IoT Platforms: What They Are and 20 Examples to Know

The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow ever more expansive. According to Statista, the number of IoT devices globally is expected to double from 19.8 billion in 2025 to more than 40.6 billion in 2034. With more and more digital connections forming, effectively managing webs of devices has become a must for businesses. That’s where IoT platforms come in.

IoT platforms can connect with many networked devices, acting as a central location for monitoring and managing these connections. But not all IoT platforms are the same, with some specializing in certain areas. 

We’re covering the main types of IoT platforms and some of the best options available, so you can choose the right IoT platform for your business or use case.

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What Is an IoT Platform?

An IoT platform is a software framework that connects, manages and coordinates a network of IoT devices like sensors, actuators and user interfaces, creating a cohesive ecosystem. These platforms facilitate communication between devices over the internet, and typically integrate with existing systems, including applications and data lakes, as needed. They then compile, analyze and share data from these devices, generating insights and automating tasks. 

The overall purpose of an IoT platform is to serve as a central hub that unites many devices under a single interface. To support this role, they are often equipped with features for configuring and monitoring devices, gathering and interpreting data, developing IoT applications, protecting sensitive information and collaborating with enterprise systems. As a result, companies in industries like education, healthcare and finance have come to view IoT platforms as reliable tools for centralizing and securing data. 

Types of IoT Platforms

While IoT platforms have common features, they also come in several specialties that emphasize unique capabilities. 

IoT Connectivity Platforms

IoT connectivity platforms manage communication between IoT devices, ensuring they have a strong online connection with the necessary software and hardware. These platforms usually support IoT network connections through channels like the internet, WiFi or Bluetooth. They also come with user interfaces that make it easy to configure these connections.  

IoT Device Management Platforms

IoT device management platforms monitor individual devices within an IoT ecosystem. They can track the status of devices, send software and patch updates, produce reports on devices and troubleshoot additional problems. This way, companies can keep their devices compliant with industry regulations while conserving IT resources. 

IoT Application Enablement Platforms

IoT application enablement platforms give organizations the resources needed to develop customized IoT applications, ranging from smart devices to more extensive IoT systems. These applications are designed to integrate with different IoT platforms and scale as data needs grow, allowing teams to quickly deploy IoT solutions. 

IoT Analytics Platforms

IoT analytics platforms collect data from IoT devices, evaluate it and generate actionable insights. They use technologies and techniques like statistical modeling, artificial intelligence and machine learning to process data and identify meaningful patterns. These platforms can also aid in formatting data from many sources to be more uniform and easier to store.  

IoT Cloud Platforms

IoT cloud platforms use cloud networks to provide the infrastructure needed to run IoT devices and applications. In addition to services for configuring, monitoring and protecting devices, these platforms include storage and servers for supporting backend data processes. IoT cloud platforms are particularly strong at scaling to handle increasing volumes of data.

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Popular IoT Platforms

Here are some of the top IoT platforms that excel at edge computing, cloud privacy, low-code solutions and other capabilities.  

AWS IoT Core

AWS IoT Core is a cloud IoT platform that works well with the MQTT communication protocol, as it contains a native MQTT broker. Teams can use the platform to develop customized rules for directing messages and set up authentication and access policies. Besides MQTT, AWS IoT Core is compatible with other popular protocols like HTTPS and LoRaWAN. 

• Key features: Works with popular protocols like MQTT; end-to-end encryption; programmable rules for messaging. 
• Use cases: Building autonomous vehicles; monitoring industrial equipment; developing home automation tools. 

Microsoft Azure IoT

Microsoft Azure IoT supports cloud and edge computing, allowing local devices closer to data sources to process real-time data without latency issues. Artificial intelligence is baked into the platform, accelerating the process of gathering data from edge devices and executing automated decisions. Security features can also be added through the Microsoft Defender cybersecurity suite.  

• Key features: Edge computing capabilities; AI features that automate decision-making; security feature add-ons.  
• Use cases: Tracking energy consumption of home devices; managing network connectivity; securing factory equipment. 

Oracle IoT Cloud Service

Oracle IoT Cloud Service is a platform-as-a-service that lets organizations connect devices, compile real-time data and even share data with enterprise applications and other Oracle Cloud services — all in the cloud. Users can choose between Android, Swift for iOS, Java or JavaScript for sending messages and creating IoT applications. 

• Key features: Messaging in several programming languages; data can be integrated with enterprise applications; works alongside other Oracle Cloud services. 
• Use cases: Managing fleet operations; monitoring the status of digital assets; tracking workers’ location and health to comply with safety regulations. 

