tree and reporting to Graphite or Prometheus. VerneMQ runs on Linux and Mac OS X, but Windows is not currently supported. It is free and open source, although pre-built packages and Docker images require a paid subscription for production use.
Good
- Supports MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0
- Masterless clustering handles node or network failures
- Authentication integrates with four listed databases
- TLS encryption is included
- Prometheus and Graphite monitoring available
Watch out
- Windows is not currently supported
- Production use of packages requires paid subscription
- Self-hosted deployment requires your infrastructure
Who it suits
VerneMQ suits teams running MQTT infrastructure on Linux or other self-hosted systems. It is relevant for IoT, mobile messaging, and smart-infrastructure projects needing clustering and configurable authentication.
Verdict
VerneMQ provides broad MQTT support, clustering, security, and monitoring for self-hosted deployments. Check the Windows limitation and production subscription requirement before choosing package-based deployment.
Plans and prices
From VerneMQ's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Production subscription | Priced on request | Paid subscription required for production use of pre-built packages and Docker images; price not stated |
The facts
Each one read from VerneMQ's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication
- Authentication and authorization options include file-based configuration and integrations with PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Clustering
- VerneMQ uses masterless clustering and is designed to continue operating through node or network failures.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Commercial support
- Commercial services include core-engineer development support, pre-production workshops, enterprise support contracts, cluster health checks, hot fixes, and emergency patches.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The community page lists a mailing list and Slack for users, and directs bug reports to GitHub's issue tracker.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- VerneMQ is built for Linux and also runs on Mac OS X; the download page says Windows is not currently supported due to LevelDB code.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- VerneMQ has an extensible plugin architecture and supports Lua plugin scripting and webhooks.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations and interfaces include bridges, WebSockets, Graphite, Prometheus, Lua scripting, webhooks, and an HTTP Administration API.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- Monitoring features include a $SYS tree and reporting to Graphite and Prometheus.checked 9 Oct 2026
- MQTT support
- VerneMQ implements the MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0 specifications, with QoS 0, 1, and 2.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- VerneMQ is an open-source, distributed MQTT publish/subscribe broker designed for scalability, reliability, and high performance.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The feature list includes TLS (SSL) encryption.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The site describes VerneMQ for mobile messaging, connecting IoT field devices, and smart infrastructure.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- Octavo Labs AG is identified as the successor company of Erlio GmbH, which invented VerneMQ; the site lists its address in Brugg, Switzerland.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Brugg, Switzerlandchecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Trial and production terms
- The site says binary packages are free to test and require a paid subscription for production use; it does not state a trial duration or subscription price.checked 9 Oct 2026
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