Freedom251 › IoT Analytics Software
ThingSpeak
What ThingSpeak is
ThingSpeak is a cloud IoT analytics platform for aggregating, visualizing, and analyzing live data streams. Devices can send data through REST or MQTT APIs, and listed libraries support Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, Particle, and Raspberry Pi. Each channel can hold up to eight fields; channels are private by default, with an option to make them public. Users can schedule MATLAB code hosted by ThingSpeak without a separate MATLAB license. The React and TimeControl apps support responses to channel conditions and scheduled computations. The service offers near-real-time stream processing, custom dashboards, and machine learning tools. MathWorks describes ThingSpeak for IoT prototypes, proof-of-concept systems, and hosted production for small- to medium-sized systems. The Free plan costs nothing and is for non-commercial use, with four channels, three million messages per year, and a 15-second update interval. Free users have a 20-second MATLAB execution limit. TimeControl cannot schedule MATLAB Analysis more often than every five minutes, and channel MATLAB visualizations update after ten minutes. Academic licensing includes standard MathWorks support, while the free option includes community support.
Who it suits
ThingSpeak suits people building IoT prototypes or proof-of-concept systems, as well as small- to medium-sized hosted production systems. The free plan is limited to non-commercial use.
What it does well
- Accepts data through REST and MQTT APIs.
- Runs hosted MATLAB code without a separate MATLAB license.
- Channels can be public or private.
- Includes custom dashboards and machine learning tools.
- Free plan allows four channels.
What to know first
- Free plan is for non-commercial use.
- Free MATLAB code execution is limited to 20 seconds.
- TimeControl schedules analysis no more often than every five minutes.
- Channel visualizations update after ten minutes.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Non-commercial use · 3 million messages/year · 4 channels · 15-second update interval | Free |
| Standard | Annual license, purchased in units · Commercial, government, or organizational use · 33 million messages per unit/year · channel allowance depends on license units | On request |
| Academic | Annual license, purchased in units · Academic research and teaching · 33 million messages per unit/year · up to 250 channels per unit · 1-second update interval | On request |
| Student | Annual license; pricing not stated on the page · For use with courses offered at a degree-granting institution | On request |
| Home | Annual license, purchased in units · Personal use only · 33 million messages per unit/year · up to 10 channels per unit · 1-second update interval | On request |
As thingspeak.mathworks.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
ThingSpeak combines device data collection with channel-based analytics and MATLAB tools. The free option has clear usage and timing limits, while the listed annual licenses serve different use cases and have no stated prices.
Facts from ThingSpeak's own pages
- Actions
- The platform provides React and TimeControl apps for responding to channel conditions and scheduling computations. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Analysis scheduling limits
- TimeControl cannot schedule MATLAB Analysis more frequently than every five minutes, and channel MATLAB visualizations update after ten minutes. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- Users can schedule and run MATLAB code hosted in the ThingSpeak web service without a separate MATLAB license. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Channels
- Each ThingSpeak channel can store up to eight fields of data. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Device connections
- Devices can send data using REST API or MQTT API, and ThingSpeak lists native libraries for Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, Particle, and Raspberry Pi. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1984 · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Natick, Massachusetts, USA · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include LoRaWAN, The Things Network, Senet, Libelium, Beckhoff, and Particle devices. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended uses
- MathWorks describes ThingSpeak as a platform for IoT prototyping and proof-of-concept systems, with hosted production use for small- to medium-sized systems. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- MATLAB execution limits
- MATLAB Analysis and Visualization code has a 60-second execution limit for Standard and Academic licenses and a 20-second limit for other license types, including free users. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy and access
- The MathWorks privacy policy says access to private ThingSpeak data and apps is protected by API keys that users can reset. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ThingSpeak is a cloud IoT analytics platform for aggregating, visualizing, and analyzing live data streams. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Channels store data privately by default, and users can choose to make data public or private. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Academic license includes standard MathWorks support, while its free option includes community support. · thingspeak.mathworks.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where ThingSpeak stands on Freedom251
- IoT Analytics Software#13 of 24