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Plynx, next to the alternatives
Plynx is the phone-first way to control an ESP32, ESP8266 or Arduino. Most of the tools below are server-first, and some are not competitors at all. Here is the whole picture in one table, then a page for each with every figure sourced and dated.
| Feature | Plynx | Adafruit IO | Home Assistant | MQTT | Node-RED | Schematik | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native iPhone app | yes | ✕ | yes | generic client | ✕ | ✕ | separate product |
| Dashboard built on the phone, widgets bound to pins | yes | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Works with zero hosting | yes | yes | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | yes | paid Cloud tier |
| Self-host on a Raspberry Pi | yes | ✕ | yes | yes | yes | ✕ | bigger host |
| AI assistant that reads a live pin | yes | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Free, nothing to unlock | yes | IO+ $99/yr | cloud optional | yes | yes | no price published | CE yes; Cloud paid |
Every cell comes from the sources on the linked page, read on September 6, 2026. Scroll sideways on a phone.
The comparisons
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Plynx vs Adafruit IO
Use Plynx when the dashboard belongs on your iPhone, not in a browser tab.
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Plynx vs Home Assistant
Home Assistant is a platform for the whole house. Plynx is an app for the board you are building right now.
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Plynx vs MQTT
A generic MQTT client shows you topics. Plynx already knows what a gauge is, what range it has and which pin it belongs to.
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Plynx vs Node-RED
Node-RED runs on a server and shows you a web page. Plynx runs on your phone and binds widgets to pins.
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Plynx vs Schematik
Schematik generates a build. Archimedes helps you invent one, change it, and make it work.
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Plynx vs ThingsBoard
ThingsBoard is a platform you install, with a database and a rule engine. Plynx is one JAR and an app.
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