IBM Watson IoT Platform

Working in tandem with IBM Cloud, the IBM Watson IoT Platform enables companies to collect real-time and historical data from devices. IBM Cloud supports HTTP and MQTT, secure APIs for connecting apps with device data and analytics apps for assessing IoT data and gaining faster insights. 

• Key features: Partners with IBM Cloud; processes both real-time and historical data; makes it easy to build IoT analytics apps. 
• Use cases: Predicting maintenance for equipment; addressing energy-intensive processes; facilitating collaboration among product and engineering teams. 

PTC ThingWorx

PTC’s ThingWorx platform is an industrial IoT (IIoT) platform that features augmented reality user interfaces to better help users visualize assets and processes. The platform is ideal for connecting industrial assets, handling complex data and delivering a bird’s eye-view of industrial ecosystems. Manufacturers can then identify ways to make processes more cost-efficient. 

• Key features: Augmented reality interfaces; processes complex industrial IoT data; features that can automate equipment and processes.  
• Use cases: Maintaining equipment to reduce downtime; communicating engineering data with stakeholders; presenting workers with visualizations of how to complete tasks. 

Particle

Particle provides organizations with an IoT platform-as-a-service, complete with configurable software and connectivity. Using embedded intelligence, Particle can execute over-the-air updates for IoT devices in less than 30 seconds. Developers also have access to pre-provisioned modules, firm libraries and other resources for customizing Particle’s platform.   

• Key features: Embedded intelligence; in-depth developer resources; security features that defend data shared between devices and apps. 
• Use cases: Monitoring emissions; designing electric vehicles; detecting anomalies in HVAC units to prevent downtime. 

Siemens Industrial IoT

Siemens Industrial IoT brings together informational and operational technology to compile data, determine patterns and drive decision-making with data-based insights. The platform showcases a suite of Siemens applications, most notably MindSphere — a hub for exploring IoT data and leveraging it to enhance processes, reduce costs and more. 

• Key features: Combines informational and operational technology; consists of several Siemens applications. 
• Use cases: Removing bottlenecks in quality assurance; extracting data from local devices to promote transparency; predicting maintenance to keep machines running. 

Bosch IoT Suite

Bosch IoT Suite contains applications that handle all aspects of setting up and sustaining an IoT environment. For example, Bosch IoT Insights gathers and stores IoT data, while Bosch IoT Edge Agent makes it possible to act on real-time data on a local device. Bosch IoT Suite is also open-source and comes with extensive documentation and tutorials for getting started.

• Key features: Central hub for storing IoT data; IoT edge capabilities; user resources and open-source framework. 
• Use cases: Measuring air quality in urban areas; tracking crop conditions; evaluating machine performance. 

ThingsBoard

ThingsBoard is an open-source IoT platform that makes it convenient to manage devices with configurable APIs. Adding to the platform’s user-friendly interface are dashboards and data visualizations for interpreting IoT data. For industrial settings, ThingsBoard offers Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), which is a system of software and hardware that lets teams monitor and control industrial equipment and processes. 

• Key features: Server-side APIs; user-friendly dashboards and data visualizations; SCADA capabilities. 
• Use cases: Maintaining swimming pool systems; monitoring indoor and outdoor environments; controlling the indoor climate of an office.  

Blynk

Blynk is a low-code platform that allows less technical users to design mobile and web IoT applications. With a drag-and-drop app interface, users can easily embed automations, data visualizations and notifications into IoT products. Blynk also grants users cloud storage and streaming and connectivity via WiFi, Ethernet, cellular or LoRaWAN. 

• Key features: Drag-and-drop mobile app builder; cloud storage and streaming; connectivity options that include Ethernet, WiFi and cellular. 
• Use cases: Managing vehicle fleets; regulating power usage of smart home devices; monitoring conditions of indoor gardens. 

Kaa Enterprise IoT Platform

Kaa’s IoT platform for enterprises that uses protocols like HTTP and MQTT to connect devices to the cloud. The platform uses digital twins to capture real-time data from devices, and transforms this data into time series that can be used for charts and visualizations. Users can even set their own rules to automate events like alerts and notifications. 

• Key features: Digital twins of connected devices; ability to arrange data into time series; rules for automating various tasks. 
• Use cases: Producing smart medical devices; tracking inventory with smart tags; building dashboards to display fitness training data. 

Cumulocity

Cumulocity supplements IoT with AI and analytics to automate a range of workflows. Users can integrate devices into Cumulocity’s IoT network, create digital twins of devices for up-to-date insights and select their preferred data lake for offloading data as needed. They can then apply analytics rules to automatically generate alerts, reboot devices and more.  

