An industrial edge platform runs close to the machines. It collects data from PLCs and sensors, normalizes and buffers it, can run applications locally, and forwards the data to SCADA, MQTT brokers, historians or the cloud.
Platforms differ mainly in four things: their driver libraries, whether they run third-party apps or containers, how they are managed across many sites, and how open they are toward destinations outside their own ecosystem. Compare on those, not on feature lists.
Edge platforms
- Litmus Edge (Litmus): vendor-neutral platform for collecting, normalizing and forwarding machine data.
- Siemens Industrial Edge (Siemens): runs containerized apps next to SIMATIC automation.
- Ignition Edge (Inductive Automation): lightweight Ignition edition for field devices and panels that collects and forwards data to a central system.
- Node-RED (OpenJS Foundation): open-source, flow-based tool for wiring protocols, APIs and devices together.
- FlowFuse: managed platform for running, securing and scaling many Node-RED instances in industrial settings.
- AVEVA Edge (AVEVA): compact HMI/SCADA for machine builders and embedded panels.
Connectivity layers often paired with (or used instead of) an edge platform
- Kepware KEPServerEX (PTC): driver-based OPC UA/DA server with a large PLC and device protocol library.
- HighByte Intelligence Hub: industrial DataOps software that models and contextualizes OT data before it goes to cloud or IT systems.
- Cirrus Link MQTT Modules: MQTT/Sparkplug B modules for Ignition, for report-by-exception data movement.
Side-by-side comparisons
- Kepware vs Litmus Edge
- Litmus Edge vs Siemens Industrial Edge
- Ignition Edge vs Litmus Edge
- HighByte vs Litmus Edge
- Node-RED vs FlowFuse
- Ignition vs Node-RED
- AWS IoT SiteWise vs Azure IoT
Four questions to ask before you choose
- Which PLC drivers are native, and which need add-ons?
- Can you manage, update and secure hundreds of edge devices centrally?
- Does it run on your hardware (industrial PC, VM, container), or does it require vendor devices?
- Is it tied to one cloud or vendor ecosystem, or open to MQTT, OPC UA and REST destinations?
Related guides: Getting PLC data out: OPC UA servers, gateways and MQTT and MQTT Sparkplug B explained.
This is a cross-post from PlantWired, a free, vendor-neutral directory of which factory software works with what. The full guide lists every edge and connectivity tool in the directory with its documented integrations, and the PlantWired newsletter sends new comparisons by email. Integration and pricing details are editorial, so always confirm with the vendor. Corrections are very welcome in the comments.
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