Imagine you have 100 IoT devices installed in different factories, stores, or customer locations. One device stops working, another needs a software update, and a third is not sending data. Visiting every location to fix these problems takes time and money.
Remote IoT device management software helps you handle these tasks from your office. You can connect to devices, check their status, fix problems, and update software without travelling to each location.
The number of connected devices is also growing. According to IoT Analytics, there were 18.5 billion connected IoT devices worldwide in 2024. The company estimated that this number would reach 21.1 billion by the end of 2025 and 39 billion by 2030. These figures are industry estimates, but they show why businesses need better ways to manage their devices.
Not every tool does the same job. Some focus on remote access, while others help with software updates, device monitoring, or sensor data.
In this guide, we look at 11 IoT device management platforms, their main features, and the situations where each one may be useful.
What Is Remote IoT Device Management Software?
Remote IoT device management software helps you access, monitor, and maintain connected devices over the internet.
For example, imagine a Raspberry Pi running an application in a factory. One day, the application stops working. An engineer can connect to the device remotely, check the logs, restart the application, and look for the cause of the problem.
Depending on the tool, you can also update software, manage device settings, check device health, and control who can access your devices.
This is useful for businesses that manage devices across different locations and cannot afford to send a technician every time something goes wrong.
11 Best Remote IoT Device Management Software
1. SocketXP: Best for Secure Remote Access and IoT Device Management
SocketXP helps businesses remotely access and manage IoT devices deployed at different locations. It is particularly useful for Linux-based devices, Raspberry Pi systems, industrial gateways, and edge computers.
One common problem with remote IoT devices is that they sit behind firewalls or routers. Connecting to them from outside the network can be difficult. SocketXP helps engineers connect to these devices without opening inbound ports or setting up traditional port forwarding.
Key features:
- Remote SSH and SFTP access.
- Remote access to VNC, RDP, HTTP, and other TCP services, depending on the plan.
- OTA software and firmware updates on supported plans.
- Device monitoring and asset tracking on supported plans.
- Device provisioning and fleet management.
- Security features such as encrypted connections, device authentication, and access controls, depending on the plan.
Why choose SocketXP?
Suppose your company installs Linux gateways at customer sites. If one gateway stops working, your engineering team needs to check it without asking the customer to change router settings or sending someone to the location.
SocketXP lets your team connect to the device remotely and troubleshoot the problem. You can also use its device management features to handle other maintenance tasks, depending on your plan.
SocketXP is worth considering if you need more than a remote terminal and want to manage access to devices from one place.
Pricing: SocketXP offers a 30-day free trial for up to two devices. The Lite plan costs $20 per month for 40 devices. The Eco plan costs $39 per month, and the Pro plan costs $79 per month. Enterprise plans start at $99 per month. Features and device limits vary by plan, so check the official SocketXP pricing page before choosing one.
2. balenaCloud: Best for Managing Applications on Linux Devices
balenaCloud helps developers deploy and manage applications running on connected devices. It is especially useful for applications packaged in containers.
Key features:
- Application deployment and updates.
- Centralized device management.
- Device logs and remote access.
- Software rollouts across multiple devices.
Why choose it?
If your team runs the same application on hundreds of Raspberry Pi or other Linux devices, balenaCloud can make updates easier. You can manage applications across your fleet without updating every device by hand.
However, its main focus is application management. If you mainly need secure remote SSH access, another tool may suit you better.
Pricing: The first 10 devices are free, and paid plans start at $159 per month. Check the balenaCloud pricing page for current details.
3. AWS IoT Device Management: Best for Businesses Using AWS
AWS IoT Device Management helps businesses register, organize, and manage connected devices through Amazon Web Services.
Key features:
- Device registration and grouping.
- Fleet search and organization.
- Remote device operations.
- Secure tunnelling for troubleshooting.
Why choose it?
It is a good option for businesses that already use AWS for their IoT applications. However, setting it up may require cloud knowledge and development work. Costs also depend on which AWS services you use and how much you use them.
4. Microsoft Azure IoT Hub: Best for Businesses Using Azure
Azure IoT Hub helps devices communicate with cloud applications. It also supports device management and can work with other Azure services.
Key features:
- Device identity and authentication.
- Device-to-cloud communication.
- Remote configuration.
- Integration with software update services.
Why choose it?
If your business already uses Microsoft Azure, IoT Hub can help you manage device communication within your existing cloud setup. Some features require additional services, so check what your project needs before getting started.
5. ThingsBoard: Best for IoT Dashboards and Sensor Data
ThingsBoard helps businesses collect and display data from connected devices. It is useful when you need to see sensor readings and equipment status in one place.
Key features:
- Device management.
- Real-time dashboards.
- Data collection and processing.
- Alerts and automation.
- Cloud and self-hosted options.
Why choose it?
A factory can use ThingsBoard to view temperature, pressure, or energy readings from different machines. The dashboards make it easier to spot changes and understand what is happening.