• Key features: Digital twins for providing real-time data on devices; option to offload data to a data lake of choice; analytics rules for automating events. 
• Use cases: Detecting anomalies to resolve equipment issues; sending updates to software products; deploying technicians to client sites only when necessary. 

Losant

Losant’s enterprise IoT platform enables organizations to craft IoT applications with a number of low-code features. A visual drag-and-drop editor, dashboards that can integrate with AI and machine learning platforms and digital twins for monitoring devices make it possible to design IoT products that deliver real-time insights — without advanced developer skills. 

• Key features: Drag-and-drop editor; dashboards that are compatible with different platforms; ability to create digital twins of entire environments. 
• Use cases: Finding opportunities to reduce emissions; orchestrating devices in smart environments; keeping track of inventory in storage or transit. 

akenza 

Another low-code IoT platform, akenza makes it simple to connect devices with an onboarding assistant and track devices throughout their lifecycles with reports and data visualizations. Users can automate actions with the platform’s Rule Engine, while setting up role-based access and working with private clouds like AWS and Microsoft Azure for added security. 

• Key features: Rule Engine that automates actions; onboarding assistant for easy device setup; compatibility with private clouds like Microsoft Azure and AWS. 
• Use cases: Managing livestock and crops on smart farms; remotely controlling machinery; monitoring asset performance to anticipate maintenance.

EdgeX Foundry

As an open-source project of The Linux Foundation, EdgeX Foundry can be tailored to any business looking to work more closely with edge IoT data. The platform compiles data from smaller devices like actuators and sensors to more complex objects like drones and robots. In addition, it can automatically perform actions established by a rules engine or based on time intervals and store any sensitive data in a secret store.  

• Key features: Strong edge IoT capabilities; secret store for safeguarding sensitive information; rules engine for automating workflows. 
• Use cases: Ensuring items are scanned at checkout in retail stores; automation quality inspections in manufacturing plants; monitoring the status of delivery drones. 

Exosite Murano

Exosite’s Murano IIoT platform offers a slate of services for needs like gathering data from IoT edge devices, connecting to public clouds and building APIs. For organizations that value security, Murano uses TLS certificates to protect data both in storage and on the move, and comes in an on-premises version that can run on internal private networks. 

• Key features: Ability to integrate with public clouds and IT systems; TLS certificates for defending data; on-premises version for companies with internal private networks. 
• Use cases: Controlling smart devices in buildings; managing water systems; receiving real-time updates on equipment performance. 

Tuya IoT Core

Tuya’s IoT Core has the capacity to oversee several hundred million devices and process tens of billions of requests on a daily basis. To manage this many devices, IoT Core finds local data centers to sustain connectivity across the globe. At the same time, it prioritizes security with TLS certificates, a single key per device and the ability to freeze devices that exhibit suspicious behavior. 

• Key features: Ability to handle several hundred million devices; device key; option to freeze devices as needed. 
• Use cases: Signing a digital lease; monitoring meter readings; managing a variety of smart home devices. 

Davra

Davra’s IIoT platform comes with built-in AI and generative AI models that deliver a high degree of automation. Digital twins also aid in supplying the platform with updated data, and users of all skill levels can jump into creating applications with no-code, low-code and pro-code approaches. When it comes to analyzing data and generating insights, Davra equips users with a rules engine and machine learning models. 

• Key features: Built-in AI models; tools for coders of all skill levels; rules engine for triggering actions under specific conditions. 
• Use cases: Sending alerts to initiate search-and-rescue missions; sharing real-time location data for public transit; allocating fleet resources more efficiently.  

Thinger.io

Thinger.io places privacy at the center of its IoT platform. Users can customize access settings, control where devices function through geofencing and set up alerts based on real-time data gathered by devices. The platform also comes with common features like cloud storage and pre-made dashboards. 

• Key features: User access controls; geofencing to determine where devices operate; pre-made dashboards. 
• Use cases: Evaluating water irrigation systems; managing lighting for smart cities; conducting predictive maintenance in factories. 

Xyte

The Xyte platform possesses an IoT hub component that allows businesses to keep track of their inventory. Teams can collect telemetry data from an unlimited number of devices, communicate with devices via MQTT and HTTPS, issue software updates, send commands, conduct remote maintenance and more. Xyte is compatible with popular tools like Slack, HubSpot, Zoho and Salesforce, making it easy to integrate into existing tech stacks. 

• Key features: Protocols for sending commands and software updates; capacity to handle an unlimited number of devices; integrations with common business tools. 
• Use cases: Managing devices in smart buildings; monitoring products to provide better customer support; maintaining connectivity for video meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions