# AWS IoT Core vs balena

| Attribute | AWS IoT Core | balena |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 70.6 (34% (low)) | 63.9 (33% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | A fully managed AWS service that enables secure device-to-cloud communication using MQTT protocol. Handles millions of simultaneous device connections and trillions of messages without requiring infrastructure management. | A cloud-based platform for developing, deploying, and remotely managing fleets of Linux edge devices using container technology, with integrated security, updates, and fleet monitoring. |
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"US","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"hqCountry":"GB","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"usage","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free Tier","summary":"12 months free","features":["Device connectivity","MQTT messaging","Rules engine","Basic Device Advisor testing","Device Location lookups (up to 1,000)","AWS IoT Core for Amazon Sidewalk (100,000 messages)"],"description":"12 months free usage for new AWS customers, plus up to $200 in credits for first 6 months"},{"free":false,"name":"Pay-as-you-go","summary":"From $0.08 per 1M connection-minutes; messaging at $1.00 per 1M messages","components":[{"per":{"qty":1000000,"unit":"minutes"},"kind":"metered","amount":0.08,"currency":"USD","description":"Device connectivity (connection-time based)"},{"per":{"qty":1000000,"unit":"messages"},"kind":"metered","amount":1,"currency":"USD","description":"MQTT/HTTP messaging (first 1 billion messages per month)"},{"per":{"qty":1000000,"unit":"messages"},"kind":"metered","amount":6,"currency":"USD","description":"AWS IoT Core for Amazon Sidewalk messaging"},{"per":{"qty":1000,"unit":"locations"},"kind":"metered","amount":1,"currency":"USD","description":"Device Location lookups (beyond free tier)"}],"description":"Usage-based pricing after free tier expires"}],"summary":"Free tier for 12 months, then usage-based from $0.08 per 1M connection-minutes","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://aws.amazon.com/iot-core/pricing/?nc=sn&loc=4","retrievedAt":"2026-08-19T09:07:32.398Z","freeTrialDays":365,"startingPrice":{"unit":"minutes","amount":0.08,"currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"$0/year, up to 10 devices","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"devices":"10"}},{"free":false,"name":"Prototype","summary":"$159/month ($1,720/year with $188 savings), includes 30 devices, $3/month per additional device","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":159,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"device","amount":3,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"devices":"30"}},{"free":false,"name":"Pilot","summary":"$329/month ($3,588/year with $360 savings), includes 60 devices, $2/month per additional device","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":329,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"device","amount":2,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"devices":"60"}},{"free":false,"name":"Production","summary":"$1,439/month ($15,588/year with $1,680 savings), includes 110 devices, $2/month per additional device, annual commitment required","commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":1439,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"device","amount":2,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"devices":"110"}},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing and deployment options including 24/7 dedicated support","contactSales":true}],"summary":"Free tier with 10 devices. Paid plans from $159/month. Annual billing available with discounts.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.balena.io/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-08-19T09:04:42.975Z","startingPrice":{"amount":159,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | low | high |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":0.08,"currency":"USD"}` | `{"amount":159,"currency":"USD"}` |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.fedramp | yes | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | yes |
| security.hipaa | yes | - |
| security.pci | yes | - |

## Capabilities (Embedded IOT Dev)

| Capability | AWS IoT Core | balena |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Target class | - | - |
| Rtos type | - | - |
| Low power support | - | - |
| Tls dtls stack | - | - |
| Ota updates | - | - |
| Device management console | - | - |
| Device provisioning | - | - |
| Open source | - | - |
| PSA certified | - | - |
| Rust support | - | - |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T15:13:49.791Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*