If you also need interactive remote access to a device's operating system, you may need another tool.
6. Particle: Best for Building Connected Products
Particle provides hardware, connectivity, and cloud software for businesses developing connected products.
Key features:
- Device provisioning.
- Firmware updates.
- Connectivity management.
- Device monitoring and APIs.
Why choose it?
Particle is useful if you are building an IoT product and want hardware, connectivity, and cloud tools from one provider. Before choosing it, check whether your hardware is supported and whether its connectivity options fit your needs.
7. Mender: Best for Updating Embedded Linux Devices
Mender helps businesses send software updates to embedded Linux devices over the internet.
Key features:
- OTA software updates.
- Deployment management.
- Update status tracking.
- Rollback support for suitable update setups.
Why choose it?
Imagine you have installed Linux devices at hundreds of customer locations. Mender can help you send a software update to those devices without visiting each site.
Its main focus is software updates. If your engineers also need to log in and troubleshoot devices, you may need a separate remote access tool.
8. Memfault: Best for Finding Device Problems
Memfault helps developers understand crashes, errors, and other problems in embedded devices.
Key features:
- Crash reporting.
- Device health information.
- Diagnostic tools.
- Firmware management features.
Why choose it?
Sometimes a device works for weeks before suddenly failing. Memfault helps development teams collect information about these problems so they can find the cause and improve their software.
It is mainly a debugging and device reliability tool, rather than a general-purpose remote access platform.
9. qbee.io: Best for Managing Linux Devices Remotely
qbee.io helps businesses manage Linux devices installed across different locations.
Key features:
- Remote device administration.
- Configuration management.
- Software and security updates.
- Device monitoring.
Why choose it?
If your company manages many Linux devices, qbee.io can help keep their settings and software consistent. It is worth considering if you want to handle routine maintenance from one place.
Check its supported operating systems, remote access options, and plans before choosing it.
10. Dataplicity: Best for Raspberry Pi Remote Access
Dataplicity helps users connect to Raspberry Pi devices remotely. It is useful for developers and small teams that need a simple way to access their devices over the internet.
Key features:
- Browser-based terminal access.
- Remote device connectivity.
- Basic device administration.
Why choose it?
If you have a Raspberry Pi running a home project or a small monitoring application, Dataplicity can help you access it without visiting the device.
For larger business deployments with mixed hardware and more advanced management needs, compare its features with other platforms.
11. RemoteIoT: Best for Remote SSH and Desktop Access
RemoteIoT helps users connect to Raspberry Pi and other supported devices over the internet.
Key features:
- Remote SSH access.
- Remote desktop connectivity.
- Access to devices behind NAT.
- Remote troubleshooting.
Why choose it?
RemoteIoT is useful when you need to connect to a device, run commands, or access its desktop remotely. Before using it across a large fleet, check its current device limits, security options, supported operating systems, and pricing.
Quick Comparison of IoT Device Management Platforms
| Platform | Best suited for | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|
| SocketXP | Linux IoT devices | Secure remote access and device management |
| balenaCloud | Containerized devices | Application deployment |
| AWS IoT Device Management | AWS users | Fleet management |
| Azure IoT Hub | Azure users | Device connectivity |
| ThingsBoard | Sensor-based projects | Dashboards and data management |
| Particle | Connected products | Hardware, connectivity, and cloud tools |
| Mender | Embedded Linux devices | Software updates |
| Memfault | Embedded products | Diagnostics and debugging |
| qbee.io | Linux device fleets | Remote administration |
| Dataplicity | Raspberry Pi projects | Simple remote access |
| RemoteIoT | Raspberry Pi and Linux devices | SSH and desktop access |
How to Choose the Right IoT Device Management Software
Before choosing a platform, think about what you need to do with your devices.
1. Check the remote access options. If your engineers need to connect to devices, make sure the tool supports SSH, SFTP, VNC, HTTP, or the services you use.
2. Look at security. Check how the platform protects connections, verifies devices, and controls who can access them.
3. Check software updates. If you regularly release new software or firmware, look for OTA updates and ways to recover when an update fails.
4. Think about the number of devices. A tool that works well for five devices may not be suitable for 500. Check device limits and the cost of adding more devices.
5. Compare the total cost. Look beyond the monthly subscription. Consider setup time, cloud costs, and the extra tools you may need.
Final Thoughts
The best IoT device management software depends on what you want to do. If you mainly need dashboards for sensor readings, ThingsBoard is worth considering. If you need to send software updates to embedded Linux devices, Mender may be a better fit.
For businesses that need secure remote access to IoT devices along with device management and software updates, SocketXP is worth evaluating. It helps engineers connect to devices in different locations without opening inbound ports, and its additional features can help teams handle routine device maintenance.
Before making a decision, test a few platforms with your own devices. Check how easy they are to set up, whether they support your hardware, and how much they cost as your fleet grows.
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